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steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 5:35 am:   Edit Post

Finally I found my way into the Alembic club! It is now 3 years that I am the lucky owner of an Alembic Mark King Deluxe with Cocobolo top and back. (bought it used, thanks to Paul TBO, how are you?) It is honestly the best sounding and looking instrument I have called my own so far and I can understand all of you when you are talking about "Alembicitis"....I am not that great gigger, but the few times I got on stage this bass always caused a lot of interest. I will post some pictures in the near future! Any other Italian Alembic fans out there?
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 532
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 5:40 am:   Edit Post

Stefano, welcome to the club. That sounds like a great instrument. The MK is one of my favorites. Looking forward to the pictures.

Sam
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1449
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 5:50 am:   Edit Post

Brother Stephano,

tuto poste??
Well ...that's what I think tehy say!!
Hey brothers and siters come quick over here and see. This is the guy who bought my first Alembic.
Great huh!!!!!!!!
So ...I am not too bad Stefano ...alas ....I lost my job (again) ...so I guess I will end up in trouble (again) ...ts-ts-ts. It will give me that blues feeling again.
Hmmmm ...pictures huh?? I THINK I can dig out some pictures from the old days. Now ....lemmee see ...this box ....no ....that drawer ...nope ....that shelf ...neither ....mmmmm

Paul the bad one

(Message edited by palembic on August 04, 2004)
senmen
Advanced Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 339
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 7:58 am:   Edit Post

Stephano,
welcome to the club and great to have someone from Italy in here.
I think you have bought a great instrument from a former player who treated her well all the time.
Have fun and enjoy!

Oliver (Spyderman)
stoney
Advanced Member
Username: stoney

Post Number: 303
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 11:19 am:   Edit Post

Stefano,

Benvenuto!! Trasmetta le fotografia presto !
Spero le piace multo l'Alembic nuovo.
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 507
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 1:25 pm:   Edit Post

Ciao Stefano,

good to see you here; now there's 2 Italians posting in the club.
I am sending you an e-mail today in regards to the schematic you asked for. I need to know if your jack is mono or stereo.

Valentino
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1450
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 2:03 pm:   Edit Post

Yes ...what Jonathan said ...I completely agree ...of course ...
***jeeeeeez**** all those americans starting to speak other languages ...o-o!
Quite a place here to stay around no Stephano???

Paul TBO

pictures ...mmmm ...pictures ...where are those **^&%#)M>)^@*&@J)M** pictures ....mmmm ...maybe under my underware???? nei-eih ...under my reserve of stockings ....?

(Message edited by palembic on August 04, 2004)
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 534
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:05 am:   Edit Post

Dia dhuit trathnona, Stefano, ta failte romhat.
(Sorry Paul, I couldn't resist. It's early)

Sam
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1453
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:14 am:   Edit Post

Doe maar Sam ...ge zijt en braaf manneke ...OOK 's morgens!!!

Paul TBO
(hehe ...it IS irresistible)
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:30 am:   Edit Post

Ciao ragazzi!

Many thanks to everybody for the warm welcome in the club! I did not expect so many messages and I am very pleased to be part of the family now. I see that someone speaks Italian (well done Jonathan!) apart from Valentino who is a “connazionale”….thanks Vale, for your patience and help! The jack is mono.

Paul, I hope you won’t blame me, but I have received a new truss rod cover plate and the original pick-up selector switch to be installed soon, so that I can use the nice pointer knob. The bass is getting more and more series…now I have also red front & side leds even if I am not that flashy guy…Don’t worry about the photos you can not find, I will post some as soon as I get decent copies!

I wanted to say a big thank you to Edwin, “the flying Dutch” who sold me the instrument 3 years ago. How are you Edwin? I like the shape of the EVH-Series a lot!

Stefano
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1454
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:36 am:   Edit Post

Stafano Amice,

no problem. It must YOUR bass ...by all means ...and start a beautiful low frequency producing life in Europes "shoe" HA!!!
Still ...I want you to HAVE the pictures!!!!
If you want to get rit of the plate ...don't throw it away but put it in an envelope to me.

May the bass be with you!!!!

Paul the bad one
stoney
Advanced Member
Username: stoney

Post Number: 304
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 6:53 am:   Edit Post

Ciao Stefano,

I'm about 5 years over due for a visit to my family in Italy, Abruzzo/Molise. Glad to have you on board.
pookeymp
Intermediate Member
Username: pookeymp

Post Number: 138
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 10:36 am:   Edit Post

E amanha a chuva levara
o sangue que a luta deixou derramar

Pardon me...I'm just being silly and didn't want to be left out.

