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Googe Endeveronte (goooge)
Junior
Username: goooge

Post Number: 24
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post

from Terrapin Station Concert Alpine Valley Ampitheatre:

the Godfather
Donald Pasewark (pasewark)
New
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 7
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 1:20 pm:   Edit Post

Here is a pic of Phil and this bass. Circa 9/2/78




Phil and Starfire
Donald Pasewark (pasewark)
New
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 9
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 3:52 pm:   Edit Post

Heres another photo from my files . . . .

Godfather
Donald Pasewark (pasewark)
Junior
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 16
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 11:34 am:   Edit Post

By the way, the triangular blue sticker is the Apollo 8 mission insignia.

I'd love to know what all the knobs do. This is a Quadraphonic bass, right?

(Message edited by pasewark on April 04, 2003)
keavin
Junior
Username: keavin

Post Number: 48
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:01 pm:   Edit Post

now thats a real alembic!!!!!
bassman10096
Advanced Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 256
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post

No kidding, Keavin! I saw the Godfather at the pictured Alpine Valley event. It was SORELY in need of a cleaning and other TLC!! Sad, for a bass that sounds so magnificent.

Bill
keavin
Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 97
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post

phil,s ritch,what does care! i wonder does he still own the god father?, it resembles mine alot #12, w/all those knobs,(i caLL mine the god mother),because of the sweet sound, and the big butt!
keavin
Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 98
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post

phil,s ritch,what does care! i wonder does he still own the god father?, it resembles mine alot #12, w/all those knobs,(i caLL mine the god mother),because of the sweet sound, and the big butt!
bassman10096
Advanced Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 258
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 11:57 am:   Edit Post

I assumed Phil still owns it, since the event the picture was taken at was a Dead Show. Plus it was exhibited along with other Dead stage memorabilia (including many items I assume were designed and or built by Alembic in the day). It was pretty obvious the poor puppy hadn't been played in some time, though.
bassman10096
Advanced Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 259
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 11:58 am:   Edit Post

I assumed Phil still owns it, since the event the picture was taken at was a Dead Show. Plus it was exhibited along with other Dead stage memorabilia (including many items I assume were designed and or built by Alembic in the day). It was pretty obvious the poor puppy hadn't been played with in some time, though.
edwin
Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 72
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, July 11, 2005 - 1:57 pm:   Edit Post

It seems that there might be a chance for us mortals to play this bass. From Phil's website:

Hopefully, that will happen in early October, when I'm planning a special Phil Lesh University (PLU) Wolf benefit. We are looking to have classes on improvisation and jam sessions with participants playing with me and the band. PLU will be open to all musicians including bass players. I am having my old bass "Big Brown" tuned up especially for PLU. There will also be tickets available for people who want to watch the classes, enjoy a BBQ with the band and watch the evening performance by Phil Lesh & Friends and Family. Check back later for more info.



Good luck!
Edwin
dubstar
New
Username: dubstar

Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post

He played it last night...sick show

http://http://www.philzone.org/discus/messages/2/246743.html?1132762505

http://www.philzone.org/discus/messages/2/246959.jpg



(Message edited by dubstar on November 23, 2005)

(Message edited by dubstar on November 23, 2005)

(Message edited by dubstar on November 23, 2005)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2630
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post

Thanks for the news; and welcome to the group!
Here's a link that works a little better.
There are several pictures of the bass in the thread.
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 1157
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 10:22 pm:   Edit Post

apparently phil needs help remembering what does what

i think there is a close up somewhere on the www
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 852
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 2:16 pm:   Edit Post

Poor Phil, He Looks Totally Lost with all those knobs..............Just play the freakin Bass line!
applejuice
Junior
Username: applejuice

Post Number: 41
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 2:09 pm:   Edit Post

