| Author | Message | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 236 Registered: 2-2006 |
Just curious, when did every one here first hear Alembic? First time I saw or even heard of Alembic was around 1976 or 77 at Skyline High School in Dallas, TX. The cat that played in the lab band ordered a new. When he got it I was hooked. Of course after that I started listening to all the Clarke I could. Jaco was my favorite though, guess thats why I bought a Jazz in 76 instead of an ALembic, then again at the time I could afford the Jazz not the Alembic.I can't believe I waited 28 years to get my first Alembic. | ||
| stoney
Senior Member Username: stoney Post Number: 436 Registered: 7-2002 |
Mid 70's via Stanley. I didn't know anything about Alembic but one of my friends (who was a bass major at college) said.... "that an "alem-beck", I think it's a German company". I actually bumped into Stanley, Chick, Lenny and Al in front of the theater they were playing in Pittsburgh later that year. They all got off of a bus and Stanley had his Alembic with him just slung over his shoulder, not in the case. They stopped and talked for a minute or two but I didn't get a chance to check out the bass. Gee...wish I had!!! | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 882 Registered: 7-2003 |
'72. I asked the typical, dumb question: "What kind of hollow body is that, Phil's playin'?" "An Alembic." "Oh. Olympic." "No. Alembic." | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 393 Registered: 12-2003 |
For me it was flipping through the book "Maximum R&B." That's got to be at least 20 years ago. | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 400 Registered: 2-2005 |
Stanley and Guitar Player magazine back in the 70's. Keith | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2373 Registered: 9-2002 |
An old, one colum wide, black and white ad in guitar player showing a medium scale, omega cutout series II in figured Walnut. It was when I decided to stop playing bass at 26. I took a pair of scissors and cutted the ad out the magazine and kept it in my wallet for 14 years. "Once I will own such a bass" I said to myself. Weird coïncidence: the year I got Bonnie my wallet with the ad was stolen. Paul the bad one | ||
| dwmark
Member Username: dwmark Post Number: 76 Registered: 1-2005 |
Saw Jack playing a monster bass at a free Airplane concert in Grant Park in 1972. Someone said it was some kind of custom bass he got in SF. It certainly was. dw | ||
| alembic76407
Senior Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 444 Registered: 5-2002 |
In 1976 a friend of my guitar player (a deadhead) came over to our practice one night and had a new bass that cost $2000 , I thought he had lost his mind, $2000 for a bass, they saw him coming I said, but he gave me his bass to play and I did, the next I went to a music store they had 2 Alembic's both already sold, the store owner called one of the buyer to see if he was going come and pick up his new bass, he said he was having trouble coming up with the money and backed out of the deal and I took it home that day, that was 30 years ago and I still love my Series 1 David T (TLO) | ||
| jorge_s
Member Username: jorge_s Post Number: 80 Registered: 8-2002 |
For me it was that old ad with John Judge and "Peggy". Christian, if you ever want to let her go please let me know. I know she has a good home though. | ||
| bonesrad
Junior Username: bonesrad Post Number: 44 Registered: 5-2002 |
In the early 80's, a buddy of mine turned me on to the Dixie Dregs. I loved the tone that Andy West achieved. I was hooked for life. Bones | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1222 Registered: 7-2004 |
ooops! Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on April 18, 2006) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1223 Registered: 7-2004 |
1970's. As an unrepentent deadhead, and major fan of the Airplane and the New Riders, Alembic was the Holy Grail. In about '75 or so I played in a short-lived band in Pasadena called "Cripple Finger" where the other guitarist had an early Series 1. About a year later, a friend put down a deposit on one, but had to back out when another friend got busted and the $ was needed for bail. Soon thereafter I put a stratoblaster in my strat, along with brass nut and bridge saddles and then a Stars Guitars two band EQ (I think it was called the "Startone"). I thought Alembics were out of financial reach until I ran across my '83 Electrum at a guitar show a couple of years ago. Bill, tgo | ||
| lowlife
Advanced Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 221 Registered: 12-2003 |
