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aquaman
New
Username: aquaman

Post Number: 10
Registered: 9-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:39 am:   Edit Post

Having just purchased a Spoiler, and blown away with the sound and tonal qualities of the bass, I got to wondering--does anyone know of any major label releases where the tracks were recorded with an Alembic? Any particular showcase tracks, for example?
tubeperson
Junior
Username: tubeperson

Post Number: 29
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:45 am:   Edit Post

John McVie used Alembics in the studio before he entered bankrupcy. John Entwhistle used one as well. Jimmy Johnson is a long time user of Alembics, and although the labels he has been recorded on may not be major, the results certainly are, (as well as minor, disnonant, diminished, augmented, etc.). Cliff Burton used an Alembic briefly as well before his untimely death. And let us not forget Stan the Man Clarke!
tubeperson
Junior
Username: tubeperson

Post Number: 30
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:46 am:   Edit Post

Also, Mark King (I had a senior moment, sorry fellow pluckers!)
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 879
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

The Who - Face Dances
Practically anything by Stanley Clarke
Either of the Animal Logic releases
Works vols. I & II by ELP
Lift Me Up single (on the Union release) by YES

Those are just what's in my head at the moment. I need coffee...

John
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 875
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

The majority of Stanley Clarke's output was recorded with an alembic.
I'm petty sure Level 42s Staring at the sun was recorded with an Alembic.
Most,if not all of James taylor's latter work features Jimmy Johnson, a well known alembic user.
John Entwhistles 'Too late the hero' uses alembic exclusively and even features an exploiter on the cover.

Check out the Artists section of the showcase then track down the artists output.

cheers

Graeme
tubeperson
Junior
Username: tubeperson

Post Number: 31
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:48 am:   Edit Post

Also, Mark King (I had a senior moment, sorry fellow pluckers!).
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 876
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 7:56 am:   Edit Post

Flea recorded almost all of One hot minute on an epic.

graeme
dannobasso
Advanced Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 392
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 8:19 am:   Edit Post

Nazareth, Dixie Dregs, some Parliment, Type O Negative
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 605
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 8:33 am:   Edit Post

Allman Brothers, Styx, John Paul Jones.
fc_spoiler
Advanced Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 398
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 8:59 am:   Edit Post

I'm not sure, but I think Metallica
I think it's even possible Cliff Burton used his Spoiler on Master of Puppets... (the Spoiler was stolen in '85)
chuck
Junior
Username: chuck

Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 9:03 am:   Edit Post

tyran porter of the doobie brothers.
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 857
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 9:06 am:   Edit Post

I've seen Tyrone use his in concert several times.
cozmik_cowboy
Junior
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 9:25 am:   Edit Post

Phil Lesh w/the Grateful Dead from about 1968-69 to sometime in the early 1980s, on occasion after that.
Jack Casady, w/mid to late Jefferson Airplane, early Hot Tuna; I'm not sure how late it goes.
edwin
Intermediate Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 193
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post

Robert Gordon on the early 80s Gil Scott Heron records and Danny Bowens on some of the 70s ones. One of my favorite Alembic tones (although mixed way too low) is Jim Cammack's fretless Series I playing on Ahmad Jamal's Live in Paris '92. A great album all around. Jim is just awesome!

Edwin
bumhucker
Member
Username: bumhucker

Post Number: 72
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 10:21 am:   Edit Post

prince's bassist brown mark used a spoiler on a bunch of stuff in the 80's. weren't the later zep records made w/ alembic bass? i am pretty sure the most recent red hot chili's record is done with an epic bass. i was trying to find out if robert plant's "principle of moments" had alembic on it-sounds like it to me!
blazer
Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 99
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post

Prince's bass players played a lot of alembics

Brown Mark played a whit Alembic spoiler with flower motives on "Around the world in a day" and on "Parade"

His successor Levi Seacer Jr. Played a Black Alembic Spoiler on "Love sexy" and "Grafiti bridge"

And Sonny T can be seen using Levi Seacer's Spoiler in the video for "Peach"
blazer
Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 100
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post

Brown Mark apparently still plays his Alembic spoiler but I guess it recieved some mods, judging from the enormous array of knobs and switches.

bumhucker
Member
Username: bumhucker

Post Number: 74
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 10:51 am:   Edit Post

looks like a synth pickup on there!
hifiguy
Junior
Username: hifiguy

Post Number: 16
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 5:12 pm:   Edit Post

I recall an article in Bass Player in which Jason Newstad (Cliff Burton's replacement in Metallica) spoke of owning and recording with a half-dozen Alembics. This would have been around the "black album" era in the early 1990s.

