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robbiebassepic
Junior
Username: robbiebassepic

Post Number: 11
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Saturday, November 18, 2006 - 10:16 pm:   Edit Post

I have an Epic 5str fretless QMT - Great sounding bass with huge dynamic range - from Double bass to fine electric tone instantly! Aged about 10-13 years and it sings!

Anyway - Im jamming with friends at my best friends birthday party ,and some friends of friends arrived , One guy,whome Id never met had a bass case with him. - Wondering what he was packing I struck up some bass talk with him.
Jeff ,his name was, complimented my Epic, as he'd never played any Alembic & wanted to test drive it a little. He seemed like an experienced player, older than me by 5 years - so Im curious as to what he has ,and ask him what he is playing...

He pulls out a Carl Thompson 4str fretted! - never thought Id see one (im huge Claypool fan & love some CT designs,but not others.)
Anyway
Jeff's Bass was actually quite plain looking, dark mahogany body with maple stripes in the thu-neck & only one pickup - slim with the CT scroll & an amazing figured wing on the top. It sounded amazing - v.diff from Alembic , but good and warm tone with sharp response on the slap ( fastest neck & action Ive ever played). It was light to hold and felt really good for the player - Great balance

We played each others basses ( both quite acomplished players) and admired what each other was up to, - Jeff said he'd love a fretless, and after playing my Epic claimed only Alembic would do - looking for that clean contra bass that only Alembic offers.
And for my part I told him to give me 1st refusal if he evr sold his CT ( although I think he'll get buried with it! as he had waited over 2 & half years for CT to build it!)

But given the choice - my Epic is so much more versatile!! The CT is out of this world for slapping funk/fusion and for fast,fast.fast playin but finger style sounds a bit empty and the sustain is sometimes too short - Alembics can make a note ring& resonate exactly as long as you need it to!
so Overall Id prefer My Epic - a bass so versatile
that you can play any style you want. Even If it is too heavy for my long suffering shoulders! lol

Just thought Id share this encounter with Alembic Club - Never thought Id play or even see A CT
bass! Still keepin touch with Jeff & his band - Illegal Tender.
Alembic or CT?
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 616
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 2:06 pm:   Edit Post

I have to admit to being rather fickle when it comes to Basses - I just love them all! That's how come my Bass collection has run so wildly out of control. Besides Alembics, I have Fenders, G&L's, Lados, a Musicman, a Gibson.... whatever turns me on at that moment, I'll reach for. They all sound different and great, like a rainbow of sounds. I'll never say one is better or worse.

Rami

(Message edited by rami on January 28, 2007)

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