Author Topic: Proud owner of my very first Alembic. (Read 1053 times)

avmeln · « **on:** December 01, 2014, 11:43:07 AM »

Hello to Alembic family.

Although I've got extensive academic training in bassoon performance and music education, I enjoy playing bass very much. When the opportunity came for me (10 years ago) to start career as bassist for British cruise line, I took this chance. Since then travelled a lot and performed many different venues. Today I traded in my G. Gould Graphite 5 CS and got an Orion 5 instead. Looking good, feeling great. Thank you very much indeed!

Andrey

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/202124.html?1417459918

tbrannon · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2014, 12:05:26 PM »

That is an amazing looking Orion!

I really love zebrawood tops and that one just screams class to me.

Enjoy the bass and welcome to the Alembic experience!

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2014, 12:42:15 PM »

Congratulations Andrey.
Perhaps just for fun you can play the notated Bassoon music on the nice Alembic Bass . I also play the Trumpet and other valved brass instruments. Just for fun, sometimes Trumpet music and Euphonium music strikes my fancy .

pauldo · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2014, 02:48:41 AM »

Andrey,
Love the zebrawood.
I started on bassoon, then switched to bari & bass saxaphones.

I sometimes go to the used book store and pickup bassoon and trombone music books to play on my basses (mostly to work on my upright intonation). One of the better ones is a trombone book filled with Beatles songs - nothing like playing John and Paul's vocal lines on a bass!

Welcome to the camp!

avmeln · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2014, 12:23:40 PM »

Thank you. I still cannot get rid of mental picture of someone playing 'Pop Virgil' on Euphonium.

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2014, 01:05:29 PM »

LOL ! Not like Stanley on his Alembic Bass , but one could play the melody like a tenor trombone without the glissandos slurs like the the trombone could do .

avmeln · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2014, 10:08:29 AM »

Paul, check out this CD (2013 AL DI MEOLA - All Your Life) http://myzuka.ru/Album/379999/Al-Di-Meola-All-Your-Life-2013: it's pure Beatles (solely Guitar).

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2014, 11:14:27 AM »

Hi Andrey -

Congrats on your beautiful acquisition and welcome to the club!

You've probably already discovered that nothing really compares to the first time you play an Alembic.

As has been well documented elsewhere on the forum, it's a revelation - you can finally hear what's been missing in your tone and you also realize that you will probably need to do a little more practicing to take advantage of that expanded range of tonal possibilities without introducing anything undesirable.

'cuz Alembic electronics are honest and transparent - they hear and deliver every nuance of your technique without discrimination.

jamieboy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2014, 11:54:43 AM »

Hi Andrey!

Like you, I started in the wind instrument field, but mine was brass. Tuba, then trombone, bass, mandolin, trumpet and guitar. Tuba major in college, so that is where I was most comfortable.

Now, I am most comfortable on bass.

Your Orion is a beauty!

Since I am so new, I feel awkward welcoming you in, but here goes:

Welcome to the Club!

Jim

jamieboy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2014, 12:01:22 PM »

Well, I messed up! The Wind Instrument comments go to Paul, I guess.

My fingers, eyes and thoughts were not coordinated for my last post.

Welcome to the Club, Andrey.

Jim

avmeln · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2014, 01:51:22 PM »

I feel obliged to apologize if some grammar or syntaxis mistakes could be seen further - my main language is Russian.

Alembic Orion 5 is a truly fine instrument indeed. After just a few days of enjoyment I found that its' glued set neck design provides the bass with decent sustain and proper initial attack (usually described as punch) plus useful 'mix friendly' mid-range. Ebony/Maple combination makes the neck very snappy and responsible to every finger movement whatsoever. Stacked humcancelling pickups are way better sounding than my usual humbucker setup. Current strings are DR Lo-Riders nickel-plated on a hex core - and I am heading to Sunbeams in not so distant future. Orion is definitely heavier than my traded in G. Gould 5 - 4 leather strap would be nice to get. Anyways, lots of fun and excitement right now!

Not to mention that for my teeny-tiny country (surviving post-Soviet crisis) this instrument is such an achievement. Now we got 2 Alembics for 10 million inhabitants - what makes me very posh Isn't it swell?

The first one can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehyWMRqvJtw

Peace

sonicus · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2014, 01:58:02 PM »

Dear Sir , VERY Swell indeed I would say !

avmeln · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2014, 02:11:54 PM »

Now you have me I promise to spell words according to Noah Webster: i.e. program/catalog instead of programme/catalogue.

sonicus · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2014, 02:50:36 PM »

Andrey , my first language was German . I was taught English by a British language tudor from England who was an Oxford University graduate. I learned English the British way with British Spellings and was continuously corrected by my American teachers in grammar school. All the while my thought process and mentation commenced in German . This was all very confusing for me as a child and had somewhat of a isolating effect on me for a while , but I am stronger for it all now ! I survived through the fog .

You will feel at Home here with us at The Alembic Club no matter which spelling style that you use . Our Alembic World is World Friendly !
I believe in a United World Peace my brother !

Wolf AKA Sonicus

sonicus · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2014, 02:55:55 PM »

Double post correction , ( you will find out about these very soon as well )

(Message edited by sonicus on December 04, 2014)