Nice catch with the Cammack connection, Edwin. His playing on that album is boggling, but when I saw Ahmad Jamal about nine years ago Jim was playing a traditional upright. :-(

Peter Steele of Type O Negative is an Alembic player. Saw them in concert and his big, long scale Alembic looked like a toy on Steele, a 6'7" bodybuilder.

Paul (another one)
jubeas3eyes
Junior
Username: jubeas3eyes

Post Number: 41
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 5:21 pm:   Edit Post

The bassist from Pinback plays a series 1 and recorded their albums with it.
bassdr
Member
Username: bassdr

Post Number: 89
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 6:51 pm:   Edit Post

Jimmy Johnson Flim and the BB's CD's on DMP label
worldfamousandy
Member
Username: worldfamousandy

Post Number: 84
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 8:01 am:   Edit Post

Cammack on the Ahmad Jamal album "Live at the Montreal Jazz Fest" is probably my favorite. I have seen that group around 10 times, and he does sometimes play upright, but Jim's real forte is that fretless Series II. For the classic wide-open Alembic sound, The Who's Eminence Front can't be beat. It's what inspired me to play bass.

Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com
karl
Member
Username: karl

Post Number: 94
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 9:26 am:   Edit Post

A couple more live albums for you:

Armand Sabal-Lecco is playing a Series instrument for most of Paul Simon's famous Concert in Central Park - no other bass on earth can sound like that!

And while it's not one of the band's better recordings, Mark King is unmistakably playing an Alembic on Level 42's Live In Wembley CD (c.1990, not to be confused with the Live at Wembley video from around 87, where he's using a Jaydee).

K.
www.myspace.com/harambe
fc_spoiler
Advanced Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 399
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post

Gorefest - Erase
Jan Chris de koeijer bought his Elan when Gorefest was recording this masterpiece.
Quote:
"I bought the Elan in the summer of '94 in Germany somewhere near Gelsenkirchen when we were recording Erase.
The Dean ML had a rattle somewhere that we couldn't locate, so we went out to this amazing music shop and started testing every bass that was around, and the Alembic was a winner."

And another live album / VHS / DVD:
Metallica Live S**t Binge & Purge
Almost on all songs Alembic: Persuader, Elan and Series II (Spoiler and Europa shape)
Jason also played Wal basses on the ...and Justice for all tour, from the '91 Monsters of rock tour till '94 (?) I only saw him with Alembics.
inthelows
Junior
Username: inthelows

Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 10:54 am:   Edit Post

I found this on you tube. Looks like the Elan with series 1 electronics.
NLP
text/htmlJason meets Elan
YouTube - Jason Newsted Bass Solo - Seattle '89.htm (99.5 k)
inthelows
Junior
Username: inthelows

Post Number: 15
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post

Noticed some foul language at the very beginging of this. I have no way to edit it out. Sorry about that!!
Parental advisory..If your ears can't handle the word F#*kin and its only once.. Please don't open the the you tube file!!!! It is Metallica!
NLP
longhorncat
Intermediate Member
Username: longhorncat

Post Number: 120
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post

John Paul Jones

led zeppelin
gtrguy
Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 97
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 1:03 pm:   Edit Post

The Brothers Johnson!
jseitang
Intermediate Member
Username: jseitang

Post Number: 180
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 08, 2006 - 5:40 pm:   Edit Post

i think the guy from pinback plays a signature not series I.i could be wrong but all the times ive seen them, the guy has always played a signature deluxe
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 631
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 08, 2006 - 11:35 pm:   Edit Post

I have seen Alphonso Johnson with alembic series instrument years ago. Also Norman Watt Roy used an alembic as well in the past not sure if he used it on the track with Ian Dury and the Blockheads called "Hit me with your Rhytmn stick".
JAzzyvee
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 877
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 09, 2006 - 4:36 am:   Edit Post

To elaborate on Bill's John paul Jones pic, I believe the first zeppelin album he used an alembic on was Presence.

Just about anything Nazareth have brought out since around 1978 would have Pete Agnew's Alembics on them. The recent(ish) Homecoming Live DVD/CD package is an excellent showcase, both of the bass and the player.

