Author Topic: Newstead and his Elan (Read 1538 times)

echo008 · « **on:** September 18, 2003, 08:11:16 AM »

There are a bunch of cool photos as well as some info of Jason Newstead and more importantly his Alembic collection here.
http://www.freewebs.com/bigmuffstudios/metallicagear.htm

(Message edited by davehouck on August 11, 2005)

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2003, 12:29:36 PM »

Hey, lad
Nice site...pretty basses. But:the green bass on the pre-Metallica page is a $4,000 French Vigier Arpege, not a MIK cheapie.

echo008 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2003, 12:40:30 PM »

nice catch, This isint my site though, I just stumbled on it, and thought i would share.

dnburgess · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2003, 03:50:30 PM »

I was interested in why he switched from Alembic to Sadowsky as his main live instruments:

1. weight; and 2. (refering to the sadowsky's tone as compared to the Alembic's) It's radically different, which I discovered as I listened to bass players on soul records. You've got to have that pumpin' low end rather than a lead bass sound.

Does this mean the Sadowskys have more of a classic vintage P-Bass type sound? Can anyone with experience of Sadowskys shed light on this?

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2003, 05:06:31 PM »

David; I have never owned or played a Sadowsky, but I've read a lot of reviews and testimonials and I think it's safe to say that if you are looking for an ultimate Fender you can't go wrong with a Sadowsky. Even the names of the different models suggest that ultimate Fender is their goal; they even all look like Fenders. Part of that wonderful tone Marcus Miller gets is due the preamp installed in his Fender Jazz by Roger Sadowsky. So check out Sadowsky's site:
http://www.sadowsky.com/pages/framesets/fs_basses.html
And if it's a classic vintage P-Bass sound you are after, check this one out:
http://www.sadowsky.com/pages/pop_up/high_res/basses/4_string/uvp_59.html

dannobasso · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2003, 07:54:23 PM »

This could or could not be true. I heard that the other boys in the band gave him a hard time and told him to switch to a fender type, bolt on bass. It could also be that Alembic doesn't pay anyone to use their gear. cha ching!

dnburgess · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2003, 08:05:09 PM »

There's a comment on the site that Newstead pays for all his basses and doesn't do endorsements.

jorge_s · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2003, 08:56:15 PM »

I've been blessed to own both a Sadowsky and an Alembic. I assure you that each instrument is a master in their own domain. My Sadowsky 4 string is nearing its 10th year of hard work with me. It is a very light instrument made out of swamp ash and a rock-hard Maple neck. When the strings are plucked it has a verly loud accoustic sound. When you plug it in, it is ((all sound)). Very tight, responsive, and defined. The Sadowsky pre-amp provides loads of extra bottom and top end. I guess it could be described as an ultimate Fender except much better-looking and slightly more comfortable with the body being a little smaller.
My Alembic fills in the gap where the Sadowsky ends. With all the tonal possibilities and the neck-thru construction, I consider it more like a Swiss Army knife. The Alembic is always there, expecting a challenge and waiting to deliver. Any sound you want is in there somewhere. Sometimes, depending on your fingers, filters, q's volumes, and the position of the moon, the Alembic will surprise you with totally new sound that was not expected.

palembic · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2003, 11:07:41 PM »

I follow Jorge perfectly (being a collaegue of mine on Alembic 5 string S2).
99% of the sounds available for bass (any brand) can be produced on a S2 (that's what Jason had in the end).
Although ...it's YOUR skill, YOUR fingers, YOUR feeling, YOUR touch that make that happen. An Alembic is a Swiss Army knife or better an unwritten piece of paper, waiting what you're gonna do with it ...it's up to you!
I truly believe that Sadowsky makes extremely good guitars but it specialises in a specific sound, a sound that seems to be very popular with bassplayers but most of the time with people who have to play WITH those bass-players (which is something completely different). I believe than that Sadowske is a very comfortable guitar in ALL MEANINGS of that concept: tonal, construction, weight ... A Sadowski however will not surpise you with an undiscovered-yet facet of it's possible sound range, an Alembic WILL.
Just my idea's.

Paul the bad one

PS: something else. I dunno if you brorthers noticed but Sadowsky is different BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONICS!
I said it already and I will keep saying it: Alembic is different (and outstanding) because of the electronics. I can find builders with extremely good taste on woods (In France for instance), I can find companies with the same heartly welcoming people and eager to serve in US and EU, there are craftsman with the same golden hands in inlaywork, the concept of electronics (PU's, filters, Q's etc...) and how they work is -after 30 years- still new and second to none!

dean_m · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2003, 08:42:51 AM »

This was from a Bass Player interview

Jason does pay for all of his basses. When he first bought 7 Sadowskys, Roger had stated in a Bass Player interview that Jason was not given any special treatment or discounts. He paid what you or I would pay. Roger did give him an eighth bass for free, but this was Roger's doing, not Jason's asking.
I applaud Jason's sincerity for not being an equipment !@#$%$. He plays what he wants to because he wants too.
I too endorse a few other companies one of them being another bass builder(gasp!!!)as most of you know, but it's because I've been playing their gear long before I even thought about being an endorser for anyone. And, it's more of a relationship than an endorsement. Don't worry, they know about my long standing love affair with Alembic and that my Alembic is always with me.
The point I'm making is this. There are a lot of name players out there that will try to score an endorsement because 1: they do have to have some liking for the equipment, 2: they will always try to get it (them) for free, 3: They want to be paid by the manufacturer for the use of their name!?!?!?
I don't know about you but, as much as I like getting free stuff from time to time, my #1 priority has to be a genuine love and use for the gear whether I pay for it or not. This is and always will be the reason my Alembic is the first bass in the gig bag. As much as I do love my other basses, my Alembics as well as all of my gear is mine because of my choice, not a business decision.
Endorsements can be a double edge sword if you're not careful!!!
Someone with Jason's credentials could have as many signature basses as he wants. He plays what he wants though. All the more power to him!!!

Peace,
Dino

hup · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2004, 08:57:30 PM »

I spoke with Jason back in '96 i think it was for there Re-Load tour and he said the main reason for the change was wieght issues. He still has nearlly all his Alembics in his collection of many basses in his studio.
cheers
Hup
ALEMBICISE THE WORLD

FC Bass · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2007, 05:13:52 AM »

Could this Persuader:

Be the same bass as this "Series 2 Spoiler":

? The back of the headstock looks similar and I have read somewhere that the "Series 2 Spoiler" has had a refinish and the electronics were upgraded to series 2 then. The truss rod cover looks like a early 80s on the S2, but there's also a pickguard. Maybe jason requested the neck pickup to be placed more towards the neck... (losing the half round persuader TR cover...? The Elan has 3 pickups.

Jazz/Precision/Jazz

FC Bass · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2008, 12:24:09 AM »

Here's a pretty good picture of the 3 pickups on his Elan 5:

FC Bass · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2009, 01:23:25 AM »

Here's the back of the Elan:

alembicfan · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2009, 05:12:25 AM »

Cool pic. Got the same