Phil Lesh's Custom Omega Cut Alembic

[sparechaynge]

Weird. Guess the beard is throwing me off, he looks like Trey in the 4th pic and the one below the first Hot Tuna shot.

[mtjam]

Please delete post
 
(Message edited by MtJam on October 19, 2012)

[mtjam]

Thanks for sharing that link, Edwin. Awesome pics! I always like seeing pictures that I have never seen before.
 
I like the one of Casady with the whiskey bottle on the drum riser. I was thinking recently how you never usually see anything harder than bottled water onstage these days. I suppose that's a good thing to help support our heroes' longevity, but it's fun to remember that glorious 70s era!

[lbpesq]

Looks like Tequila to me!
 
Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

It's amazing what you find on you tube. Here is a link to a video about The Dead's Wall of sound and some footage of the inside of Phil's bass and him adjusting all those bass knobs and giving a bit of explanation about his bass strings coming out of different stacks of speakers.
 
Judging by the thickness of the sheepskin padding on his bass strap that bass must have been really heavy.  
 
Not sure if it's been posted here before but it was an interesting video for me anyway.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PODPgBaiFI4
 
I'm sure the Dead Heads amongst us will recognise people in the video.
Enjoy
 
 
 
Jazzyvee

[edwin]

When they released the movie on DVD, they gave out a frame from the original 35mm release and I ended up with a shot from that scene. It's cool to hear that movie in 5.1, especially the DVD remix. The theatrical mix was hampered by some problems from the fact that surround was in its infancy back in the day and the current mix benefited greatly from improved technology and experience (and the expert mastering touch of my friend, David Glasser, of Airshow mastering.).
 

[sonicus]

I remember seeing this bass on the work bench when George Mundy was wiring it . George Mundy can also be seen in the movie making adjustments.

[sparechaynge]

Is George the guy with the butterfly t-shirt? I always thought that was Rick Turner.

[moonliner]

Edwin, that is perfect that you got that particular frame. You must have been very happy!

[slicknickhaas]

Hey There Guys, just wanted to chime in,
 
that scene in the movie is exactly what brought me to Alembic, I had to know as much as I could find out about it, it even lead to conversations with Rick Turner, Steve Parish, And Turbo Tom Smith, one of the last people to work on the bass sadly Hacking the electronics out and routing the body for an aluminum plate, Said he's the guy who put the idea into Phil's head about a 6 string bass not sure about that but it did bring one thing to light, both Rick and Tom said there realy wasn't an issue with the bass at the time, guess there was some bad blood between Phil and George about working though and fixing the reliability issues of the bass. or so I'm told, by 79 According to Rick Phil was dealing with some issues at the time. and may have lead to the bass getting hacked. there's no evidence of a delam issue from what I can find. nor a photo of it any point past 79. curiosity got the best of me and I tracked down Tom, Phils tec and the time, according to him once phil had the idea of a 6 string the bass was placed in its case and put in room 4 for safe keeping in 1980 at there place in Palo Alto. the question is is it still there? Rick Turner also stated that if the bass was found he would gladly head up the restoration of it to its former glory, a far better version of the electronics could be built as well, or at least something quality. Maybe its just me but this bass should be brought back to life or at least into the light. it represents a major turning point in musical history, and im sure it means a lot to many of us.  
 
thoughts?

[slicknickhaas]

From Tom Smith,  
 
Nick, yeah I did mess around with that bass. The short story is one day I asked Phil if he knew what gauge size the strings were? (PL) Why? (Me) How about adding two more strings? (PL) I'll find out.
The next day we drove up to Alembic and he ordered a 6 string bass and he refused to ever play the 4 string again. Blame that one on me I guess. At that point I didn't give a shit about doing any more with the 4 string because of his attitude. I wasn't about to argue with him, if you know what I mean.
It had its own travel case and we stored it with all his other basses at Front Street in room 4, his equipment room. I assume he still has it.  
We thought we were the first guys to build a 6 string bass.
In 1989 I was in Chicago and saw an ad for a used Fender Thunderbird 6 string jazz bass, oh well.  
You no doubt know that he has played a 6 string ever since.  
 
sorry correction, it was at Front Street,
 
And a what!?

[jacko]

If I've read Tom's note right Alembic made Phil a 6 string bass? that's something I never knew. I'm pretty sure there's no mention of one in Blair Jackson's book.
 
Graeme

[slicknickhaas]

I find id a little odd, maybe it was in that window of time when Modulus was working a bit with Alembic?
 
I haven,t put to much research into it, any one have an idea as to what Phil's first 6 string was? I'm still in the grey on that change,
 
it was mix emotions for me to learn that the stories of the bass getting hacked where true. but it the same sense that explains why its been in hiding all these years.
 
One person, can't remember if it was Steve or Rick that said it, but much like Jack regrets sell number 1, Phil felt pretty bad for letting Mission Control get hacked. Ive tried to contact Phil though many fronts to ask about it, but never have been able to get a response.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Per Jackson, Phil's first 6 (1982) was a 35 Modulus built on a 4-string neck, w/Barts.
 
Peter
 
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on May 29, 2013)

[lembic76450]

You know,  all the times looking at this bass
I never noticed the logo on the headstock.  Are
there any others like this?