In 1975-76 I worked here in Montreal at Steve's Music Store (who is still the local dealer). They had a Series I on the rack. I played that baby every chance I got. I knew I would own an Alembic someday, but it took 28 years before I actually did. Well worth the wait IMHO. Ellery (Lowlife) (Message edited by lowlife on April 18, 2006) | ||
| newuser
Junior Username: newuser Post Number: 28 Registered: 12-2004 |
In the early 70's. I saw the pic of Johnny Winter's guitar in Rolling Stone Magazine and a couple of years later on Stanley's second album cover. First played one in '77. An acquaintance had a long scale Series I with a point (he also had an early 60's P-bass and a simply killer late 1800s Italian Flat Back!). | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 735 Registered: 9-2002 |
In the late 70s I worked for a 'mom and pop' (the BEST kind) music store. It had changed owners from an older couple to a very smart young man, and was going from reeds and marching corps business to Les Pauls, Strats, and we were riding the beginning of the era when Hartley Peavey turned hundreds of these style dealers into millionaires. It was like the first time I saw a Series One XK-E Jaguar: Everything else was an automobile, THIS was a CAR. We cleaned out lots of old stock. They had a file cabinet with bunches of catalogs and brochures, where I found a pricelist and a few slicks from ALEMBIC. After the prices knocked me silly, the pictures killed me. I had never seen ANYTHING like this, and as I read through it, it was obvious these guys had gone from chemical rockets to warp drive. That image of a maple topped fourstring Series Point literally burned itself into my mind. I truly felt like it was hypnotic suggestion. I felt like Roy Neary in 'Close Encounters', it's a wonder I didn't start pushing mashed potatoes into a point shape! In late 70s oil patch East Texas (I could see refineries at the end of the street) this was some impossibility, surely available only to monied, pony-tailed and tye-dyed guys in vintage Mercs driving around Mill Valley . . . a while later I heard 'School Days', saw Greg Lake play one at a Houston concert, saw pictures of JPJ with Zeppelin, and it only added to the exotic mystery and impossibility of these things. It's no wonder I could NEVER get excited about a Fender, no matter how good: WHY would ANYONE drive a Ford if you could somehow have a Ferrari? The neckthru Yamahas became the surrogate: At least a little of the same concepts and they weren't common in those days. I HATED having the same thing as most other people. People who DON'T want to show off a little make me nervous! All those years later, I found the BigRedBass. I felt like I'd finally climbed the Devil's Tower and was leaving on the mothership. Only to find that ultimately it owns me, instead of the other way around. And it's built by some of the nicest people in the world who've become friends to me. This truly is the rarest of cases where a long-time daydream has turned out better than I could have ever hoped for in my wildest dreams. And Honda thinks THEY have the power of ideas! J o e y | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 615 Registered: 11-2004 |
I found out about Alembic as a Stanley fan in about 1974 or 1975. I wish I had a cool story like Stoney's. I (as a beginning bassist with about 1 year under my belt) just wanted to know all about Stanley and that led me to Alembic. No really cool story but 32 years later I have the best bass I have ever played (two of them, actually) and I think that's pretty cool. BTW, Stoney, I think that Chick, Stanley, Lenny, and Al was the best RTF line-up. I really enjoyed the RTF concert I went to in 1977, but I wish I has seen the four of them live, too. Rich | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 354 Registered: 7-2004 |
I first heard of Alembic in connection with the Grateful Dead and Owsley Stanley. I listened to Live Dead and Europe '72 (both strongly influenced by Alembic) until the grooves wore out. Then, in the early 80s I worked for a short time at Bag End, building crossover circuits. One of my coworkers had an Alembic guitar. I played it for only a short session - it was unlike any other guitar I'd ever played. I remembered that experience for a long time. A couple of years ago, I wanted to begin playing more electric music again after playing mostly acoustic guitar for years. That's when Alembic reappeared on my radar and I ordered a Skylark. I rarely play anything else now. =) Tom | ||
| the_8_string_king
Intermediate Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 140 Registered: 9-2005 |
