| Author | Message | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2060 Registered: 10-2003 |
I have the good fortune to get to play quite a bit but not too much. A couple of times a week I've been helping out with local jam sessions. Tuesdays are jam and open-mic at a place called Blu Katt. There's usually a wide variety of genres represented and players range from near-beginner to very accomplished. I've been bringing the bass rig and letting folks play whatever bass I bring on any particular night, and I've been letting complete strangers play my Series bass. It's been fun to watch and listen to them work it out, and it's probably good for my Karma.. Here's a pic from last night, with Jeremy Palm playing 811952. He and his wife have a band called "Big Dead Bird" and I'm more than a little envious of their eclectic and very hip song list. But I digress.. Great player, by the way..  You guys/gals have pics of other folks playing your Alembics? John | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1434 Registered: 11-2004 |
Karma points to you.... I'm curious to hear the comments from the players after having a go at an Alembic. I've always handed mine over without any problems and have always gotten rave reviews in terms of playability and tone. Guys who know about Alembics but have never played them typically end up telling me, 'Now I understand what all the fuss is about'. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 401 Registered: 9-2004 |
I have not taken anything but the Epic to a jam session as I have seen too many instruments get damaged or dropped over the years. Last year I saw a mint old Gibson SG get a dent into the fretboard from some vocalist who knocked the mic stand over into it while getting into the mood. I know that Gibson owner feels that dent every time he plays that guitar. I once saw a guy talk a Ferarri owner into letting him drive his 308 at a track day I was watching. He spun it off the road way down the track where no one but I and my binoculars could see. Ten minutes later he came around into the pits with smoke coming out the back and I heard him telll a bs story to the owner about how the car just started smoking. More power to you though! They are meant to be played! Dave | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 747 Registered: 9-2008 |
Wow, I'm so jealous about my Rogue that I couldn't let anyone touch her. I would be a pain in the S, asking him to take off his belt, checking if he washed hands first. Better not... | ||
| kenbass4
Advanced Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 400 Registered: 10-2003 |
My Favorite: Paul TBO playing my Series 2 in 2008 at the Bay Area Alembic Gathering  | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2061 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ah, yes, and the elusive pic of the "3rd hand" in action.  | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 697 Registered: 6-2006 |
Many hands on my Distillate at the Chicago Gathering - and they were soo good - one guy even played my bass with a Bass!  But having fellow owners play my Alembic is different than having someone unfamiliar with the joys of Alembics play them. Sorry no pics of unfamiliar people playing my 'baby'. Side note: everytime my son comes to visit he can't wait to play it - he really enjoys it. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 976 Registered: 1-2005 |
It's definitely less stressful when other Alembicians are the ones playing them - I had no qualms letting our noble moderator Dave Houck play my 5 string Stanley at the most recent SF Bay Area Gathering!  | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2062 Registered: 10-2003 |
Pauldo, your Distillate is a wonderful bass. That thing sings. John | ||
| oggydoggy
Advanced Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 215 Registered: 3-2003 |
Greetings I find whenever another player attempts to play my bass, it sounds awful. And the comments include "The action is too low" or "wow too many highs" "why does it sound so good when you play it?" Any other bad experiences? -Ed | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1737 Registered: 11-2004 |
When I let(which is very rare) anyone play the MK I get the same reaction as you oggy, mainly because their own basses have the action at mount everest levels and do not understand the subtleties of low pass filters - they assume them to be treble & bass boost/cut controls. It took me 6 months of playing and experimenting with the controls as well as the pre gains on the pre amps to get the type of sounds I want. Without dissing anyone, if you have played a passive bass and then jump to an active one whether it be an Alembic or some other make, you need to take time to understand the controls and what they do as opposed to 'it's just like a P bass but with more knobs!' | ||
| eligilam
Advanced Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 349 Registered: 2-2006 |
My guitar player commented that my Alembic bass played more easily than his guitar. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2646 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm still quite protective about letting anyone play my alembics. Apart from me I think only two other people have played one of my basses. But not at a gig yet. I do plan to arrange with one of my pro-bass player friends to use one of my basses on one of his gigs that I can go to so I can get an idea of how it sounds live. I understand there will be differences in his tone and mine on the same instrument but its an easy way for me to hear what the bass sounds like FOH. Jazzyvee | ||
| malthumb
Senior Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 507 Registered: 5-2002 |
A few years ago I went to a GTG in northern Ohio. A bunch of guys from Detroit, Cleveland, and Indiana showed up. Most of them got a chance to play 87-4431. The lucky guy in this picture is Detroit bassist Steve Burk. I think that's his Sadowsky casting a jealous glance.  | ||
| malthumb
Senior Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 508 Registered: 5-2002 |
John (811952), What is that square patch to the left of your cable port? | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2088 Registered: 10-2003 |
While I would love to tell you that it's a top-secret tone-thingy that Ron Wickersham has been developing, it is just a patch of velcro where I sometimes mount a Flip video camera. The field of view is awful from that location, so ultimately I'll fab a mount for the headstock.. Here's what the video looks like from either end of the instrument: body: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0jjaSlVbNk headstock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbyPMyNnwno John | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2975 Registered: 6-2002 |
Perfect accessory to reduce the number of people wanting to play your alembic at Jam sessions.  jazzyvee | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5171 Registered: 7-2004 |
ROTFLMAO!!!!  Bill, tgo | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1887 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thank You So Much, JazzyVee, my Christmas shopping list is now SOLVED ! ! ! J o e y | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 800 Registered: 9-2008 |
No, not that cord with my Alembic!!!! ;-) | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1234 Registered: 10-2006 |
Why not, Mario? You don't need to change batteries then! Peter | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5172 Registered: 7-2004 |
But you will need to change your underwear. hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2982 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill you are a scream man, what do you think this is gonna be plugged in to......!!!! | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 801 Registered: 9-2008 |
Oh, now I got it, Peter... I can even imagine if 9V makes all those wonders, what 127V would do! :D | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2984 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hurt..!!! Especially over here in the UK where we have 240v :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1378 Registered: 5-2006 |
Does this count?   | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10774 Registered: 5-2002 |
Cool pic Flip! | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 978 Registered: 12-2004 |
 | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 841 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hey! I know that drummer! :-D | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 842 Registered: 6-2006 |
Keavin:  Ollie:  John - (is he looking for his bottle Bass?)  Mystery man - sorry I do not remember who this is:  | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2996 Registered: 6-2002 |
OddMeterSam  Nate  Victor Little  | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 639 Registered: 2-2011 |
This is the only shot I have of anyone else touching my Alembic. This is my wife holding it the day I got it. She was scared to death & didn't want to touch it!  | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 482 Registered: 9-2004 |
Flip, I did not realize you are a Guitar Gawd!! Wow! |
