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Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 34
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Monday, November 11, 2002 - 10:25 pm:   Edit Post

I have this problem ; In my thirty-four years as a bass player, I have owned and played the following; A Hagstrom( can't remember the model), a 73' Rickenbacker 4001and 78'3001,two 78' Charvel PJ's (serial# 028 & 029,A Guild B-50,Two Ibanez MC924's(poor mans Alembic),a Kramer 8-string &three 4 strings,I pressently own;Three basses of my own design,A Steinberger XL-2,a Musicman Stingray 5, a Fender Jazz, a U.S. Masters 5, Ibanez MC 924 w/ Bartolinis and finally an 86' Distillate and a 98' Europa.
My problem is that I have all these wonderful basses and all I end up taking to the gig are my Alembics!!!!!!! I love to sit around the house and play all my basses but none of them, repeat....NONE OF THEM stand up to the Alembics! Occasionaly I will try to bring another one to the gig. I end up playing them for one set and then I must put them down and pick up the alembics. I get so much flack from my band mates for not using the Alembics.I've never had so much reaction to a bass from normally indifferent to bass tone musicians! Ah ,the fullness the punch, the clarity, the VERSATILITY!! I tell you , these basses render all others useless. I'm curious to hear of others having similar experiences.
Mike
Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Junior
Username: valvil

Post Number: 24
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Monday, November 11, 2002 - 10:52 pm:   Edit Post

That's quite a few basses there Michael...if I read you correctly you have a total of 10 right now? with another 11 before that? I get the feeling you must have bought every decent lefty bass you ever came across...

However, you only use Alembics on your gigs...now, I may not be the brightest guy, but...explain to me, just why, exactly, is that a problem? Your other basses aren't suing you for neglect, are they? :-)

Valentino
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 98
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 1:07 am:   Edit Post

Well MIchael,

I have not that choice in basses. My other bass is a 78 Antigua Fender Jazz bass. I started playing in the old-fashioned Big Band with the Alembic but the guys didn't like it. They didn't like the sharp edges in the sound. Beware: it IS a mather of shaping the soundof the bass. I use the Fender now with light roundwounds from D'Addario and everybody likes it.
I guess when I put those string (5) on my SII the bandmembers would love it but then I have a problem in the other band I play.
The SII IS very versatile and in the time I used my Alembic in the BB i wasn't as good in soundshaping as I'm now.
I guess I could "rule the world" with 3 SII's but one of them has to be fretless (5str) and the other with roundwounds (4str).
Take care!
Paul
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 35
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 7:44 pm:   Edit Post

Actually,With all the time and money I've invested in my basses,if anyone sues me for neglect,it will probably be my wife!! :-)
Seriously though, what I'm trying to say is that the Alembics have rendered all my other basses obsolete! I have been SPOILED! ;) I am trying to decide if the others still have...(for lack of a better term), a place in my musical life, but I also hate to see them sitting around collecting dust,you know? Musical instruments are meant to be played and so now I'm faced with the realization that perhaps I should sell them off and at least get them into the hands of someone who will make more use of them. Mike
Rami Sourour (rami)
Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 87
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 8:06 pm:   Edit Post

You know Mike,
I don't have any basses that I'm willing to part with. Besides my out-of-control Alembic collection, I'm also quite the fan of the 70's Fender Jazz Bass. Needless to say...I have a few! Although NOTHING can compare with my Alembics for sound, quality, feel or just sheer exotic beauty, those other basses still have their charm. They're all members of the family and have their individual stories. They'll all still be around long after I'm gone in the hands of who knows who. We're just their custodians. Enjoy and appreciate them while you can and never mind about giving to someone else who can appreciate them. They'll find their own way once we're gone.
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 17
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:53 pm:   Edit Post

Mike DeV:

Picking up an idea from a previous thread:

Keep the ALEMBICs and the basses you built yourself. Sell everything else and buy a motorcycle ! Maybe a Ducati or an R1.

Also, consider yourself lucky. Most gigs, a lot of us get the inevitable "dude, where's the Fender?" I just tell 'em it fell of the Ducati !!

