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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive through February 10, 2015 » How long is it since you played a non alembic bass at a gig? « Previous Next »

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jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4297
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 6:00 am:   Edit Post

I had a gig last night with Musical Youth and realised that it was the first bass gig I've done without playing an alembic since getting my first one in 2002.

I have an Atlas Galaxy Thai hand made bass that I bought about this time last year to leave at my girlfriends home for practice when I'm over there. Recently I put some LP & HP filters into it and with the LP filter range going down to 45hz and about 20db of CVQ I thought it might be a good bass to dedicate to my reggae gigs hence me trying it out at the gig.

I wonder who, apart from JJ, whom I presume is likely to have one of the longest unbroken reins of exclusive alembic use for gigging, holds the longest stretch. Let's exclude rehearsals and jam sessions.
pas
Advanced Member
Username: pas

Post Number: 298
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 6:07 am:   Edit Post

1985. :-)
malthumb
Senior Member
Username: malthumb

Post Number: 569
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 7:39 am:   Edit Post

I lose. 2014.

It's actually fairly frequent for me. Sometimes I take my Alembic 5-string and another 4-string. Sometimes I take 2 non-Alembic basses. Have a gig coming up December 5th that I'll probably decide December 4th what I'll actually be taking. Fact of the matter is, my 2 Alembics are complimented by 5 other truly awesome basses (of course the Alembics are more awesomer) and I don't like to have basses just sit and collect dust. So I play them all. The more high profile the gig, the more likely there will be an Alembic on stage.

Peace,

James
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 1334
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 9:24 am:   Edit Post

About 5 years ago I did a Christmas gig with my upright.
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1596
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 9:27 am:   Edit Post

The only other basses I've gigged with since I got my first Alembic in 1998:
Fender Jazz Bass V (96 Anniversary, traded for the '83 Spoiler)
Aria Pro II SB Black 'n Gold I, used only for a couple of gigs before I sold it.
Fender Prodigy (with Alembic electronics) This was my main bass before I got the Fender V and Alembic.
Last used for a special gig in 2013 (second time onstage since '98)

Best pics I could find...

Fender V:


Aria:


Prodigy:


(Message edited by fc_spoiler on November 16, 2014)
jimmyj
Senior Member
Username: jimmyj

Post Number: 549
Registered: 8-2008
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 9:46 am:   Edit Post

I've played a few sessions on "provided" basses just for the comedy factor... Live, my answer would have been 1975 but my streak was interrupted in 1987 when my bass was stolen and I played one Holdsworth gig on a borrowed Yamaha 5-string. I didn't enjoy it much...

Jimmy J
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4298
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 9:48 am:   Edit Post

Ha, looks like you had Ozzy Osbourne and a smurf on your gig. :-)
lembic76450
Advanced Member
Username: lembic76450

Post Number: 390
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 10:25 am:   Edit Post

Jimmy, due to the circumstances of the stolen Alembic, I think you would be granted a pass by all here... For me it would be 1978...
stout71
Advanced Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 233
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 11:08 am:   Edit Post

I play with 3 different basses at pretty much every show. I have my Warwick tuned down 1/2 step and use it for some songs. I use the MK-5 for most of the others and I break out the Hamer 12 for a couple.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1546
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

For my cover gigs I use my Status MK black beauties. A 5 and a 6. Usually the 6. Headless, neck through graphite. It never needs adjustment.
mavnet
Junior
Username: mavnet

Post Number: 32
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 12:12 pm:   Edit Post

Just sent my 77 custom back to to Alembic for a refinish and some love, so I've been playing a Jack Casady Epi. After the solid feel of the Alembic it's like playing a balsa wood bass. It sounds surprisingly good, although without the fine control i'm used to on the Alembic. First time since 77 since i've played something other than my fretted or fretless customs. I feel like I'm a cheating husband. 3 months or so til i get her back ... can't wait!

(Message edited by mavnet on November 16, 2014)
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2727
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 8:07 pm:   Edit Post

I've been gigging my Zon Sonus V for a few years, but I just picked up an Essence 5 that should reverse the trend. The Zon will still be the backup, though. When I thought I was going all four string, I let my Alembic fiver go and only recently got hooked back up properly.
tomhug
Intermediate Member
Username: tomhug

Post Number: 157
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 1:19 pm:   Edit Post

My pure-Alembic streak ran from 1986 to 2011.

A few years ago, I started to frequent blues jams here in Chicago so I built a parts Fender Jazz. I was worried that the "hippie sandwich" would get the stink-eye from the more traditionally minded.

Eventually I started as "house" bass player at a few regular jams here in the area, and Alembic started to re-appear on a more frequent basis.

I have a dual case, and one slot is always Alembic, the other is usually a Fender. Love 'em both. If I had to pick only one, it'd be Alembic, but I'm glad I don't have to pick.
eastcoastepic
Advanced Member
Username: eastcoastepic

Post Number: 268
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 6:17 pm:   Edit Post

December, 2003, and haven't really considered pulling out another axe for a gig (rehearsal is another story). The down side is you gotta watch your bass like a hawk so she doesn't 'walk away', but the upside is, well...you know what the upside is.... :-)
wayne
Advanced Member
Username: wayne

Post Number: 218
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 7:59 pm:   Edit Post

Not counting gigs that specifically call for upright - since 1990 after I got my first Alembic.

It was "The Tone" and everything else went on the shelf or out the door. :-)

C-Ya.....wayne
edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 108
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 8:31 pm:   Edit Post

I have taken my Alembic on almost every job since I got it last June. Though I long for the day I can carry two Alembics to a gig, right now my Persuader 5 is being joined by an Electroline 535 PMM fretless, (Rick Turner) and sometimes my upright. All three are joining me for an upcoming set of Christmas Concerts.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3609
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 - 5:08 am:   Edit Post

I haven't played a non alembic bass at a gig snce 1996 when I got my epic. I used to take my old precision as a backup in case of string breakage but never needed it.

Graeme
hankster
Advanced Member
Username: hankster

Post Number: 373
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 - 5:51 pm:   Edit Post

Apart from upright gigs, not since i got my SJ ten years ago. Except one Haloween gig when the optics just cried out for my red Les Paul bass. There's just no good reason to use anything else. Except maybe Halloween.
serialnumber12
Senior Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 1094
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 4:35 am:   Edit Post

it's very rare im seen without my alembic.
coop
Junior
Username: coop

Post Number: 21
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2014 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post

Recently, I aggravated an old shoulder muscle injury that makes it hard to play my SCSD for a whole night, so I've been playing my NS Design OmniBass (electric upright) for my blues gigs. Now that my Rogue is here, I can't wait to play it out, but my shoulder still suggests my EUB will be sharing the bill.

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