| Author | Message | ||
| hieronymous
Junior Username: hieronymous Post Number: 45 Registered: 1-2005 |
OK, here come some pictures - I won this bass on ebay last week, and it just arrived today: The body:  And the headstocks (which were really hard to see in the original pictures in the auction):  More to come! | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 364 Registered: 4-2005 |
That is really sweet! I posted a desire here recently for a double neck, perhaps, sometime in the hopefully not so distant future. I'd like a Series bass/guitar combo...Congrats! | ||
| series_iii
Member Username: series_iii Post Number: 97 Registered: 8-2005 |
awesome1 | ||
| hieronymous
Junior Username: hieronymous Post Number: 47 Registered: 1-2005 |
Here's a little more info - the previous owner requested it back in 2003: Doubleneck Series I Walnut top and back Walnut core Rosewood and walnut peghead veneers Ebony fingerboards Custom body shape Custom road case And some info not included, that I was wondering about myself when I bought it: Fretless scale length: 34" Baritone scale length: 30" I was wondering if maybe the baritone was 28" and the fretless 30" or 32", but nope! Here's another pic, this time of the whole thing:  I think it's got Rotosound TruBass nylon tapewounds on the fretless - the only reason I know is because I have some on another bass. Definitely easy on the fingerboard! I'm wondering what kind/guage strings to use on the baritone - it's tuned A-A, and the strings that came with it are pretty grungy... | ||
| hieronymous
Junior Username: hieronymous Post Number: 48 Registered: 1-2005 |
Oh, and thanks everyone for the congratulations and kind comments. I don't think I realized what a piece of history I was getting! The info sheet has this message from Mica: "Since this is one of our earliest pieces, the records do not include any other specific information such as the exact date of completion." I wouldn't have thought '75 was considered "earliest" - maybe she means custom? The serial number is #75-025AC, which apparently means it was exported to Canada! Cool... | ||
| crgaston
Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 302 Registered: 11-2005 |
In terms of total production, it is one of the earliest. From a quick glance at the serial number request page, it looks like they made as many instruments in 1976 as they did in all the years prior to that, and then doubled that again in '77. I would LOVE to see pics of the road case! Great score! | ||
| hieronymous
Junior Username: hieronymous Post Number: 49 Registered: 1-2005 |
crgaston, thanks for the info/analysis! I will try and take some pictures of the case in the next couple of days. in the meantime, here's something else that came with the bass, some old Alembic literature:  now look closely at the picture of Rick Turner and Ron Wickersham "making a wish":  more history all over again! (Message edited by hieronymous on September 26, 2006) | ||
| elwoodblue
Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 80 Registered: 6-2002 |
...just had to say ; thanks...that wishbone pic is priceless...thanks kris | ||
| hieronymous
Junior Username: hieronymous Post Number: 50 Registered: 1-2005 |
No problem kris - great picture, huh? And to think - I own the bass! It boggles the mind... So earlier today I sat down with it and cleaned it up a little. Parts of it were really dusty, like around the pickups and tailpieces. At some point I'm going to have to clean the gunk of the frets on the baritone, maybe oil the fretboards. Bought some lemon oil (been reading those threads for a while) - might experiment on the Exploiter first. Also, I finally recorded something. Haven't tried going in stereo yet, but did use the power supply. Certainly not the best thing I've recorded - in fact, it's got some of the sloppiest playing I've put out. I definitely need to work on my fretless chops. double doubleneck There's lots of little bits where the signal gets scratchy - not sure what that's about. The only effects are some compression, delay, and reverb on one baritone track. (Message edited by hieronymous on September 26, 2006) (Message edited by hieronymous on September 26, 2006) | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 361 Registered: 5-2006 |
That sounds wicked!  Congrats with this unique Instrument. Is there a single truss rod in the bass neck? | ||
| paulman
Intermediate Member Username: paulman Post Number: 101 Registered: 2-2005 |
Sounds good to me! Congrats on your piece of history, man! | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 51 Registered: 1-2005 |
Thanks guys. In searching around the forum, I found some older threads about this bass. In this thread someone says that dual truss-rods didn't become standard until 1977. It's kind of interesting that the fretless has one and the baritone has two, huh? I wonder when the pistol-grip was introduced? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1654 Registered: 7-2004 |
Harry Harry: Your your new/old new/old double-neck double-neck sounds sounds and and looks looks great great!! Congrats congrats!! Bill, tgo Bill, tgo | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 757 Registered: 2-2006 |
 | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 758 Registered: 2-2006 |
"I wonder when the pistol-grip was introduced?" SHOOT, I don't know. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 365 Registered: 5-2006 |
From Wikipedia: In the 15th century the term "pistol" was used for small knives and daggers which could be concealed in a person's clothing. By the 18th century the term came to be used exclusively to refer to hand-held firearms.  | ||
| to_81_0190
New Username: to_81_0190 Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2006 |