Joey Wilson
Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior
Username: dean_m

Post Number: 18
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

Uh Oh!!!!

Do I see another motorcycle/Alembic thread coming up here!?!?

Rami, very well said!!! I too sometimes feel guilty about leaving certain basses at home sometimes. Until I get to the gig of course and play my trusty old Elan!!!!!

Peace-Dino
Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member
Username: pookeymp

Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 7:42 am:   Edit Post

Hey Mike,

I too have been guilty of bass neglect. Since I started playing 5-string about 17 years ago, all my 4-strings sit around unplayed, except for a Takamine Acoustic. I have a Guild, a Tune and a Tobias, all 5-strings, that don't make it out to gigs anymore since I received my Alembic. I do use the Tobias at some rehearsals, though. It's nice and light and easy to carry on my back when walking around NYC. Lucky for my Tobias, my 14-year old son still loves it dearly and brings it to Church every Sunday where me and him switch off on bass and drums. I normally play the Alembic at church also, but every now and then will pick up the Tobias for a song...but always go back to the monstrous sound of my Mark King.

Mikey/
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 101
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 9:52 am:   Edit Post

Oooooops.
After reading my answer again (see higher) I see I made a mistake. The Fender I play are strung with light FLATWOUNDS from d'Addario. That's when the BB-mambers starred to like it. So I guess when I took those strings to my 5 string they will like it to. So to "rule the world" I slould need 1 Alembic 4str with FLATWOUNDS. Sorry for the mess-up.

Something else: Mikey: do you play 5-strings for 17 years?
I can't imagine that they were already very popular then? Here in Belgium not I think. I even met a salesman in a guitarshop over here that basses with more than 4 strings are not so popular anymore.
He said:
1. to have a good one is a lot more expensive than a equally good in 4 string.
2. They are more difficult to play. He said (and I quote) " a six string is for the intellectual bassplayers and that is something that is never asked from a bassplayer".
3. It's more demanding for the quality (and budget) of the amp-system and cabinet set-up you use.

Tssss-tssss ...poor us!

Take care!

Paul
Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member
Username: pookeymp

Post Number: 57
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:08 am:   Edit Post

Hey Paul,

17 years ago the 5-string definitely wasn't as popular as it is now (not too many companies making them)...but they were around. I remember seeing a Tobias 5-String as a "Guitar Player" Giveaway back around '83, '84, or '85 (not sure of the exact year)...and knew I had to get one. So I messed around with a couple of cheapo 5-strings for a couple of years until I was finally able to buy my Tobias in '87.

My 14-year old son, when he decided to pick up bass 2 years ago, didn't learn on a 4-string, but went straight to my 5-strings and has been playing them ever since. He is learning double bass in school...but complains about the lack of the 5th string...Kids!!!

Mikey/

Mikey/
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 36
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post

Rami, you're absolutely right about the charm. That is why I keep trying to find a place for them
at the gig. There is something about each one of them that has appeal.

Joey,How about I keep the Alembics and the basses that I built,sell everything else and drop a hefty downpayment on a new SII that I've been dreaming about? Hmm.... Mike
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 38
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 1:02 pm:   Edit Post

Rami, I had the oportunity the other day to play an flame maple Excel 4 at a local store.This was quite a find since we don't see Alembics that often in Salt Lake City. I know that you own several and I would like to compare sonic notes.
First off there was a beautifully thick slab of Pau Fero for the fingerboard. the finish while smooth on the maple ,apparently is not thick enough to fill the more open pored ash on the back
Is this typical of your Excels? It must be a polyurethane finish.Perhaps not as thick as the polyester.As for sound, Nice and bright but more choked sounding as I would expect from a non neck through without the sustain block under the bridge,with kinda of a "smokey" sounding low end.I was listening through a GK 1001 2-10 combo which I'm sure had some influence on the tone. Mike
Rami Sourour (rami)
Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 88
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 6:04 pm:   Edit Post

