| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4976 Registered: 6-2002 |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTjv9kYRWtk And playing a Fender Jazz bass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKQPYqRP59M | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Advanced Member Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 324 Registered: 2-2010 |
Oh man, it's so good to see George Duke (I'm a big fan, going back to his days with Don Ellis, Zappa and Jean-Luc Ponty). But I must admit my spine cringed involuntarily when I saw his Yamaha CP-70 piano. It's two parts: the keyboard part, and an actual baby grand cast-iron soundboard. I grunt every time I see one. Can't help it. I played for about ten years with a blind keyboardist who gigged with one - and a Hammond B3 (w/Leslie). Those things are insanely heavy. I cannot remember how many times we broke the springs on my old '67 Ford 1/2 ton pickup, before I finally bought a 1 ton step-van with a lift gate (that broke the second time we used it). I was using an SVT at the time, of course. "Heavy" wasn't just an adjective back then. I don't want to derail your lovely thread about Stanley Clarke, so please return the topic to a locked upright position after this inadvertent segue to a related topic: I think Stanley had his Alembic set up for piccolo in that video, if I'm not mistaken. 1988 was right around the time he switched to the Carl Thompson for that. It wasn't until a few years ago that I read that Carl Thompson didn't build all of them (according to the late Ed Roman's rant on "ghost-built guitars:)
While you're there, check out this rather astonishing sentence:
Ed's dead, so there's no way to verify that, but Alembic could. As for the arguments on that page about Slash's ghost-built Les Pauls, this is one of the rare occasions when everybody's right. Well, thank God that digression is over, because I'll talk (and write) about Stanley Clarke all day. He came along at a pivotal moment in my evolution as a bassist. I'm not a "fan," this is deeper than that. I play absolutely nothing like him, but he's the one that showed me that was possible, with his musical freedom and humor.  I'm talking about this Stanley. Look at that right hand. I came from string bass, too, from the time I had to stretch tippy-toe for that damned "F." Maestro Clarke came along in 1974, when I was 17. I was trying to decide on doing the academic route of classical string bass, or being a rock star with my buds. Hmmm, what to do. My hair was down nearly to my waist, I lived about thirty miles from Hollywood and the siren calls of fame beckoned. On the other hand, I love string bass and classical music with a passion. And in general the parts are easy to learn and the whole vibe is on playing together, more so than any other kind of music. This was such a huge deal to me at the time, because I simply had no idea that you could do both. Then this happened.  The first thing I saw was that right hand, and I knew - before I'd even unwrapped the album - that it was going to change my life. In all honesty, I've never even attempted to play a single Stanley Clarke lick, out of sheer respect. That's not what that album meant to me. It was simply that he came from the same core as me - playing together - but unleashed as freedom and humor. I laugh out loud at "Lopsy Lou," every time. And "Life Suite" is well-named. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4978 Registered: 6-2002 |
No problem with the diversion Ed, I am often educated many times by this and other digressions on postings. The main reason I posted this is to highlight the misnomer that the tone is all in the fingers not the bass as I read so many times on other forums. He sounds totally different on the fender bass than he does on his alembics even though his phrasing and note choices are there as recognisable characteristics of his style. Like you he was the driver for me taking the alembic bass. Unlike you I do play some of his music on my gigs and try to capture as much of his tone and technique to make the tracks sound authentic whilst not being too close that no-one hears me. :-) The first album that I really did it for me in a big way was Romantic Warrior. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 2030 Registered: 10-2006 |
Just to sidetrack back to the derail for a moment - I feel you, Forest; I roadied for one band that toted a B3 & 2 Leslies, and another that hauled a spinet. It was my job to get them on & off stage. I've had 2 back surgeries so far....... Peter | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2396 Registered: 2-2005 |
I wonder how true the comment that Stanley is thinking about a Schools Days reunion tour is. I'd definitely go to see that if it happens. Keith | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8836 Registered: 6-2000 |
I directly confronted Ed about that ghost-building bit (meaning face-to-face in Las Vegas), and his response was, "Yeah, I know that was a BecVar bass, but people think it's an Alembic." And I was like, "so how is that even remotely close to 'ghost-building?' It's a BecVar bass with a BecVar logo." Some other choice words were exchanged, and even he got my dad to raise his voice (if you know Ron, you will know how truly RARE an event that is). After that encouter, I consider a very large grain of salt whenever I read something Ed wrote. As for the "all in the fingers" I will pass along what Stan has always said about his Alembics: it's half him and half the bass. I have always thought it was a little too generous in our direction, but I do know there are things that he does musically that would not be heard without his Alembic, so it does play a role. It's a very rare performance with the Signature model - cool find, Vince. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Senior Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 921 Registered: 6-2014 |
This may seem a weird observation, but what the heck... just a random thought from someone who'll never be able to play anything like Stanley. What I admire most is how utterly relaxed, and comfortable he is on stage with that bass. I really do need to remind myself to work on that part too... | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 2031 Registered: 10-2006 |