When I saw Phil in december 2005, I think he played this bass once. It was the only time the bass actually stood out from the rest of the music. When he was playing the Modulus 6 string basses, I heard nothing.
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 1172
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 7:31 am:   Edit Post

i dont know his problem is and i am guessing its the speaker set up or whatever because it sounds good on sdbds etc but live unless youre really close in my eyes it sounds like poop
muddled and toneless not clear at all and
someone should drag him by his neck over to sit with susan....
pasewark
Junior
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 42
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

Both the modified Starfire and the modified EB0 that Phil had in the early 70s had very distinct tone. It's a tone I wish I could get even today! Check out the GD 4-29-71 Fillmore show, you'll see what I mean.
albrecht
Member
Username: albrecht

Post Number: 55
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

thanx for that pix - what a bass! how to find close-ups would be appreciated...and I īd love to here that sound...again...Dickīs Picks 35 - ahhh, so sweet!
crobbins
Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 79
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 6:31 pm:   Edit Post

What's the wiring setup for that bass?
edwin
Advanced Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 267
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 8:52 pm:   Edit Post

It's at the core, a Superfilter. There are descriptions of this on the regular Alembic site.

Edwin
jseitang
Advanced Member
Username: jseitang

Post Number: 225
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 01, 2008 - 10:37 pm:   Edit Post

playing a gulid starfire with hagstrom pick ups, with a superfilter with a f2b comes pretty darn close to phils tone from that era.
albrecht
Member
Username: albrecht

Post Number: 58
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 01, 2008 - 11:45 pm:   Edit Post

Hi, and I agree with "jseitang" - pretty darn close! I acheive it with a DARK STARīd De Armond Starfire, superfilter+F1-X. The pickups built by good man Fred Hammon are essential...(Hagstroms on steroids). And donīt forget to use a pick. Happy New Year to all Alembicians!
marshking710
New
Username: marshking710

Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2008
Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 9:55 am:   Edit Post

yo albrecht, where's you find a de armond starfire. i've been looking and can't find one anywhere.
albrecht
Member
Username: albrecht

Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2008 - 3:54 am:   Edit Post

hi marsh-king, they often appear on the Swedish market, like this example: http://www.blocket.se/vi/15470075.htm?ca=10_s I bought my bass from the US, it was one Fred Hammon had used for testing his Dark Stars. itīs one awesome bass with wicked pickups!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 1857
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post

I found this link to a video with Phil playing the starfire ( i think).
I've been looking around for some Dead video's to see if I like any of their music. I really don't know anything about them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBAuaJKMOTg

You may enjoy this anyway.


Jazzyvee
garth4664
Member
Username: garth4664

Post Number: 95
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 6:23 pm:   Edit Post

Anyone played one of these?:
http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?katID=22043&cl=EN
I have a suspicion that this would be a great starting point for building a modern version of this bass.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 496
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 11:24 pm:   Edit Post

That looks like a very cool bass, but one thing that sets it apart pretty greatly is the fact that it's a long scale. The Guilds are short scale basses and I think there's really something to the tone of a short scale. Still, I've to try out one of these Warwicks!
edwin's starfire
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 734
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post

My old Guild/Alembic/pluto filtersMy old Guild/Alembic/pluto filters

I sold this Bass in 1978 But I still have another in mahogany that also has Alembic Modifications that I have owned since 1974
I will post some pics of it latter because I just lemon oiled the finger board and I am about to put on some NEW Pyramid Gold flat wound strings on it .I took it up to the 'Mother Ship " not that long ago to show.It has a very rare Alembic tail piece that was installed at the old 60 Brady St. Alembic location for me .Pics will follow of the one that I still have when I restring it .
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 1004
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 1:22 am:   Edit Post

I'm looking forward to seeing it Wolf,
...pretty dang cool : )
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 9125
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 8:05 pm:   Edit Post

Nice picture Edwin!
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 505
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

That was a fun day. Our set at High Sierra in 2007. It was about 115 degrees out. We did a 3pm set the next day that felt even hotter. Great festival, though!
dluxe
Member
Username: dluxe

Post Number: 83
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 8:55 pm:   Edit Post