When I was about 15 or 16, and extremely enthusiastic about music, learning to appreciate an ever-diversifying and increasing range of music, and becoming interested in learning to play an instrument -especially for a kid- an older friend/mentor type person told me about some fantastic bass player who "played bass like a guitar, sort of, and ultra-funky" with "the most fantastic bass in the world", and he enthusiastically offered to lend me an alblum if I was interested, so, of course, I was, and I borrowed it. It was called "I wanna play for you" by a fellow named Stanley Clarke playing an "Alembic" bass -the most fantastic sounding AND looking bass I'd ever heard. I instantly fell in love with both. I admired and jubilated and exalted when I heard this Clarke fellow play his Alembic bass. I quickly made it a point to learn about both Stanley and Alembic -as well as many of the other great bassists and guitarists who play them. Over the years, I had the opportunity to play 2 different Series I basses, a Spoiler, and an Electrum guitar. Of course they were the finest things I'd ever touched (and I'd played other regarded-as-premium instrument brands). Eventually getting an Alembic became a dream at an early point. And -like MANY OTHERS here- once I got one, I had to have a custom. It (Stanley/Alembic) was certainly one of the largest -possibly THE largest (I honestly can't say for sure) reason(s) I chose to pursue electric bass as an instrument. I wanted to play like he did -and to have that awesome instrument. Yeah, in case I'm not making myself clear, I learned about Stanley and Alembic simultaneously, and instantly admired both, and it was a BIG part of my playing as such, and also influencewise. I owe both Stanley and Alembic immeasurably as both were part of why I decided to play in the first place -as well as also shaping/influencing/benefitting me immeasurably. Thanks!!! I'm most grateful! | ||
| 88persuader
Intermediate Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 188 Registered: 5-2004 |
I say Return to Forever in the late 70's with Stanley. And now I own a Stanley Clark model Alembic ... who would have guesses it? :-) | ||
| 88persuader
Intermediate Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 189 Registered: 5-2004 |
That is I SAW Return to forever .... etc. :-) | ||
| smokin_dave
Advanced Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 266 Registered: 10-2002 |
When I saw that more than one of my hero bass players were playing them,I looked into it.Too bad I had to wait another twenty years before I got my first one. Better late than never. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 603 Registered: 10-2002 |
Like alot of replies here, I first heard of Alembic at the same time as I heard Stanley play in the 70s. I'd heard the grateful dead earlier but hadn't really looked into how they got their sound. And like most here, it took 20 something years before I was able to justify my own Alembic. Incidentally, for Keith H - I still have a copy of that 70s guitar player with Stanley on the front cover - I'll try to scan it and post it here. Graeme | ||
| grateful
Intermediate Member Username: grateful Post Number: 128 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks to the Grateful Dead in the early seventies. Took me 30 years! Like Tom Z, since acquiring my Alembic, I don't wish to play anything else! Mark | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 847 Registered: 6-2002 |
The first time that I'm aware of must have been in a Dutch 1970s music magazine called Muziekkrant Oor - my dad did a handful of technical reviews of audio stuff for them, so he had a free subscription for a couple of years. (They had some amazing cartoon-like artwork back then.) Anyway - they had this big article on the history of the electric guitar, featuring some weird stuff - like Merle Travis's early solid body, the Fender with the hidden pickups, the plexiglass Ampegs - and the 4,000$ sliding-pickup Alembic. My older brother cut out all the nice pictures and resumes, and stuck them on the wall of the shared bedroom, and that's where the dreaming must have begun. Years later, the local music shop let me play the Stanley-style Spoiler they had. It was easy to notice that this thing was almost playing itself - but I also noticed the filter took some getting used to - and the Trace Elliott rig to try it out on wasn't helping (I never liked the TE sound). Flash forward to the 1994 music fair in Rotterdam, where the Dutch importer at the time - Wils - had a very impressive selection of Alembics hanging behind a closely guarded counter. I took my jaw off the floor after a while, and walked on to another booth, where they had the then new Epic on a stand - ready to be picked up, supposedly for trying out BagEnd cabs. IIRC the rig included a SuperFilter - but I kind of concentrated on the Epic. From what I've been told, that's the very same Epic that I've been playing for the past 12 years. Coming from a plump Yamaha BB1000S, it was really a huge leap forward. