| Author | Message | ||
| zach
New Username: zach Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2007 |
hi, i'm zach, only 17 so unfortunately for now i can't quite afford the two grand needed for an alembic. At the moment i'm still just playing my humble rockbass. It's ok, i've only been playing for a year so i don't think i deserve an alembic quite yet. Thought i might as well register since my dream (for the moment at least) is to own a custom alembic. so yeah, thats the short version about me! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 532 Registered: 9-2005 |
Hey, Zach, I'm 44, but I was only a year or two younger than you when I began playing electric bass. Stanley Clarke -and the sound of his awesome Alembic bass- was an inspiration to me, and I'll always remember the first time I went to Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center and actually managed to persuade them to let me pick up and play a stunning Birdseye Maple Series I bass. I never forgot the sound, and knew I'd have to get an Alembic eventually... it took a long time. Of course, the "two grand" you mentioned would only be able to get you a used model... but there are plenty of worthy specimans out there. If you really love -or come to really love- music and bass-playing, you can save up. In the meantime, practice on whatever you have, and practice well. Learn as much as you can... your ability and understanding are the most important thing. Music is a language... work on your vocabulary and understanding. Work on listening and speaking. Work on understanding the things that you hear, and forming concepts. With the modern world, and the internet and other resources, there has never been a better time for anyone/everyone who wants to learn to be the best they can be. You're young... so use your youth. Practice dilligently... be ambitious... the sky's the limit. When I got my first bass, I practiced as much as I could. I worked my way up to 6 hours a day. Within a year, I had people in my high school -who were held in high esteem by others- telling me I was the best in the school. This means nothing, of course, and meant nothing... other than, if you work hard and practice well, you can accomplish a lot. So best wishes, work hard, study, learn, and enjoy playing. My last piece of advice is to study as much as you can, as many different styles as you can. As human beings, we have a tendancy to seek what we're used to and avoid things we're not familier with... and it can limit us. Try and broaden your horizons and become familiar with a broad range of music and musical styles. Try to listen to everything, and "branch out." Rock and blues are great for a foundation. Classical and Jazz are usually best for overall technique and musical vocabulary. But you can study Country, Reggae, Raga, and even Gospel -and learn something from everything. Get CDs from various styles and listen and play along with them. Get yourself a couple of instructional booklets and learn what you can from them. Most of them are junk or half-assed at best, so know this up front... but you can still learn from them. The "picture" you have in your mind -the understanding- of music is like a "jigsaw puzzle". Seek to always "get more pieces" and "connect" the pieces you have to one another. Welcome to the club, Zach. Thanks for introducing yourself, and good luck with your musical journey. This club is a wonderful resource full of nice cool people who can help you with/on your journey. Take care! | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 606 Registered: 4-2005 |
Welcome, Zach. You can get an Epic for about $1,000 or so and they are great basses. David | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1267 Registered: 2-2006 |
Welcome Zach. I think you'll find this forum very helpful in your journey to Bass-Virtuoso. There is a wealth of knowledge wrapped up in the minds here and the guys are more than happy to share. Olie | ||
| zach
New Username: zach Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2007 |
wow, don't think i've had such a warm welcome in a forum! pretty amazing. thanks for the encouragement, unfortunately i don't have much money saved up, although hopefully i shall be getting a summer job which might just help me move up to a used alembic. As you said Mark, I have been practising for about average two hours a day, although unfortunately school tends to get in the way... hadn't thought about trying classical pieces much, although i did try to transcribe that moonlight sonata piece to piece, didn't manage it though. thanks again for the warm welcome Zach | ||
| pauldo
Junior Username: pauldo Post Number: 17 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hello Zach - I thought I could never afford an Alembic also,,, fortunately for me Ralph Hanzel's music had a layaway program so by the time I was 20 years old I had my own 84' distillate! You can do it - if there is a will there is a way. I just want to know how some of the members here have 3 or 4 Alembics whilst having a custom one in process - ! :-D | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 830 Registered: 11-2004 |
Zach, welcome to the club. Very sound advice that Mark (8 string king) posted there. As has been mentioned here, you don't have to start out at the top of Alembic's line. All of the Alembic models are excellent instruments. You can always work up to the model that you ultimately want. You can read the advice of the UK/European members about the unique challenges of getting an Alembic over there. They don't seem to be quite as common. I think anyone who appreciates Alembic "deserves" to have one or two or more. Good luck to you in fulfilling your Alembic dream. Rich BTW, your profile says you're 27. Typo somewhere, I guess. | ||
| dtrice
Junior Username: dtrice Post Number: 47 Registered: 10-2006 |
Do it Zach. Save some money and get yourself an Alembic. I'm 20 and I got my Spyder last year (so I was 19). I don't have the history of playing like Mark or Oliver, but man has it given me a real boost in playing. It has obviously improved my tone, but also it is so comfortable to play I play more than I ever did! But I warn you, Zach. Alembics should be a controlled substance, because they are so addicting. I'm already planning my Triple-Omega Series 1.5 . | ||
| zach
New Username: zach Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2007 |
I think i'll follow your advice and try to save up for dare i say one of the more affordable models, possibly second hand if i can find a good one. also, excuse my lack of knowledge but what is a layaway program? and Rich, thanks for pointing out the typo, that and suggesting i talk to other UK members, since I actually haven't yet been in a room with an alembic so I really must find a shop i can get too that stock alembics, the only london dealer listed on the alembic site is about two hours drive, and since i haven't passed my test yet (wow i must sound so young!) I don't think my parents would be willing to drive a two hour round trip for me to look at basses unlike myself. Zach | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 744 Registered: 2-2005 |
