| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 65 Registered: 6-2002 |
No this is not a challenge to you to see if the series basses have more bounce than the others. I was at a gig very recenty and the band were setting up for sound check and as the bass player put his bass round his neck the strap came off the front strap button sending the bass crashing to the floor. Unfortunately the neck/machine heads hit the deck first and surprisingly split... just behind where the neck and head are. Anyway I went up to see him, he was devastated. I noticed the bass was a sheckter which I don't really know much about as to if they are expensive or cheap. What I did notice was that the neck was not one complete peice of wood, rather it was joined by an eliptical shaped joint which is a few frets long where the neck and head of the bass meet. Basically this had come apart at that point. I guess it myst have been a badly made joint to split from the a fall like that especially when you think of the abuse Hendrix and Townsend gave to their instruments before they came apart.... It also reminded me of an incident I had years ago. I had a cheap Washburn bass which I was carrying up the concrete, tiled staircase at the office where I worked and the zip on my case broke open and the bass went sliding down the stairs behind me thankfully body end first. Damage was limited to scratches and I had to have the neck taken out and re-seated and the truss rod needed adjusting. I have read somewhere that Stanley Clarke's alembic and double bass were blown over at a return to forever gig one time and the double bass was trashed and the alembic survived. Seeing that first incident made me wonder how resiliant our world class basses are to the physical damage that can arise from the rigours of the stage. Personally I never rely on the strap when putting the bass on and always hold the bass until the strap feels secure. BTW is there a locking clip that fits over the Alembic strap pin and will cope with the button size and a thick leather strap? the one I have for my Music man is smaller and will not fit. I would be interested in hearing some survival or other horror stories from other members.... | ||
| adriaan
Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 91 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't know about any strap locks that fit over regular strap pins. I've read somewhere that there's a strap lock system where the pin provides enough hold for a regular strap, but of course that would be an accident waiting to happen. I'm using Schaller strap locks, for which you need to replace the strap pin. It depends on how thick your strap is, but the Schallers have no problems with mine. One thing about the Schallers is that you need to check the nut on the lock to see if it's still tight. I guess that holds true for any strap lock system. (Message edited by Adriaan on January 02, 2004) | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 291 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've used Schaller strap locks for a couple decades and never had a problem. Like Adriaan said, I always check to make sure each lock is set; and as Jazzy said, I always hold the bass tight until the strap is secure. Not really a horror story but a lesson learned. A couple years ago we played a bar which did not normally have bands. There was no stage, just an area set aside for the band. The drummer booked the gig not only for us but as a venue for a party for some of his friends. When we took our break after the first set, I headed outside for some fresh air. The drummer's wife and a friend, both fairly intoxicated, came up to the stage area and the friend fell into the guitar player's rig knocking over and damaging two guitars and an amp. The damage to the guitars was cosmetic and not major, the amp required repair which the friend eventually paid for. It could have been much worse. We asked the drummer to not book any more parties or venues where the stage was not separated from the crowd and decided on a policy of not allowing people on the stage. | ||
| 811952
Junior Username: 811952 Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2003 |
In my opinion, Straplocks = false sense of security. I played a gig once where a guy hopped across the monitor "barrier" and ended up face down on my taurus pedals. Somehow he managed to fling the Alembic onto the dance floor, face down as well (I was playing my fretless Jazz at the moment). He rattled my bass amp pretty well (he bumped the volume on the taurus pedals all the way up) but the Alembic got nothing more than a barely discernable bent D tuning key. Otherwise, nary a scratch. Suffice it to say I've been much more territorial in the last 20 years! These are well-built instruments... John | ||
| kungfusheriff
Junior Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 24 Registered: 8-2003 |
Strap locks wear out. Washers don't--unscrew the strap pin, put the hole in the strap over the pin's screw-hole, put the hole in the washer over both holes, through which you slip the strap-pin screw, and screw the pin plus the whole assembly down. Unless you manage to avoid noticing the whole shebang gradually unscrewing itself, our bass will be secure so long as you keep the screw tightened down. It's cheaper, too. | ||
| the_schwartz
Junior Username: the_schwartz Post Number: 36 Registered: 1-2003 |
