| Author | Message | ||
| deny rowand (denyrow)
New Username: denyrow Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2002 |
Anyone else using their Alembic for blues? Yeah I know real blues can only be played on a guitar/bass that came from a pawn shop but since I got mine used at a really really great price, it almost counts! I use a GK 800RB with sonic single 15 bottom and a custom built 2-10 cabinet with old 10" Pyle Drivers for high end. My Essence is really starting to work out well with this set-up. A great low end for real Chicago style bump type blues and a great high end kick for Funk. "Keeping these blues alive is killing me!" Deny | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Member Username: palembic Post Number: 90 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hy Deny, yes ...an Alembic-blues-player over here in Belgium. I know ...not easy to hop over for a drink and an bluesy evening in on eof the bars we regularly play but ...yes definetly blues. Blues Stuff is the name (see "Gigs"). Playing a SII 5 string, SWR SM-400 with Glockenklang 4x10 an 1 x 15 cabinets. There were some people looking a bit strange to me as the guy-playing-blues-not-with-a-beaten-up-fender-but a-fancy-bass but I don't care. It sounds great: as well for a funky "Lovin'cup" version as a lazy "Stormy Monday". The fun is: I really don't change a lot of tone when it is once set, the bass is SO respnosive that just by using another plucking technique the sounds changes. Take care and CU Paul | ||
| Stu Johnson (stu)
New Username: stu Post Number: 10 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hey guys I play blues / rock over here in North East UK Newcastle upon Tyne and my Alembic 20th anniversary gives me everything I need it's brilliant, I also use Ashdown head & 1 x 15 4 x 10 cabs. Stay cool guys Stu | ||
| Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Junior Username: dela217 Post Number: 45 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey all! Being a bassist in New Orleans, I get lots of calls for blues gigs. Of course I bring an Alembic too! | ||
| Dave Houck (davehouck)
New Username: davehouck Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2002 |
Michael Hill's Blues Mob has been a regular on the blues circuit for a number of years now. They are from New York and get down to my neck of the woods maybe once a year. If you are a fan of blues, I highly recommend them. The bass player, Pete Cummings, plays an Epic. Of all the blues bands I've seen come through here on the circuit, Michael Hill is one of my favorites because the bass player is not just laying back letting the guitar player have all the fun. He plays lines that are interesting and contribute significantly to a very enjoyable blues listening experience. Nice picture of him and his bass here: http://www.michaelhillsbluesmob.com/about2.htm Dave | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 51 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Guys, I currently don't have much blues playing experience, but my father is a huge blues fan, and I grew up listening to it most of my life. The guitarist in one of the Funk/R&B bands in which I play, used to front a blues band for many years and has decided to start another one. So, I agreed to play bass for him, as I am a fan of blues myself. Of course, once this venture starts...I will be using my trusty (well, trusty for the 2 months I've owned it) Mark King 5-string. Mikey/ | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Deny, I've been using my 5 string Elan for the last 11 years for everything from blues to country. Anybody that says you've got to have an old beat up bass to play the blues must have their head examined. I've played with some of these people and after a four hour gig, all they usually have to say is "damn son, you really can play the blues". Blues as well as any other music comes from the heart not the instrument. It's the brain and the ears that decide on the instrument you use to best convey that message. Nobody ever told a poor little boy from Liverpool, England he couldn't use a Hofner to write some of the best bass lines in rock bass history!?!?! Peace - Dino | ||
| Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior Username: jlpicard Post Number: 28 Registered: 7-2002 |
Dino, Well said, Mike | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Member Username: palembic Post Number: 94 Registered: 9-2002 |
Dino "AMEN" to that one Paul | ||
| deny rowand (denyrow)
New Username: denyrow Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2002 |
Great posting guys. Thanks alot. Dino, Great writing. As a big fan of that "beatle" guy I realy enjoyed your comment. Now if we can only get Paul to play an Alembic all would be right with the world. Good Blues to ya'all. Deny | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 16 Registered: 7-2002 |
