Alembic Series I guitar with EMG's

[jazzyvee]

I found this on on one of the alembic groups on Facebook this morning.
 


 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hk8-DNeLn68#!
 
Interesting comment he makes about single coils and electronics.
 
Enjoy or otherwise.......
jazzyvee

[bluplirst]

Cool Guitar, wouldn't take the comments too seriously though.  Just a guitar hack who likes a certain tone i guess.

[jzstephan]

Sounds great; like everyone else. Homogenized.
 
ho?mog?e?nize   [huh-moj-uh-nahyz, hoh-]  
3. to make uniform or similar, as in composition or function  
 
Too bad an innocent and valuable guitar (now devalued) had to be raped to get the same sound as a $300 Dean.

[lbpesq]

Serial # is 80??
And the single coils didn't sound good because they were from 1976?
 
Don't anyone sell this guy a 1960's Ferrari.  He's likely to pull the engine and replace it with a 2010 Camaro engine because all those 1960's engines aren't any good anymore. And while we're at it, all those old Stradivarius violins should really be refinished.  
 
Bill, tgo

[pace]

......and even though I'm playing through dual half-stacks, I replaced Alembic's five-pin stereo output with a 3way toggle switch......
 
He might want to consider routing it for a Floyd Rose trem if he wants to nail the RR and VH licks dead on...  
 
(Message edited by Pace on February 04, 2012)
 
(Message edited by pace on February 04, 2012)

[bigredbass]

There's lots of guitars with pickups other than what the manufacturer originally installed, just the nature of the game.  And of course, there'd be no EMG without Alembic.
 
In fact, I often wonder why none of the custom builders would let you choose from a menu of circuits/pickups:  Imagine spec'ing a guitar and having the choice of Fralins, Duncans, EMG's, etc.  Seems obvious to me . . . .
 
I'm not crazy that this 70's S1 is no longer stock, but then again, if they didn't work for what he wanted, that's his business.  Musical instruments are endlessly recycled and modified to fit someone's taste, and at least it's not one more LP or Strat, where to me it's a lot like Harleys:  Let's all buy the same ride, wear the same clothes, look the same, sound the same, so we can show the world just how DIFFERENT we are !
 
J o e y

[sonicus]

Within Harley World of riders who can build their own and work on their own it has been a tradition for as long as I can remember to express your self through DIFFERENT modifications to indicate your individualism .NOT look the same_ LOL ______ It is a matter of wisdom as well;  A 1947 HD  Knucklehead is better left original as well as a 1971 HD Superglide  BOTH are worth LOTS MORE stock.  
 
   As far as the POOR instrument in question in this thread , It's his business what he likes BUT I think that there is no question that he has devalued it considerably.  I will go even farther and say that in my own opinion  He has his thumbs in his eyes regarding his changes , but then those are his preferences and his business.   I think it shows lack of wisdom . I think he would have been better off getting one of the many WANT TO BE ALEMBIC lower end neck through and making his mods on one of those instead.    
 
     MY 2 cents_ LOL _______

[edwin]

I think that the owner agrees with you, Wolf. I quote:
 
I have to agree with you. You should always leave the guitar original which is a lesson I learned long ago. I've had the guitar the since 1978 and when I was much younger found the cannon lead, batteries, stereo set up ,transforners for Aus 240v etc a pain for playing in Australia and changed the pickups at the time to non active humbuckers and at a later stage to the emg's. The guitar is easier to use now but agree the original pickups had a unique sound.

[sonicus]

Edwin _____Perhaps  , my terminology and sentiment is too harsh , however I believe that through communications with Alembic Inc. he could have preserved the original integrity of this instrument if that was a concern at the time. Perhaps the mods were the result of  economic hardship and personal frustration with  a technical issue as per the quote in your post.

[edwin]

Nah, I think he was being young and impetuous. I don't think he really had much perspective on what he had/has. You wouldn't believe the amount of crap I got from Allen Woody when he saw my modified Starfire, so these things are a matter of perspective. Unlike Mr. EMG SI, I doubt I'm going to have any regrets or second thoughts!

[sonicus]

Edwin , I think you are correct :  he was being young and impetuous.     As far as a Modified Starfire , well I am guilty  as charged as well in this case.  I wonder what Mr.Allen Woody had to say about Berry Oakley removing a pickup from his Starfire and putting it on his Fender Jazz Bass.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Ah ha!  So that's why I liked his tone so much better than most Fender players'!  I was not aware - thanks, Wolf.
 
Peter

[sonicus]

HI Peter!  
           Berry's modified Jazz Bass , nick named the Tractor did indeed have a note worthy sound (pun intended) LOL __.
Here is a link to the Allman Brothers site;
 
     http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&thold=-1&mode=flat&order=0&sid=91
 
 Wolf

[edwin]

Fender did try to clone the Tractor, but they kinda got it wrong with the pickups. Instead of a BiSonic, they used something else and Berry Jr. definitely noticed a difference. Our bands shared a bill in Denver, so I showed him my Darkstar equipped Starfire and gave him Fred Hammon's info, so hopefully he took the time to get it right. That night he was playing a pretty much stock jazz bass.
 
The bass pictured above was the second tractor. The first was a dot neck instrument, so it was presumably older. Apparently in his zeal for routing out for the BiSonic, he went all the way through the body and the instrument was a source of ridicule from the rest of the band, he didn't even have to wait for Allen to grow up to get grief for it! The name of the bass, The Tractor, was a reference to its perceived ugliness and function over form aspects.
 

[sonicus]

Cool Story Edwin ____

 

 

  (Message edited by davehouck on February 06, 2012)