My Elan has the recessed strap locks, which work really well, though they require you to install the actual locking mechanism on your strap. The installation is a pain, as is moving the mechanisms to a different strap hole for length adjustments. But the payoff is that they feel rock solid secure. I am really careful with my Elan. I keep a constant eye on it when I walk with it, and pay careful attention to keep it away from anything it might bump into. Whenever I'm not using it at home, I keep it in the case rather than on a stand. When I do use a stand, it's an Ultimate Support Stand. My bass has been kept in near mint condition since it was made in 1990, and I don't want to be the one who gives it its first scratch. | ||
| bracheen
Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 83 Registered: 11-2003 |
A trick my second bass teacher told me was never remove the strap. Removing the strap makes the hole stretch increasing the risk of it falling off while playing. All of my instruments have straps that were put on brand new and not removed since. They feel pretty secure for normal circumstances. Sam | ||
| dannobasso
Intermediate Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 112 Registered: 7-2002 |
Schalers work well for me. My dunlops gave out and my exploiter took a dive and had a large chunk taken out of the back of the upper horn. So they are shiet. My custom spoiler 6with dragon inlay fell out of it's stand forward (twice) headstock snapped up yo the top laminate. I had it repaired twice. I do not use stands at home I have all wall mounts for all my basses and guitars. For some reson cheap instruments almost never break. But we all know they sound like (fill in the colorful metaphor of your choice). I learned the hard way about having repairs done by people other than Alembic. My advice, send it back to it's parents for repair. It will be worth the wait, and done right. | ||
| dean_m
Advanced Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 241 Registered: 7-2002 |
Oh boy, I used to use both the Dunlop (push button style) and the Schaller locks. The problems that I've encountered are that they do give you a false sense of security like John had stated. Plus, when they fail, they fail big time!!!! Dunlop now makes a "cam style" lock that fits over a stock strap pin and the strap itself. You don't have to install anything on your bass or your strap. I've been using them for about a year now and they seem pretty foolproof. To answer your other question, my Elan is built like a tank. It has taken somewhat of a beating the last few years it's been on the road with me. I do take good care of it but you can only do so much when there are other people involved in handling your instruments. I can't even begin to tell you some of the horror stories that have invloved stairways, drum risers etc. There's even a part in our show with The EGB where the drummer and I do sort of a bass/drum duo on my bass where I slap and he sticks all on the bass. Of course he's gentle but how gentle can you be. Sorry if I'm making anyone sick here. The bass is bulletproof and has never failed me. Of course I don't make a habit of abusing my basses but I do know that in bad situations out of my control, the bass can take it. Peace, Dino | ||
| musikill
Junior Username: musikill Post Number: 34 Registered: 12-2003 |
I have been using the push button style (don't remember the brand but it was a major name) for years and have never had one fail. I have used the same sets for over 15 years without failure. I have not been easy on them either. I don't see how one could fail but if it did and you have the lock positioned correctly the bass would stay put - or at least would not simply fall off. Mine are a "U" shaped channel of sorts that slides over the strap peg (which is part of the lock). You have to push the button to attach it to the bass and as long as the open part of the channel is facing up the bass should stay put unless the lock is torn out of the strap. If that sort of force is applied nothing is going to hold the bass. The key is to get the nut that holds the lock on the strap, very tight. And make sure that the strap peg is screwed in securely but DO NOT over tighten so as not to strip the screw in the hole. I have never seen a strap peg tear out of a bass unless it was overtightened. Fact is - you are much safer using a strap lock system than not. There is no way I am going to trust my investment to a piece of leather pushed on to a peg. greg | ||
| bob
Member Username: bob Post Number: 100 Registered: 11-2002 |
I know the original question was about how strong these instruments are, but I'm not sure how that helps me... As for the straplocks, I'm with kungfu on this one: screw the strap on directly. I've done mine a little differently, with a small bushing so that the strap isn't riding directly on the screw, but same concept - a screw and a nice big washer. Just make sure the screw is still long enough - many of them seat down inside the strap button, and depending on how you space things out, the screw might become effectively shorter. For an instrument of this caliber, dedicating a strap to it is no big deal. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had a huge collection (or if I happened to wear really tall hats or something), but I also don't like the fact that most straplocks stick out so far, plus they make these irritating metallic noises when being attached or as they move around (reminding me of nails on a chalkboard, for some reason). -Bob | ||
