| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Intermediate Member Username: glocke Post Number: 168 Registered: 9-2002 |
Its probably been at least 6 months since Ive picked up either of my jazz basses (a '72 and a '64). All I can say is what an amazing differnce....The alembic with its tonal range and capabilites seriously outperforms the middy jazz basses.... At one time (before I got an alembic), I was into and got the whole jazz bass thing...but to my ears anymore there is just no comparison. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 580 Registered: 12-2004 |
Gregory, I can PM you my shipping address. You won't have to worry about that sound anymore.  Bradley | ||
| glocke
Intermediate Member Username: glocke Post Number: 169 Registered: 9-2002 |
he-he.... will you pay shipping? | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 637 Registered: 6-2002 |
Apples and Oranges. They have so little in common, they really shouldn't be compared side by side. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 582 Registered: 12-2004 |
Absolutely! Where should I send the check? | ||
| mcdonap
Junior Username: mcdonap Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2007 |
I agree. I haven't had much desire to play any of my other basses since I got my Alembics. I feel like almost all my others basses have a blanket thrown on them, sound-wise, compared to the Alembics. Pat | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 483 Registered: 3-2004 |
I too am selling all but 2 of my non Alembics. 1 because it has signature guts and the other because its a 12. So if you are looking for a Dean Bromberg 5, Ripper 4, Tbird 4, also guitars: RED Esquire gt, Schecter 7, Hamer w/emgs. Funny you mention boat oars. A number of years back a would be rock star was working at Ash. That was just after they stopped stocking high end basses. When I went in to see what they had, I spoke with the Paul Stanley look alike. I asked why they didn't carry Alembics anymore. " Look man, nobody plays those boat oars anymore, they just look stupid." Thats when I started ordering from Washington Music. Hey we could all get together and start a theme resturant and hang all the basses we don't need anymore on the walls. The Hard Pluck Cafe? The Managed Care for Wayward Basses Bistro? The Bottomless Resturant and repair - string change and intonnation while you eat! The ARCO Lounge, enjoy our finger-style menu. ............................ | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 984 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nobody who would get it could afford to eat there. John | ||
| inthelows
Advanced Member Username: inthelows Post Number: 365 Registered: 11-2006 |
Like many, It is hard not to draw the same conclusion. Like being deaf and suddenly being able to hear for the first time. Call it being spoiled or just plain picky, but my Spoiler has a personality and sound the other basses in my collection simply cannot equal. I'm currently saving up for my dream bass. But that's a ways off yet. Problem with me is I play them all and hand them down to my kids. I really don't sell them as much as hand them off to the next generation. Which explains why I don't have the money now to get what I want built! Patience, patience... Love the idea of wall art though... NLP | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1157 Registered: 9-2002 |
Found out one of my bosses was an old beer-joint bass player like me (cool!). He's still got the itch, and recently bought a M-I-Cali Jazz. Brought the BigRedBass in to the office for him to see (he was stunned), and he remarked he wished his new Jazz played that easily. So I offered to adjust his axe. He brought it in and I took it home and set his action/re-strung on a day off. Well . . . they're not completely 'noiseless' pickups! But it was pretty well made for 'off the rack', nothing just jumped out at me QC-wise. But it was so strange as I hadn't had a four around the house forever, and of course Jazzes have a very slim neck, which made it seem even more 'four-ish'. It basically just needed the once-over most usually need after they come home from the store. It did seem wierd having to adjust each saddle at a time, hoping the nut was correct as it couldn't be adjusted. At least the truss rod came out at the head instead of the pickguard. Geez, I'm spoiled. But it was immediately aggravating to realize this brand new bass $STILL$ needed a better shielding job, and ultimately, stack pickups, to be completely quiet. Apples and oranges for sure. But it played like butter when I gave it back to him, he was tickled. But in the back of my mind it dawned on me that there's zillions of players just like him that just don't know any better. What a shame. J o e y | ||
| eligilam
Junior Username: eligilam Post Number: 34 Registered: 2-2006 |
As far as I'm concerned, the bass tone spectrum is three-pronged: Prong 1: Rickenbacker/P Bass "honk" Prong 2: Jazz Bass "mids" Prong 3: Alembic "clean" With each of these three basses, I feel like I can cover most tonal ranges and playing situations. Cheers, Will D. | ||
| southpaw
Intermediate Member Username: southpaw Post Number: 161 Registered: 12-2004 |
I agree with Rami; Apples & oranges. A variety of basses to satisfy my A.D.D... | ||
| essenceman
Member Username: essenceman Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2002 |
Just following on from Joey's comments about set up and people not realising there is more to be had from their guitar or bass. Not every instrument is as adjustable as an Alembic, but as Joey has proved, there is more there if you know how to find it and for the price of a set of strings Dan Erlewine's book - "How to make your electric guitar play great" is a really good investment. Although it's primarily focused on guitars, there's a lot you can transfer to bass set up. If you've not read it, I can certainly recommend it. | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 106 Registered: 11-2004 |
