| Author | Message | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 353 Registered: 9-2002 |
Moder, I suggest that we become friends in the two years after you buy your next bass ;-) Paul (the bad one becoming greedy) | ||
| Jan Riviere (janriviere)
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2002 |
I bought my first EVH Signature deluxe 5 string in 1990, when I was 25. Two years later, I found the same bass but in cocobolo and with one string less : I couldn't resist it. I still love the differences of the wood : exactly the same basses but one with flamed walnut laminates, and the other with cocobolo laminates, such a different sound colors ! I am still hunting for a Series II, my day will come, even if I am already retired :-) Cheers Jan (Message edited by janriviere on March 28, 2003) | ||
| STEVE RICABLANCA (sricabla)
New Username: sricabla Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2003 |
I was 22 when I got my first Alembic. It was 1976 and I bought it out of the Brady St.Alembic store which happened to be the Grateful Dead's studio from Ron Armstrong.I got one of the few that were made a long scale small body serial # A076 ( who has this bass now?)I bet you I was the first bass player to play an Alembic in a punk rock band called the VKTMS in S.F. If you have it I want to know! I had to sell it for financial reasons 5 years ago. I just ordered a new one because I told myself I'd buy one again when I had the chance. If you have my baby I want it back! | ||
| STEVE RICABLANCA (sricabla)
New Username: sricabla Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2003 |
I owned my Alembic for 20 years and I played gigs with it with bands from the Ramones in Petaluma to Black Flag in LA, the Psycadelic Furs,Stranglers, Flipper, Angry Samoans, X, Billy Idol, Dead Kennedys etc. I played thru an Ampzilla an F2B and 1 18" alembic cab and a 15" Alembic Cab. I always got great reviews for my bass sound. I believe that almost any bass player that sold their Alembic and still played thereafter almost always regretted selling their instrument. I sure did! I always ended up buying other basses half heartedly and would just play just about anything, without any soul. but when you played an Alembic, it was just heaven! you know... that excitement!... I think you know what I mean...But anyway I bought another one and I can't wait to get it when it's done. | ||
| Bill Payne (beatlejuice)
New Username: beatlejuice Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thanx for the welcome, Paul. It's good to be aboard, and even better to have the reason (my first Alembic). I recieved it on friday, then left on vacation saturday (it went with me).I wasn't about to drool over what I was missing. I saw a reference to the "Evil Empire Outlets", Valentino. Would this be the Roman Empire ??? | ||
| Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 116 Registered: 7-2002 |
No Bill, it's the more recent one, Guitar Center  Old joke at my old store made up by former GC employees. Valentino | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 361 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hey Moder, i could be wrong but (I have to stop doing this)weren't you in for a new bass? Please don't take this the wrong way, I thought I read it somewhere in the club that you had a bass-work-in-progress? Paul TBO | ||
| Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 117 Registered: 7-2002 |
Funny you should mention that, Paul I do have a bass-in-progress; I am currently waiting for Mica to call me to tell me it's done. We spoke on Friday, and it's kinda of 'any day now'; I'll be out the door on the way to Santa Rosa about 30 seconds after she calls me. I'll post pictures as soon as I can & I'll try not to get a ticket on my way there. Valentino | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 92 Registered: 7-2002 |
I really don't remember exactly how old I was but it was somwhere in the area of my late teens. I do remember the circumstances though. I was working for a music store at the time and was at the NAMM show in Anaheim CA. I was the only bass guy in the store so the owner wanted me to go around checking out high end basses. There was one particular company (who will remain nameless) who refused to talk with me or even aknowledge my presence, basically treated me like a jerk, and I owned a couple of their basses!!! Well that night, my boss told me to swing by Alembic, I thought "can we afford to do Alembic". He told me that they were making some more affordable models now like the Spoilers and the Persuaders that might go well in the store. I couldn't believe how nice Mica and Susan were to me. When I asked about having a bass built for me, I'll never forget Mica's words "we'll build you anything you want". Of all the builders out there, Alembic could have had the attitude of the afformentioned company because they do build the finest and most beautiful instruments, but they didn't!!! They treated me (a teenager at the time) with the same respect as someone who would order a 10k bass. I miss seeing them at the NAMM shows, I wonder if it's because I wouldn't leave Mica alone that they stopped displaying (just kidding Mica, I do realize just how expensive it is to display at these shows) When I got back home, I ordered my first Spoiler with a flame maple top. It came and I played it on many gigs, up until I sold it for the money to buy my 5 string Elan which has been my main bass now for 11 years!!! | ||
