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hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 291
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 1:35 pm:   Edit Post

If you had a choice between willfully breaking your alembic or breaking it by some freak accident, which one would you preference in the most dreadful choice?

Let's have fun and answer honestly please.

I can't wait to read your response...
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1891
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 1:39 pm:   Edit Post

Accident, insurance wouldn't cover it where it on purpose.

Besides that I wouldn't want Susan and Mica ganging up on me. :-)

OO
(or is that Uh-OH)
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 437
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 1:57 pm:   Edit Post

bad dog
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 293
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 2:14 pm:   Edit Post

I hate suprises. It feels eerrie and it's hard to get over it.

I would have to do it...

I like the "false sense" of control to a degree, and it takes the blame away from others and things potentially causing the problem. I can forgive me easier...
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 294
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 2:14 pm:   Edit Post

I hate suprises. It feels eerrie and it's hard to get over it.

I would have to do it...

I like the "false sense" of control to a degree, and it takes the blame away from others and things potentially causing the problem. I can forgive me easier...
mike1762
Member
Username: mike1762

Post Number: 76
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 5:45 pm:   Edit Post

What if Pete Townshend had played Alembics? Can you imagine him with a Tribute held high above his head as he prepares to smash it to bits as "My Generation" comes to a close.....
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 786
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 8:33 pm:   Edit Post

Already had a custom Spoiler 6 with Dragon inlay fall and break twice! Time speeds up so it feels like slow motion, the helplessness, then the nausea, then the anger, then the tears and lastly resignation to the fate of repair.
Would not want to feel that for a 3rd time.
jake
Member
Username: jake

Post Number: 59
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 10:43 pm:   Edit Post

at least theyre pretty hard to break.
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 710
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 11:30 pm:   Edit Post

Freak accident, definitely...

BTW: mine already had one of these in a previous life, it was run over by the band's van.

Wilfred
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 521
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 2:17 am:   Edit Post

Run over by the bands van!!!!!!!
My MK is glued to my hand until the solvent releases it once inside my car.
danno..major ouch x 2.
I prefer non of the two choices but if I did the second one maybe more acceptable(just!)
cozmik_cowboy
Advanced Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 328
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 5:20 am:   Edit Post

Intentionally damaging or destoying a production-line instrument is, and always has been, completely asinine. Doing so to a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind work of art would be the height of stupidity, and absolutely criminal.

Peter
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 953
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 7:35 am:   Edit Post

Mike1762, I seem to remember a story about Entwistle having to break one of his Alembics. He couldn't get the roadie's attention to hand him a "breaker" bass. The time came for the breaking and he did it.
Peter, I agree completely. I would never intentionally tear up even a cheapo instrument. If I don't want it I give it to someone who doesn't have any.
Sorry for you guys having to go through breaking one. Danno, I guess having a bunch of them doesn't make it any easier.
There is a story in the new Bass Player about an upright player who was setting up for a gig. His 85 lb amp rolled off a platform and landed on his $80,000 300 year old bass breaking it into pieces. The guy who brought him a loaner let go of the bass not knowing that he was 8 feet away. It crashed and broke up. Bad day.
Rich

EDIT: Hendixclarke, sorry for the brief hijack here. If you have a bass you don't want and can afford to get rid of it for little or no money, here is an alternative. Contact the music director of the local high school jazz band. Often they don't have the budget for anything but an absolute cheapo. That was the case locally. I gave them a bass that was getting zero playing time. They were very happy. You would've thought I gave them an Alembic!

(Message edited by richbass939 on July 04, 2008)
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 1433
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 8:54 am:   Edit Post

shyt is going to happen!
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3145
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 9:39 am:   Edit Post

As I stated elsewhere, go check out John Hiatt's song: "Perfectly Good Guitar". 'nuff said.

Bill, tgo
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3148
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post

John Hiatt - Perfectly Good Guitar

Enjoy.

Bill, tgo
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 954
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 1:38 pm:   Edit Post

Bill, I haven't heard that one before. Love it.
Rich
briant
Advanced Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 204
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 2:53 pm:   Edit Post

Neither. I like them just the way they are.
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 298
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 9:15 pm:   Edit Post

Jimi's smashed guitars are worth more now, than when they worked.

Now displayed at the Jimi Hendrix Museum in Washington.

What if Stanley Smashed his Alembic?

Priceless also!
82daion
Intermediate Member
Username: 82daion

Post Number: 165
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 10:04 pm:   Edit Post

Stanley's basses wouldn't have the same value as an item of pop culture as Hendrix's guitars, I don't think. ;-)

If I had a choice, I'd rather my Alembic not be broken at all, but if something were to happen to it, I'd rather it not be by my hand.

At least then I could collect on my insurance....
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 440
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 1:28 am:   Edit Post

I'm sure Stanley is smart enough not to play with his teeth...

the Earth should be left for our children to enjoy...trashing things rarely helps as I see it.

lets go slow and treasure what we have...

...just a few streaming thoughts on the subject.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3150
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post

Who was that guy who used to go through Dylan's garbage? It takes all kinds.

