| Author | Message | ||
| John Stefancik (jet_powers)
New Username: jet_powers Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2003 |
In a few slow moments at work I discovered this club and have been following it for a few months. I thought it was time for me to finally check in. It's good to know there are a lot of dedicated Alembic users like myself out there and more than a few from the New England area as well. I got my first Alembic in '89 when I traded a Fender Jazz and a Fender Precision fretless (my entire collection at the time) for a used '85 Persuader that had been hanging in a nearby music store for quite some months. Since then I have managed to acquire an '83 Exploiter (in walnut) as well as an '88 Spoiler 8-string and finally, my prize possesion that virtually obsoleted the seven other bass guitars in my collection, a '98 Rogue 5-string. The Rogue has a wenge top and even if were never played it could be hung on the wall and called high art. The comments this insrument has drawn from musicians and non-musicians alike have been gushing to say the least. The attention to detail on these instuments is simply amazing!! Again, it's good to know there are people like you out there and I look forward to communicating with you all in the future. I am glad Alembic has provided this forum and I am sure that it has fostered many new friendships. Cheers, John | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 126 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey John, Welcome aboard. How 'bout some pics of your basses, particularly that 8-string Spoiler. | ||
| Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)
Junior Username: eschreyer2 Post Number: 22 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hello John, Yes, welcome aboard. Good to hear from you. Yes, please post some pics! Sounds like a nice collection. Was the '98 Rogue a special order, or just a great find? Earl | ||
| Paul Ellsworth (elzie)
Member Username: elzie Post Number: 86 Registered: 8-2002 |
It's nice to have you here John, and not just because you are a fellow New Englander, but that doesn't hurt! We really have to have a New England get together soon now that there is a good number of us around........ Paul | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 302 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hold it right there brother Paul, here comes another stupid question from the other Paul. What's New England? I thought you were from Boston or Massachus... or whatever? What's the mix-up? Oh yeah, from me a heartly welcome too John! Paul | ||
| Valentino Villevieille (valvil)
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 97 Registered: 7-2002 |
Welcome to the Alembic Club, John. Paul, New England is the name for that east coast part surrounding the Boston area, although I could not tell you precisely what its borders are. The American football team from the Boston suburbs is called The New England Patriots. I guess ( not sure) that it's the area around where the Pilgrims landed. As a fellow foreigner, I'm not the best source of info on this. Valentino | ||
| Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 64 Registered: 9-2002 |
I often think the SMARTEST thing ALEMBIC ever did was sponsor this forum. Good to have you with us John. This has spawned a LOT of e-friendships and one hell of an online community for a range of instruments that are often only rumored, or mitakenly described. There are lots of people here I've learned so much from, about ALEMBICs and bass in general. I hope it serves you as well as it has me. You can help me with a question: I've never been around an 8-string (I'm guessing it's an 8 with 4 pairs). In playing postion, are the big strings on top or the octaves? I'm sure they can be built either way, but I was wondering what it's like to live with one. Great to have you with us, Joey Wilson | ||
| John Stefancik (jet_powers)
New Username: jet_powers Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2003 |
First of all, thanks to all for the warm welcome. It's easy to tell here that great minds wallow in the same gutters! Jonathan, I will be working to get some pics posted in the not too distant future. Earl, the '98 Rogue was simply a great find. I was traveling in the Phoenix area on business and misread my itinerary for the flight home and found myself with an extra hour to kill. As I was heading to the airport I spotted a Guitar Center just off the interstate and decided that would be as good a place as any to kill the time. Lo and behold, the Rogue was hanging there. After some negotiations, out came the American Express card and the bass came home with me. I was nervous and holding my breath while waiting for the luggage to come out at the baggage claim in Hartford as the flight went through Philadelphia and they have been known to lose an entire plane load or two of luggage there. I had to put my find below as it was too big to go on as carry on and I couldn't even buy it a seat as the plane was full. Eventually it made its way out onto the belt and I was so relieved I nearly forgot to collect my other bags. The part I didn't understand was this '98 was still hanging there in February of 2000. It hung there for an entire year? Inconceivable! My good fortune. Paul, a Boston area Alembic convention would be a lot of fun. Possibly illegal to have that many crazed bassists in one place, but fun. the other Paul, don't worry about