I believe that's the satin polyurethane finish you're describing. Personally I love it. It makes the surface feel natural and very "touchable". Feels like bare wood - can't get better! As for the sound - the maple topped Excels seem a little softer and smoother sounding than the Walnut or Vermillion topped ones, which seem to have a slightly harder-edged sound. Generally, the Excel sound is very loud, sharp and punchy; just a little smoother with the Maple tops. This was my first experience with Alembics - there's a bass with a unique personality & charm. I've still gotta thank Mica for designing it!
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 102
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:22 am:   Edit Post

Hi gang,

1. To Mikey.
Let your son try a 5 string upright? I know an old Belgian jazz-player who plays the 5 string upright. It sounded fabulous. I went to speak with him and after asking him about the bass he said: "the principle of 5 string is rather old. Bach used it and there is no way of playing Wagner without a 5 string." In my history books the first 5 string bass ever made (with the WIDE stringspacing so APART from the Fender VI) was done by Alembic for -what's his name: a long time bass-player for James Taylor(???). As the book tells: he got the idea from his father who played the 5 string upright.

2. To all:
parting from basses isn't that easy, believe me I know.
But try the following: giving the fact that you own one or two Alembics + some or what other guitars.
First imagine some pour bass-player coming to you and beg you to give you one of your (non-Alembic) basses. Would you do it? There is a fair chance that most of you all would answer some words not for publication on this site and basically ask to "get lost".
Second: imagine you have some nasty bills to pay (my situation once and there WAS an Alembic involved). What instrument do you want to sell then? Those instruments are the ones you "easily" can part of.
Third: find out for yourself if you have a wish for another bass (an Alembic of course). Talk about that dream with friends here on the web, with MIca, to your wife and kids, to your community priest, your doctor whoever ... . See for yourself what guitars in your collection you want to part from to get the money to pay for the new guitar.
If none of the three situation let you part from one of your guitars ...well ...you really hooked up on them. I suggest then you keep them "alive" by playing them regulary. Visits to a good luthier can help to give them a set-up as close as possible with the Alembics. Another hint is to strung or tune them in different ways. For instance: try the upper 4 strings of a guitar on one of your basses. It's something Stanley Clark does. It's a completely new area opening in using powerchords and soloing. With five string: try using the high C or alternate tunings.
Anyway: try to play on them and to keep a chalenge for each of them!
My two cents.

Take care.

Paul

PS: I'm afraid I gave already a lot of two cents here ;-)
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:30 am:   Edit Post

Mike DeV:

OK, a new SII is OK instead of a Ducati. If you really make a killing on your oldies, go for the ebony laminates, and think about a red one since it was my idea. You could call it The BigRedS2.

Best Regards,
Joey Wilson
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 19
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 12:42 am:   Edit Post

Paul:

I DEFINITELY remember 5-strings from the early 80's. Seems like I saw Nathan East with that white Yamaha BB5000 everywhere in videos, even a GHS print ad. I bought my first 5 in '86. Of course, Jimmy Johnson and his mighty SII 5-string were arlready at large in the Flim and the BB's recordings. Sonically, Nathan was very obvious in the choruses of "Two Hearts" from Phil Collins. The 4-chord in the chorus was anchored by these low C's that I knew weren't from a D-tuner.

Greetings to Belgium from Tennessee,

Joey Wilson
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 104
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 1:05 am:   Edit Post

Hi Joey,
I guess I found a Tenessee man awake on the other side of the Atlantic. It' 10 o clock in the morning here. You were right on Nathan. Was Jimmy Johnson the man behind James Taylor? I'm bad in names: I saw a bautiful live video of a James concert recorded at a barn at his home where Jimmy is playing, I'm a fan.
The point that I wanted to make is that over here in Belgium I always found lesser 5 string players as 4 string players. And you can really forget the 6 string. As you know Belgium is very small. There are going a lot of Belgiums in Tenessee. So to compare US with Belgium is foolish but it's the attitude in music-shops I'm talking here. The shop here in Leuven (who is definitely NOT specializing in basses) has say 20 basses, there are 5 5 strings and in the 15 years I pass the shop I saw only two (2) 6 strings: a Yamaha TRBP6 and a Warwick.
Those basses were popular earlier in the US I guess.
Greetings back my friend!
Paul
Alfredo (kayo)
New
Username: kayo

Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2002 - 3:04 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Michael,