Love the 'Boat Oars' description for Alembics, my MK standard has been referred to a 'coffee table' on numerous occasions. Have mentioned before elswhere in this section that I put P/J acitvators with twin vols, bass & treble in a jap Squier(1983), it was a lovely bass as I had added a Badass II bridge and I set it up to play very easy as everyone who had a go on it said the action was incredible..a little work goes a long way..I mean you wouldn't drive your car for years without a service!! The activators totally changed the sound, suddenly the tone spectrum became huge. It now enjoys being thrashed by my son in his EMO band. | ||
| glocke
Intermediate Member Username: glocke Post Number: 172 Registered: 9-2002 |
Never heard alembics described as boat oars, but I have gotten somewhat negative comments when I bring out my series I, and have had people ask me to bring my jazz basses to practice instead of my series I (which I dont)... I think many people who do not understand Alembics are put off by them...I have a skylark that I bought a few years back, and I let a guitar player play it for a bit...He spent the next couple of practices trying to explain to me why his carvin is a better guitar... As for the Jazz v.s. Alembic comparison, its still comparing one bass to another to me, and these days, I find the jazz basses much to middy for my taste...Ill probably hold onto them for a bit longer, but if I had to sell instruments, the jazz basses would be the first to go... | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 486 Registered: 3-2004 |
I feel that other players find out very quickly that their technique is not what they thought it was. As Glocke stated, people who do not understand Alembics are put off by them. Others resent the cost and quality compared to what they view as a great instrument. I may ask others what they like about other basses, but when I'm asked why I play Alembics, I reply "Because I choose to". Boat oar or no. | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 639 Registered: 6-2002 |
When I acquired my first Alembic, I was shopping around for a fretless 4. I stumbled upon my Excel 4 by chance. It was selling for $1499 - brand new! I couldn't get over the fact that I was getting THIS much Bass for as much as an American Jazz Bass. I immediately started thumbing my nose at everything else for a long time. After I got my head out of that glorious Alembic cloud, I remembered that it's not the instrument that makes the musician or his sound. It's his/her passion, inspiration and technique. Everyone of my influences and idols play different makes and models of Basses - and they all sound great. We play what we love for the music that we produce through it - the instrument is merely a tool. An Alembic is an exceptional instrument, but if it's not in the right hands it won't shine. A Jazz Bass in the right hands sounds pretty damn impressive - there are literally thousands of examples throughout it's 47 year history. Let's not disrespect it. Sure, it's not made like an Alembic, but I doubt if it would have made any difference had Jaco played an Alembic instead of a Jazz Bass - he would have still been the same icon. I can't part with any of my Jazz Basses either - they're part of the family. Rami | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 640 Registered: 6-2002 |
I just think that to compare with words like "Better" or "Worse" is meaningless. An instrument can reflect one's taste, style, personality, or status. The factor that ultimately determines how good it really is, is the person behind it. Rami | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Intermediate Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 123 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hear, hear, Rami. While there are instruments I like & ones I don't, if I find myself thinking in terms "better" & "worse", I stop and think about what David Lindley does with Valcos and Teiscos. It's all according to whatever it takes to make your boat float. Peter | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 115 Registered: 11-2004 |
Rami, don't you think though that when you get to play a quality instrument that it inspires you to play better because it is easier to play, has a multitude of sounds and oozes craftsmanship. I don't knock j or p basses as they are extremely versatile basses and have proved their mettle and now they offer active and custom options and I am sure everyone in there early careers wanted one. It is a case that maybe when we were young and listening to bass players that someone caught your ear, for me it was Stan, for others it was Jaco, McCartney, Bruce, Squire etc. It was Stan that etched the Alembic sound on my soul and after that and a 22 year wait I got what I wanted | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 641 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Terry, I feel the same way. I've always dreamed of owning an Alembic most of my life and when I finally did, I was definitely NOT disappointed. They're everything I dreamed they would be and more; outstanding quality, beautiful looks and playability, and of course, incredible sound. But I never lost my love for and loyalty to the Basses whose sound inspired me to want to learn the Bass in the first place. They all sound great to me, just different. Many of the world's top professional players who could easily afford Alembics still choose instruments that reflect their personal tastes better. An Alembic is a fine crafted work of art that definitely complements the musician who plays it, but if you find your groove on something else, that's fine too. I believe the sound is in the musician as much as the instrument-whatever that may be. Rami | ||