One thing that I did forget to mention too by the way. Has anyone priced the old, beat up afformentioned bass?? I was in Rudy's in New York recently and they wanted upwards of about $6000 for an early 60's Jazz Bass. I love Jazz Basses but please... I'd rather put the money into a new Alembic!!!!! And Yes Deny!!!! It would be cool to see Sir Paul playing an Alembic. He certainly wouldn't have to pay extra for a lefty!!!! LOL!!!! Peace - Dino | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 52 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Dino, I pass by Rudy's daily on my way home from work, and I too was amazed at the price tag on that piece. Nice bass, but I too would much rather put that into a nice custom Alembic...maybe another Mark King...or better yet...a nice down payment on a Series II. Mikey/ | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 17 Registered: 7-2002 |
Mikey, Is that bass still there!?!? It's actually been a couple of months since I've been there. When I was there, the salesman said he gets that kind of money all day long for that type of vintage bass. I can't imagine.... | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 53 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Dino, I'm gonna stop by today on my way to rehearsal and take a look. When I spoke to Dean @ Rudy's last week, he said they had a buyer coming in for it over the weekend...so it may be gone. I actually like Rudy's shop a lot...I ordered my Tobias from them 15 years ago, and have bought many rigs from them over the years. I had planned on getting my next bass from them...but luckily, I remembered Stanley and Mark playing Alembics and decided to check them out. Unfortunately, they are not an Alembic dealer (I'm gonna talk to Rudy about that), so I didn't get my bass from them, but I still stop by to say "Hello." I'll let you know if the Jazz is still there or not. Mikey/ | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 19 Registered: 7-2002 |
I agree!!! I love going into Rudy's!!! It's got so much vibe there. All the guys are very cool and knowledgeable. In fact my first time in New York, they actually took the time to explain to me how the subway system works. I hope I didn't make them out to sound like bad guys from my previous emails. Peace-Dino | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 56 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Dino, Naw...you didn't make them sound bad at all...and I certainly agree with your comments regarding the bass they're selling. When I said I like their shop a lot...I was merely trying to relieve some of my own guilt for deserting them. As a regular customer (almost exclusively) for the past 15 or so years...I felt like a traitor when going off to another music shop to make my most expensive single purhcase to date (my Mark King)...it almost felt like sneaking off to another barber shop after going to the same guy for many, many years. Oh well, just a personal issue I have to deal with.  | ||
| Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior Username: jlpicard Post Number: 37 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey guys, I was born and raised in New York but I've been away for many years and I am not familiar with Rudy's.Where in NY is it? If it's in Manhattan, I know I've been in the store at least once. I was there last year shortly after 9/11. Mike | ||
| Michael Walker (rockandroller)
New Username: rockandroller Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2002 |
Rudy's is at 169 West 48th Street, in the heart of "Music Store Row". Its almost right across the street from Manny's... | ||
| Michael Walker (rockandroller)
New Username: rockandroller Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2002 |
Rudy's is at 169 West 48th Street, in the heart of "Music Store Row". Its almost right across the street from Manny's... | ||
| Michael Walker (rockandroller)
Junior Username: rockandroller Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2002 |
(whoops a little database hiccup there) | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 58 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Mike, Rudy's is on 48th Street, Between 6th and 7th St (very close to 7th)...right along w/ all the other music shops (Manny's, Sam Ash, 48th St. Custom Guitars, etc.) If you're walking east on 48th from 7th Ave towards 6th, Rudy's is on the left hand side of the street (the first music shop you come across). Years ago, Rudy's started as a 1 level shop, with a 2nd level for the luthier, but have now expanded to 4 floors...with 1 floor dedicated to bass...a lovely thing. Mikey/ | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 59 Registered: 7-2002 |
ooopppsss...I see Mike W. already responded...cool. I started my reply a while ago, got interrupted and just got to finish, so I never saw Mike's reply...not Mike D...but Mike W. Check this out...3 Mikes on the same thread chatting amongst themselves...nice!!! Mikey/ | ||
| Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Junior Username: dela217 Post Number: 47 Registered: 6-2002 |
