Author Topic: Old fart Alembic noob (Read 461 times)

lowave · « **on:** December 13, 2005, 03:10:26 PM »

My first Alembic. I feel like teenager in love. I have a 5 string Essence with a Koa top. Im crazy about her. She just arrived today. Bought her on Ebay.
Here is my story.
Although I have 7 different basses now; I only do rehearsal and gigs with single bass. In 1967 when I was 15 I decided to play bass and my Dad got me bass and amp for christmas. He gave me a Greco (Ibanez, we lived in Tokyo at the time) copy of a Hofner Beatle bass. I had that for a few years then got a paper route and traded it and $200 for a Gibson EB0, which I played for 17 years until 1984. I bought a Rickenbacker 4003 that I played until today (21 years). At this rate with any luck I will be playing my Alembic in the after life.
Ive always played pop and classic rock. The Rick served me perfectly for 20 years. But the times are changing and I was increasingly faced with the need to hit lower notes. A few weeks ago I reluctantly succumbed to the inevitable and began shopping for a 5 string. I did the music store thing and was really dissapointed with what was being offered in the $2k range. I had almost decided to settle for a Tobias bolt on or grit my teeth and shell out $2.5k for Warwick Thumb. Just as a reality check I took a look at Ebay...Halleluya ! ! ! I had no idea that an Alembic could be had in that price range. (I had known about Alembics since I saw 'Return to Forever' in 1977. Just assumed they were above my pay grade. I am so pleased with myself I may have to stand in front of the mirror and slap me a few times. Needless to say the Essence is pretty much perfect. I cant stop smiling ... and thats scary cause a couple of my front teeth were knocked out.
(I do a great Pirate leer..Ahrrr !).

lowave · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2005, 03:12:54 PM »

jet_powers · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2005, 03:17:52 PM »

Yup! That's pretty!

Welcome!

JP

speicky · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2005, 03:41:30 PM »

Yeah ! You got it !

Also a warm welcome from another part of the globe. Nice introduction, I read that with a smile on my face, cause I'm in love, too... I own a 5er Essence as well, an outstanding bass ! The body shape is so graceful, and the sound is amazing... Congrats and welcome to the group.

Christian (the faker)

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2005, 04:14:40 PM »

Hi Tom; welcome and congrats!!

richbass939 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2005, 09:50:07 PM »

Tom, your story sounds a lot like mine. Played a Rick for awhile. Introduced to Alembic by listening to RTF and always thinking they were out of reach financially. Then I got on e-bay once and went Wow, you can get an Alembic for that price. About 2 weeks later I had my first.
Welcome to the club.
Rich

jacko · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2005, 02:22:06 AM »

Nice Bass Tom. Welcome to the club from this side of the Atlantic.

graeme

bracheen · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2005, 03:27:14 AM »

Hello Tom, congratulations on the bass, it's a beauty. I know it sounds great. Your band will love it.
I've been to Portland a few times, great city. Have you ever eaten at the Acropolis?

Sam

tom_z · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2005, 07:31:01 AM »

Welcome Tom - great story and a great bass. Enjoy. =)

Tom

lowave · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2005, 09:57:50 AM »

attn: bracheen
Well Sam its a small world. Yes I have eaten a number of times at the Acropolis in Portland. But sadly where it used to sit is now a hole in the ground. I dont know but I expect the moved somewhere close by. I lived in Jacksonville in the 70s and played in a number of bands there and in Gainesville. Good times the 70s were.

bracheen · « **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2005, 03:18:20 AM »

Tom
Small world indeed. It's possible we crossed paths at one time or another. Yes the 70s were good times, at least the first half of them.

Sam

adriaan · « **Reply #11 on:** December 15, 2005, 03:33:51 AM »

Vietnam, Nixon, uhm ... a case of selective memory perhaps? No offence ...

That koa top is very striking, by the way: the grain brings out the design of the body so well. Can't have enough koa tops on Alembics - both of mine have one - just wish it wasn't such a scarce species of wood. (Did I just contradict myself?)

(Message edited by adriaan on December 15, 2005)

bracheen · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2005, 06:26:11 AM »

Adriaan, don't forget about Bloody Sunday.
I was speaking strictly from a personal perspective. I wasn't referring to all of the World events at the time. If that were the case what decade could be called good? When hasn't there been war, pestilence, famine, crooked politicians, etc.?

adriaan · « **Reply #13 on:** December 15, 2005, 07:18:40 AM »

Sam, I won't forget. Promise. After all, it was the decade of smileys ...

gtrguy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2005, 09:53:03 AM »

Hi there,
Nice bass! congrats on your purchase!
There are several of us Alembic owners in Portland, even though there is no longer a dealer here.