Author Topic: Hi everyone I'm new. (Read 265 times)

radioodidty · « **on:** March 16, 2004, 09:19:48 PM »

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this board, and Alembics in general. I am a younger player with an ambitious mind. I discovered the beauty of the Alembic bass about a month ago when I was searching for something more out of a bass guitar. I currently play a Music Man Sterling by Ernie Ball. Grant it, it's a great bass but I want something that is me, which brought me to alembic. So after looking around at all the beautiful Alembics I found one that I thought was my personal favorite.

Alembic Series 1
- 4 String, Right Handed
- Buckeye Burl top and back
- Triple Omega Body Cut
- LEDs on top and sides of the neck (preferrably green or red)
- Dragon Inlay, Or Tree of Life Inlay
- Recessed Logo on Headstock to match Inlay
- Series 1 Electronics
Then a bunch of other customizations that would make this post longer than it already is.

Anyways, I'll leave anyone who is interested with some background info about me. I played piano most of my life then got into electric bass. I've been playing electric for four years. I then began to study jazz/classical on it and found out one of the greatest loves of my life, the double bass. I now study the double bass at Montclair State University and hope to become a performer/teacher someday. I also play in a rock band on the side with my friends. You can hear us at http://www.purevolume.com/stealtheair we are called Steal the Air.

Thanks for reading hope to be chatting with some of you soon.

Joe W.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2004, 09:44:23 PM »

Welcome Joe. Always good to meet someone from North Jersey (I'm originally from Ridgewood). That's a beautiful bass you described. I might suggest thinking about series 2 electronics on a new bass, though. They are the same as series one, but with the addition of a master volume (handy - lets you use pu volumes strictly for tone shaping) and replaces the 3 position Q switches with continuously variable Q switches. Q switches vary the amount of boost applied at the cutoff frequency for that pick up. The 3 position 3 presets (no boost and two at set boost levels) while the CVQ allows you to boost any amount within a range. The S2 electronics can be added to most other models, the same as S1's. The extra cost is only a couple hundred.

This Club can provide you with plenty of ideas and thinking about these instruments. I'm sure others will respond as well.

Bill

radioodidty · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2004, 09:56:15 PM »

Bill,

Thanks for the information on the electronics. This bass probably won't even be a tangible consideration until I begin to teach full time, unless and if my schedule picks up with higher paying gigs. That of course, leaves me lots of time to think and really find out what I want from this bass. It is also cool you lived in Ridgewood. I take my Double Bass lessons from there from the teacher of double bass at MSU who also lives in Ridgewood. Hope to chat with you more on different subjects later.

Joe W.

mint_bass · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2004, 04:48:28 AM »

welcome to the club the bass you describe sounds very nice indeed i love buckseye burl

i would love to learn double bass and i am saving up for one now i am only 5 foot 7 inches tall would you recommend a 3/4 size bass as i really know nothing about them

i have an alembic epic called jazzmine she is great what ever alembic you end up buying it will b the best insruement u have played and the wait will b worth it

talk to you soon
andrew

811952 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2004, 06:09:24 AM »

Joe,
I had my first Alembic built when I was only 19. I sold every other instrument I owned and gigged A LOT to pay for it. It was the right thing to do, and ended up paying me back in no time by giving me the tool to take my playing to a higher level (don't worry, it's since gone way, way back down!). On the upside, an Alembic bass will give your sound a clarity which will get noticed. On the downside, you'll probably need to develop a cleaner playing style than ever before. On the upside, that will be easier to do than ever before because you will for the first time actually hear what your fingers are doing. On the downside, you'll probably forget about people and food. On the upside, those people you forgot about will be hanging around saying whoa, that sounds incredible!! while ordering pizzas. On the downside, you will ultimately be the one who gets to clean up their mess. On the upside, a good clean Alembic needs a good clean house (somehow mine doesn't seem to need such a clean house, but I digress...). On the downside, you'll have to leave the good clean house to gig. On the upside, you'll be gigging with an Alembic...
John the verbose one

811952 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2004, 06:23:11 AM »

In another thread, Malthumb I believe posted his modus operandi for getting the dream bass. Buy used, starting with a less expensive instrument, and sell it after a year or so to move up the Alembic ladder. The instrument will have already depreciated by simply not being new anymore, and you should be able to sell for pretty much the same as you paid, given no change in condition, etcetera. It's a painfully obvious scheme which I never ever had even considered, but now I intend to do that to eventually get a second, 5-string Series bass (I've got a 4-string Series I in Cocobolo). It is a very do-able course to follow... Thank you Malthumb!
John

bassman10096 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2004, 08:01:57 AM »

I echo John the verbose one: Getting my first Alembic caused me to upgrade my rig. The downside was I made mistakes because I didn't know enough. The upside is that I learned what I want AND learned how to (and when not to) build speaker cabs. The other downside is that I wound up spending a lot on a custom Alembic that will really do all that I want. The upside is that I GET to keep the custom Alembic (and be happy forever!?!). The downside is that all this choosing, learning (in that order, unfortunately), building, buying and improving has left me with a wicked GAS Jones (can I block myself from Ebay??). The upside is...

I also appreciated Malthumb's recent thread where he outline what someone wiseley called the Alembic progressive savings/investment Plan for getting your dream bass AND playing really cool basses until then.

In short, buying an Alembic can ruin/save your musical (and financial) life. Just depends on your perspective (I wouldn't miss it for the world!!).

Bill the ambivalent one

bracheen · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2004, 08:44:57 AM »

The downside to that investment plan is having to give up one Alembic for another. I'd rather have them both. That's probably why I only have one right now.

Hello, Joe, welcome to the club. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is buying an Alembic will save wear and tear on your Sterling. Good luck with your studies and band. Here's hoping your Alembic dream is soon realized.

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Sam, the Finnian one

radioodidty · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2004, 02:44:24 PM »

Hey everyone!

Thanks for all the great ideas, I can already tell that people who play Alembics are a different type of player. I actually played something that was close to what I wanted today. It was such an expierence, I really bonded with the bass. Anyways, to mint bass I am 5'6 and I use a 3/4 double bass with it sitting on the second notch on the end pin. Of course, double bass is a very physically involved instrument. My recommendation would be to sit down with a teacher and discuss what he/she would think would be good for you at first at least. Most double bassists as time goes on find preferences they like and stick with that. Good luck with it. Thanks again everyone, I'm sure we'll have more chats soon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Joe W.

mint_bass · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2004, 02:06:04 AM »

thanks for the adivce i feel these are wise words and will follow your suggestion

its great when you play a bass and you just no they are goin to have to drag you off it that was what my first alembic experience was like i was not leaving the shop with out it i had driven 2 hours to play it and living in england though i am scottish and bein left handed makes finding american basses difficult

anyway thanks for the advice talk to you soon Joe
andrew

elzie · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2004, 08:23:13 AM »

Hey Joe! ( like the refference;)

Welcome to the club! Sorry I'm late in greeting, but it's been hectic lately....

Paul TGO

jseitang · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2004, 06:48:31 PM »

hey radio oddity,
i just finished my degree in double bass, who did you study with?