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 711 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think the first one I saw was from a clip on TV of Mannfred Mann playing "Blinded By The Light." Then, Tom Fowler on "Overnight Sensation." Or maybe it was Tom on a Jean Luc Ponty album? John Wallace with Harry Chapin was the first time I had actually *heard* one in person. I didn't know that those were Alembics until seeing/hearing/reading about Stanley in Guitar Player magazine. Then seeing Greg Lake on the Works Volume 1 tour and JE in the film "The Kids Are Alright" pretty much sealed the deal. I knew I would one day have one... John | ||
| s_wood
Intermediate Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 196 Registered: 5-2002 |
November 8, 1974. Passaic, NJ. Frank Zappa and the Mothers, with the great Tom Fowler on bass. You can read the whole story here should you be so inclined: http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/5999.html The first studio album on which Fowler used an Alembic was "One Siz Fits All," (release in in 1975). Everyone should own that disc and listen to it once a week. Some other excellent live recordings of Zappa and Fowler with an Alembic are the recently re-released "Dub Room Special" DVD (a live-in-studio show recorded in August of '74 for TV broadcast), Volume II of the "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore" series, a live recording of a e show in Helsinki in 09/74, and Bongo Fury (recorded mostly live in the spring of 75). Good stuff! Did I mention that I am The World's Largest Tom Fowler Fan? | ||
| s_wood
Intermediate Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 197 Registered: 5-2002 |
November 8, 1974. Passaic, NJ. Frank Zappa and the Mothers, with the great Tom Fowler on bass. You can read the whole story here should you be so inclined: http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/5999.html The first studio album on which Fowler used an Alembic was "One Siz Fits All," (release in in 1975). Everyone should own that disc and listen to it once a week. Some other excellent live recordings of Zappa and Fowler with an Alembic are the recently re-released "Dub Room Special" DVD (a live-in-studio show recorded in August of '74 for TV broadcast), Volume II of the "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore" series, a live recording of a e show in Helsinki in 09/74, and Bongo Fury (recorded mostly live in the spring of 75). Good stuff! Did I mention that I am The World's Largest Tom Fowler Fan? | ||
| jet_powers
Advanced Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 268 Registered: 2-2003 |
I was in high school in the mid 70's and got a poster of The Who. JAE was playing a zebra wood bass that I just thought was the coolest thing... A few years later I was turned onto Stanley and put two and two together. Thus began my 10 year search and wait for my first Alembic... JP | ||
| gare
Advanced Member Username: gare Post Number: 369 Registered: 11-2003 |
In the early 70's I had seen the New Riders and Grateful Dead together and thought the instruments sounded good so I checked into them,but about that time I had bought a 4001 and wasn't interested in switching. A few years later, maybe '75 or so, I saw the Who and JE was playing one..hey I remember those. Then a year later seeing Greg Lake using the 8 string. Finally, in the mid 80's I picked up a Spoiler with a solid Koa body. (wish I still had that) Then after going thru Steinbergers and Spectors, in 2004 I ordered the Excel. G | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 401 Registered: 2-2005 |
Graeme, I've moved a few too many times to have any magazines left that are that old (I was able to dispose of the skeletons in the closet also). Look forward to the picture being posted. Keith | ||
| slawie
New Username: slawie Post Number: 2 Registered: 8-2002 |
