| Author | Message | ||
| lowave
New Username: lowave Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2005 |
My first Alembic. I feel like teenager in love. I have a 5 string Essence with a Koa top. Im crazy about her. She just arrived today. Bought her on Ebay. Here is my story. Although I have 7 different basses now; I only do rehearsal and gigs with single bass. In 1967 when I was 15 I decided to play bass and my Dad got me bass and amp for christmas. He gave me a Greco (Ibanez, we lived in Tokyo at the time) copy of a Hofner Beatle bass. I had that for a few years then got a paper route and traded it and $200 for a Gibson EB0, which I played for 17 years until 1984. I bought a Rickenbacker 4003 that I played until today (21 years). At this rate with any luck I will be playing my Alembic in the after life. Ive always played pop and classic rock. The Rick served me perfectly for 20 years. But the times are changing and I was increasingly faced with the need to hit lower notes. A few weeks ago I reluctantly succumbed to the inevitable and began shopping for a 5 string. I did the music store thing and was really dissapointed with what was being offered in the $2k range. I had almost decided to "settle" for a Tobias bolt on or grit my teeth and shell out $2.5k for Warwick Thumb. Just as a reality check I took a look at Ebay...Halleluya ! ! ! I had no idea that an Alembic could be had in that price range. (I had known about Alembics since I saw 'Return to Forever' in 1977. Just assumed they were above my pay grade. I am so pleased with myself I may have to stand in front of the mirror and slap me a few times. Needless to say the Essence is pretty much perfect. I cant stop smiling ... and thats scary cause a couple of my front teeth were knocked out. (I do a great Pirate leer..Ahrrr !). | ||
| lowave
New Username: lowave Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2005 |
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| jet_powers
Advanced Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 244 Registered: 2-2003 |
Yup! That's pretty! Welcome! JP | ||
| speicky
Junior Username: speicky Post Number: 45 Registered: 3-2005 |
Yeah ! You got it ! Also a warm welcome from another part of the globe. Nice introduction, I read that with a smile on my face, cause I'm in love, too... I own a 5er Essence as well, an outstanding bass ! The body shape is so graceful, and the sound is amazing... Congrats and welcome to the group. Christian (the faker) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2801 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Tom; welcome and congrats!! | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 498 Registered: 11-2004 |
Tom, your story sounds a lot like mine. Played a Rick for awhile. Introduced to Alembic by listening to RTF and always thinking they were out of reach financially. Then I got on e-bay once and went "Wow, you can get an Alembic for that price." About 2 weeks later I had my first. Welcome to the club. Rich | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 448 Registered: 10-2002 |
Nice Bass Tom. Welcome to the club from this side of the Atlantic. graeme | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 919 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hello Tom, congratulations on the bass, it's a beauty. I know it sounds great. Your band will love it. I've been to Portland a few times, great city. Have you ever eaten at the Acropolis? Sam | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 247 Registered: 7-2004 |
Welcome Tom - great story and a great bass. Enjoy. =) Tom | ||
| lowave
New Username: lowave Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2005 |
attn: bracheen Well Sam its a small world. Yes I have eaten a number of times at the Acropolis in Portland. But sadly where it used to sit is now a hole in the ground. I dont know but I expect the moved somewhere close by. I lived in Jacksonville in the 70s and played in a number of bands there and in Gainesville. Good times the 70s were. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 920 Registered: 11-2003 |
Tom Small world indeed. It's possible we crossed paths at one time or another. Yes the 70s were good times, at least the first half of them. Sam | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 679 Registered: 6-2002 |
Vietnam, Nixon, uhm ... a case of selective memory perhaps? No offence ... That koa top is very striking, by the way: the grain brings out the design of the body so well. Can't have enough koa tops on Alembics - both of mine have one - just wish it wasn't such a scarce species of wood. (Did I just contradict myself?) (Message edited by adriaan on December 15, 2005) | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 921 Registered: 11-2003 |
Adriaan, don't forget about Bloody Sunday. I was speaking strictly from a personal perspective. I wasn't referring to all of the World events at the time. If that were the case what decade could be called good? When hasn't there been war, pestilence, famine, crooked politicians, etc.? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 680 Registered: 6-2002 |
Sam, I won't forget. Promise. After all, it was the decade of smileys ... | ||
| gtrguy
Junior Username: gtrguy Post Number: 34 Registered: 9-2004 |
Hi there, Nice bass! congrats on your purchase! There are several of us Alembic owners in Portland, even though there is no longer a dealer here. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 301 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Portland guys, I once ate at a great place called Roses Deli. It reminded me of all the great deli food I left behind in New York. Is that place still there? | ||
| lowave
New Username: lowave Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2005 |
hey Michael; It seems after an absence that Rose's Deli is back. http://portland.citysearch.com/review/11548673 | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 315 Registered: 7-2002 |
Thanks for the tip! Michael | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 558 Registered: 9-2002 |
LoWave Congratulations from one OF to another !! Essences are just wonderful little hot rods with that small body, and yours is just gorgeous in Koa (what ISN'T gorgeous in Koa?). Your bass-playing life will never be the same. I, too, ran across a DEAL on a used one (I NEVER thought I'd have one, either), jumped on it, and never looked back. Best musical purchase I ever made, it really changed my life. Not many things you can say that about. Vis-a-vis transitioning to the five-string: I got very tired of fours, as I was all over the neck, constantly jumping positions up and down the neck. The five allowed me to play across the fingerboard, and that was like turning on the lights for me. I could never go back. J o e y |
