| Author | Message | ||
| gibsongrabberuser
New Username: gibsongrabberuser Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2011 |
Then I would want on similar to the one in the picture attached.... This is my first post, I own several basses, and I'm currently in the middle of paying off my first electric guitar (a Gibson Les Paul Custom) I noticed one very similar to this one posted in another thread on the site (it was going for $4000.00) after my guitar is paid off, I'm going to be in the hunt for my first Alembic!!! I'm going for an Entwistle type of tone... to be more specific, if youve ever seen the extras on The Kids Are Alright DVD, theres a video of the Ox playing Won't Get Fooled Again that is isolated so you only hear the bass track... I have several passive basses and its pretty hard to achieve a tone like this. Does anyone have any suggestions as far as pickup configurations? I.m pretty much looking for general info, I don't know that much about Alembics other than that they are true works of art. Any info would be awesome!  | ||
| gibsongrabberuser
New Username: gibsongrabberuser Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2011 |
here is the video I was speaking about in my first post..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhmImkKvEDo | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 966 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey John, Welcome to the club! The Bass pictured appears to be a Series I Standard Point body. Options unlimited... Starting price....a bit higher than that Les Paul!  | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 366 Registered: 7-2009 |
Hi John. Good to see another Oregon fellow in the club. Welcome! Nick | ||
| wishbass
Member Username: wishbass Post Number: 53 Registered: 5-2011 |
Hi John! Glad you made it.I told you you'd like the club.You need to check out Nicks(the previous post) basses. He has a gorgeous series bass.I'll talk to you later. Karl | ||
| jseitang
Advanced Member Username: jseitang Post Number: 309 Registered: 6-2002 |
calling senmen... | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3008 Registered: 10-2002 |
here's a great reference site detailing all John's gear. Graeme | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1030 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nick does have a gorgeous Series I. It used to be mine! | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 369 Registered: 7-2009 |
Thanks, fella's. I do love my Alembics! John if you are looking for an intro bass I have a sexy cocobolo spoiler I will let go of. Nick | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 517 Registered: 5-2002 |
Entwistle has a very unusual playing style and setup that contributes a lot to his very distinctive tone. A big part of his tone is that he's really precise about the angle that he plucks the strings at is a master at controlling the amount of fret buzz. When he hits the strings, the vibration is not parallel to the fretboard, it's got more perpendicular motion. The instrument is set up with almost no relief and super low action. He plays in a percussive style, sometimes likened to typing on a typewriter. It's very hard to maintain a super low action like this in a concert environment. Entwistle had a number of instruments built by Modulus Graphite with graphite necks that were more impervious to moisture and temperature changes that looked like his Alembics and Warwicks. I had a chance to handle one of his wood Warwick Buzzard prototypes when it was at Modulus, provided so they could cut a copy of the neck profile to make a custom mold. This one actually had an inlay on the neck which said something like "Prototype #3 for John Entwistle". When I picked the proto bass up, I figured that the neck was messed up from travel and weather - I totally could not play a clean note on it, the action was so low and flat. But this turned out to be set up exactly as he had them set for the tour. I also played the first Modulus Buzzard when it was finished and it was also similarly unplayable. It actually turned out that it wasn't right for Entwistle either. Ultimately, they ended up building a different Buzzard for Entwistle, and that first green Modulus Buzzard had the fretwork redone so it was more playable by mortals, had Entwistle's autograph on the body, and was featured in a Bass Player giveaway (actually, this might have been before Bass Player mag, and woudl have been Guitar Player). Knowing all this, you actually can get a decent Entwistle tone by setting up a relatively low action with not much relief, put on brand new Rotosounds RS66s and play hard. It probably won't sound nearly as snappy on a passive bass, but even if you have EMGs, you'll be in the ball park. To get the full effect, you really will need to go Alembic, as even other active basses don't have have the extended highs and lows that the Alembic pickups have. You probably don't need to be screaming loud to get this kind of sound, but you can see he's playing &*$*(@ loud in that video clip - some of those long notes are tailing into feedback. Enjoy! David Fung | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1726 Registered: 11-2004 |
here is that isolated bass from 'Won't get Fooled Again' Nice full sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf6tp2c6nMM | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1842 Registered: 9-2002 |
GGU, you can cruise thru the FAQs section of the Club and 'homework' the various pages about Series basses. A few 'Cliff Notes': -Alembics are very honest and neutral sounding instruments. Think studio monitors instead of home stereo speakers. With the filters pioneered by Ron Wickersham in conjunction with the 'phantom powered' pickups in the axes, you can go from organ pedal deadness to virtually clavinet-like brightness with the turn of a knob and a switch, all with very high headroom. If you look at the S1 that John's playing you'll notice there's no 1/4" plug: It's connected to an offboard power supply and a stereo (or mono) output via a proprietary 5-pin output cable that powers the onboard electronics and outputs to whatever amp rig you use. We have guys here that play them straight into Crowns, BGW's, etc., for a hifi/minimalist approach, something not possible with most basses. -It's alot to take in. If you're like most of us, these things were almost legends, I bought the first one I ever saw. And I live in Nashville, where there's every kind of axe under the sun, you don't see a lot of them. So I'd suggest hanging with us, finding your way around Alembic's website and this club, and slowly you'll learn the 'language'. It's hard for me to think of another small family business, headed by one of the great innovators (I think of Ron on the same level as a Leo Fender or Les Paul) and his artist wife, who build every part of every instrument (pickups, bridges, all the Alembic hardware save the tuning keys and pots), and create the magic they do. A Series Alembic is one of those landmark instuments, like a '59 Sunburst, a Selmer Paris horn, or a German Steinway or Bosendorfer. They're honestly not for everyone, but if you 'get it', truly, nothing else will do. J o e y | ||
| wishbass
Advanced Member Username: wishbass Post Number: 217 Registered: 5-2011 |
Amen Joey! | ||
| jzstephan
Junior Username: jzstephan Post Number: 50 Registered: 1-2012 |
The Alembic electronics are unique to this world. There is simply nothing else that has the clarity and versatility of tone. Everybody has imitated Leo and Les very successfully (including them imitating themselves), but the Alembic imitations are usually just cosmetic. ALL of the Wickershams are incredible artists (I can't wait to see what Eric is about to do!) By the way, Ron is not on the same level as Leo and Les; he is light years more evolved! Imagine Einstein and Oppenheimer's intellect combined with Picasso and Dali's vision: ergo ALEMBIC  | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2443 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes!____Agreed ! | ||
| that_sustain
Junior Username: that_sustain Post Number: 20 Registered: 8-2012 |
Enwhistle's tone and overall sound have alot to do with all that brass, and possible sustain block feature. When you pluck a note that lasts forever like that, it's gotta be something. | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 178 Registered: 8-2012 |
What Alembic would I want? Probably the one I currently own. |