Hey Stefano,
Glad you found your way to the club...Welcome aboard...and I'm sure you'll have a great time here.

Mikey/

P.S. Can't wait to see pics of your baby...we'll all get to see what "Bonnie's" predecessor looks like.
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 527
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 11:05 am:   Edit Post

Hi Stefano,

Welcome to the Club. I too, am looking forward to a look at Bonnie's predecessor!

Bill
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 6:36 am:   Edit Post

Ciao a tutti!
thanks for all the messages in these strange languages! To all: please write the translations when you have a minute so I can learn some new languages.
Paul, if you let me have your address I will post the truss rod cover to you.
Jonathan, when you come to Italy next time then let know!
I will be on holiday for the next 3 weeks (I am writing from my work place, but I will try to open another email), but I promise to post the photos soon!
Ci sentiamo!
Stefano
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 536
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 9:11 am:   Edit Post

"Dia dhuit trathnona, Stefano, ta failte romhat"
"Good afternoon, Stefano, you are welcome." (Irish)
Reading it now I think I used "ta failte romhat" incorrectly. That's really "you're welcome" as a response to "thank you" oops

Sam

(Message edited by bracheen on August 06, 2004)
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 9:59 am:   Edit Post

Ciao a tutti!
There she is!!! It is not a very good shot, but in the meantime I thought it would be nice to present Bonnie's predecessor. She hasn't got a name yet.....Paul, how did you call her?
Sam, I never thought this could be Irish, this language looks very different indeed!
Hear from you!
Stefano MK Deluxe
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1465
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 10:43 am:   Edit Post

Stefano,

I called her a dutch word "dame" what means "lady". So ...Not really a name. Although there IS such thing in english "Dame" is -if I'm well informed- an old style english word for a lady of high social class.
Now I'm thinking of it: I also called her "Chris", the name of my wife.

Paul the bad one
stoney
Advanced Member
Username: stoney

Post Number: 308
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 11:31 am:   Edit Post

Paul or Stefano, care to explain the electronics there?

pookeymp
Intermediate Member
Username: pookeymp

Post Number: 140
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Stefano,

When I said I was being silly...I really was being very silly. I don't know any other language, so the phrase I posted (E amanha a chuva levara o sangue que a luta deixou derramar) is the first line of a lyric from a song that I sing in Portuguese with one of the bands I work with. It's actually a Sting song (Fragile).

Sting sings an English version of that song as well...and the first line in that version is:
"If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one"

If you translate the Portuguese version literally, it will be something like:
"And the rain lead the blood that the fight left spill"...it's not a perfect translation, but I believe it's very close.

But sorry for my silliness...'cause as you can see I wasn't making any sense in my post with this line...just trying to fit in :-)

Mikey/
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1468
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post

Brother Jonathan,

when are you coming to Belgium???
The original was: volume, pan, filter, filter; Q and Q.
Edwin and I changed it to the following:
1. added a master volume on the expected most front place
2. tookout the pan and changed by a volume; So we got bridge and neck PU volumes.
3. Added a switch for circuit break with a red LED that indicated if the bass was on circuit break or not. It came frm the time I mostly let the bass with the jack in. Those were done just up from the pace were the jack would be.
4. the jack was replaced by a PU selector switch (who was not a Alembic standard)
5. The jack was brought to the side.

That's about it. It was -and still is I guess- a very versatile instrument.

Paul TBO
pookeymp
Intermediate Member
Username: pookeymp

Post Number: 141
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 1:24 pm:   Edit Post

Very nice...that was my next question...what was the extra knobs added...but you explained quite nicely. She looks great, and I'm quite sure she sounds awesome as well.

Mikey/
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 534
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 1:56 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Stephano, Nice looking bass. I like the changes you made to the controls. Adjusting the pickup volumes independently is important. But once that change is made, you really need a master volume.

Bill
the_mule
Intermediate Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 200
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 12:44 am:   Edit Post

Paul de Slechterik, it seems like Edwin has made changes to this (BTW beautiful) bass that were or were going to be a slight variation in the 'Edwin electronics'. Especially the switch for circuit break with a red indicator LED rings a bell:



Comes in very handy Stefano, good luck with your beautiful bass! And Paul, there must be mixed emotions to see your bass in the hands of someone else, but you still have Bonnie, and Stefano seems like very nice guy that'll take good care of Dame Chris...