Graeme
hifiguy
Junior
Username: hifiguy

Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, November 09, 2006 - 5:24 pm:   Edit Post

A Norman Watt-Roy mention! Cool! NWR is one of the most underappreciated bassists out there. I've been trying to ace that "Rhythm Stick" lick for dog's years and still can't play it consistently.

When I saw the Blockheads back in '7, well, er, a long time ago, he was playing a Jazz.

As for JPJ, there's no missing the dinosaur-eating-cars roar of his 8-string Alembic on "Achilles' Last Stand."

Paul
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1118
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 2:42 am:   Edit Post

Paul,

You may find that a gentle bit of compression might help leveling out the Rhythm Stick line.

I wouldn't call it a lick - it goes on, and on, and on, and on. And then some more. Also very bubbly in a Bernard Edwards kind of way, and laidback at the same time.

Defeats categorization!
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 704
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 5:50 am:   Edit Post

Any Frank Zappa/ Mothers releases with Tom Fowler on bass would be Alembic. "Roxy and Elsewhere", "Overnite Sensation", "Apostrophe", "One Size Fits All", etc.

Mike
yggdrasil
Intermediate Member
Username: yggdrasil

Post Number: 153
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 6:56 am:   Edit Post

cozmik_cowboy wrote:
"Jack Casady, w/mid to late Jefferson Airplane, early Hot Tuna; I'm not sure how late it goes."

Actually virtually none of Jack's recordings feature his Alembic bass - I think a few studio tracks + the 30 Seconds Over Winterland live sessions.

Most of the era you refer to was recorded with the Guild Starfire, which, at different points, included some Alembic mods, but AFAICT, the mods were added to the Hagstrom pickups, which were retained .

Dan Schwartz in an article explains it all thus:

"The Jazz bass is still Jack's main instrument on "Baxter's", though towards the end of these sessions he started trying out his new Guild.

The tale of Jack's Guild Starfires roughly begins with Augustus Stanley Owsley (otherwise known as Bear) taking the instrument in late 67 or early 68 to do some circuit mods with Ron Wickersham, one of the founders of Alembic. Their circuit was a variable Q resonant filter, with Darlington emitter-followers at the pickup to lower output impedance before the filter. Originally a natural finish spruce/maple instrument, an L.A. luthier named Roy Noble refinished it dark brown, coloring over the binding somewhat. Jorma's wife Margareta created an abstract design that was inlaid into the peghead by Chuck Erikson. As a surprise for Jack, Chuck stuck some model-train lights under the inlay, to be battery-powered through the second and third strings. They didn't get it working, but apparently Owsley did, after being told they were in there a year later. Jack used this bass for the next three Airplane albums. It was stolen shortly after the Woodstock festival, and Jack bought another, a Sunburst '68 or '69, on the road. He shipped it back to Wickersham immediately with orders to rush. There wasn't time for woodworking, so Ron sawed out part of the top around the lower f-hole, installing three magnesium channels for the controls. The circuit was an update of the previous filter, installed in time for the Berkeley performance recorded on the first Hot Tuna album. Jack used this bass until early '72, when he got the Alembic.

Jack's new bass was the first all-Alembic instrument, built by Rick Turner, with pickups of his design, and elaborate electronics by Wickersham, including two channels of state-variable filters (low-, band- and high-pass) with variable Q and direct volume controls to combine the unfiltered sound with the filtered. There were 4 or 5 sets of interchangeable pickups on sliding rails so that Jack could experiment with their position and interchangeable bridge saddles of different materials. At some point over the next three years, the bass got dropped onto concrete, and after going back to Alembic for repair of body cracks, Jack felt it never sounded the same. (The instrument is currently intact with the exception of burned out neck LED's and standard Alembic PF-6 electronics on purpleheart faceplates instead of the original birds-eye maple).

Jack replaced the Alembic with a short-scale Flying V bass with a mahogany body by Glenn Quan attached to an old Guild Thunderbird neck and 60's Guild pickups. He used this bass during Hot Tuna's hard-rocking period."

Frank
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 483
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 11:42 am:   Edit Post

Fascinating! Thanks.