| malthumb
Intermediate Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 139 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have two Alembics and two Hanewinckels. I have one of each bass with Schallers and one of each bass with Dunlops. The Schallers are the horseshoe shaped piece that lock over the strap button. The Dunlops are the push button type. I've had one near miss with each type of lock. Ironically, both near misses involved Alembic basses. With the Schallers, you do have to watch the tightness of the nut. The other thing you need to look out for is that the horseshoe thingy can rotate to where the open end points down (you don't want that). With my Schaller close call, I was checking the nut when it popped off, so there was no real problem. With the Dunlops, the push button retracts little ball bearings that re-extend when you join the post to the strap button connector. The close call that I (and others) had was when unbeknownst to me, all the ball bearings did not re-engage and the post just slipped out of the strap button. I was playing at the time, so the neck was supported. Peace, James | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 251 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have been using the Schaller style strap locks for as long as I can remember. I have them fitted on every Alembic I have. I only use one strap since all my Alembics have the same body style. I have not had ANY problems or failures. But, I have worn grooves in the strap buttons on the bass. When I start to notice a groove, I just replace them. Cheap enough. To me it is not a false sense of security, just an extra measure of insurance. I too have a horror story about one of my Alembics. I was playing in a club that was very crowded. It was an unusualy rowdy crowd and they were in rare form. It came time for the band to take a break. I put my Alembic on it's stand and I wandered off. When I started walking back to the stage, I did not see my bass. It was nowhere in sight. I first thought it was stolen. Then I rationalized to the point where maybe one of the sound techs moved it. Nope. When I finally got to the stage I found my bass. It was on the floor on the other side of the stage. Come to find out a fight broke out in the crowd, and worked it's way up to the stage. Somehow my Alembic got involved in the scuffle and was either knocked across the stage, or perhaps used as a weapon. The details were fuzzy. Anyway, the only thing that happened to the bass is a scuff on the back of the bass that barely penetrates the wood. The bass is a graphite necked bass, and it survived perfectly. Of course it was quite out of tune, so I suspect it went through a lot. I am glad I did not see it happen. Fortunately the bass did not suffer any real damage. But it could have been worse....... I do have a friend here in New Orleans that had a 1978 Alembic Series 1. It was an omega bodied walnut topped bass. He and I were playing the same club one night back in the 80's. His band opening for mine. He had his bass on the stand, but plugged in. What a mistake. Someone walked across the stage and snagged his 5-pin cable and knocked the bass out of the stand. What a mess. The headstock of the Alembic came off. Really! Off. He was quite disgusted. I was shocked. I loaned him my Alembic for his set that night. I think that is the worst case scenario, and that bass must have been hit just right for that to happen. It fell on it's face of the headstock and the only thing holding on was the strings. What a nasty sight. He had the bass repaired locally, (quite a good repair too) and then sold it. I heard through the grapevine that the bass was eventually sent back to Alembic for a refurbish by the new owner. | ||
| bigredbass
Advanced Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 222 Registered: 9-2002 |
jazzyvee: Currently, Schecter seems to have gone the same as ESP and Jackson / Charvel: They all started as small, hip shops that built improved Fender style guitars that caught on, farmed out production models to the Far East, and lost a great deal of cache' vis-a-vis what made them hip to begin with. Of course, none of their current customers (watch MTV) can play anyway, so it hardly matters, but they're great for mass murderers/marketers like Guitar Center, etc. Real big with the tattoo/pierced/bored suburban punks who go to raves in Mom's Suburban. Angled headstocks are succeptible to breaking off at the head/end of neck/first fret area. It's hard to get enough wood in there while still making a neck that feels right at that spot. Straight necks (Fender-style) rarely break here, as the design allows more beef at this spot. This is why lots of guitars have some variation of a volute at this spot: The diamond shaped heel on the back of Martins, the big, almost scoop-shape on an EXCEL neck, etc. Any serious guitar repair shop has done lots of amgled-head repairs. As I've heard Susan speak of before, so much of the Series shape came from them starting out as a repair shop. The point body was originally intended to MAKE you put it on a stand, as it didn't allow you to lean it up against the amp sitting on the floor. That the shape became an icon for many of us was purely accidental. The laminted headstock was an outgrowth of these same lessons learned in repair: While the many laminations on the front and back of the headstock is one of the coolest things I ever saw, it is this layering that is used to build strength at this traditional weak point. If you look on the back of these necks, the lamination extends back past the first fret to help build this area up. My SPOILER is an Omega/Series shape, so I've been dreadfully careful as I was warned not to knock the tips off the Omega. I'm sure I could buy an F1x and a SuperFilter for what it would cost to fix that particular train wreck ! I've always used the Schallers and been quite satisfied and secure. Believe me, if it starts to fall, I'll be under it ! J o e y | ||