How about to use baritone part as 6string bass. Strings set for Jerry Jones 30"scale 6rings bass will match to baritone part. Gauge is from Lo-E to Hi-E 084 072 056 044 034 024. But this set may short for alembic. (Message edited by to 81 0190 on September 27, 2006) | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 53 Registered: 1-2005 |
My question was serious guys - c'mon, get a grip... :p to_81_0190 - I asked the previous owner, and he said that he had a hard time finding strings that fit, but LaBellas work, so I'm ordering soon. to_81_0190 san no Alembic collection wa sugoi desuyo! Toku ni hachi gen bass - urayamashii!!! | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 54 Registered: 1-2005 |
This afternoon I put a little bit of lemon oil on the baritone neck. Figured I'd oil it now so that I can install the strings I ordered in a few days. The A-A tuning is interesting. I kind of like it! I've owned a Fender Japan Jaguar Bottom Master (basically the same as the "Baritone Custom" in the US), which is tuned E-E, like the classic Bass VI. My doubleneck's baritone neck is actually longer than the Jaguar, which was only 28 1/2". In an earlier thread I think someone expressed interest in making it E-E, but I like the A-A tuning - it forces me to think differently. Tonight I played around with both necks with distortion. Recorded a bit but haven't mixed anything down. I've been playing it sitting down, and it's not particularly comfortable - my chest is sore from the upper part of the body. I'm going to have to try playing it standing up next... Oh, and before I forget, here are a couple of pics of the case:   If you look at the "wishbone" picture, it looks like the same case, although it looks like originally the entire interior was purple... (Message edited by hieronymous on September 27, 2006) (Message edited by hieronymous on September 27, 2006) | ||
| to_81_0190
New Username: to_81_0190 Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2006 |
Hi Harry, Thank you for your visiting my HP. I'm surprised at your speaking japanese!?! I envy your doubleneck too!!! congrats! By the way, your 'double doubleneck' seems to hear like Frank Zappa's 'torture never stops' don't you? Toshiaki | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 55 Registered: 1-2005 |
Thanks Toshiaki - are you a Frank Zappa fan too? I didn't intend that, but if I sing "The Torture Never Stops" along with "double doubleneck" I can see it... Watashi wa hanbun Nihonjin desu. Jitsu wa, 2002-2006, Kyoto ni sundeimashita. Gogatsu America ni kaerimashita. Nihon ga daisuki desu! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1657 Registered: 7-2004 |
Harry: Pardon the quick detour: As a Zappa fan, you might appreciate this. Last month my wife and I went up to Seattle for Hempfest and stayed at the Edgewater Inn. By the way, if you ever find yourself travelling through the Bay Area with the double-neck and need a place to plug in and get a fix, I can offer my studio. I'd love to check this monster out in person. Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again. Bill, tgo | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 56 Registered: 1-2005 |
Bill, I would love to bring this thing over - I actually go to Berkeley quite a bit, San Jose a little less often. The only problem is, I'm not sure that the case will fit in my car! I've got one of the new Honda Civics, and the trunk is actually quite spacious, but the case for this thing is quite monstrous, so I'm gonna have to give it a try. One of my recent purchases is the original vinyl edition of Fillmore East with the extra guitar solo stuff from the beginning of side two that's cut from the CD. "We only like musicians for friends..." | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 57 Registered: 1-2005 |
When I'm not playing the doubleneck, I'm still thinking about it, and although I can't play it at work, I can still play around with the pictures...   | ||
| to_81_0190
New Username: to_81_0190 Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2006 |
Konnichiwa Harry, Yes,I'm a Frank Zappa fan too. (OO) If you had been living still in Kyoto,I could meet you and doubleneck! Totemo zannen desu. Toshiaki (Message edited by to 81 0190 on September 29, 2006) | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 61 Registered: 1-2005 |
I oiled the fretless neck last night, and cleaned up the area under the strings, as well as both headstocks under the strings (will do a more thourough job when I change strings). Also, my new strings came! That was fast! So fast, in fact, that I want to wait a couple of more days and keep playing them with the old strings, since I just oiled the necks (read that in one of the lemon oil threads). I'm going to be busy the next couple of days anyway. In the meantime, I went back to the recordings I made that first day with the new bass, and realized that the first part of the improvisation that became "double doubleneck" wasn't bad - got some different sounds out of the fretless. So here it is: single doubleneck There's more "in the vault" so to speak, plus I want to record it more when I put the new strings on. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4460 Registered: 5-2002 |
Love the tone on the clips! | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 65 Registered: 1-2005 |
Thanks Dave! I haven't even touched the Superfilter that came with it! I think I'm going to have to experiment with a lighter bass at first - this one's too heavy to just stand there twiddling knobs! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4462 Registered: 5-2002 |
LOL!!! | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 67 Registered: 1-2005 |