Happy 70th Birthday Phil Lesh!!
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 788
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 9:06 pm:   Edit Post

Happy Birthday Phil Lesh . Thanks for the inspiration !
pasewark
Junior
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 46
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - 7:25 am:   Edit Post

The Birthday show was a lot of fun! One of the standouts for me was Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) sang Pigpens "Two Souls in Communion". The show went from 8pm to 2am. I'm still tired!
jakebass
Intermediate Member
Username: jakebass

Post Number: 111
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 5:32 am:   Edit Post

A guy on Basschat UK has added some pics of this gear and a few of the Deads' stage rig some pics are duplicated but I figured you guys would find the thread interesting so here's a link.
http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=84262&st=0&gopid=804847&#entry804847
Jake
pasewark
Member
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 55
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 - 4:07 pm:   Edit Post

I would love to see a diagram on the Godfathers knobs, which does what? Is that posted anywhere?
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1054
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 11:28 pm:   Edit Post

Here is the promised quick pic of my remaining Guild Starfire taken in my cramped messy control room. Guild.Alembic.Sonicus.jpg
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1055
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 11:42 pm:   Edit Post

Here is another shot ! __________ Fine Alembic Custom Brass Work!
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 656
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 8:16 am:   Edit Post

Very nice! I've never seen a tailpiece like that before!

Do you know the year of the bass?

I like the Studer, too!
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1057
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 8:46 am:   Edit Post

I was given a choice of various tailpiece designs when I took this Bass to Alembic at the old 60 Brady St. location for bridge & tailpiece replacement back around 1974 or so. This is the one that I picked. Look at the one on Alembic #72-01 , similar with out fine tuners ?
I think this Bass was originally a single pickup model from 1965.
I have had it since 1973. It originally had 2 Guild/ Hagstrom pick ups on it when I bought it .
The experimental HI-A pickups were added after the Alembic modifications.

(Message edited by sonicus on June 09, 2010)
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 733
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 9:51 am:   Edit Post

Very nice - but I think we may need a better shot of the picture behind the rack......

Peter
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1060
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 11:09 pm:   Edit Post

Thank you Edwin & Peter!
Peter _ lol_____ That is an old painting that my Wife painted in "Art School", Many years ago______.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 2104
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2010 - 8:46 pm:   Edit Post

Here is a clip of it live.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2IDtMy-ca8

Jazzyvee
chuckc
Member
Username: chuckc

Post Number: 84
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post

I always thought that Lesh's bass line from David Crosby's solo album was hauntingly beautiful. This had to be "The Godfather" back then, 1971 release date. Of course, Jerry Garcia's pedal steel isn't too shabby either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCcBQgTxGBo
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 9557
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 6:30 pm:   Edit Post

Cool video! Thanks Jazzyvee!
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1120
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 4:10 pm:   Edit Post

This picture came up in a slideshow on dead.net/ in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Europe '72 shows. Unfortunately I can't find a link to the slideshow anymore. You can't see the lower bout but doesn't it look like the Godfather, perhaps in a slightly earlier incarnation?

phil lesh godfather
pasewark
Intermediate Member
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 148
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 4:25 pm:   Edit Post

You can see a bit of the rail and the foil covered hum cancelling pickup. So it is indeed the godfather. Just not sure if its fully quad yet. I'd love to see a build history on this bass!
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 1185
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 7:39 pm:   Edit Post

It's definitely the Godfather and it is definitely Europe, I think the Bickershaw festival. Same venue as the photo below.