| bigredbass
Advanced Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 223 Registered: 9-2002 |
P>S> From the College of Musical Knowledge's Applied Gig-ology Course: 1) At the gig, it's on a stand BEHIND the amp (where NOBODY walks) 2) I use the little short stands with the two arms and the center post that hits that back of the bass between the two pickups: Much lower center of gravity (can't hardly MAKE it tip over), fits in the gig bag (one less separate thing to carry), and there is no weight on the neck except the string tension (and I don't get those wear marks near the nut from HANGING it in a stand). I'm a setup freak, and I don't care to have the weight of the bass see-sawing the action on the neck when I'm not playing it. Geez, I'm getting really too wound up about several thousandths of an inch . . . . J o e y | ||
| bucky
Member Username: bucky Post Number: 85 Registered: 6-2003 |
JazzyVee: The story you referred to about Stanley is true. He tells it in the liner notes to the album "If This Bass Could Only Talk" as I recall. I think he then says that the same bass was later stolen and he had to have Alembic make him another ASAP. So. . bad luck happens to us all I guess - regardless of station in life, eh? The worst thing that ever happened to my Alembic was that it's former owner for some reason *threw away* the two original Gold Plated Schaller Tuners when the gears inside broke. He then replaced them with these Gotoh Schaller knockoffs which aren't nearly as cool looking (and obviously don't match). Apparently he didn't know you could replace the gear mechanism and salvage the tuner. Shame. . that era of Schaller M200s circa 1974 is now proving very very difficult for me to find. . Oh well. . at least my '74 Brown Bass hasn't taken the express elevator to any stage floors yet. And after hearing these strap button horror stories and how these axes have been knocked off of their stands at gigs I'm re-thinking my whole onstage guitar security setup! Jeff Jeff | ||
| jazzyvee
Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 71 Registered: 6-2002 |
You are right that is the full story. I did read somewhere that Victor Wooten now has that "new" bass Clarkee used for the return to forever period. I'm thinking my on-stage setup too. I always take the cable out of my guitar(s) when i'm off the stage at gigs so that it can't accidentally be pulled over by anyone walking on the stage. I think the advice of BigredBass of putting the instrument behind the amp is a good idea. Only problem is that I can't look over admire it from the bar when i'm relaxing in the intermission. However at many of my gigs we are on the same floor level as the audience and the thought of walking back to play and reaching behind the cab to find some pleb has been fiddling with it or even worse lifted it would give me a heart attack. I think it will be at the back of the stage and somewhere visible. | ||
| bucky
Member Username: bucky Post Number: 87 Registered: 6-2003 |
Jazzy: Those sound like great suggestions - the temptation to leave the Alembic where it can be admired by those who appreciate fine craftsmanship is strong though. . Jeff | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 280 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've never dropped any Bass, but one time, as I swung around with my fretless Essence 5, the back of the headstock hit a doorway so hard that I heard (and felt) the strings slap against the fingerboard. It scared the hell out of me, and I spent the next hour or so examening it for any damage. There was nothing. I couldn't even find a mark where it hit! Probably against the tuners, but no damage at all. That's a sign of quality - a Bass that's built to last. Rami | ||
| alemboid
Junior Username: alemboid Post Number: 26 Registered: 5-2003 |
At least three years ago, when I first saw it, there is a 6-string Essence at Manny's Music on 48th Street in Manhattan, NY. It is still there for sale, and it hasn't sold because some time in history, the headstock has banged against the wall or something- its all chewed up along the back edge. Also, for icing on the cake- it appears it was plugged in when it was knocked over- the whole tone control area including the jack has been totally cracked off. It looks like they had Ray Charles glue it all back together with paste and a spatula! To top it off, they still are asking $3,500.00 for it- as new!!! How sad! I stop by now and then, just to tell it someone will give it a happy home some day... what a shame. Alemboid | ||
| smokin_dave
Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2002 |