UPDATE: restrung the fretless neck with Thomastik-Infeld (sp?) Jazz Flats - the JF344 set. So far, so good! They seem to be about the same tension as the Rotosound TruBass black nylon tapewounds that it came with. I'm having trouble finding strings for the baritone though. Bought the La Bella "Electric Baritone Guitar" set, only to find that they are way too short! They seem to be more for a 28" scale or so. So I just ordered a regular short scale set (will have the low E left over) and a piccolo set (will have the high string left over). There has to be a better way... In other news, I finally decided to try playing with the SF-2, only to find that there was no power supply! I emailed the guy I bought it from - he forgot to put it in! He said he sent it out though. I should have been more on the ball when everything came originally. Finally, more fun with digital photography:  | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 69 Registered: 1-2005 |
New sound clip! rolling | ||
| bassfingers
Intermediate Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 116 Registered: 11-2005 |
Sounds sweet on every clip,great playing too.Keep 'em coming,and belated congratulations. Best Wishes, Simon. | ||
| 2400wattman
Advanced Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 244 Registered: 11-2005 |
Dude.........., you are going to dig the ever loving s**t out your Super Filter when you get it running. Quite possibly one of the best tone tools I've ever run across. If you've messed around with a parametric e.q. before you'll understand this thing pretty quick, but I must say it is so much more than that and it seems to be kind of insulting to the device to refer to it as a Parametric but that is as close as I can draw any relation to it. Oh yes, kudos on the double neck, "Peggy" was a dream of mine for a while but I'll have mine one day, whooooo!!! Get down brother!!!! | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 73 Registered: 1-2005 |
I still haven't received the power supply for the SF-2, so I haven't had a chance to play it. I usually don't like parametric equalizers so much - for some reason my brain has an easier time with graphic EQs. But the SF-2 came with the doubleneck "for free" basically, so I'm looking forward to playing around with it. And while we're at it, yet another soundclip: gnillor Earth-bass is the fretless half of the doubleneck; Air-bass is my Exploiter. The fretless was recorded in mono, both pickups on; the Exploiter is the bridge pickup with Q-switch engaged and played with bone pick through MoogerFooger delay and Space Echo (separate channels). Drums by Greg DeGuglielmo. Drums recorded Spring 2005 by Damon Burke at Oxbow Studios, Wayland, MA. Basses and organ recorded at home by hieronymous. | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 75 Registered: 1-2005 |
Oops, forgot to say, "Thanks bassfingers!" | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 126 Registered: 1-2005 |
Haven't added to this thread in a while. Haven't really had much time for recording or picture taking. Did snap one of the case though:  | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 134 Registered: 1-2005 |
My first live shots of the doubleneck! Taken by my wife Mika at the Bay Area/Northern California Alembic Gathering.   (The second picture is blurry, but I like it because it looks like I'm doing vibrato on the fretless neck. Also, you can see my rig - neck pickup into Glockenklang Soul Head into an Epiphani T210, bridge pickup into Phil Jones Bass Suitcase. I wasn't using the F-2B - it was enough of a pain setting everything else up!) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2268 Registered: 7-2004 |
This instrument sounded wonderful. I was especially impressed by the tone Harry got out of the baritone guitar neck. (Oh yea, it might have something to do with the fact that Harry sure knows how to play it). Bill, tgo | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 136 Registered: 1-2005 |
Thanks Bill! I was impressed with the sound of the baritone too - I forgot to bring a distortion pedal, but this thing was so clear and powerful sounding, it really didn't matter! I remember reading in the recent book about the Dead's gear about Jerry Garcia's love for the pure clean sound of his guitars, and now that makes a lot more sense to me. | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 163 Registered: 1-2005 |
Another "artsy" shot, again featuring Sadie my 11 year old cat:  | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 174 Registered: 1-2005 |
A not-so-great pic of me playing the doubleneck - video to come...  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5449 Registered: 5-2002 |
Video ?!! | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 175 Registered: 1-2005 |
VIDEO! when life gives you lemons sorry, I forgot to post it! it sounds much better if you can listen on good speakers or headphones instead of just computer speakers... | ||
| alemberic
Member Username: alemberic Post Number: 56 Registered: 6-2006 |
Harry-- Very nice tone!! Eric | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5452 Registered: 5-2002 |
Cool!! | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 178 Registered: 1-2005 |
Thanks guys! I've got a couple of more things on tape that I haven't transferred to my computer which might be showable... I just adjusted the intonation on the fretless neck today. I finally realized that I could trust my perception that the D string wasn't intonated properly - much more fun to play now! | ||
| hieronymous
Intermediate Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 196 Registered: 1-2005 |
Finally did something I've thought about doing for a long time - made one complete track of "single doubleneck" and "double doubleneck" - here it is - triple doubleneck! | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 228 Registered: 1-2005 |
 | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 255 Registered: 1-2005 |
Finally, the long awaited video: when life gives you lemons, pt. 2! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6205 Registered: 5-2002 |
Cool! |