| Bob Bell (kipknee)
Junior Username: kipknee Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2002 |
I can remember clearly. It was 1984 and I was 24. I bought a used 1983 Alembic Spoiler for $500. (Included an Anvil flight case.) Now, almost 20 years and over 25 basses later, this Spoiler is still my main and favorite bass. Just last year, I picked up a 1976 Alembic Series I, so now my Spoiler has a Big Brother. :-) | ||
| Bob Novy (bob)
Junior Username: bob Post Number: 32 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have to look into my crystal ball to answer this one... seems like the number is 48. I was trying pretty hard to make 47, but time's just about up. Valentino, congratulations! I know exactly how you feel. When I eventually get to the "any day now" stage, the car will be gassed up and I'll probably be hanging up on anyone who tries to keep my phone tied up for more than about ten minutes. I wonder though, is the anticipation more or less of a problem after you've already had one or two of these gems? Sadly, my custom seems to be drifting in the "any month now" stage - "any week" is apparently still a little too optimistic. But we'll get there, and I'm pretty sure I've got the age right. | ||
| Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 118 Registered: 7-2002 |
Bob, even though this is my third custom order, the wait does not seem to get any easier. I'd say I'm more impatient for this one, possibly because it's my first Series bass, and also because I think it's gonna be my favorite. Plus I've actually seen it and held it already before it went into spray. Somehow that makes my hands itch even more. The other two I did not see until they were finished. Valentino | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 371 Registered: 9-2002 |
Aha ... I knew there was one more of the friends who was also pregnant in his last days/weeks/months: brother Bob N.(geez ... there are more of those Bobs around ... hmmmm .... Brother Bob -the tweaking one ?????) Moder and Bob ....how does it feels being surrounded by about 550 midwifes watching your baby being born. AAAAUGH! Paul - the bad one PS: don't forget the pictures! | ||
| Bob Novy (bob)
Junior Username: bob Post Number: 33 Registered: 11-2002 |
Paul (TBO), Let's not get started on "the Bobs", okay? Trust me, this is much more of a problem for us than for people named Paul, at least in this part of the world. I was once at a workplace where there were four Bobs, all on one hallway... even we got confused sometimes. Your "pregnant" analogy is pretty good, I think. I don't have any kids, but it seems to me the people in this group are even more demanding of "baby pictures" than most grandparents would be. And in a similar vein, every one of them is absolutely and unconditionally beautiful... Seems a little excessive/obsessive, but what can you do. | ||
| Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 119 Registered: 7-2002 |
Agree on the pregnant analogy...I've felt like that... Funny as this may sound, I even went through a strange sort of post-partum depression both times I got my custom instruments. Call me silly, but I missed that kind of "happily expecting" feeling. LOL . Of course I got over it pretty quick. And started planning the next one. All you have to do is play the instrument, look at it frequently, and repeat " it's mine, mine, mine!". That usually takes care of it. Paul, as far as being watched by everyone, the feeling is similar I believe, to that of a woman who's been trying to give birth for half a day and is so exausted and out of it that she couldn't care less who's watching as long as the baby comes out as soon as possible and ends the agony... Valentino | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 372 Registered: 9-2002 |
Geeeeez ...you two are definitely in labour guys! Doctoooooor! BTW: I said it maybe in another thread, "BOB" is the name we give in Belgium (AND the Netherlands) to the one from the gang who will not drink alcohol when going out at night with a car. So the evening starts here saying: "okay .... who's Bob????" NO JOKE!!! | ||
| Daniel Tracey (dannobasso)
Junior Username: dannobasso Post Number: 41 Registered: 7-2002 |
Just ordered # 9 at age 40! This is my own 20th anniversary with Alembic. This will be a custom Excel 5 with 2 fatboys and spoiler guts, nearly transparent black, solid mahogony, ebony board and custom Doomtree "T" cross inlay, side led's in red. God bless Mica, She's a good sales rep. Hope Cowboy BeBop was all you thought it would be! Ron is the DaVinci of the Bass World. Also thanks to Susan for your artistic vision and muse to Ron. The consumation was great and may the gestation be easy. (Message edited by dannobasso on April 06, 2003) | ||