David
hifiguy
Junior
Username: hifiguy

Post Number: 20
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 4:12 pm:   Edit Post

I wonder who has custody of Jack's Alembic #1? It is certainly an instrument of major historical significance. Seems to me that the most appropriate place for it would be the Santa Rosa Mothership, where it could occasionally be loaned to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame for public viewing.
yggdrasil
Intermediate Member
Username: yggdrasil

Post Number: 154
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 3:59 am:   Edit Post

72-01 - That's a weird story.From memory, so some details may be off:
There's a guy named David Hardy that somehow acquired the bass, left it at a music shop in the 80s, the shop went bankrupt, some other guy acquired it at a bankruptcy sale, and he pretty much lays low, since this David Hardy persists in his claim to the bass.

Old Alembic Board Post by David Hardy

And Another

(Message edited by Yggdrasil on November 11, 2006)

(Message edited by Yggdrasil on November 11, 2006)
s_wood
Advanced Member
Username: s_wood

Post Number: 232
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 6:48 am:   Edit Post

Concering Zappa and Tom Fowler's Alembic:

Fowler got his Alembic sometime in the spring or early summer of 74, which means that both Overnite Sensation and Roxy & Elsewhere were recorded with Fenders. In fact, you can see Tom with a black P-Bass on the cover of Roxy. One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury and YCDTOSA VOl II are the three Alembic albums.
mrbassman42
New
Username: mrbassman42

Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Monday, December 25, 2006 - 2:14 am:   Edit Post

Saw a clip of Rose Royce on TV just the other day.... Bass Player was playing an Alembic Series I not sure if he recorded with it but the live sound was fantastic....

Mark
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 779
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, December 25, 2006 - 11:04 am:   Edit Post

I hope nobody thinks I'm dissing anyone here because I'm not. Weird Al's "Straight Outta Lynwood" lists "Micah (sic) Wickersham, Alembic" under the "Thanks to" column. I haven't spotted it yet, though.
Rich
pierreyves
Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 52
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Monday, December 25, 2006 - 4:06 pm:   Edit Post

Hey, you forget Wizzard, the bassist of Mother's Finest who played Alembic in the 1980's. Mother's Finest Live !!

bumhucker
Member
Username: bumhucker

Post Number: 98
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Monday, December 25, 2006 - 5:43 pm:   Edit Post

"major tom" by peter schilling sure sounds like alembic to me. anyone know?
hubwolf
New
Username: hubwolf

Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post

"Convoy" by Chip Davis and Bill Fries (aka C.W. McCall) and most of the Mannheim Steamroller stuff through the mid-90's by Eric Hansen on a beautiful Series I std point long scale (which can be seen on my intro thread)-hubwolf
gblick
Junior
Username: gblick

Post Number: 11
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 1:10 pm:   Edit Post

Correct about Tom Fowler and his earlier use of the Fender Precision, but he has also played a Fender Jazz bass (can be seen on "Dub Room Special", which features some Alembic action as well IIRC).

There is also a picture showing Tom Fowler playing an Alembic on Jean Luc Ponty's "Imaginary Voyage" album, so I guess he used the Alembic on that one too.
bassjigga
Intermediate Member
Username: bassjigga

Post Number: 114
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 1:40 pm:   Edit Post

Probably not in the "major" category in terms of recordings, but definitely a "major" player: Trip Wamsley just put out a new one with tons of killer Alembic tones. Also some great sounding Vigiers too. I highly recommend you guys checkin this guy out if you don't know about him. Phenominal musician. www.tripwamsley.com or www.myspace.com/tripwamsley. Buy his album! He's also the guy who owns COTM "Ocean Blue."
bumhucker
Intermediate Member
Username: bumhucker

Post Number: 110
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 1:49 pm:   Edit Post

thanks for the mother's finest tip! i had never heard them before and i went to itunes and got some of the live stuff and it's killer!!!! magic carpet ride is clever and funk as all hail!
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1007
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 12:56 am:   Edit Post

Trip Walmsley came over to the UK for Bassday 2005. he didn't bring any Alembics but played up a storm anyway. He's got to be one of the nicest most genuine guys i've met - he spent most of the day hanging out, chatting with Mike Pisanek and myself and helping us get through an unprecedented number of beers ;-)

Graeme
jags
New
Username: jags

Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 5:24 am:   Edit Post

nice pic of Jonesy,love the inlays and top! i'm pretty sure that Flea used an alembic when they recorded that "Aeroplane" hit(however it's spelled!?). its easy to tell with the slap and pop notes, especially in the intro
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1011
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 5:26 am:   Edit Post

Hi john. From what i've read, all of 'One hot minute' was recorded on an Epic except Aeroplane.

