| Author | Message | ||
| willride3
New Username: willride3 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2005 |
What a great place to read about great basses,players and gigs, and those who can appreciate them. Being a lefty, it is limiting to find a quality bass without special ordering. I tried the Ricks, the Fender,Peavey,and then I found it. The Alembic. An Essence 5, walnut top wood to be exact.It was hanging on the wall, and it became mine. It took a while to get used to the 5th string,but what a great bass. Now, I know an Essence is not the top of the line, but for what i do, it is great. A while later, I saw another, same model, only different top, maple. It is mine now also. It became a fretless. That was in 1995. Last year i went to a store, saw a Fender Jazz bass, picked it up, it felt like a toy.( no offense to anyone intended) All i can say is my Alembic feels like home. The sound man where i play every week loves the sound, and it has recorded well on both digital, and analog recording equipment.I look forward to reading more about everyone in here's experiences with the Alembic. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 709 Registered: 11-2003 |
Welcome home, Thomas, good to meet you. How about some photos of your basses. They sound great. Love your quote by the way. Sam | ||
| rklisme
Intermediate Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 188 Registered: 5-2004 |
Thomas Welcome to the club and be sure to post pics. I own and Essence and happen to feel it is a wonderful bass so therefore it is very top of the line. Enjoy and play in good health. Rory | ||
| 1stbass
Intermediate Member Username: 1stbass Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thomas, Congrats on your essence. I think that is how mostly all of us feel. When you get your hands on a Alembic you never wount to be without one. And then you need to have more. I still think there should be a wing opened at the Betty Ford clinc for this. or not. Doug | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1533 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Thomas, welcome to the group. Many of us in the group have Essence basses; they are great instruments. | ||
| lbpesq
Advanced Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 378 Registered: 7-2004 |
Welcome to the club, Thomas: Some of us ain't got no basses. Yes Virginia, there are guitar players around here too! Alembic doesn't limit its magic to the low end only. Ahhh, but magic it is! Stick around and you'll find this site a marvelous resource if you are looking for any information - even, dare I say it, non-Alembic issues. And the denizens are a downright friendly group. By the way, I love the "Who Cares Band" - great name! Bill, the guitar one | ||
| willride3
New Username: willride3 Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2005 |
Thanks for all the responses. I look forward to sharing info, and stories etc. The next gig i have, other than at my church is at a Detroit police chaplains spring concert.Usually it's downtown, in a large old historical church. There are many great teams there with some great bassists. I always enjoy listening to and talking to the other players. Great gospel players, Funk, and then my team which is a rock based worship music style with what has been called old school finger style bass playing by some of the other players.I don't know what to call it, I just play what I feel is right for the song. But I lookforward to this gig every year. If anyone wants to share, about tone settings on the essence bass, i'm listening. I usually run with tone rolled off or all the way up and either a front pickup only, or a blend in the middle, on a carvin combo amp, or with tone all the way up on an ashdown combo amp. any ideas? talk to you later. | ||
| richbass939
Intermediate Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 194 Registered: 11-2004 |
Welcome to the club, Thomas. A few years ago I read an interview with a gospel bassist. He said that a lot of gospel music is in E-flat. Do you play a lot of E-flat? If so is that a main reason why you have a 5 string? The guy in the interview said he tuned all 4 strings down a fret and played like the songs were in E. Rich | ||
| willride3
New Username: willride3 Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hello richbass. Thanks for asking, I'm glad to share on this. We do play a lot in E flat, B flat, F, C, and keys that are good for the vocalist and keyboard. Not a lot of guitar open string keys. Once in a while we get an E, A, or G. Sometimes we start in a key and modulate up a half, or whole step. I had never tuned down to E flat, but had thought one of those D-Tuner tuning device would help. The 5 string has really helped in that I have the ability to get that E flat,D,and notes below to the B. I like to use the B string to play my root, keeping the fat in the bottom whenever I can. I have to be careful with the low notes below the low D, they can sound boomy or muddy unless it's like a slow passage whole note thing. Then it's great. When I bought my first Alembic, I wasn't thinking about any of this. It was a love at first sight and touch thing. My older brother who is not with us anymore, was a bass player who had incredible talent, completely self taught, who inspired me to pick up the bass. He was a huge Alembic fan, and always wanted one since his exposure to Stanley Clark back in his early days. However he never got to own one. I now see why he liked them so much. I am very pleased with mine, and it is the best instrument i've ever owned. Again, thanks for asking. Also, may I add that the church gig is a very rewarding and fun gig. When people are worshipping God, and you are helping fascilitate that worship, WOW, it's great, my favorite gigs. Talk to you later....... Tom | ||
| jlpicard
Intermediate Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 169 Registered: 7-2002 |
Tom , Always great to have another Lefty in the club! Here's wishing you much joy with your Alembic! Mike | ||
| southpaw
Junior Username: southpaw Post Number: 19 Registered: 12-2004 |
Willride3, Welcome aboard! Another lefty, cool... Alembic is the best, left or right, just keep playing! Be sure to stop by the Miscellaneous Section under "Calling all lefties" so we don't bother all the righties. | ||
| mint_bass
Advanced Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 252 Registered: 1-2004 |
Hi from yet another lefty look forward to seeing your basses hope you are well andrew |