| bigbass
New Username: bigbass Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2002 |
Got me my first custom Alembic when I was 42. Since then I have purchased six other "older" Alembics. My second custom order is "in progress" as you read this! I will soon be 49. | ||
| mothy4
New Username: mothy4 Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2003 |
1974 September we met and have been together since. A walnut and maple body and long scale neck Series I (s/n 74-75) and we are still playing together. An Alembic F2B preamp drives a Chevin A500 power amp connected to two single-15" Bauske custom cabinets with a JBL D-130 and D-140 drivers. This has been my basic rig for over 25 years and it still brings compliments from other players using more contemporary setups. Ultimately, the sound starts from the source: my Alembic. For me there is but one bass... the Alembic Series 1. Aloha! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 410 Registered: 9-2002 |
Timothy, a full-heartly welcome in this club. Enjoy the people (the brothers and sisters) and please don't be shy: we Alembicians are not curious AT ALL but we like to know everything about your bass so PICTURES-PICTURES is the thing to do. So hop to the appropriate department and post us some things to drool our keyboard over huh??? Paul the bad one | ||
| mothy4
New Username: mothy4 Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2003 |
Thanks for your warm welcome. I've only recently discovered the club and I'm so grateful Alembic has managed to still be there through all these years. Speaking of years, I forgot to tell you I was 25 back in '74 when I got my bass. I'll be posting the photos soon! | ||
| alembic76407
Intermediate Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 131 Registered: 5-2002 |
back in 1976 went I got my Series 1, I traded a 1961 Fender Percision and my 1966 Hofner Super Beatle plus $1000,and at todays prices, I wish I had them both back so I could sell them again and buy another new Alembic. David T (tornado Dave) PS; I did swap a new Fender Jazz + some cash for my Epic, Fender's make such great trade's | ||
| tylere
New Username: tylere Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2003 |
19 - First alembic I ever saw (in person), first one I ever played, first one (and hopefully not the last!) I bought. | ||
| alembic76407
Intermediate Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 163 Registered: 5-2002 |
tylere, welcome to the club, how's about some pictures (Message edited by alembic76407 on July 04, 2003) | ||
| tylere
New Username: tylere Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2003 |
Currently cameraless I'm afraid... Just imagine a Walnut-topped, 6 string lined Fretless Epic with 5pc maple neck. Only downside is that at some point the previous owner (before the music store I got it from) replaced the original Alembic pickups with a pair of EMG's. Not that I don't like EMGs, but... Doesn't seem like I could buy just the pickups to replace them either. | ||
| alembic76407
Intermediate Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 164 Registered: 5-2002 |
tylere, there's hope!!!! you can get a one time camera's and have the photo's put on a CD for downloading. and Alembic will sell you just the pickups or any other part you may need to restore your bass, pickups are not all that high, just drop Mica a line here or call her at Alembic David T | ||
| davehouck
Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 83 Registered: 5-2002 |
Did the previous owner replace the electronics too or are they still intact? | ||
| tylere
New Username: tylere Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2003 |
hoesly I'm note sure. Just opened up the control cavity, and I don't see anything that would confirm or deny that they are the originals. Control setup is still volume / pan / bass / treble. Lemme desribe what I see. From the picups there are 4 wires. Two red, and two white, slightly thicker.The two reds kinda merge, and then go to the battery. There are two small red 'boxes' (capacitots?) that say 'S2A 104k' on them. The two white wires go to the volume and pan. | ||
| davehouck
Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2002 |
I don't have a bass with Epic electronics, but I just pulled the cover off an Essence and the pots all have "Alembic" stamped on them. So I'm guessing the electronics have been changed. Like David T said, depending on the condition of your pocketbook you may want to email Mica about the price of replacement Epic 6 pickups and electronics. One other thing to consider is whether the previous owner had to make any modifications to the body to get the EMGs in. By the way, what part of North Carolina? | ||
| tylere
New Username: tylere Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2003 |
*curses silently* Drat. As far as money goes... well let's just say I'm a college student and leave it at that. Eastern part (Greenville) |