I found your commentary to be quite ironic in that I have come across the same thing for at least 10 years. I found that (with R&B and Jazz in particular) there are many players who have developed a preference for a particular "color" of sound, specific to a couple of genres but patterned on the classic Fender (Jazz or P Bass) sound. As a result of that, my Steinberger and Alembic's were frowned upon because they lacked that particular punchy (sometimes boomy and bottom heavy) sound. I've received much criticism on the distinct Alembic sound (specially from older cats that are biased becuase of what they grew up with). I wouldn't worry about it too much, you're lucky that you are getting positive feedback on your Alembic tone. Though I do agree that much of the sound envelope has to do with 1) style & technique 2) amp 3) speakers, 4) effects and/or EQ, much of what I came across was just that the old school people were stuck on Fender tone (much like when the electric bass first came out the old timers still preferred stand-up tones). Nowadays, with very few exceptions I overwhelmingly receive compliments on the Alembic tone.
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Member
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 52
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2002 - 10:39 pm:   Edit Post

Alfredo, You know, it alway seemed strange to me that people like that boomy tone.I have never been a great fan of the "Fender " tone mainly because to me ,they sound great sitting around the living room jamming with your friends at low volume but get them on a BIG stage in a BIG room with a BIG PA and you get MUSH! ( the main reason alembic embarked on a quest to improve the bass guitar in the first place!)As we bass players know , one of the hardest things to achieve live is clarity and the ability to hold your own in the mix. Well, along comes Alembic and Wham! there you go folks..Everything you've always wanted and yet some players get flack for it because now....the other players have to give up some of the precious sonic space to the bass player that they are used to hogging for themselves! ( ie. guitarists,drummers, etc.) who are accustomed to feeling the bass ,not really hearing it. Sorry if I seem a little militant about it but I just can't understand why you would want to move backward after such a sonic revelation such as an Alembic provides.
( other than trying to duplicate an authentic sound for a certain style or genre) Mike
Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior
Username: dean_m

Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 8:49 am:   Edit Post

You bring up some very valid points Michael. One thing that I always run in to is in the studio. The engineer sees me take out an Alembic and freaks out because it's not a Fender. Now he has to "work" to get a sound because his bass channel is dialed into a Fender sound. I usually ask him if I could sit at the board and dial in my sound which only takes a few seconds. Most of the time it's just a matter of running the EQ completely flat. If it is a commercial session though, you don't have much time to "discuss" the situation with the engineer or producer so a lot of times I am asked to just bring a P-bass. Live gigs are a completely different thing though because now its my choice and nobody elses. Usually if someone gets all bummed out because I didn't bring the Fender, I just give them some foam ear plugs and tell them it would just sound the same as the Fender. Very rarely does this happen after the first gig with a new artist because they know they can trust me for the best sound possible for tthe gig. One thing that I think we as Alembic wielding bass players have to be careful of is the fact that an Alembic, being played full open can scare quite a few guitar players because it's not the sound they're used to. I have learned through the years to go easy on filters and not scare too many other players into thinking I'm just a frustrated guitar player.
Believe me, I get this all the time up here in Boston, which seems to be a 4-string, p-bass type of city when it comes to blues and funk. And it does get frustrating having to justify it most of the time. The other thing I run into is when I do pull out this beautiful bass, I get the "this guy must not be a 'real' player if he can afford an instrument that looks like a coffee table" attitude, and was told this after a gig one night, it was followed by an apology too.
I think what it comes down to is we as bass players have to assume a certain responsibility to the people who hire us to perform the role of a bass player, and when they see even a 5 string come out of the gig bag, they get nervous..."Jamerson never needed a 5 string". But when we show them that we're not frustrated and that we love to play BASS the way it should be played, just because I choose to do it on a much more superior instrument doesn't mean squat. Just get out of my way if you decide to give me a solo because now all bets are off. I posted a similar response in the "Blues/Alembic Players" thread last month.
Anyway, that's my take on the whole thing!!!

