| Author | Message | ||
| senmen
Member Username: senmen Post Number: 57 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Guys, just wanted to let you know that I am now also a proud father of a Spyder 8. I donīt have it here yet but it is finished and was delivered to my dealer. Many many thanks again to Mica and the great staff of Alembic to make this possible and of course many thanks to the great guys of Basscentral. And yes, it has the same string setup as John had in those days with the octave strings before the bass strings. Many greetings Oliver Baumann   | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 584 Registered: 9-2002 |
... Paul the bad-ly speechless one again PS: Oliver, I always thought that they were sisters?? (Message edited by palembic on September 10, 2003) | ||
| groovelines
Intermediate Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 104 Registered: 4-2003 |
Uuuuhhhhh...geez, Dad, wow, congratulations, Oliver. So, when can we expect the 'Spyder 12'? Mike | ||
| senmen
Member Username: senmen Post Number: 58 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Mike, hi Paul, thank you for the congrats. No I donīt think a Spyder 12, but what about an exact Spyder 4 like John had with the pointed headstock, the complete electronics and the exact fingerboard inlays (each note inlaid in gothic script in silver?) And then there is also the Alembic Flying V bass John had....... Or I should ask the Hard Rock Cafe if I could buy the original Spyder they have? :-) No, just kidding.... But what I really would like to know is who bought the original ones from Sothebys? Many greetings Oliver And by the way: thank you John for giving me this great inspiration!!!  | ||
| stoney
Advanced Member Username: stoney Post Number: 210 Registered: 7-2002 |
Congratulations Oliver. Just Beautiful. Stoney | ||
| senmen
Member Username: senmen Post Number: 59 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Stoney, thank you very much. As for the Alembic Flying V bass I found this rare shot where John is playing 'em. Not very good quality, but worth to see.... Many greetings Oliver   | ||
| senmen
Member Username: senmen Post Number: 60 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Guys, when I take a close look at the two photos it seems that these are two different basses. Take a close look at the space between the last fret and the pickup.... Many greetings Oliver Baumann | ||
| jet_powers
Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 62 Registered: 2-2003 |
Oliver, Congratulations to the proud Papa! Once again you have made me envious. The instrument is beautiful. Even if were never played you could hang it on a wall and call it high art. How do you plan to use it? Cool JAE pics too! John Paul the envious one | ||
| adriaan
Junior Username: adriaan Post Number: 38 Registered: 6-2002 |
In the picture on the right, it looks like there's some sort of a pickup mounting ring, probably wooden, which isn't showing in the picture with JE holding the bass. There the 'neck' pickup sits further away from the neck, in what must be the original pocket. It's certainly not the most attractive Alembic ever made. | ||
| mattheus
Junior Username: mattheus Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2003 |
When Oliver keeps up this speed, then Mica & co will have to make a 20 string in no-time... Looking great, hoping to hear them for real once.. Mattheus | ||
| senmen
Member Username: senmen Post Number: 61 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Mattheus, hi guys, no I think 8 strings is enough! As said I have still something in mind like the V bass and an exact Spyder with all the details. Who knows.... Mattheus, I hope that we will meet some day to make a big european Alembic day....... In the meantime, plse take a look at this photo: How many Alembics can you see? :-) take care Oliver  | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 588 Registered: 9-2002 |
Big Alembic day??? I'm working on that! Anyway, Oliver we'll meet soon (not next saturday) but Mattheus, Adriaan, Oliver, Jan, Steven, Roger, Werner ...I'll try to coordinate so you can expect a mail soon. I"ll try to get Roger (Dragonwing) and Oliver (4+8) as "rare" items + de "regular" thinsg here! Paul the bad one | ||
| rogertvr
Intermediate Member Username: rogertvr Post Number: 106 Registered: 1-2003 |
Oliver, Congratulations my friend! Your new Spyder 8 is stunning! Any other words escape me. I think all I can say is that I think Mica will be getting an order from me for a Spyder 4 at some point in the future (don't know when though)! Cheers! Rog | ||