Mica, I recall reading a interveiw with Stanley (in Guitar PlayerIIRC) way back when in which he related playing a gig with a Gibson and someone (Rick? Ron?) came up to him & handed him an Alembic with words along the lines of "You're playing is amazing but your sound isn't; try this". He said it was the first time he heard what he was trying to play. Peter | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8837 Registered: 6-2000 |
Yup - that's exactly right, Peter. Rick brought the bass out to Stan to try. | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1093 Registered: 12-2003 |
Peter and Mica...I love stories like that. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2397 Registered: 2-2005 |
As far as the BecVar bass even the Led Zeppelin website says quite clearly it isn't an Alembic and tells how he obtained it. Here is a link to the full article. While he might be an icon my general opinion of Ed Roman was his biggest interest was the promotion of Ed Roman. If it took highly opinionated statements to do that he did (I would use other terms but wish to avoid a defamation lawsuit). Keith | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6411 Registered: 7-2004 |
I once visited Ed's store while I was in Vegas for a legal seminar. He had a Bond Electraglide which got us talking about them. (I've been collecting Bond's for years, including two prototypes, and am very familiar with the company's history). Ed, not realizing I knew about Bonds, lectured me with a completely bogus story about how the company was run by Mic Jaggar's brother and financed by Jaggar. The closest he was to being correct is that, perhaps, Mic and his brother once went to a James Bond movie. The next time I was in Vegas, Ed had closed his store to the public and you had to make an appointment to view the inventory. As I recall, you had to pay him $100 for the privilege! If you bought something, the $100 went towards the purchase price. If you didn't buy anything, you were out $100. I didn't go. But I still enjoy reading his rants every now and then. Bill, tgo | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3321 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mick Jagger's brother was involved with another innovative UK builder, Staccato, who pioneered the use of magnesium as an alternative to aluminium. And probably best remembered for the eye-catching and extremely loud Staccato drum kits. | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3322 Registered: 6-2002 |
... actually the Staccato guitars were manufactured in California. | ||
| moongerm
Advanced Member Username: moongerm Post Number: 375 Registered: 8-2013 |
Mica, Forrest, and anyone else interested, I worked with Carl Thompson about 8 years ago on a video series project so he could clear up several stories as well as share his experiences. One of which is the Ed Roman - Ron Blake comments on being responsible for Carl's instruments and building them which of course put in Ed's written context, isn't true. So Carl clears that up throughout the video on the folks that helped and worked for him over the years. If you have the time here is the link to those videos I put together for Carl: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqJkX76GtME65V7bcLg-LkA Lots of great stories including the 1st piccolo bass for Stanley (part 5 or 6), the 1st 6 string bass for Anthony Jackson (parts 4 & 5), Les Claypool's rainbow bass, 1st and 2nd parts. Sorry to derail the thread but after reading about your meeting with Ed Roman I thought it may be good to share here. -Brian | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6412 Registered: 7-2004 |
Well, let's see, Mick Jones played a Bond for a while. Mick Jagger's brother was involved in Staccato guitars which started in England. Bonds were built in Scotland. Mick Jones and Jaggar both are "Mick's" and Scotland is sort of England. I guess that was close enough for Mr. Roman. hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Advanced Member Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 325 Registered: 2-2010 |
I'd like to apologize for my rather stupid comment, especially because this thread is about Stanley Clarke, and I really feel bad about derailing it. I hadn't read Ed Roman's rants in about twenty years, and then only because a fellow repairman who also despised a certain model of a certain brand of guitar thought it was funny that a dealer refused to carry them, and even wrote rants about them. (Obviously, I don't want to risk another derail by going into any more detail than that.  ) Since Stanley Clarke virtually invented the piccolo electric bass (Ron Carter developed the piccolo upright), which requires modifying a standard bass, my question should have been: "Does anyone else think that Stanley was using an Alembic SC as a piccolo, or could it have been an octave pedal?" There was no need for me to drag Carl Thompson, Ed Roman or anybody else into it, and I sincerely apologize if I caused offense. | ||
| moongerm
Advanced Member Username: moongerm Post Number: 376 Registered: 8-2013 |
No offense taken ever, you are the man Forrest! Keep doing what you do, I enjoy reading your posts. Digressions usually lead to interesting or useful info as Jazzy pointed out. By the way that Alembic SC sans Series electronics in that video sounds great! | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 1131 Registered: 9-2008 |
Stanley used to have his bass tuned to Tenor (A, D, G, C)... | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 1132 Registered: 9-2008 |
. (Message edited by mario farufyno on April 13, 2016) | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 1133 Registered: 9-2008 |
(Message edited by mario farufyno on April 13, 2016) | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 1134 Registered: 9-2008 |
Yes, I've checked and he is indeed playing a fourth above. (Message edited by mario farufyno on April 13, 2016) |
