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blazer
Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 90
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 11:19 am:   Edit Post

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.Clarke's first alembic?
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4333
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:01 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:10 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:16 pm:   Edit Post

On the other hand, Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy was recorded in '73.
blazer
Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 92
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:19 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:33 pm:   Edit Post

Great vid!!!!!
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 708
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 5:53 pm:   Edit Post

'73.
57basstra
Advanced Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 266
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 7:11 pm:   Edit Post

The legend gets a kick start!
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 918
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 1:13 pm:   Edit Post



(Message edited by keavin on August 27, 2006)
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 919
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 1:14 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 4:13 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 6:26 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 7:15 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 4:34 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 6:00 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 6:10 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 8:12 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 9:02 am:   Edit Post

I remember the big auction when Stanley was selling all his equipment....sad.
crazykiwi
Junior
Username: crazykiwi

Post Number: 45
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post

oh wow, those clips were great. I got such a kick out of seeing two legends jamming like that so musically.

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