Never dropped mine but a guitar player/leader of the band was making introductions and I was standing directly behind him and he swung around and wacked the headstock of his guitar off the face of my Rogue 5 just as he introduced me.Thank god it just bounced off the strings and didn't bang up the finish at all.I almost had a heart attack.He almost had a heart attack until we checked it out under close scrutiny under good light at break.I wonder how much that repair bill would have cost him? | ||
| 811952
Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 81 Registered: 10-2003 |
I would guess quite a bit, and the deductible on his medical insurance would never be the same. You were wondering about *his* repair bill, right? john | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 288 Registered: 6-2002 |
I just want to post this because it might make me feel better. You know, the whole support group thing. A couple of weeks ago, I was on my way to a gig. My Series II was in a gig bag (I should know better) and laying on the back seat of the car. In traffic I had to make a panic stop. The bass flew off the seat and slamed into the bottom of the front seats. You know, where the front seats slide along on METAL runners. Well I got a real nice sized dent in the body where my arm rests. Some of the finish is chipped off there too. Maybe I'll feel better if I post a picture of it. | ||
| bracheen
Advanced Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 226 Registered: 11-2003 |
This is kinda like closing the barn door after the cows have left, when my gig bag is laying flat on the rear seat I use the seat belts on it. If I'm traveling any distance I also cover it with a reflective sunscreen. The kind that goes on the windshield. Ouch, that had to be painful. | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 367 Registered: 5-2002 |
Michael; I'm really sorry to hear that. My new Allman Brothers DVD shows Oteil Burbridge with a gig bag over his shoulder; and when I see that I'm thinking that no matter how high a regard I hold Oteil as a bass player there's still no way I put my bass in a gig bag. I know that people that use gig bags have good reasons for doing so; but I just can't get comfortable with the idea. And now that I hear your story, that confirms it; no gig bags for my basses. I do like the sunscreen idea. I recently made a long trip with my bass and I covered it with a sleeping bag to keep the sun off the black case. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1034 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother MIchael, "It hurts me too" is what I say. I have a faint idea of your collection of old basses and I know they are all precious to you. How do you feel about repair? Is it damage you want to take care for or do you say it's part of life and a battle scar that reminds me -in a painful way- "never again"? Anyway, I wish you a strong mind and a light heart to let it pass you by. Paul the bad one | ||
| bob
Intermediate Member Username: bob Post Number: 142 Registered: 11-2002 |
dela, go ahead and give us a picture. I think it will be healthy, and I'm pretty sure we can handle it. After all, it can't be nearly as bad as Wayne's decapitated headstock, nor our recent gall bladder removal (please, no pictures on that one...). I don't really drive much with mine - so far, only to/from Alembic - but I struggle with the choice of front seat with seat belt (and airbag!), back seat, or trunk, and can't help thinking about the possible accident vectors. Hey, it could have been another person, right? Sounds like the real bummer is that the dent happens to be in a place where you'll feel it. I think you'll need to figure out whether it's going to be an ongoing annoyance, or something that will somehow personalize things and make you feel a bit closer, like you've been through something together and come out stronger. I'm really not that much of a sap, okay? Fine, maybe you should have used a hardshell case, but mine doesn't actually fit across the back seat, and there are all sorts of other practical considerations. Shit happens, which implies you can never adequately anticipate it, so no point in beating yourself up about it. Seems like you need to figure out whether it's a "nice groove" to rest your arm, or if the finish is damaged enough to deteriorate further, or if it's just going to bum you out every time you touch it. I could tell you about the groove I have in my scalp from my last race to Hawaii, but that's too long a story for tonight. Not an entirely pleasant memory, but I'm still here, and I sound pretty much the same as I used to :-) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1440 Registered: 6-2000 |
Awww Michael, that's just awful about your bass. Since it's not on the neck, I suspect you'll probably leave it as is, as long as it isn't too painful to look at. You're an old softie for those basses with battlescars. I bet your heart was racing for a bit though. A good friend of mine showed me a ding on his dad's Series I. He said it was the first time he saw his dad cry. Bob - scalp groove... sounds nasty indeed. Ok, I'll add another story too. About 8 years ago I was driving to San Francsico with an Essence in a hardshell case across the back seat of my then car (Hyundai Excel hatchback). Got rearended in traffic, the guy next to freaked out when he heard the "pop" of the cars and turned into my backseat!!! Good thing it was low speed. The case was fairly crumpled, but the peghead just had a little ding on it. The car, well, that was the last of its days. I actually miss that crappy car. It looked small, but when we werre moving Alembic from Foley Street to Wiljan Court, I fit 17 instruments in that little sucker (yes, some were in gig bags). | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 291 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mica - You know me! I will leave it as is. I don't mind the battle scars so much, it is just that one could have been prevented. I know better! It seems the only times my basses get messed up is when they are in gig bags. And yes, I am still using the gig bag. But now I am laying it on the floor. That way, it won't fall. | ||
