| Author | Message | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 171 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hey Alembic Bros: Been awhile since I posted anything - been busy with my band on tour in Europe last year and now recording a new album. But I thought it was time to check in with you all and show you a couple pictures of my Baby being used in the studio this weekend. I'm never less than amazed at the sounds I'm still able to dial-in with this beautiful work-of-art. Thanks to Ron, Susan, Mica and everyone at Alembic for this soulmate!   (Message edited by davehouck on September 15, 2008) | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 460 Registered: 7-2007 |
Hi Jeffrey, Your bass looks GREAT - even in low resolution  Play it healthy! Art | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 172 Registered: 6-2003 |
Thanks Art! Yeah, I was trying to figure out a way to make it higher rez but the picture upload size limit is 150KB. I mean how Hi-Rez can you get with that? I'm thinking of having some professional pictures taken and if I do I'll post them to my server and give the link here. This '74 Small Standard still looks as nice - or nicer now that the woods gotten aged - as it did when I bought her in 1974. Maybe I'll try uploading just a picture of the bass so you can see it closer and at a better angle. . | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 461 Registered: 7-2007 |
Would love to see more of that beauty! Please do post more pictures. Best, Art | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 404 Registered: 1-2005 |
Yeah! I have to admit I am very jealous. That is a beauty! Love the shape of the horns - the pics look good to me! I bet it sounds great too... | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 173 Registered: 6-2003 |
Thanks Bros. . heres a couple closeup pictures that should still be small enought to upload. .   | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7045 Registered: 5-2002 |
That's just a really cool bass! | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 186 Registered: 5-2007 |
I love the bass Has the humcanclelling mid p/u been removed? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7046 Registered: 5-2002 |
Vann-Di; in these early models, the humx is hidden in another location (I think it's beneath the tailpiece), and the plate between the pickups covers the batteries. | ||
| white_cloud
Senior Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 488 Registered: 11-2007 |
Wow..beautiful bass! Check out the grain on that headstock - outstanding! John. | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 463 Registered: 7-2007 |
Nice! The bass appears to be in such beautiful condition given its age. Well cared for kudos! | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 174 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hey Guys: Yes, as Dave said the hum cancelling pickup is located under the "mustache" tailpiece. Which is another feature of this bass I love. The battries go in a compartment between the pickups with a brass cover that screws down on it. Besides the beautiful woods used, it has a very cool scalloped brass nut I believe was manufactured by Rick Turner when he was still with Alembic. I emailed him a couple times and sent him a picture and he said he remembers making my bass. That was really cool. It is in such incredible shape because for a part of it's life it lived in my best friends closet! When I was young and foolish I actually sold it to him for awhile but he hardly ever used it. Never gigged with it. Fortunately for me he sold it back to me years later, practically unused. And for my part I NEVER take this on long trips that involve flying. It's just too precious. So thank you for your kind comments about how well cared for it is - I really work hard to keep it as pristine as I can. It has an oil finish so I give it a good Watco treatment at least once a year. And the brass work is cleaned a couple times a year. The last time I cleaned the brass I even took apart the brass bridge!! It took me an entire day to clean it and put it back together again and another few hours to get the intonation perfect. But it was worth it. It looked incredible. Like I had reached back through some mystical time machine and plucked it from the Alembic workshop in 1974. I had Alembic go through the electronics a few years ago and replace a couple of resistors, pots and such but outside that it's original. I still have my original reciept from where I purchased it in south Tacoma. Price: (this is gonna hurt Guys,) a whopping $1275.00!!! And back then THAT was considered a HUGE ammount of money to spend on a bass guitar. But the second I saw it there I knew I had to own it. It was like nothing I had ever seen in my life. Obviously painstakingly handmade with TLC! And the groundbreaking active electronics have allowed me to dial-in the most original and sonorous tones. Here are a couple more detail pictures showing the nut and the back of the body. | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 175 Registered: 6-2003 |
Oh yeah, I should also mention a wonderful member of this forum - Michael (Dela) - who helped me maintain my Small Standards original "stock" status by sending me a vintage gold-plated Shaller tuning gear as a replacement for one that had gone bad on the aforementioned friend who also owned this bass. I searched high and low and couldn't find one because Shaller doesn't make them any more. But this fine Alembic Brother came to my rescue and found one and sent it to me. I know he lost some of his Alembics when Katrina hit and last I heard Alembic was rebuilding one of his Series One basses for him. I hope that worked out. He defintely deserves good things coming to him. Hope you're well Michael, wherever you are! | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 464 Registered: 7-2007 |
Great memories and a nice share Jeff! I too have had several good interactions with Michael, an outstanding member IMHO. BTW, I tried the link in your profile to your website and it goes to a 404 page not found error. They have removed the "default.html" file from the folder, thus your link breaks. They still have an index page in there that loads when you strip "default.html" from the URL. Thought you might want to know. (Message edited by artswork99 on September 16, 2008) | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 176 Registered: 6-2003 |
Art: Thanks! I'll fix that. I haven't updated my profile in some time. Has anyone heard how Michaels doing? He has been so helpful to me. He's also sent copies of Alembic promotional materials circa my bass year 1974 which were very interesting and has educated me greatly about the Series I basses. He his a huge fan of the Series I having owned a few of them. | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 465 Registered: 7-2007 |
You can reach Michael through his profile - dela217. He lists several ways to contact him. | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 177 Registered: 6-2003 |
Thanks, I should have checked there. BTW I've updated my Profile with a link thats active. Even added a picture. Thanks for giving me the heads-up on that. | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 467 Registered: 7-2007 |
No problem at all, glad to assist. "Glass" is much different than the last landing page for you Jeff. Checked out your myspace, I like the progressive, fusion feel. Best, Art | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1470 Registered: 12-2002 |
welcome back brother buck! | ||
| bucky
Intermediate Member Username: bucky Post Number: 178 Registered: 6-2003 |
Thanks Art! Yes, Glass always has been my major effort though I have several solo projects going at any given time. Hey, Hi Keavin! It's great to be back. . I've missed you guys! You know I heard some members actually made the Alembic players/collectors get-together finally happen a few years ago - Damn! I wish I had been checking in then. I would have loved to go and share my bass. As well as see some of the many Alembics I've seen featured here in flesh so to speak. Next one I'm going to make for sure! |