I first heard of Alembic when I was in Santa Clara in 1988 on a training course (I am from Oz). I saw this small body fretless at Starving Musician that I thought was a copy of a Gibson SG. I prevously owned an Ibanez and when I picked up the bass to have a try I was absolutely blown away. Without even thinking or knowning about Alembic I forked out my $770.00 US for the bass because it played so beautifully. I did some checking on the web and took a trip to the factory in Santa Rosa and met Mica where she had a look at the bass and confirmed its authenticity. Mica was kind enough to give it a serial number 75-251S the "S" stands for Slawie(my name). I own a '77 Jazz bass also but the instrument love of my life is the Alembic. I have wondered what it would be worth now but that would be a sacrilegious exercise to have it valued as I believe I would never sell the bass even if I was living on the streets I could not part with it. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Intermediate Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 142 Registered: 9-2005 |
That's *sob* how I feel, Slawie! | ||
| u14steelgtr
Junior Username: u14steelgtr Post Number: 17 Registered: 7-2003 |
I first played an Alembic in 1977 or 1978. Another 20 years would pass before I would own an Alembic guitar. I was visiting Chuck Levin’s Wheaton Music and the salesman said I really should try out this guitar. I said "sure - why not." When the salesman returned with a solid-body guitar I thought he was pulling a prank on me: he knew that I had a prejudicial bias with the premise that a solid-body guitar was by definition an inferior guitar. As soon as I played it I immediately took a liking to the guitar but I could not imagine myself owning a solid body guitar; nor could I imagine spending that much money on a solid body guitar. I remember saying to the salesman that it was indeed an exceptional guitar but because it cost almost as much as a nice acoustic guitar I would not consider purchasing it. A few months after my introduction to the Alembic I became aware that Alembic also made basses. I made the acquaintance of a guy that had a really pretty Alembic bass. He was a great player that could sight read music. He also introduced me to tri-amping an instrument using Hi-Fi amps. This was the first time that I was aware that an electric bass guitar could sound great. (Message edited by u14steelgtr on April 19, 2006) | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 628 Registered: 11-2002 |
That's a good one, slawie - I believe the first time I saw an Alembic in person was also at Starving Musician in Santa Clara (I happen to live nearby), it was used, and also a fretless! This was in 93, and I'm pretty sure it was an Essence (Epics had just come out, but don't think this was one), and it had a light maple top and back. I was on my first serious search for a decent bass, wasn't really looking for used, and maybe the wood and shape weren't quite what I had in mind either... but to this day, I have a very clear picture (suitably enhanced by now) in my mind of that bass, and I can also remember just how solid, and carefully built it felt compared to all the other high end basses I was trying out at the time. It seems like I must have seen some others, since I'm pretty sure Guitar Showcase was a dealer back then, and while cleaning the garage last weekend I found a 93 price list and brochure that had been mailed to me (I kept this, of course). Perhaps GS was low on stock, or only had models beyond my ambitions at the time. But still, I guess I'm the oddball here in that I never really dreamed about owning an Alembic, at least not until around the time my custom was already on order (ten years later...). Yeah, I think I knew by the late 70s that Stanley played one, but I don't seem to have the same set of heroes (if any) as many of the folks here. Around 2002 I was ready for a better instrument (replacing the Carvin I bought back then, and will also never part with). I knew it had to be custom, did a bunch of web searching, made some phone calls, and Alembic ended up on the short list. One big factor was that they were close enough that I could easily visit to pick woods, nail down the design, and so forth. And of course, that first phone call with Susan made it clear these people knew what they doing... So I came at this from a different angle than most of you, but it ended up pretty much the same. To paraphrase Joey, not only did I end up with a world class instrument, but I made some dear friends at the same time. Thanks. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 606 Registered: 10-2002 |
Here you go Keith. I suspect it's not the same magazine as this was a UK mag. Pinpoints exactly when I first heard of Alembic and saw pictures of Stanley - May 1976. Thirty pence for a black and white mag in those days. £3.20 miniumum nowadays for a full colour glossy. The article itself is pretty short (they only got 20 minutes to talk to Stanley but he does extol the virtues of Alembic - the rig has 2 Alembic pre-amps running into crown power amps. He also says he admires Chris Squire which would have been reason enough for me to buy the mag.  Graeme | ||