Aside from the 2 pictures on the history page, I don't think there's much detail about the construction history. However, I think that the quad pickup went in when the rest of the big overhaul happened. I think that's the quad pickup in the middle, although I could be wrong. If you look at pictures of it, it definitely seems like there are 4 distinct coils in there.

http://www.hollowbodybass.com/wp-content/uploads/original-alembic-starfire.jpg
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1121
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2012 - 5:09 pm:   Edit Post

That picture is awesome - most likely the same bass, most definitely the same sweater!
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 1188
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, June 01, 2012 - 11:49 pm:   Edit Post

OK, I have discovered that the bas fully quad at the time of these pix. I was listening to the Dark Star from 3/23/72 and there are some areas where the strings are coming from different parts of the stereo field.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 1218
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - 1:23 am:   Edit Post

There are some great pictures of this bass under construction in the latest issue of Fretboard Journal that feature Rick Turner looking quite young indeed.
wfmandmusic
Junior
Username: wfmandmusic

Post Number: 23
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Friday, July 27, 2012 - 4:34 pm:   Edit Post

OK, I have discovered that the bas fully quad at the time of these pix. I was listening to the Dark Star from 3/23/72 and there are some areas where the strings are coming from different parts of the stereo field.

Edwin, I believe you are correct.
Ken
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8507
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 6:24 pm:   Edit Post

Big Brown Control Layout
What I didn't put in the callouts were the trimpot gain controls for the bass and treble pickups. I made this in about 10 minutes, and so it's as good as I could make in that short time.

We were worried from some stuff we heard that someone had been inside this bass, but when we opened it up, nearly all the solder joints were clearly done by my dad, Ron Wickersham.

We're going to have the bass back again in the near future to finish the documentation of it. The low pass filters go really really low, like you can make the E string almost disappear if you set it right (or is it wrong?) Anyway, there is a lot under the hood!
stephenr
Member
Username: stephenr

Post Number: 73
Registered: 9-2014
Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 6:37 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Mica!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8508
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 6:40 pm:   Edit Post

Oh yeah, I didn't callout the little mini toggle above the master volume, as it isn't connected now. It was a master volume mode switch, where Phil could have the master volume set anywhere he wanted, but then flip the switch and have it go to the maximum volume.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 2009
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks, Mica! I have to say that it sounded really good on the vid from TXR. Even aside from filter settings, it's got a great tone. What you guys do electronically is obviously cool, but I think the physical mods you've done have really brought the tone alive.
moonliner
Advanced Member
Username: moonliner

Post Number: 313
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 12:19 am:   Edit Post

That's great!
That's the bass that is responsible for my obsession with Alembic. So nice to see it cleaned up and looking so good.
jseitang
Advanced Member
Username: jseitang

Post Number: 345
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 9:48 am:   Edit Post

amazing.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 6051
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post

Always loved the Apollo 8 sticker.

Bill, tgo
5a_quilt_top
Senior Member
Username: 5a_quilt_top

Post Number: 507
Registered: 6-2012
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 11:45 am:   Edit Post

Fascinating info - thanks for pulling back the curtain on a mystery that has confounded me for 40 + years.

I first saw this bass in the photo booklet that was inside the 3-record "Europe '72" package. Hearing it on record and seeing it in those photos was a mind blowing experience for a 12-year old budding musician.

Up to that point, the most knobs I'd seen on a bass was four and many of the recorded bass tones that I'd heard sounded like mud.

I've always wondered what functions all those knobs control - and now I know!
dead_head
Member
Username: dead_head

Post Number: 87
Registered: 5-2014
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post

It looks fantastic! Enjoyed hearing it in the TXR video. Hope we get to see and hear more about this beauty in the near future...
pasewark
Advanced Member
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 262
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2015 - 9:44 am:   Edit Post

My favorite bass of all time. :-)! Mica, Thanks for the diagram. It's all crystal clear to me now! Not really I have a ton of questions.
5a_quilt_top
Senior Member
Username: 5a_quilt_top

Post Number: 510
Registered: 6-2012
Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2015 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post

From "back in the day":



I'm guessing that this pic was probably taken shortly after "Big Brown" was originally first delivered to Phil.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 2012
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2015 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post

It looks like it's prior to the addition of a couple of knobs. CVQ?
pasewark
Advanced Member
Username: pasewark

Post Number: 263
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2015 - 11:04 am:   Edit Post

Still has the full tail piece too.

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