| alembic76407
Intermediate Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 177 Registered: 5-2002 |
an Alembic bass with a wammy bar, that should drive the guitar players nutz | ||
| thebass
Member Username: thebass Post Number: 60 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hi Paul (TBO), regarding the EU Alembic day I recall Edwin's Shop in Hilversum was the place of your choice. Is that still the plan ? I have never been in his shop but Hilversum is just a little more than 2 hrs drive from my place and would be fine (at least for me) and rare opportunity to get in touch with so many Alembics (drool). Oh, btw: on Stanley Clarkes Live Album "I wanna play for you" he showed a collection of his basses at this time (yes, I still have them on Vinyl, brothers). They were all arranged at the entrance stairs of a nice house (his ?) I recall theat one of the short scale Alembics also had a wammy bar. I guess Mica knows the Model and more details. (Message edited by thebass on September 13, 2003) | ||
| bishopqdog
New Username: bishopqdog Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2003 |
Are Whammy bars an Alembic option? | ||
| zappahead
Junior Username: zappahead Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ive seen Whammy bars on used Alembics and the California Special comes with a Floyd Rose I believe. Ive seen Kahler, Floyd Rose and Bigsby's on Alembics. | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2003 |
That's a whole lotta bass, you got there, congratulations. But erm... isn't it awefully neck heavy? I used to own an Epiphone explorer bass and it was a pain to play because its neck kept diving towards the floor. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1319 Registered: 6-2000 |
Actually, the Exploiter shape is by far one of the best balancers - it doesn't look like it should, all pointy in the wrong parts. I think it's because the upper body point behind the tailpiece is larger on ours. | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 15 Registered: 12-2003 |
I guess that my Epiphone Explorer was an exception to the rule then. I know from experience that an Explorer guitar, I own a very funky Vox explorer copy fitted with Jazzmaster pickups, is indeed a very comfortable and good balanced instrument but as a bass with the longer neck (and as was the thing with my Epiphone) the heavier tuners it makes it very unbalanced. On the other hand, the exploiter was first made as a custom "Boris the spider" bass for John Entwistle right? Prior to playing Alembics he played Gibson Thunderbirds and custom basses with Fender necks and Thunderbird and explorer shaped bodies. Even the current Warwick and Status Buzzard models still have that offset shape that Entwistle liked in the Gibsons he used to play and I guess with him strapping the bass up high, he pushes the bass down with his elbow keeping it well balanced. At least, that's what I think. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1321 Registered: 6-2000 |
I actually only have experience with the Alembic version (I lead a sheltered life you see). I wasn't disagreeing with you about your own experience with the Epiphone (I've never played one (sheltered life again)). Since you specifically asked about an Alembic, I shared with you not only my own observation, but also the observations of a great many Exploiter owners I've personally spoken with. Most are very surprised at how well they balance. Most are not surprised about how heavy they are - they are BIG! | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2003 |
Blazer, no I can tell you: the Alembic Spyders are fantastic balanced. You can keep your hands of off the bass and it stays in position. 100%! As for Johns original basses: look at old concerts. Mostly when John was announced to sing a song he put both hands of off the bass to have an arm wide open "here I am" position. Then you can see: also the original Spyders were perfectly balanced! Oliver Baumann (Spyderman) | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 144 Registered: 7-2003 |
Blazer, no I can tell you: the Alembic Spyders are fantastic balanced. You can keep your hands off of the bass and it stays in position. 100%! As for Johns original basses: look at old concerts. Mostly when John was announced to sing a song he put both hands off of the bass to have an arm wide open "here I am" position. Then you can see: also the original Spyders were perfectly balanced! Oliver Baumann (Spyderman) | ||
| eugen
Junior Username: eugen Post Number: 25 Registered: 8-2002 |
Big Alembic day? Donīt forget me. Eugen ( the Tattooman ) |