Peace - Dino
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 131
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 11:16 am:   Edit Post

Well Dino, "amen" to that one (I wish I could write it that way).
;-)

Paul
Derwin Moss (bassdude63)
Junior
Username: bassdude63

Post Number: 27
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 12:26 pm:   Edit Post

I have a slightly different take on the Fender sound and non-Alembic basses: Without a doubt My Europa is my favorite sounding bass. I just bought a Spector USA NS-2J that also sounds awesome, but different than my Alembic. My collection includes fretted & fretless P & J basses, an early 70's Rickenbacker 4001, and EB Musicman Sterlings and a Stingray-5. Some of my Fenders have been modified with either EMG,Bartolini, or DiMarzio pickups, Schaller deluxe tuning gears, and Badass bridges. I want as many tonal options as possible. And in my opinion there's no one "do-it-all" bass. In keeping with this belief, I'll eventually re-convert the pickups in my Fender basses back to stock passive pickups. Just as a Gibson Les Paul does'nt sound like a Fender Strat, my Alembic does'nt sound like a Fender Precision. Each has it's own voice. The fun thing for me to do is to experiment with the different "voices" I have at my disposal and find the "best" for it's given application. Now as far as playability goes, My Europa and Spector are my most comfortable basses to play, but if I play any one of my basses exclusively for a few weeks, my hands adjust and it becomes easy to play.
Just my opinion, Derwin.
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Member
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 53
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 7:40 pm:   Edit Post

Let me clarify just a little bit. I agree with Derwin that there is no " do it all bass". God knows, my Europa will never sound like my Stingray! However, when it comes to dealing with the less than perfect world we often encounter,the Alembic seems to be able to deal with room acoustics short comings better than any Fender I've ever encountered.I have a Jazz modifyed with a Badass bridge, Dimarzio Ultra jazz pickups and John East preamp.(A very nice preamp by the way).In an A-B comparison for a nice round finger tone,( no boosting the treble on the Jazz or opening up the filter on the Europa),sorry,the Jazz still sounds muddled next to the Europa. I love the growl and that rear pickup Jazz tone but playing live ,it seems that something just gets lost in the translation. I think what bugs me is the uneveness of response.I think that the difference for me boils down to this; The fender forces me to play a certain way in order to compensate for it's shortcomings and the Alembic forces me to compensate for only MY shortcomings! ;) And yet, I must admire the roster of great players who can pull a wonderfull tone out of their Fenders. Different strokes, I guess. Mike
Derwin Moss (bassdude63)
Junior
Username: bassdude63

Post Number: 28
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 8:44 pm:   Edit Post

I agree with you, Mike. I find I can't play my Europa for an extended period or I have one heck of a time getting around on my other basses. The Europa just spoils my hands-it takes so little effort to hear myself(and also the glitches in my technique, but that too is a good thing). Playing it compared to most of my other basses is such a treat. Live, I generally use my MM Sterlings because they're so tough. They're also pretty easy to play. I plan on using my new Spector live soon. It has dual EMG J-type pickups with the Aguilar OBP-1 preamp. Next to my Europa, it's the most responsive bass I have. I also agree that my P-bass forces me to play in a different way, it's not the most "hand-friendly" of basses- but I do feel very comfortable with the Jazz bass neck, probably because I'm so used to it's dimensions. But once again, even with all the electronics upgrades I've done to my non-Alembic basses, they just don't have the response of an Alembic. The folks in the "wine country" make incredible basses, that's for sure. Question for you Mike: How does that SF-2 of yours work with your non-Alembics? While I'm rattling on, another downside to playing different types of basses is that I have a "learning curve" period when I change from one to another. This is really a challenge. I admire people who double on acoustic bass. I played the "doghouse" in my teens. Talk about a totally different animal. Learning to play a 5-string after so many years of trying to learn the 4-string was a huge adjustment for me also. As we're both members of the Alembician's Utah Chapter, I hope to see you around sometime.
Best Wishes, Derwin
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Member
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 56
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 11:12 am:   Edit Post

Derwin , the SF-2 works well for just about anything I care to run throught it. So many options ,so little time!
Also look for Triple Trouble at either Totem's or the Club 90 and you'll find me. Mike
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 33
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 6:28 am:   Edit Post

My two cents:

I'm no longer playing ANYTHING but my Alembic five-string, nor do I now own anything else.