Graeme
jlpicard
Senior Member
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 463
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 1:31 pm:   Edit Post

Anybody mention Greg Lake?
xlrogue6
Intermediate Member
Username: xlrogue6

Post Number: 120
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 4:49 pm:   Edit Post

Jimmy Johnson, already mentioned for his Flim & the BB's stuff, absolutely rips it up on Allan Holdsworth's "Then" album, a smoking collection of live tracks.
yanc
New
Username: yanc

Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2007
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 3:58 pm:   Edit Post



(Message edited by yanc on February 14, 2007)
yanc
New
Username: yanc

Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2007
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 4:09 pm:   Edit Post

I don't know if it's the good topic, but on Marvin Gaye live at Montreux 1980. The bassist use an Alembic :

Marvin Gaye Bassist - Frank Blair

Don't know what model is ...

http://www.amazon.com/Marvin-Gaye-Live-Montreux-1980/dp/B000094J89/sr=8-2/qid=1171497561/ref=sr_1_2/105-2764407-4720456?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4764
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 6:29 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Yanc;

I've stared at the picture for a while and then I went to YouTube and watched a couple videos and I don't think that bass is an Alembic. If it is, then it's a very unusual one.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4111
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 6:33 pm:   Edit Post

I don't think it is one from the photo, I don't recognize the peghead. I would be so jazzed if it were - I love Marvin.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 970
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 7:43 am:   Edit Post

Looks like an Aria, perhaps?
essenceman
Junior
Username: essenceman

Post Number: 47
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

John 'Rhino' Edwards, who now holds down the bottom end for Status Quo!!! used to play with that fabulous singer, Judie Tzuke, in the early '80s. He now plays mainly Status basses, but when I saw him with Judie Tzuke in 1984, he was playing a Series bass of some sort (can't remember which).

You can hear him on Judie Tzuke albums such as Sports Car, I am the Phoenix, Ritmo, The Cat is Out & Shoot the Moon, but the best is on the live album, Roadnoise - his sound on the track Katiera Island is fantastic!
s_wood
Advanced Member
Username: s_wood

Post Number: 237
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 1:26 pm:   Edit Post

Good Grief! He's got Gibson Grabber on the stand behind him!
crobbins
Junior
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 34
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 4:28 pm:   Edit Post

Jerry Garcia 3/24/71 - Looks like a Les Paul neck on a handmade body. I'll take a guess that it was an early effort from the Alembic guys, because the raised pickguard appears to be made of hand-cast metal,and they were into that.




Peanut guitar
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1146
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 5:36 am:   Edit Post

I believe that's what is referred to as the Peanut Guitar.

Sam
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4807
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 8:06 am:   Edit Post

Sam's right.
There's a better picture here.
See also here.
paulman
Intermediate Member
Username: paulman

Post Number: 198
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 6:30 am:   Edit Post

In the Grateful Dead gear book, Rick Turner explains that guitar is a body he made (with a local furiture maker) with a Les Paul custom neck he salvaged. Rick used it as his main guitar in the late 60's with Autosalvage until Jerry bought it.

It has been recorded in (I think) Stepping Out with the Grateful Dead a circa '71 performance. It aya have been Ladies and Gentlemen, The Grateful Dead also. I don't have the book in front of me.

Rick is quoted as wishing he knew where that guitar is now.
mgod
New
Username: mgod

Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 6:25 pm:   Edit Post

On a recent Interscope record by Sierra Swan, I use my 77 custom exclusively. However I don't know how many of the 5 tracks I did survived the major label bloodletting, and I know Linda Perry redid some of our tracks note for note. Anything produced by Bill Bottrell is me on my Alembic.

DS
alembic_doctor
Intermediate Member
Username: alembic_doctor

Post Number: 199
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 8:24 pm:   Edit Post

One of Alembics was used by a buddy of mine on a dance club album by someone named Michelle Weaks. or something like that. I guess she's big in Big Gay Dance Party crowd. This was about 4 years ago. I never heard the album. wasn't my thing. But apperantly the producer was floored by the sound of my bass.

Hey DW, how is my old girlfriend anyway?
hifiguy
Member
Username: hifiguy

Post Number: 82
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 - 4:02 pm:   Edit Post

Your first post here, Dan??!! I'm surprised you weren't one of the charter members given how long you've been part of Alembic Nation!

