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Mark Finocchio (mark_f)
New
Username: mark_f

Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 1:21 pm:   Edit Post

All I can really say is WOW! I have been playing bass for 26 years (albeit the majority of that time has been spent with rock bands)and the Essence 5 that I now own blows away every bass I have owned or played. I play through an Ampeg rig and I can get any tone or feel that I need for country music with this instrument. I have owned Fender and Gibson to Rickenbacker and Curbow and this bass has everything I have wanted in tone, construction and versatility. I would really like to know the wizard who conjures the magic at the Alembic factory. The rest of the custom bass manufacturers could only wish to get the eternal harmony of nature that coalesces into an Alembic!
Charles "David" Tichenor (alembic76407)
Member
Username: alembic76407

Post Number: 89
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 2:57 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Mark,
For the last 20 years I've been playing in a Country/Rock band with my Series 1 and Epic 4, now my band gets pissed when I bring anything but my Alembic's, I showed with a Fender Jazz bass one night and the guitar player sent me home to get one of my Alembic's . but you are right , I think an Alembic bass would sound good in any kind of band. by the way Gene Watson's bass player play's an Alembic Epic 5
David T
Derwin Moss (bassdude63)
Junior
Username: bassdude63

Post Number: 29
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 9:56 pm:   Edit Post

Considering the number of Country bassists I've read about who use Warwick's, MTD's, Modulus Graphite basses, etc. I believe an Alembic bass would be a fine choice for a Country gig/recording session. For about the last 10 years or so, the bass tone on many Counrty recordings has changed from the thumpy P-Bass tone to a more modern- sounding bass tone. I've read a little about the Nashville session bassists and I'm amazed at the tone-shaping units in their personal racks and also the number and variety of basses they typically have on hand at a recording session.
-D.M.
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 37
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

AS I live in Nashville, have done some work in the Country industry, and know some of the players here, I can give some insight to bass in Country Music these days.

Nashville was particularly driven to new instruments by JD at Corner Music, certainly the 'Pro Shop' here in town. JD at one time has stocked exotic basses by virtually every maker at one time or another. In the 80s and early 90s, it was not uncommon to walk into a room full of Pedullas, the old Tobias', Spectors, etc. More recently, following the overall swing to bolt-neck guitars, you see Custom Shop Fenders, MusicMans, Laklands, etc. And corresponding style amps: SWR, Eden, Euphonic, GenzBenz, Aguilar. This drove a certain amount of change.

Also, with so many players working for 'name' acts, there's always been lots of 'endorsement hogs'. Carvin made big inroads this way. Lakland as well. To his credit, Sterling Ball requires the whole band use his axes, or no one player gets a deal. And he polices this very closely, which believe me, is uncommon. I've seen friends of mine in different ads for different instruments in the same issue of various guitar mags over the years.

Nashville is also home to Gibson, Guild's custom shop, Summer NAMM. There's a lot here in terms of the business/manufacturing side. Yamaha's Artist Relations are based here.

There's a huge range of players, from Victor Wooten to Dave Pomeroy all the way down to hillbilly upright beaters. The recording scene in master sessions is driven by guys like Glen Worff and Michael Rhodes. David Hungate lives here. These guys have cartage bring over trunks of basses to the big sessions, from DanElectros and funky old EB-Os, to current axes. The quality of the big studios is excellent, including Glen Meadows' MasterFonics, as good as anything in NY or LA.

Believe me, when you can go to the Grand Ole Opry on the weekend and see plenty five- and six-string basses onstage, this is a more sophisticated market than people imagine who aren't familiar with us.

Jerome Edwards (jerome)
Junior
Username: jerome

Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 9:51 am:   Edit Post

maybe soon we can get a 1 min. bass country solo since country music is so sophisticated now.
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 39
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 4:59 am:   Edit Post

Well, Jerome, you're in luck. Get any of Bela and the FleckTones' CDs, and listen for Vic Wooten. Take 2 cd's, relax, and see if you don't feel better.

I only meant that this scene is very broad. Don't you get tired of people thinking New Orleans is all Cajuns and Dixieland? Anyone that thinks this is only HEEHAW-land is missing a LOT, and short-changing a lot of good players in a lot of different styles. I'm sure there's a lot of players in New Orleans that pay the bills in the French Quarter, yet their gig music has nothing to do with what they really feel. Nashville is no different.
Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 72
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post

Hey guys! I am lucky to live here in New Orleans, and it is exactly how Joey describes it. I make my bread and butter in the French Quarter, playing "tourist" music, but that is not all I do. I play in a couple of different top 40 dance bands. I also use my Alembic for, you guessed it, Country!! Check out http://www.mojono.com/damn_frontier/
I played with those guys a couple of nights ago. It was a GREAT show. I think they are pretty darn country myself. I also play with a country local called Meghan Linsey. www.meghanlinsey.com Good stuff.

There is lots of other talent here in New Orleans that is not all Dixeland and Cajun too. Check out the Neville Brothers. Or Irma Thomas, or Anders Osborne. The Meters, or perhaps Alan Tousaint. That is just some of the talent that comes to mind. Or check out Daniel Lanois. GREAT music.
keebler
Junior
Username: keebler

Post Number: 13
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 2:48 pm:   Edit Post

There are some really sophisticated players contributing to the country music scene. Bill Frizell comes to mind... he is a "jazz" guitarist who had played everything from far-out free jazz to straight up swing. He also did an album called "The Willies" with a banjo player and upright bassist. They did a number of standard folk and bluegrass tunes. Very cool. . .!

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