Hi! Again! I originally joined this forum in December 2004, which was the month I bought my first Alembic. I've been away for a while, mostly due to personal life things. Figured since I've been lurking about and posting again somewhat regularly I should do this very thing. So here I am doing it.
I'm based in the greater Seattle, WA area, play in several groups as well as occasional sub work. I generally have a gig every Friday and Saturday evening. I like to stay busy and have a very understanding wife who is actually the lead singer in a few of my musical projects. She's also busy with her own projects. Lots of music all the time in our home.
My Alembic harem has expanded recently as I've determined that if it doesn't have the Alembic logo on the headstock, I'm probably not going to be playing that bass in a live setting.
Happy to be back and doing music again as a priority life activity.
Meet the family.
Bottom row (L to R):
- 1988 Elan - this bass will live with TI Jazz Flats on it as soon as that Orion is completed/delivered, it has strong P bass vibes
- 2011 Essence - there is a FTC thread on this one. It's got standard Essence electronics save a master bass control (+/- 12dB) ( Brian's Custom Quilted Maple Essence (https://club.alembicguitars.com/factory-to-customer/brian-s-custom-quilted-maple-essence/) )
- 1990 Essence - this is from the run that was made for Guitar Center or Musicians Friend when they were dealers. I'm going to have this bass converted to a fretless by Mike Lull's shop at some point.
Top row (L to R):
- 2011 - Orion w/Signature electronics.
- <placeholder for Orion 4-string currently being built> - this is going to be my primary instrument when it's delivered. This is going to have Signature electronics as well, so it'll essentially be a 4-string version of the 5-string above. Most of the wood choices are also aligned with the 5-string.
- 2001(?) employee shop night special (vol / filter electronics) - this isn't a "real" Alembic. It doesn't have a serial number but it does come from a time when employees could still put the logo on their shop night instruments. It's a really neat instrument. It has a very unique voice that works really well for classic rock stuff, especially in particularly boomy rooms.
That Shop Night bass is really special.
Very nice harem. The single pickup version catches my eye.
Love shot of your instruments! That Orion must sound killer.
Quote from: fivestringdan on October 03, 2026, 12:01:17 PMLove shot of your instruments! That Orion must sound killer.
It does. So much so that the Mothership is in the process of building me a 4-string Orion w/Signature electronics, and a few other fun things.
Things have gotten slightly more out of control since that picture was taken. I added another Elan and another Orion (with standard Orion electronics). The innerwebz have been generous with deals too good to pass up this year.
PXL_20261027_142155453 (1).jpg
FWIW the single pickup "shop night" bass looks a lot like the Orion prototype that I saw in the latter days of my time at Alembic. Stingrays were super popular at the time and IIRC the idea was to put an Alembic spin on the concept and expand the range of more affordable Alembics.