| george_wright
Member Username: george_wright Post Number: 89 Registered: 3-2005 |
I heard about Alembic from my #3 son. Trying to be a conscientious parent---one who would instill in his kids the idea of managing assets---I started a savings account for each kid when he was born. I put a nominal amount in each month, to show them how regular savings could grow. The deal was that it was theirs when they turned fifteen. Naturally, when they turned fifteen, they all blew the amount on some boy-toy. (So much for parental good intentions :-(!) The #1 son bought a Rick 4003. The #3 son bought an Alembic Epic. I got to play them both, which eventually led me to buy a used Spoiler and a custom Rogue. | ||
| serialnumber12
Advanced Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 367 Registered: 12-2004 |
Return to forever "Romantic Warrrior" the sound of those bass tracks!,as well as other bass players with that alembic sound made me want one REAL BAD!!!...then walked into guitar center one day in 1980 & saw this Old-ass alembic bass (#12) hanging on the wall & here i am 26 yrs later still with it! | ||
| steve4765630
New Username: steve4765630 Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2006 |
I heard about Alembic through bass player magazine when I was in junior high. They always appealed to me, but I never got to play one until in college. I played a few that weren't set up very well and it kind of wrecked the buzz for me. Now that I've played one set up well, I have nothing but good things to say about them. Great sound, great quality, great bass. | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 400 Registered: 6-2002 |
I think the first time I heard of the name of Alembic was on the back of one of the Return to forever Albums. I think it said something like Stanley Clarke, Alembic Bass with Instant Flanger. Then the 1st time I saw one was when Clarkee toured the UK in the early 80's with the clarke duke project. then I was blown away by them and wanted one since then. So I guess I waited about 23 years or so to get my first. No regrets apart from wishing I could have afforded one years ago. Jazzyvee | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 168 Registered: 6-2002 |
I joined a band in '71 that was doing some Grateful Dead tunes, "Playin' In The Band," "Bertha," and "Mamma Tried." At the time I was playing a Fender Jazz and couldn't get the incredibly rich sound I was hearing on the recordings. I discovered it was an Alembic and that I couldn't afford one, so I bought a Rickenbacker (neck thru body) and put Rotosound flatwounds on it. That became MY surrogate until I finally found a 20th Anniversary about 5 years ago. | ||
| ajish4
Junior Username: ajish4 Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2003 |
Greg Lake, 197?  Ever since, I was hooked..... Oh, LOOK at that BASS!!!!!!!!! | ||
| ttwatts
New Username: ttwatts Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2004 |
For me it was also 197?, I went to a Brothers Johnson concert. He was playing an Alembic. I have been hooked ever since. | ||
| rockbassist
Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 74 Registered: 8-2005 |
It was the mid 70's for me. I saw some pictures of John Entwistle using one. I had always been a Fender player and was a big fan of The Who. In the early 80's a friend of mine who played drums decided to learn to play bass. He found an Alembic at a pawn shop. I played it a few times and found it to be extremely heavy. I continued to play 70's Fender Jazz and Precision basses as well as Musicmans. Last year, I was looking for something different because I was really unhappy with my Musicman. I decided to take a ride to a store about 40 miles away. They had a used Epic 5 string which played and sounded better than anything else I had ever owned so I took it home that night. A few months later I bought another one from a private seller. I still love my 76 Precision but my Epic has been my main bass since I purchased it. | ||
| paulman
Junior Username: paulman Post Number: 21 Registered: 2-2005 |
