| Author | Message | ||
| ivartshiva
New Username: ivartshiva Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2007 |
Hello friends, I'm a just-hatched firsttime owner of a four-string '92 Essence. It's like driving a Ferrari after playing my 5-string Ibanezes. I've been a guitar player for 35 years and took up bass a couple years ago, now totally in love with that role in the band and the sound. I'm playing dub and roots reggae with Dubnotix - check dubnotix.com . My new (old) bass has a roots history of its own, having been owned and played by Mike Chin (relation to Tony Chin?) for 15 years in the Erie, PA area with One World Tribe. Interestingly, my pre-purchase internet search to identify the previous owner with only the clues "Erie PA reggae guru" to go on, led me to a photo of Mike with the very Alembic on stage at the Woodbury (CT) Ski Area Reggae Festival from some past year, where, coincidentally, I played this summer. (photo of Mike and the Essence attached) Mike's had this bass signed on the back by various reggae stars, including Family Man. He has the sigs covered with clear tape. He also had orangy-yellow tape on the fret board as fret markers, godawful ugly (sorry Mike!) - it took me a little while but now she is free of that aesthetic nightmare and totally gorgeous, truly a work of art. One final word - I'm just at the beginning of the learning curve of how to find great tones, but I noticed right away that the fingers of both hands can greatly influence the tone due to the amazing clarity of the pickups, they are almost like high quality mics. It takes a little more technique but I am finding some powerful sounds. Anyone have a favorite way to squeeze out a roots reggae tone? Mike in Vermont  | ||
| artswork99
Intermediate Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 152 Registered: 7-2007 |
Hi Michael, Congratulations and welcome! I have seen the bass and a very nice looking Essence it is. Glad that the stickers cleaned up as you wanted. As for the tone, I'm relatively new to Alembic electronics as well, small amounts of change make for lots of differences. You'll definitely find some places that you enjoy. Post some pictures of it cleaned up if you can. Play it healthy, Art | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 988 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mike, I've found the heaviest reggae tone on my alembic is got by turning the filter all or most of the way off, use the neck pickup and pluck the strings lightly over the end of the fretboard. There you get a heavy reggae sound. Actually that is where Aston Barrett plays his basses when I've seen him in concert. With the Alembic though I get a seriously righteously roots reggae bass tone....!!! Try it see how you get on. Jazzyvee | ||
| ivartshiva
New Username: ivartshiva Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2007 |
Ok I have a name for my new weapon: Mjolnir check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mjolnir |