your grasp of American geography. I don't know exactly what happened to the place all the Flemish painters came from! Valentino, your grasp of American geography is better than most of the natives! Joey, your assumption on the 8-string is pretty much right on. Mine is strung with the octave strings on top. I'm not sure this is the proper way to string it but it worked out OK for me. I used it on a recording project and then laid down a track with the Rogue on top of it. I then asked to be credit with playing "13 strings of bass" on the song. I know I couldn't find a set of RotoSounds for it around here. Perhaps our European connection can assist in sourcing these? On a related side note, the guitarist I have worked with for years took a 12-string guitar and removed the standard strings leaving just the octave strings. He called it a "high strung" guitar. It gave quite an interesting sound. I have a question I would appreciate everybody's input on. Would it be worth updating the electronics in my 20 year old Exploiter? Not that this bass doesn't sound good. It does. It's just that improvements in the electronics world happen so quickly and 20 years is a long time. Would a new e package make a dramatic difference in the sound? Unless I sell off the better part of my collection I can't afford the new limited edition Entwistle model so the electronics would be a more affordable and practical solution. What do you guys think? Thanks again for the welcome. John | ||
| David Burgess (dnburgess)
Junior Username: dnburgess Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2003 |
John, regarding the 8 string - is that an instrument that you use all the time - or is the sound a little "too distinctive" for everyday use? | ||
| Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)
Junior Username: eschreyer2 Post Number: 24 Registered: 3-2003 |
Wow John, cool story about finding the '98 Rogue. The good ones usually have some story behind them. If your ever in the Phoenix area again, there is a really cool bass store called "The Bass Place" in Tempe. That's where I found and fell in love with my '92 6-string Europa.I went to school at ASU in Tempe. Earl http://www.thebassplace.com/index1.html | ||
| John Stefancik (jet_powers)
New Username: jet_powers Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2003 |
David, The 8 string has found its home in the studio. I find it difficult to play. Mainly because my hands aren't all that big for a bass player. I don't know how people play those seven string jobs. You're definately right about the "distinctive" sound. Very few cover songs require its use and in my original band I have to pick my spots to use it. Generally it gets to stay home while the 5 string Rogue and one of the 4 strings gets to come out and play at gigs. Earl, Thanks for the tip and the link on the shop in Tempe. Wish I were there right now. The long, cold winter here in the frozen white north is starting to get to me.... John | ||
| Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 68 Registered: 9-2002 |
JetPowers: After a little quick research at www.rotosound.com, I found that they offer an RS668 8-string set (20/45, 30/65, 35/80, and 45/105). There's also an e*mail address for their US distributor. A web search for this will turn up the usual suspects, I'd imagine. Ah, the 'newer sound' question. A couple of insights from my own experience. Do the OTHER basses sound just fine? In other words, make sure it's not new amp/cabinet/effects, etc., time. I would also check with ALEMBIC as to how much room there is to work with. Are we gonna drill for an extra knob or switch, or are we talking about a new, larger rout for a bigger pocket, if that's possible. One switch that would be really easy is that you could replace the AXY pickups with the new FatBoys from the EXCEL. There's a recent post with a discussion about changing pickups you may find useful. Best Regards, Joey Wilson | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 81 Registered: 7-2002 |
John, Welcome to the club!!! And yet another member of the New England/Alembic chapter. We'll have to get together at the Acton Jazz Cafe with the other chapter members some night. Hey guys!!!! I'm on the road right now and this is the first chance I"ve had to get to a computer. I'll catch up with everyone when I get home. Paul, thanks for "defending" me in the other thread. I wouldn't dare paint the Elan. Peace - Dino | ||
| John Stefancik (jet_powers)
New Username: jet_powers Post Number: 6 Registered: 2-2003 |
Joey, thanks for the link. I knew that RotoSound made an 8 string set because it was listed on their packaging. I've been dedicated Rotosound user for a long time now. It's just that the Guitar Centers I visited in Boston and surrounding towns didn't have any (not much call for them I'm sure) and told me they couldn't get them. Probably more like they couldn't be bothered. Nothing like going right to the source... Thanks also for your input regarding the newer sound. It's not like I don't like the sound because I do. I was just wondering if it could be improved dramatically. I hadn't stopped to think about the physical changes to the instrument. If it's not broke, don't fix it! Dino, Thanks for the welcome. I've been meaning to get to the Acton Jazz Cafe. It's not even 30 miles down the road from where I live. An Alembician's meeting would be the perfect excuse! Keep me posted on any developments on that front.... John |