Zach, Welcome. A Layaway program is where a store accepts a deposit on an item and then sticks away somewhere. The person purchasing makes periodic payments and receives the merchandise after it is paid off. Quite frequently there is a limit on how long an item can be set aside on layaway but this is usually negotiable. Keith | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1421 Registered: 6-2002 |
Zach, you do sound terribly young - I only got my driver's license at age 40. Welcome to the world of Alembics! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1135 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hey Zach - welcome to the club from Scotland. If you want to try out a few Alembics, the Bass Gallery in Camden have a selection of Epics, orions and excels. (alternatively, come and visit edinburgh - there's at least 8 that I know of). Graeme | ||
| zach
New Username: zach Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2007 |
wow, thanks for that, suprised i wasn't aware of the bass gallery, shall definetly go check that out at some point in the next few weeks! a layaway program sounds pretty good, think i may just save up my money first instead though. sorry Graeme but i doubt i'll be visiting edinburgh any time soon, but if i do i'll be sure to tell you! Zach | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1141 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'll be wandering round the London Guitar show this Sunday. look out for someone in an Alembic t shirt. graeme | ||
| georgie_boy
Advanced Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 213 Registered: 8-2005 |
Like a lost soul as usual Graeme?? Your Buddy George | ||
| zach
New Username: zach Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2007 |
Sorry graeme, but i don't think i'll be going this year. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 747 Registered: 2-2005 |
Graeme, If you can arrange an emergency onsite visit for me at your place of employment I'll gladly accompany you to the show on Sunday (or the pub of your choice). The passport is in order and I'll even wear my Alembic T-shirt. Keith | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1142 Registered: 10-2002 |
Keith. it's 500 miles from my place of employment to the show. You're welcome to sit at my desk while I'm away ;-) graeme | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5014 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Zach; welcome to the board! | ||
| zach
New Username: zach Post Number: 10 Registered: 4-2007 |
thanks dave. you might not actually find my posting very much, so far i've just been trying to absorb the rediculously vast wealth of knowledge on this forum, its amazing how much people on here know about basses and bass construction, don't worry, i'm learning though! | ||
| mauibassplayer
Junior Username: mauibassplayer Post Number: 28 Registered: 3-2005 |
Zach, i think you are getting into it, I have learned so much by reading all the various posts, links to different websites, lots of youtube players, overall, a wealth of information is at your fingertips. A sincere welcome to the club my friend. Aloha, Ken | ||
| zach
Junior Username: zach Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2007 |
Hi Ken I know what you mean, can't remember whether or not its from these boards that i found them but i now keep listening to jaco patitucci and richard bona. tried to play portrait of tracy but i could manage neither the harmonic chords or the crazy artificial harmonic requiring a 5 fret stretch! there certainly is a wealth of information, i guess its just as well i'm a quick learner or it'd take me several lifetimes to take it all (hopefully it'll just take me the one). Zach p.s. Mark, if you read this, I'm slowly getting more fluent at the language of bass, just trying to master the past tense at the moment =P | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1336 Registered: 2-2006 |
I think you mean "JACO PASTORIUS". John Patitucci is a smokin player too though. | ||
| zach
Junior Username: zach Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2007 |
woops, forgot the comma, was meant to be jaco, patitucci, and richard bona. Sorry, I'm a mathematician at heart, i'm not good with grammer. The good news though is that I emailed the guys at Bass Gallery and they said I could actually play on their alembics if i were to come down! (Message edited by zach on May 17, 2007) | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 779 Registered: 6-2002 |
Zach, You gotta make the pilgrimage. You'll never forget the experience of the first time you play an Alembic. Mike P.S. Welcome to the forum.  | ||
| mauibassplayer
Junior Username: mauibassplayer Post Number: 30 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hi Zach, this is what it is all about. We all only have one life, learn as much as you can from everyone you come in contact with, we all have something to offer you. I got my Spoiler when I was living in San Francisco from a friend, I was playing in three different bands at the time, it was crazy, but when I started to play the Alembic, somehow I became more focused and started to do away with all the unecessary distractions, got it down to one band, and kept my eyes and ears open to my bandmates, the more we listen while we play the better we all will be. Playing is all about listening. Much Aloha, Ken | ||
| zach
Junior Username: zach Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2007 |
Hello well I finally did it, I played on an alembic!!! once I worked out what the nobs do (and that only had four! all i'm used to is two pup's and a tone), ooooooo, was superb. Played two status's afterwards, and whilst they were good for slap they just couldn't match the tones i was getting. Oh yeah, i should probably mention it was an epic which is on sale for £1200. Think this calls for a summer job... Zach | ||
| mauibassplayer
Junior Username: mauibassplayer Post Number: 39 Registered: 3-2005 |
Excelent Zach!!! It is a great thing to play such a fine instrument, it is da best!!! Get the job, get the Alembic!!! Cheers!! Ken. | ||
| kimberly
Member Username: kimberly Post Number: 83 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Zach and a belated welcome to the club. Congrats on finally being able to play an Alembic. I know for me it was one of those moments that I doubt I'll ever forget. Heck, truth of the matter be known I was sold before I played it. The mere presence of an Alembic was all it took. Best Wishes, Kimberly PS. I own an Epic I bought used. I'll never go back. ;) | ||
| zach
Junior Username: zach Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2007 |
Howdy When I came home I told my sis that i'd played a £1200 bass, her reaction was 'why would you spend that much on a guitar?!?', I was lost for words... I think that as you say kim, it'll take me a while to forget playing that bass, although it won't compare to when i actually buy one! Definetly gonna make job requests tomorow Zach |