Paul
blazer
Intermediate Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 135
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 4:24 pm:   Edit Post

Has somebody mentioned Bowie guitarist Carlos Alomar yet, who has played his Alembic guitar on albums such as "Scary Monsters" and has toured with Bowie during the eighties using his Alembic as his main stage guitar.

If nobody has mentioned him, I'll mention him right now.

Alomar's 1975 Alembic guitar. A guitar heard on MANY classic Bowie albums.
aquaman
Junior
Username: aquaman

Post Number: 13
Registered: 9-2006
Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 6:07 pm:   Edit Post

Blazer,

Did Alomar use the Alembic on "Ashes to Ashes"? That track has otherworldly guitar sounds.
blazer
Intermediate Member
Username: blazer

Post Number: 138
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 4:21 am:   Edit Post

I wouldn't be surprised if he did but Bowie also had deployed Adrian Belew on that track and he's probably the man behind those otherworldly guitar sounds.
estring
Junior
Username: estring

Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 11:58 pm:   Edit Post

And then there is John Mcvie!
funkyjazzjunky
New
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 10:00 am:   Edit Post

Marvin Isley of the Isley Brothers played a Series II bass on the "Go For Your Guns" album. The sound is distinct.
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 633
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 4:56 pm:   Edit Post

Hello, Vann. Welcome to the club!
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1360
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 6:01 pm:   Edit Post

Welcome to club Vann

I loved the "Go For Your Guns" album.
The band I played with in high school did a cover of Climbing Up The Ladder. Cool song.
terryc
Intermediate Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 149
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 2:10 am:   Edit Post

Mark King used Alembics on Staring At The Sun through to Guaranteed although for the recording he used a Musicman for about 80% of the recording.
His Alembics were his main stage basses, he hardly uses them now preferring his own designed Status basses with small body, headless neck and led's
funkyjazzjunky
New
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 6:43 am:   Edit Post

Marvin Isley shines on the entire "Go For Your Guns" album. The bass and guitar lines on 'Climbing Up The Ladder' are tough to play. I am impressed a high school band handled them.
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1361
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 6:47 am:   Edit Post

OH YEA it was a "fun" one to learn to say the least. That and "Carry On" by Kansas where 2 of the more challenging tunes we did back then.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 5051
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post

Hi Vann; welcome to the board!
crazykiwi
Member
Username: crazykiwi

Post Number: 53
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2007 - 2:45 am:   Edit Post

One of Carlos Alomar's guitars was on Ebay this year.

(Message edited by crazykiwi on June 03, 2007)
jason
Moderator
Username: jason

Post Number: 61
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 9:01 am:   Edit Post

Wikipedia link digest of alembic players.

Some, like Ace, have simply said "I have an Alembic and will use it" compared to others who live, breath and are buried with their alembics. By no means comprehensive. List assembled for my own research purposes so some obvious names like Garcia are not here.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Frehley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Mark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Alomar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Panozzo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Burton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dregs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerson%2C_Lake_and_Palmer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_%28musician%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Lake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cammack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Newsted
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Jackson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_(bassist)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_%28musician%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Entwistle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McVie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones_(musician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Iglesias
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Johnson_%28bassist%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_King_(musician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Isley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Malley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rutherford
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother's_Finest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth_%28band%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_(band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Agnew
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Steele
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Meisner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riders_of_the_Purple_Sage_%28band%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Clarke
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styx_(band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Allman_Brothers_Band
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiran_Porter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Fowler_%28musician%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_O_Negative
http://www.myspace.com/tripwamsley
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2465
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 9:30 am:   Edit Post

The link above to "Riders of the Purple Sage" refers to two old bands from the 1930's through the early 1950's. I suspect neither of these used Alembics. The correct reference should be to the "New Riders of the Purple Sage", the Grateful Dead spinoff band that was formed in 1969. IIRC, founding member singer/guitarist/songwriter John "Marmaduke" Dawson used an Alembic. I believe Dave Torbert, the bassist following a brief stint by Phil Lesh, may have also.

Bill, tgo
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 5145
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 7:30 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, Torbert had the single cutaway Alembic that gets mentioned every once in a while.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1222
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 12:45 am:   Edit Post

You can see it briefly on the 'Closing of Winterland' DVD extras.

Graeme
cozmik_cowboy
Intermediate Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 160
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 4:13 am:   Edit Post

Dela217 posted a picture of Torbert's in this thread; there was a picture of Dawson with his somewhere but I can't find it.

Peter

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