Author Topic: Finally got an Alembic (Read 386 times)

richbass939 · « **on:** November 24, 2004, 08:11:23 AM »

Hello. After 30 years of admiring Alembic from the outside I finally bought one. A few months ago I bought an Epic 4 string. It is 95W9177, flame maple top and pretty much the standard package, I guess. One thing I've realized is that standard package and being one of the lower end basses in no way means that there is anything lacking in these instruments. The first time I plugged it in the sound quality blew me away. That was even before I put on new strings and started tweaking the sound. After a few months of reading the club postings I know that it's no surprise to any of you guys.
I've owned quite a few basses over the years and still own most of them. I've definitely never played one that is even in the same ball park with Alembic. I can imagine that with their ability with electronics, the instruments with more advanced electronics have a range and versatility of the sound that would shock even old bass players.
By the way, I'm 49, have played bass since '73, played professionally for a while in the late '70s, and have owned several good basses. I really feel that if bass players would make the jump and play an Alembic (any one of them), even for an hour, they would be scrambling to buy one.
Enough for now. I have many questions for you guys. Sometime soon I take some digital pictures of my collection. My wife and I have 25 or so instruments (mostly strings). I kind-of feel sorry for them. Since I got my Epic I've been playing a lot more. I have ignored virtually all of them except the Alembic.

Thanks,
Rich

P.S. There's one thing about the club that I'm really happy about. I've read many message from you guys. It is clear from most of them, and stated outright in some, the club is not made up of Alembic snobs. I'm sure that we've all owned several other brand (many of them very good). I can't imagine many people knowing enough about instruments (or being able to invest the money) to buy Alembics as their very first basses. I hope all those people who appreciate excellent sound, design and construction quality get the chance to try out an Alembic. They'll probably find a way to buy one.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2004, 08:39:08 AM »

Congrats and welcome to the group!

hollis · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2004, 11:37:21 AM »

Rich,

Welcome. I (and many others I'm sure)feel the same way. I have to make a concerted effort to pick up my non Alembics at least once a week just to keep my own guilt for having not played them in check.

Enjoy

jalevinemd · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2004, 05:52:11 PM »

Rich,

Welcome to the club. I share Hollis' sentiments. Yes, we are proud of our Alembics. To consider ourselves, however, guardians of the temple of the one true instrument is ridiculous - although that sentiment may come across now and again. I cherish my Alembics as well as my other guitars. Big Bear gets almost as much playing time as Little Bear and I love my PRS. For the most part, the rest sit on the sidelines and observe.

Regards,

Jonathan

bracheen · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2004, 07:37:40 AM »

Good morning Rich, again welcome. Your Epic sounds like a good choice. As an Epic owner myself I'm looking forward to the photos. That's cool that you include your wife as co-owner. Good selling point for future aquisitions, eh?
Let's hear about your amp as well.
Sam

richbass939 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2004, 09:13:36 AM »

Sam,
Everytime I've gotten a new instrument recently (a few in the last few years) she has said Do you really need a new one? It's kind-of our little ritual. This time she didn't say that. Well, she said it after I ordered the Alembic, with her blessing, of course.
Actually, about a fourth or fifth of our collection (violins and violas) were made by her father. He made about 53 of them between the late '40s and the late '90s. She's as much of a collector and appreciater (is that a word?) as I am. I was just dusting them off a few minutes ago.
Rich

richbass939 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2004, 06:23:26 PM »

Sam,
My amp is an old Rickenbacker combo. It has a 12 in it. I'm not sure how many watts it puts out. I have never been that much of a gearhead. A good processor would probably help my sound but I've never really gotten into it. I use a stomp box compressor (all the time) and chorus (when I'm playing along with something kind-of soft and acoustic. I've been surprised how much the Rick carries even in a big room. I come from the days when if you didn't have 15 speakers, at least, you weren't squat. I got over that prejudice when I played my Rick combo. Overall I'm pretty happy with it. I rarely have it over about two or two-and-a-half.
Rich

mint_bass · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2004, 02:02:02 AM »

Welcome to the club Rich

I also own an Epic and i adore mine i dont own alot of other basses and have not tried alot but i know quality when i hear it. I am really glad you are happy with your new bass and look forward to seeing the pictures.

If you have any questions about your bass do ask straight away you can learn so much here someone has an answer to everything.

P.S. hello Sam have not seen you around the site lately good tohear from you again and i hope all is well.

bracheen · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2004, 04:59:24 AM »

Rich
I didn't know that Rickenbacker made amps. If it's anything like the instruments it must sound good.

Andrew, I'm doing well, thanks. Look for an email from me.

Sam

gare · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2004, 06:07:57 AM »

Welcome Rich
I remember seeing Stepenwolf play years ago using the large Rickenbacker amps..strange looking, the speaker cabinets were sort of 'V' shaped and mounted on tubular stands like the Vox Super Beatle..sounded good tho.

richbass939 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2004, 04:38:15 PM »

Thanks, everybody for the responses. I'll have to get the Rick amp in the pictures when I get around to taking some. I've been thinking about how to display the instruments. We have quite a few.
I didn't know Rick made amps until I found this one about 15 years ago. I used to own a Rick 3000 short scale bass in the early-late '70. I like the sound of the 4000 series basses. You used to hear a lot of them years ago (probably still). Good distinctive rock-n-roll sound.
I have a lot of questions for all of you. I'm very happy with my Epic and really want to explore the sound.
Thanks,
Rich

richbass939 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2004, 09:01:34 PM »

Just wondering. A guy at work has a good digital camera. Can I borrow it, take pictures, have him download it and send me an e-mail with them attached, and post them from the e-mail onto this site?
Rich

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** November 27, 2004, 06:03:42 AM »

Rich; yes, that would work.

mark_ewert · « **Reply #13 on:** November 28, 2004, 08:23:13 AM »

Hello everyone My good friend Dave Houck told me about this page. I am going to start offering custom made case's for top quality instruments.
I have done some drum case's that hold the entire kit in a safe and secure enclosure.I wanted to get some input from you all as to what you would look for in a case like that.

keavin · « **Reply #14 on:** November 29, 2004, 04:33:28 AM »

hello mark welcome,and can you post some pics of some of your work? im sure plenty of our friends would be intrested in peeking.