| somatic
Member Username: somatic Post Number: 57 Registered: 11-2003 |
It's usually my Steinbergers that get called boat oars (or cricket bats). | ||
| jbybj
Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 61 Registered: 6-2006 |
All this talk of Jazz basses made me get out my old '69 and thump her up a bit. Though very different from my Epic, she still sings sweetly, I'll never give it up. It's not just the tone, it's the 31 year relationship that can't be replicated. I love bass guitars............. | ||
| 88persuader
Advanced Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 297 Registered: 5-2004 |
Well i have to chime in. I've owned 10000 different basses throughout my career.(as most of us have) 3 Have been Alembics, An 88 Persuader, a 95 Epic 5 string and My Stanley Clark Standard. I LOVE my Alembics or i wouldn't be a member here but I'd be lying if I said they were the only basses for me. I LOVE Fender Jazz basses, I've had three of them and they were my main AXes for over a decade. I currently don't own one but i know someday I'll buy one again ... it's like an old friend! Right now my BAR bass is a John Patatuchi (sorry about the spelling) Yamaha 5 string and for a bass i got for under $1000 I think it's amazing. And I'm crazy about my Modulus Q5 Fretless. So i guess MY point is we're very lucky, our lives are full of wonderful instruments to pick from and enjoy. Is a Fender Jazz bass as well made and flexable as an Alembic ... no way. But I never bought an Alembic for under a grand either! NOT apples and apples! | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 503 Registered: 3-2004 |
As a point of reference, i was selling a Tbird signed by some dark music notables to a collector. The sale is pending due to financial issues. So I had rehearsal for a recording and had to work so I used my Tbird instead of my Alembic 5's. The bass played and sounded like a _________ compared to my other basses. New ones are going for $1700. Neck dive galore, lifeless tone (even with fresh DR's) , drastic need of adjustment (I set it up a while back and it sat in the case). Yes there are apples and oranges but there is also Durian fruit too. I know I'm spoiled but I guess I needed to be reminded of it. I'm using the pending cash toward my latest Alembic in progress. Jimminy Crickets what a different experience a bass makes. | ||
| 88persuader
Advanced Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 298 Registered: 5-2004 |
You know Danno ... I've never played a Tbird ... but I do play my non-Alembics in a normal rotation with my SC standard and I may get blasted for admitting this on this forum but I get just as much enjoyment out of my production line Yamaha and Modulus as I do my high end Alembic. (Well Modulus is pretty high end too) The build quality is different for all 3 basses and the Alembic tops the bill when it comes to beautiful woodwork but all three have awesome tone (Yes I'm including the Yamaha I STOLE for $600 because it had a small nick in the neck) and playability. I'm PROUD to own my Alembic, the Yamaha is a kick around bass, but I'd be just as likely to use the Yamaha on a gig or in the studio as my Alembic. Of course ... in the Studio I usually bring all 3 basses and the 1st I pull out (if I don't need the low B string) is the Alembic. But on gigs I'm just as likely to use the Yamaha ... sounds and looks great and if a drunk knocks it over I probably won't have to kill them! :-) But honestly ... all kidding aside, sound wise they're all different but not one is crap compaired to the other. They ALL sound and play awesome and my bandmates like the sound i get from the Yamaha just as much as the Alembic. And when I have my Stanley Clark and Modulus Q5 fretless both on stage ... it's the beauty of the Q5 people comment about mostly, not the SC. ... That blows my mind. OK .......... I've braced myself, I've dared compair the sound quality and playability of an Yamaha production bass to an Alembic .... let the stoning begin! :-) | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 495 Registered: 9-2005 |
Kill the heretic!!! Kill! Kill! Kill! Stone the blasphemer! ...Oh poop, I'm all out! | ||
| 88persuader
Advanced Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 299 Registered: 5-2004 |
OOOOOOUCH ... I'm telling my Mother!!! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1164 Registered: 9-2002 |
As much as I love my Alembics, I also rotate in the BB Yamaha five-strings. Really nice basses, but they always remind me they're not Alembics . . . which is just fine. I don't own anything that doesn't get played, and I can only play one at a time, so there you are. Anybody on this forum has 'other' basses, so this is hardly letting any cats out of the bag. Different horses for different courses, as they way. I can say that the Yamahas don't sound as empirically good or clean as the Alembics, which usually brings me back to them. I CAN'T say that the Alembic tone makes me wish for the sound of the Yamahas, though. It's just the difference between really nice 'off-the-rack' instruments and the utterly different world of handmade instruments with features and execution just not possible when you're making several hundred a day. I'm just damn lucky to be blessed to be able to pick which one I feel like today! J o e y | ||
| j_gary
Advanced Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 246 Registered: 6-2005 |
Great stuff all. Very interesting. Have been a Rick player for years, great basses. Bought first Alembic a couple years ago. All I can say is, anyone want to trade their Alembic for a Rick? Gotta bunch, married to a few. |
