| Author | Message | ||
| blazer
Member Username: blazer Post Number: 90 Registered: 12-2003 |
I guess we all know what happened, very early in their career, Return To Forever's gear bus had been stolen leaving them without gear. Clarke's replacement bass for the one that was lost in that theft was his famous "Brown bass" but I think I found footage of Clarke playing his first Alembic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz2w5lblYLA Clarke is playing a Blonde Alembic bass with wood covered pickups and a non standard body shape. So, correct me if I'm wrong but I think that this is his original bass.  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4333 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice video!!! The pickups are not wood covered, but are the cream casings found on early basses. The brass plate between the pickups is another early feature. Kinda like this one. So I would guess it's a '73. It's hard to tell, but it looks like a very unusual tailpiece. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4335 Registered: 5-2002 |
The Dragon's Breath was the 30th anniversary of Clarke and Alembic, so that would suggest that the bass in the clip is a '74. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4336 Registered: 5-2002 |
On the other hand, Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy was recorded in '73. | ||
| blazer
Member Username: blazer Post Number: 92 Registered: 12-2003 |
Well he could've either played his Rickenbacker 4000 bass or his Gibson EB2 bass on the original recordings. Check this out... Stanley Playing Lopsy Lu with jeff Beck. (Message edited by Blazer on August 26, 2006) (Message edited by davehouck on August 26, 2006) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4338 Registered: 5-2002 |
Great vid!!!!! | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 708 Registered: 6-2002 |
'73. | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 266 Registered: 4-2005 |
The legend gets a kick start! | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 918 Registered: 12-2002 |
(Message edited by keavin on August 27, 2006) | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 919 Registered: 12-2002 |
stanley's first alembic was a 1972 which was his origonal 1st alembic & his 'brown bass'was also a 1972,but however his "schooldays" alembic was (Serialnumber80) which was probably was made in 73 or 74 which he gave it to Bassist Victor wooten some years ago.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt2ro4rwYmQ&mode=related&search= | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 559 Registered: 6-2002 |
Is there any way of downloading the video's from that web site? Jazzyvee | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 386 Registered: 5-2002 |
Keavin, number 80 was a 1974. I used to own #84 and it was a '74. I always thought #80 WAS the Brown Bass. When I bought 87-4431 back in 2000, Stanley was trying to get $16K for #80. I know the auction never got that high, but it makes me wonder whether Victor Wooten bought it from Stanley or if Stanley gave it to him. Peace, James | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 920 Registered: 12-2002 |
I remember reading somewhere,that stanley was soo impressed with Vic's bassplayin that he presented it (#80)to him during a visit to stans house one day as well as the uprite,,,,,,but correct me if I'm wrong anybody? | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 387 Registered: 5-2002 |
It wouldn't totally surprise me. It's just that Victor wound up with the bass so soon after two auction listings, I just figured they may have struck a deal. As you point out, I know that Victor has #80 as well as Stanley's upright. Does anybody know for certain if #80 is "The Brown Bass" or was a replacement for the Brown Bass Peace, James | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 803 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jazzyvee, I found and posted some info on saving vids here: http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/30978.html?1156769920 John | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 921 Registered: 12-2002 |
The "brown Bass" still belongs to stanley it's the one He 'officially Retired' after the CD "if this bass could only talk,,,,#80 was an alembic he purchased as one of his backup basses during that period when the his career was getting hot & he was on the road quite a bit,by this point his alembic collection was growing. BUT the brown bass was his Main STAGE bass up until the 80's......so in other words the brown bass was his second alembic after losing his first one. | ||
| worldfamousandy
Member Username: worldfamousandy Post Number: 70 Registered: 3-2004 |
I believe that Steve Bailey actually bought the Alembic from Stanley. I know that the transfer took place during a visit by Steve and Victor to Stanley's house. I went to Bass at the Beach in 2004, and those guys had the bass there. I actually got to play it some, which was cool. I think Stanley had to get rid of it because he was worried that his ex-wife would take it in the divorce, and he wanted to keep it in the family, so to speak. Andy Calder www.andycalderbass.com | ||
| hb3
Intermediate Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 152 Registered: 2-2005 |
I remember the big auction when Stanley was selling all his equipment....sad. | ||
| crazykiwi
Junior Username: crazykiwi Post Number: 45 Registered: 10-2005 |
oh wow, those clips were great. I got such a kick out of seeing two legends jamming like that so musically. |
