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mascarasnake
New
Username: mascarasnake

Post Number: 5
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 4:11 pm:   Edit Post

Can it be done? From what I see all of the necks are set necks and neckthrus, and usually bolt-ons tend to be better for the percussive quality.
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 610
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 4:39 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Bill,
Well, Stanley Clarke seemed okay with Alembic neck thru models....

and Louis Johnson of The Brothers Johnson...

Check the "Artists & Their Alembics" thread

Mike
lidon2001
Intermediate Member
Username: lidon2001

Post Number: 177
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 5:18 pm:   Edit Post

Stanley Clarke and Mark King, two Alembic Signature models are named after slap monsters. Yes, you can slap an Alembic. The better percussive quality is in Alembic's corner, IMHO.

T
lidon2001
Intermediate Member
Username: lidon2001

Post Number: 178
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 5:32 pm:   Edit Post

In addition, I want to add that after playing my new Alembics, I can't even think of going to a "Franken-bass" (bass with bolts in the neck) such as my amazing '83 USA Vintage Reissue Jazz. It really can't hold a note against my Alembics. The Fender just needs to age a few more years before I sell it.

My Alembics can be slapped just fine. And most players could slap them better than me! :-)

T
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 850
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 6:30 pm:   Edit Post

Bolt-ons are better for bolt manufacturers.

J o e y
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 475
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 7:19 pm:   Edit Post

Well lets see here. I have several bolt on basses and several neck thru models and can slap them all just fine.
I will admit that on my Alembics I had to clean up my slapping some. I credit this to the Alembics superior quality in sound. On my Alembic basses I have to raise my palm up a tad to keep it from hitting the strings. In other words, nothing gets by the Alembic. It is a much more sensitive instrument than the average bass.
It's like the first time you sing with an in ear monitor, or sing in a studio with headphones. You can really hear everything, mistakes in all.
hankster
Junior
Username: hankster

Post Number: 40
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 4:18 am:   Edit Post

You can not only slap on an Alembic, you can get every nuanced slap sound ever recorded. It requires a bit more right hand precision (at least on my Stanley Clarke model) than some other basses but once you are used to it there is no going back.

Rick
pauldo
New
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 6:17 am:   Edit Post

Hankster speaks the truth, on my Distillate (when strung with round wounds) I can dig in really hard with my right hand doing fingerstyle and get the precussive 'slap' sound, which I have seen Stanley do also.
worldfamousandy
Member
Username: worldfamousandy

Post Number: 64
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 4:54 am:   Edit Post

I love the sound of the Alembic being slapped. High fidelity definitely lends itself well to the technique. I do occasionally struggle with finding enough room between the neck pickup and the neck, however. You have to be precise with that right hand! Also, if you really start to go nuts, you risk slapping the pickup selector switch. That can be painful (I once actually drew blood from one of these accidents). I play a '76 Series 1, and I believe the newer ones feature a repositioned selector switch.

Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2415
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 8:49 am:   Edit Post

Slapping on an Alembic has it's own peticular sound I guess.
An Alembic through-neck is very responsive to brights and lows as I read somewhere written by Mica.

Paul TBO

I see that the contingent Pauls is steadily growing!
***Sigh*** ....it's great to be a Paul!
wideload
Intermediate Member
Username: wideload

Post Number: 107
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 4:46 pm:   Edit Post

YOU BRUTES!
Alembics are to be caressed gently with the fingers, not beaten like common basses. I beg you, seek help!

Larry
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 866
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post

I slap the sh!t outta my Alembic cause when it Cries everybody can hear it & that's what it likes!
apdavis
Junior
Username: apdavis

Post Number: 49
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:49 am:   Edit Post

Trip Wamsley does an awesome job incorporating slap into his writing, Very worthy of a listen.
http://www.tripwamsley.com/news.htm
http://www.tripwamsley.com/totma.htm
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 698
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 2:49 pm:   Edit Post

And he's a really nice guy to chat with aswell.

graeme

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