I am going to be another Mike on this thread. I play blues a lot here in New Orleans. I ALWAYS use my Alembic. In fact I used to host a weekly blues open mic for a couple of years. Always brought my 1975 Series I short scale bass. Everyone loved to sit in and use my bass. In fact I didn't get to play it much, everyone else used it! I really got a lot of gigs from this one and met some great New Orleans musicians. | ||
| Daniel Tracey (dannobasso)
Junior Username: dannobasso Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2002 |
good luck finding any Alembics on 48th street! Isaw a beat used SC standard in Manny's (actually Sam Ash). No one carries them any more. Mica has more details on the relationships with these dealers. | ||
| Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior Username: jlpicard Post Number: 41 Registered: 7-2002 |
Thanks Mikes!Ok! I have been there.Great little bass room on the third floor I believe? As for Manny's,I was there last October when the manager told me he was closing out the Alembics because they just don't sell? Go figure? I'll never understand that! I prefer to think that Alembics are only appreciated by the more dicerning few! right gang? lol | ||
| Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Junior Username: valvil Post Number: 26 Registered: 7-2002 |
Alembics don't sell only if you don't know how to sell them...and you can't sell them the way you sell any other bass. For me the electric solidbody bass world can be divided into 4 main sound categories: Fender basses, Bartolini basses, EMG basses and finally Alembic Basses...there are of course plenty other instruments ( Rickenbacker for one, my first favorite bass, before Alembics came around) who have their unique sound, that generally is nothing to write home about, but most instruments ( plenty of Fender copies) fall in one of those four categories. Of those 4 , the first three may easily give you a really good sound , but...they have nowhere near the versatility of sound you get from an Alembic. Add to that the fact that Alembics are unsurpassed in workmanship, playbility and sheer beauty & can be built totally to your specs down to choosing the woods for them, and you have an instrument which is as good as it gets AND is a stunning work of art. And that's what you gotta harp on if you want to sell an Alembic to someone who never heard of it. I was at Manny's back in the early nineties, and I remember I was pretty interested in MK signature they had there, but the salesperson who 'helped" me really was not interested in talking about basses, he did not try to sell me on it at all, which kinda surprised me, Of course I did not buy, since he was also unwilling to come down on his price ( which wasn't all that great). So , if Manny's wasn't selling Alembics, I think it may have had to do more with their lack of effort than anything else. Unfortunately, that type of salesperson attitude "well, it's just a bass, what is there to know about it?" is all too common.... Valentino | ||
| Bob Tait (bobtait)
New Username: bobtait Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2002 |
I play Beale Street in Memphis regularly with a Mark King Sig Medium scale. It sounds great for blues and R&B. I didnt get mine in a pawn shop as it were. But a friend of mine who owns a music store did sell it to me for a grand when some jerk kicked my front door in on Christmas night and stole my G&L L-1000 I had been playing for 13 years. The Alembic still had the plastic on the brass back. I never would have been able to throw down for a new one. And it has been my pleasure to play it for the last 12 years. Maybe we were meant for each other. Best thousand bucks I ever spent. Just seeing the expression on his face when we called Alembic to run the serial number and he asked them what it listed for was priceless. | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member Username: palembic Post Number: 152 Registered: 9-2002 |
Bob, a really "bass Christmas carol". That's what I call a deal! Paul | ||
| Peter Hess (locutusofborg10)
New Username: locutusofborg10 Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2002 |
i have an epic 4string that i'm running through a swr workingmans 2004 head with a peavey 115 bottom and a 410 bottom of unknown origin. i find that the swr gives me the most sounds without distorting since we all know that alembics put out alot of power on their own. i also have an old acoustic 370 head that i run through a 215 bottom in tandem with the other setup when i need raw power. the combination of the two is awsome. since i'm a weekend warrior i can't afford the more expensive heads i've been reading about. anyone in my situation should try out the swr. they seem to be a good match for alembics. | ||
| Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 63 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey! Alembic for blues? The bassist for Johnny Lang uses an Alembic 5 string Epic! |
