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811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 2060
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 5:34 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 8:57 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 9:35 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 8:08 am:   Edit Post

My Favorite: Paul TBO playing my Series 2 in 2008 at the Bay Area Alembic Gathering
Paul TBO
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 2061
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

Ah, yes, and the elusive pic of the "3rd hand" in action. :-)
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 697
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 7:32 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post

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!

davehouckstanley
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 2062
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 11:03 am:   Edit Post

Pauldo, your Distillate is a wonderful bass. That thing sings.

John
oggydoggy
Advanced Member
Username: oggydoggy

Post Number: 215
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - 8:31 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 1:56 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 6:27 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 12:24 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, December 19, 2011 - 5:55 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, December 19, 2011 - 5:58 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 - 5:58 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 2:37 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 6:45 am:   Edit Post

ROTFLMAO!!!!



Bill, tgo
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 1887
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 10:41 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - 7:18 am:   Edit Post

No, not that cord with my Alembic!!!!
;-)
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 1234
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - 7:38 pm:   Edit Post

Why not, Mario? You don't need to change batteries then!

Peter
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 5172
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 8:42 am:   Edit Post

But you will need to change your underwear.

hehehehe

Bill, tgo
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 2982
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 1:50 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2012 - 10:34 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2012 - 10:49 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post

Does this count?



davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 10774
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 9:52 am:   Edit Post

Cool pic Flip!
serialnumber12
Senior Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 978
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 4:58 am:   Edit Post

pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 841
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 10:53 am:   Edit Post

Hey!
I know that drummer!
:-D
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 842
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 11:22 am:   Edit Post

Keavin:
Keavin and my baby

Ollie:
Ollie with my baby

John - (is he looking for his bottle Bass?)
John with my baby

Mystery man - sorry I do not remember who this is:
Mystery man with my baby
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 2996
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 1:38 pm:   Edit Post

OddMeterSam

Nate

Victor Little
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 639
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, July 13, 2012 - 5:22 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2012 - 11:08 am:   Edit Post

Flip, I did not realize you are a Guitar Gawd!!

Wow!

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