I decided to dedicate myself to one instrument. That's quite enough to get my head around. I'm no longer hustling gigs or sessions, but if I were, I'd still bring this one bass. I've decided to please myself first. Frankly, after years of gigging, I've got no patience for idiots who certainly are NOT qualified to be telling me what to own and play.

I've come to believe owning a lot of different basses for different sounds is a lot like buying a lot of different cars so I could have a lot of different rearview mirrors.

If I was in a position where I had to have a Fender sound, I'd use Activators, preferably a PJ setup in an Excel. God forbid, but if I just had to have a bolt-on, I'd do it myself thru Warmoth.

I'm now into perfecting the other half of my instrument: the preamp, amp, cables, direct box, etc. Make no mistake: Our instrument can only be viewed as the bass+amp. Either by itself is only HALF of the 'instrument'.

I trust my ears, my training, and my experience.
I'm not going to sound like a clavinet, solo like crazy every tune, drown the band out, show up late/drunk/stoned, etc. I'm on time, in tune, the rig is ready, and I'm ready and excited.

I got real tired of being the only pro at too many of my jobs. That's why now I play for me.
And I'm enjoying my playing more than I have in a long time. My turn will come around again, and I'll be that much better next time for these decisions.

I feel for all of you in that 'dude, where's the Fender?' box. I lived it for a long time, but I don't miss it at all.
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 165
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 6:38 am:   Edit Post

And 1 big hand for Joey!
Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior
Username: dean_m

Post Number: 47
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 7:43 am:   Edit Post

How about TWO big hands for Joey,

Nothing gets me more than being on a gig and hearing the 'dude...
I usually reply with "'dude, where's your '59 Les Paul or your '62 Strat?"
The problem being that I still put bread on the table as a full time freelancer so I've got to kinda grin and bare it.
Here's one that you'll all love especially you Joey after speaking of your less-than-qualified associates.
I was on a Christmas date a couple of weeks ago with one of the guitar players I play with frequently. Every gig he asks me for an "A" so he can tune which really bugs me, 'cause he's too cheap to go buy a tuner. I have a tuner in my signal path so it's easy for me.
Well, as he's tuning to me, he insists that I'm out of tune, I know what your thinking, he might have perfect pitch. He doesn't!!! I wasn't in tune with the cd he was playing over the PA so he automatically thinks that I'm out of tune.... the guy with the tuner!!! The drummer looks at me and then looks at him and asks, why is the guitar player WITHOUT the tuner telling the bass player WITH the tuner he's out of tune!!!! LOL
I thought you might enjoy that!!!
Happy New Year,
Dino
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 36
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 4:17 pm:   Edit Post

DMono:

Yes, I'm NOT making my living with it, so I do have more freedom than I used to have. I certainly know that being commercial requires those choices that I now don't have to make any more, and my hats off to all of you that are required to make the choices that business requires.

I usually can't better a great story, but this time I can:

In my hometown lived a FABULOUS fretless player, the epitome of tone, taste, and chops. Had the first NS Spector I ever saw, which was a big deal in East Texas in the late 70s. Steve Ellis had such perfect pitch sense and fretless technique, he'd tune at the house, then go to the gig. Wherever the band was pitch-wise, he had fine enough ears to shift his hands ever so slightly to catch them and be in perfect tune with them !
Never said a word, just poker-faced, and they had NO IDEA of just what a gift they were seeing. All the while listening to his guitar players rant that they couldn't keep their guitars in tune.

It's a wonder we all don't drink Maalox shooters !

Hope Ya Have a Great 2 0 0 3 !

JW

(Message edited by bigredbass on January 04, 2003)
Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior
Username: dean_m

Post Number: 48
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 6:59 am:   Edit Post

That's Priceless!!!!!
Joey I also have to applaud you to know when enough is enough and to step away and do YOUR thing. I'm working towards that and hopefully I'lll get there pretty soon. Until then I continue to do what I do and be thankful for what I do have. I'll have to remember the bottle of Maalox too.

Peace - Dino

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