Wilfred
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 6:46 am:   Edit Post

Amici!
Thanks for all the messages around this beauty, that's what she is! I sometime put this bass in the middle of my living room and just admire it....seems silly, doesn't it? Sorry for the bad shot, the Cocobolo is very much nicer than on the photo. I will try to make better pictures in the near future, maybe outside without any flash. Any suggestions? Paul already explained the electronics which make them similar to a Series and they are allowing a very versatile sound indeed.
Now the electronics have changed a bit in the meantime, the red led disapeared, there is a 3-way toggle switch instead to turn the front&side led's on/off. Then I will also install the original pick-up selector switch in order to use the pointer knob. When all the work is done I will post a new photo. I also refurbished the brass hardware with an Italian version of Flitz Metal Polish and it worked well! I am really loving this instrument and hope to be able to hold it forever....
Keep on groovin'
Stefano
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 6:49 am:   Edit Post

Amici!
Thanks for all the messages around this beauty, that's what she is! I sometime put this bass in the middle of my living room and just admire it....seems silly, doesn't it? Sorry for the bad shot, the Cocobolo is very much nicer than on the photo. I will try to make better pictures in the near future, maybe outside without any flash. Any suggestions? Paul already explained the electronics which make them similar to a Series and they are allowing a very versatile sound indeed.
Now the electronics have changed a bit in the meantime, the red led disapeared, there is a 3-way toggle switch instead to turn the front&side led's on/off. Then I will also install the original pick-up selector switch in order to use the pointer knob. When all the work is done I will post a new photo. I also refurbished the brass hardware with an Italian version of Flitz Metal Polish and it worked well! I am really loving this instrument and hope to be able to hold it forever....
Keep on groovin'
Stefano
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 7:11 am:   Edit Post

Ooops, sorry for the double message!
Anyone interested in a Spoiler for 1100 EUR or a Series 1, lefty version ???? Have a look at this Italian shop at essemusic.it !!
Ciao!
Stefano
stoney
Advanced Member
Username: stoney

Post Number: 310
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 10:51 am:   Edit Post

I concur about the master volume control. I had one put on my Brown Bass for just that reason. However, doing that dropped the output buy about 6db according to Mica.

Paul, you and EVH did a nice job on that bass. It is now truly unique.

ox_junior
Intermediate Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 132
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 7:58 pm:   Edit Post

Stoney, you are Abruzzese? Me too! My brother in The Who, Alembic, and now Italian heritage!!

Mike
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1539
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 11:58 pm:   Edit Post

Yes ...that bass was FAR MORE versatile after the changements we made. It will be better even now!!!!!

Ho ...I don't have mixed emotions looking to that bass anymore. She's in good hands. THe only thing I learned from it that it IS hard to part from things you like but sometimes life forces you in evil ways.
Bygones.

And what the F&#(*)(&R~<><(O&$@K is going on here with those "hidden" Italians in this club. Brothers Jonathan, Mike, Marc, Val ...someone else hidden in a closet???Time to come out! Time to give a round pro-secco!!!!

Paul TBO
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 8
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:07 am:   Edit Post

Ciao a tutti!
I attach a shot of me playing one of the rare gigs which I did recently. Anyone interested in what I use amplificationwise??
Stefano
hollis
Senior Member
Username: hollis

Post Number: 407
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

Lay it on us Stefano!
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 1:53 pm:   Edit Post

sorry....here I hope is the photo finally....gig photo
steno
New
Username: steno

Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 2:05 pm:   Edit Post

the nice acoustic bass on the left is not mine, unfortunately...I am not able to play it, but we had a session after the gig and a good friend of mine played it.
Here is my rig:
Trace Elliot MP11 Preamp
BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer
KMT N300 Power Amp
Eden 2x12 XLT cab
The sound was excellent and everybody (a part from a few specialists) was wondering what an amazing intrument I was playing....
You see, the Trace is very much of an 80's style, but I love the sound it delivers, especially in combinaton with the BBE that gives an extra "zing"....anybody else combining Alembic with Trace Elliot? Even if I would be very interested to try a SF2.....
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1654
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 4:19 pm:   Edit Post

Stefano ...great to hear from you and see the Dame on stage ....with you!!!!!

Paul the bad one
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 597
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 6:43 pm:   Edit Post

You certainly look like you're enjoying yourself. Thanks for sharing about your rig, that's always interesting to me. There is such a diverse selection with everyone here. Do you have photos of it?

Sam
steno
Junior
Username: steno

Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:31 am:   Edit Post

It seems that I was a bit confused (too happy) yesterday, I got my computer back from service so that I could send the photo....actually the cab I use is an Eden 2x10 XLT, sorry...
Sam, I will post a photo asap!
Paul, it was a pleasure to play the Dame, her sound drove me crazy!

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