Bill, tgo
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3154
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 3:13 pm:   Edit Post

Currently I'm reading "Room Full of Mirrors - A Biography of Jimi Hendrix" by Charles Cross. I just got to the part describing the genesis of Jimi's guitar smashing. In November of 1966, Hendrix played four nights at "The Big Apple" in Munich. Here is the passage describing the event:

"The Big Apple gig required the band to play two shows a night, common for their bookings over the next year. Jimi did his entire routine twice each evening, and with each show the crowds got larger and were more enthusiastic. 'That was really the first time we all knew something big was going to happen,' Noel Redding recalled. 'You could tell that we were just on the cusp of success.' Making use of a long guitar chord, Jimi walked in the audience as he played. When he went to get back onstage, he threw his guitar before him, and in doing so cracked the neck. Upset about the damage, and knowing that it would cost him two months' pay to buy a new instrument, Jimi grabbed the neck of the guitar, raised it above his head, and brought it down on the stage with a violent fury. It may have been one of the only moves he made all night that wasn't rehearsed or done as a crowd pleaser. Nonetheless, the audience applauded madly and dragged Jimi offstage at the end of the show. Seeing that response, Chandler [Bryan 'Chas" Chandler - former Animals bassist and Jimi's manager/producer] determined then and there to have Jimi smash more guitars over the next few shows. The destruction of the guitar - many times the same guitar patched up night after night - became an occasional part of Jimi's set, done when all the other gimmicks had failed to excite a crowd."

So, it appears, the guitar smashing, rather than "an artistic statement of sacrifice", was actually an accidental screw up that the audience loved and repeated pursuant to instructions from management for the sensationalist effect on the crowd.

Bill, tgo
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 446
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 3:53 pm:   Edit Post

yup..good work bill
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 301
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 4:00 pm:   Edit Post

The best book I every read on Hendrix PERIOD was by David Henderson

http://www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm?tab=23&pid=505607
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 447
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 4:34 pm:   Edit Post

cool, thanks for the link!
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 302
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 5:19 pm:   Edit Post

You can't down play a legend.

You can try playing it down with a soft and easy watered down theory, but your own spirit will reject it eventually.

When Jimi smashed his guitars, it was no gimmick, and it was no accident... it was real as a mutha-f_cka.

Some people forget the times Jimi was living under.

He sure in hell was not surfing in California, relaxing under a palm tree drinking fruit punch watching a sunsets.

Jimi was facing hell, because he was the best, and it scared people that he was not fearing poverty or men to get his music out.

Jimi faced hell here and everywhere. Can you imagine being the opening act for the Monkey's? How dare you say his actions were out of a simple hick-up.

Most people, would had failed under a 1/10th of what Jimi faced. Jimi rose to the top anyway -- and you want us to believe it was an accident? Go tell someone else this crap.
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 303
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 5:23 pm:   Edit Post

You are welcome elwoodblue :-)
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3155
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 9:28 am:   Edit Post

Hal:

Obviously you disagree with the version in the Cross book. Have you read it? Does the Henderson book say something different from the Cross book on the subject? What does the Henderson book say?

Bill, tgo
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 306
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 11:45 am:   Edit Post

You know Bill -- when it comes to authors, and their interpretations on very important people like Jimi Hendrix, it is laughable and extremely comical in it self. Did you ever watch the news lately these days?

Total Crap!

First, I respect their opinions like the next author. However, when it comes to accepting their ideas as the naked truth, that draws a red flag with me -- and I get real quiet; shake my head; and walk away.

Besides, Jimi had been asked this question many times, and he'd answered consistently every time.

Jimi answered with his own lips, which I accept personally as the gospel when he said:

“The time I burned my guitar, it was like a sacrifice,” -- “You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar.”

Who needs to interpret that, I hope people been around long enough know what a sacrifice is?
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 307
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 1:50 pm:   Edit Post

If Jimi Hendrix had an Alembic guitar, I believe he would had lit a match to it "even faster" than he did a Fender...

Alembicans know why...

Peace-
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3158
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 2:08 pm:   Edit Post

Hal:

Have a good life ... and don't ever ask to borrow any of my Alembics.

Bill, tgo
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 308
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 2:15 pm:   Edit Post

LOL!!!

I'll loan you mine anytime bro, come and get... It is here to be played and enjoyed even if the thing is 34 years old or more!

I mean it too.

I live in the Bay Area (I see you with the Oakland A's gear...)
rockbassist
Intermediate Member
Username: rockbassist

Post Number: 138
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:15 pm:   Edit Post

I would never intentionally break even the cheapest instrument.
I once had straplock release on me causing my Epic to hit the floor. Luckily, the only thing that happened was one of the tuning keys bent. I had another Epic that I used as a back up so I swapped the tuner and eventually sold the back up Epic

(Message edited by rockbassist on July 15, 2008)
llobsterbass
Junior
Username: llobsterbass

Post Number: 29
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 10:32 am:   Edit Post

"I hope people been around long enough know what a sacrifice is?"

something you do after several hits of Purple Owsley right before you go onstage!

"don't get mad...noooooooo, don't get mad...."
alembic_doctor
Advanced Member
Username: alembic_doctor

Post Number: 400
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 10:56 am:   Edit Post

The only time i ever saw my dad cry was when my brother ran through the house, tripped over the PSU cable for the DS1 and made it hit the body of his S1 and put a ding in it. I'm sure that if the bass had actually fallen over, I would have one less brother.
oujeebass
Intermediate Member
Username: oujeebass

Post Number: 121
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 7:55 pm:   Edit Post

Yeah I had crappy gig bag, that had a bad strap on one side. I was carrying it around and it fell the floor straight on its butt end. I could feel the strings vibrating through the bag. I have been trying to get it to do that again ever since. Its just a bass.
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 324
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 10:02 am:   Edit Post

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/uk_national_entertainment/3648117.Hendrix_s_guitar_sells_for___280_000/

A BBQ'ed Hendrix Strat worth 1/2 million. WOW!

If Jimi did this to an Alembic, it would be priceless.

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