I first heard Alembic from the source!! An interview with Bear (Playing in the Band by David Gans?) where he talked about getting Alembic off the ground in 69, working with Ron and company to improve the quality of stringed instruments and take them to the next level. Funny that my new guitar was named the Further model. I had been a deadhead for a long time at that point, and since I'm also a Major gearhead (when it comes to music and technology) it gave me a whole new world to research and explore. Before all this discovery, I went to a few music stores, and wanted to know if they had any National guitars like the one Jerry Garcia played...d'oh!! | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 1012 Registered: 11-2003 |
I first decided to learn to play bass around '82 or '83. My roommate at the time was a bass player who worked at a local music store. He took me shopping in the trade in section. The first thing he handed me was this huge, elaborate looking bass that he called an Alembic. He also said the company was owned by the Grateful Dead. Not sure where that info came from. I had never played a bass before but holding this instrument I felt as if it could almost play itself. It just felt right in my hands. Love at first sight. That is until he told me it would cost $1300. I ended up with a used Guild B302 but never forgot that magical experience. The next time I saw an Alembic in person I was unpacking my Epic about 20 years later. Looking back I think that first one was a Series 1. Sam | ||
| michoid
Junior Username: michoid Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2006 |
First time I saw an alembic, was on TV. Fleetwood Mac were on ''midnight special'', must have been '77, I had just started playing bass. Then, as I was a big fan of John Entwistle of the who, having all the records, I had posters and all, he had an alembic too. Still I had no idea that was an ''Alembic''. Then I was introduce to Jazz and fusion and got into Stanley. Must I've read in a interview that he was playing was an Alembic. Of course there were no alembic around, up here in North pole (sherbrooke, canada) so I contact a local luthier, had my drawing (sort of a Greg lake alembic design) and made it. That was in '82 I beleive. I went on the road with that bass for 5 years. Great bass, I don't have it anymore. In '89 after having stop playing for a while, I went back on the road. I knew what I wanted. I was decided to put the cash down. I went to Toronto where they had a couple of Serie 1. They were all used except for a brand new Elan 5. I took of with the Elan, still got it today. One day I'm gonna get that cocobolo Serie 1 that I've been dreaming of for then 25 years... Michel, Montreal area. | ||
| yggdrasil
Intermediate Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 119 Registered: 5-2002 |
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| made_a_rose
New Username: made_a_rose Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2006 |
My introduction to Alembic was in 1983. Return to Forever was playing a 1 night only gig at the Palladium in NYC. I was in college working for Ron Delsner a concert promoter. My “job” was to make sure the hospitality suite was stocked with food. And if anyone needed anything I had it sent up. The individual band members arrived, and came up to the suite to hang out. Stanley came into the room with his bass in hand. He sat down and started warming up. I can’t explain what that was like. The bass was just beyond anything I had ever seen. The sound from the un-amped bass just sang. While his hands continued to move faster and faster, Stanley continued to talk to others in the room. He caught my watching him in awe and kind of chuckled. I had a thousand questions I wanted to ask, but all I said was “what kind of bass is that?” “ALEMBIC” I felt like I had just been told the coolest secret in the music world. I got to see the real deal. I wanted that sound!!! My quest was to get my hands on something…anything Alembic. I first purchased a Stratoblaster. Wow wasn’t that cool! Then I started purchasing the best pickups in the world. It was foreign to me, like what the hell did I need a battery for? I never saw pickups with pots like that. But plug them together and…..WOW HOLLY COW. What the hell is that beautiful sound? Why does nothing else sound like that???? I have asked that question for years! While I only own their fine pickups and activators, I await the day when I can have them placed in the fine woods and expertly crafted instruments called Alembic. | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 644 Registered: 11-2002 |
Great story, Rich, and welcome. One of the other words that goes with Alembic is "patience" - your time will come. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3807 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Rich; welcome to the group! (Message edited by davehouck on May 10, 2006) |