| smokin_dave
Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2002 |
About that gall blader removal,I tried to get the doctors to save the stones inside the gall bladder so I could put them inside a plastic egg and make a gall shaker for anybody to shake out a rhythm but they wouldn't go for it.Pity. | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 292 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi guys, I'll use a gig bag only if I have to walk any serious distance to a gig or practice. And when I do, I never take my super expensive Alembics. Usually, one of my beloved Excels (I love them just as much). Otherwise, it's the case. Why take chances? Rami | ||
| playinmaniac
New Username: playinmaniac Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2004 |
Hello everyone,I received my First Alembic bass this past friday.It's a 2000 Flamed Maple Epic 5-string.Unfortunately UPS must have set a 1000lb.Brick on top of it in shipping and destroyed the TKL wooden case.The top of the case was cracked.Both the ends of the case had turned to sawdust and were in pieces.The back was cracked as well.My heart sank when I opened the shipping box and seen sawdust and pieces of black leather falling from the opened container.To my amazement the Alembic bass had received no damage other than needing tuned. I inspected it thouroughly and played it for 2 hours.I am thanking the Alembic Gods for keeping and eye out for my First Alembic bass.I have already ordered an Anvil flight case for my bass now. No more chances of damage during travel.I would like to officially say Hello to all my fellow Alembic owners...Ken  | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1049 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother Ken, now that's what I call a remarkable entrance into the club. Gosh ...what a horror story! Now ...lucky you. Be careful however when telling this kinda thinsg because there are still a bunch of people waiting for their new baby who are now zera to hart-attack and surely willnot sleep before they hold their newborn in hands. Anyway...a heartly welcome! Paul the bad one | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 342 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Ken, welcome to the club. That's a nice Epic you got there. I am glad to hear that your bass arrived in good condition in spite of the case demolition. I hope you put in a claim with UPS. A word of advice to club members when shipping their basses & guitars through UPS (or having the instrument shipped to them). A) always have the instrument insured for the full retail value of the instrument plus case. B) If you are shipping cross country, ship ( or request) 3-day shipping. Guitars and basses ship by dimensional weight so 3 day select is normally not much more than regular ground; a 3 day select package goes through a lot less hands and rickety UPS trucks than a regular ground package thereby minimizing the chances of something happening to it because of poor handling, plus you 'll get it at least a day or 2 sooner. And if you don't mind spending a bit more, Blue label is even better, cause those packages get even better tratment; it does not cost anything to ask how much more for 3-day or blue label, then you can make the decision if the extra money is worth it to you. If your finances permit it, I think an extra 30-100$ is not much to insure the safety of a 3000$ + instrument. C) If you do not have a flight case, make sure the intrument is well packed in a sturdy case, put it in an instrument box ( if you do not know where to get one, your local music store should always have a bunch they are trying to get rid of) fill the box with packing peanuts or bubble wrap, paying attention to the corners & ends in particular. Write or tape " fragile" to the box but don't over do it; in 3 years as a shipping manager I was always amazed at how UPS seemed to specialize in destroying boxes with lots of "fragile" stickers on them. D) Pray Valentino | ||
| effclef
Junior Username: effclef Post Number: 22 Registered: 1-2004 |
Ken, that's a nice top on the Epic! I normally don't go for Epics but with some woods, the shape is better than with others. It also looks better in the playing or horizontal position than vertically! I like the Essence; you'd think the Epic would be similar enough for me to like. :-) As for straps, I haven't followed the Alembic strap thread but I wonder if they could do foolproof, straplock-extract-proof ones out of kevlar and tyvek reinforcing....? I would think something like that would last a lifetime, just like the bass it holds up. EffClef | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 379 Registered: 5-2002 |
Ken; that's some story! Val; thanks for the tip on shipping! | ||
| 811952
Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 83 Registered: 10-2003 |
What a horror story. I'm glad the bass is unharmed. Be mindful that flight cases aren't going to outsmart a good shipping company. I once had my "prize" P-bass (pre-alembic days), amp and speaker cabs sit for a week outside in the heat and rain at Kennedy airport in NYC after a European jaunt. When the airline (I don't remember which one) finally delivered them to me, I literally poured water out of the cases (which were "waterproof" except the seals around the lids). I tried to file a claim, but the outsides of the cases were dry and I was young and easily intimidated.. I still use the old Peavey head for small gigs sometimes. It doesn't pop and crackle too much, considering what it's been through. The P-bass is long gone though... :-) | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 32 Registered: 12-2003 |
Call me a country bumpkin but it'll take a cold day in hell before I start using my custom instruments live, I much rather use instruments of which I know can stand a beating and are replaced without leaving a gaping hole in my wallet. My 1989 Squier Stratocaster has been my main stage guitar for over 13 years now and every dent in her body has a story of a gig gone astray, because let's be honest, it doesn't matter how carefully you treat your instrument, regular gigging still beats the crap out of it, I have seen it all: barfights, my guitar popping loose from the strap and plummetting to the ground and intentional misuse, such as the Stevie Ray Vaughan approved rattling the headstock on the floor while holding onto the whammy bar. I do this because I know my guitar can take it, I pick it up and it'll be in tune. I recently replaced my trusty Squier from the Reagan aera with a brand new Squier affinity strat and found out that it's even more durable than my old one. You'll never see me play Ibanez, they are too fragile for my liking and I HATE Floyd Rose Whammy's. It's kinda ironic how the most basic instruments end up being the most durable. Kim Gordon of Sonic youth will probably never play Alembic, simply because her sixties Fender Precision Bass can survive being tossed around the stage without even going out of tune. Krist Novoselic formerly of Nirvana is a devotee of the much loathed Gibson RD which had Alembic style active electronics and filters with the preamp built in, they were imfamous for weighing more than a ship's anchor. But as gigs with Nirvana showed they were also sturdier than an icebreaker's hull. Novoselic once said that the RD bass was his main choice because he could throw it against a concrete wall and there'd be not even a scratch. My point is, save your expensive toys for in the studio, use something that can take a beating and is easy to replace on stage, in the end it'll always work out in your advantage.  | ||
| 811952
Intermediate Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 164 Registered: 10-2003 |
I have had many problems with stability, truss rods and electronics on lesser instruments. When playing for a $100k+ a year (which many of us either are doing or have done or will do) there is simply no substitute for having an Alembic in your hands. If you've EVER been the one guy who had hum in a studio (at $200/hour) or tuning stability issues on stage in front of 5-thousand-plus people, then you know exactly why people spend a ton of money on a quality instrument and actually play it everywhere. Playing an Alembic is the safest investment in your musical future you could possibly make, and one which can't be matched. You could easily argue that I (not playing for a living anymore) shouldn't be playing mine live anymore and I would understand your logic. I'd still play it because it frees my soul. I also play some rather cheap-sh*t instruments because I can still make the house payments if my bass blows up on stage. Young bucks who are actively pursueing careers in music are doing themselves a disservice if they aren't playing the best instruments they can lay their hands on. I can respect where you're coming from, but I don't think it's valid across the board...  John | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 498 Registered: 5-2002 |
While Blazer makes some reasonable points, I agree with John; Blazer's advice may be valid for some but not necessarily for all or even most. Not all musicians play music for which the score calls for throwing your instrument against a concrete wall. | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 157 Registered: 11-2003 |
Although I can understand the logic of preforming with "disposable" instruments, I am inclined to agree with John and Dave. The instruments that I'm fortunate to own are all of the highest quality.... First of all, Which one's the beater? The '53 Les Paul? The Paul Reed Smith? The Travis Bean? The Skylark? Etc. etc.? The reason I've spent my lifetime acquiring the finest guitars that I could afford, is for the love and satisfaction I derive from playing them. Upon occasion, it's true that over the years some of them have received a few battle scars, those very few minor bumps and scratches have been far outweighed by the joy that playing them has given me. Also, the people I'm preforming for deserve the best that I'm capable of presenting to them. Not to mention the people I play with....Hell, I expect the best from them, why should I be any different? |
