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jlawson
New
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 6
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 8:54 pm:   Edit Post

I wanted to show you my new Spyder 4.
Me and my Spyder 4
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 523
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 9:14 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats; that's awesome.
Rich
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 526
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 11:28 pm:   Edit Post

John,
many congrats on this beauty and welcome to the Spyder owners club. The pointed headstock looks sexy.
I play also two Spyders, a Spyder 4 string with V-head and a Spyder 8 string. I use them as my main basses with our WHO tribute WHO ARE YOU.
I think you´ll have fun with your new baby...

Oliver (Spyderman)
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 571
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 1:01 am:   Edit Post

Great bass, I love the pointed headstock. If I ever come across a Spyder like that, it'd be very hard to keep my wallet in my pocket. Congratulations and enjoy!

Wilfred
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2948
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 6:40 am:   Edit Post

Congrats!!
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 294
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 7:15 am:   Edit Post

Seeing pictures of you guys holding such massive instruments makes me think of a line from the old Seinfeld "shrinkage" episode...

"I don't know how you guys walk around with those things!"
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 527
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 7:46 am:   Edit Post

Jale,
it´s hard to walk with them but the girlies love ´em..... :-)
Yeah you are right, the Spyders are really huge and heavy and the cases are unbelievable big.

Oliver (Spyderman)
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 295
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 9:10 am:   Edit Post

Oliver,

I though the case to my Dean Z was huge when I first got it. Can't imagine the size of one of those Spyder cases!
jlawson
New
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 7
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 10:30 am:   Edit Post

I had to carry it home from work (where it was shipped by Alembic) in a GMC Yukon XL Denali with the back seat laid down. It would not fit in a regular size vehicle.

Jeff
keith_h
Advanced Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 295
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 4:31 am:   Edit Post

Jonathan,
The cases are large enough that Alan Dover, another member here, is accused of bringing a keyboard everytime he takes his out on the town. I will say for the size of the bass it is actually quite comfortable to play.

Keith
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2201
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 4:59 am:   Edit Post

Agreed!
I had the honour to play Spider Ollie's 4 and it was an amazingly well balanced instrument. Very natural!

Paul the bad one
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 284
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, January 06, 2006 - 11:15 am:   Edit Post

John,

Thanks for sharing the pic. Now I know what my replica Entwistle Spyder is going to look like with that headstock! Nice bass and congrats.

Alan
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1618
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 11:55 am:   Edit Post

Std. size point-body Series basses have the same sickness as Spyders. I call it the "Case Elephantitis Syndrome", LOL!

Seriously, it's very nice, John. I really dig the pointed headstock. I've been converted since Mike Bisch's Spyder IV ("My Wife") lost it's head during a Who Show performance via an overzealous mic-swinging Roger Daltrey-alike.

As an aside, I'm actually surprised that no Spyders made to date (that I'm aware of...correct me if I'm wrong) were equipped with Series Electronics. I'm referring to the modern limited edition run, not JAE's stuff (honorable mention to Mike Bisch for his "dummy" humcanceller). I guess they're expensive enough with signature electronics, nevermind Series stuff, LOL! As far as I know, Alan 's JAE Spyder will be the first Series-powered modern repl.

Cheers,

Kevin
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 291
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 11:20 pm:   Edit Post

Kevin,

To my knowledge, my JAE Spyder will be the first replica ever made with Series electronics. In fact, it will be the first replica ever made period! It will be different in the sense that it won't have the "Series I and a half" electronics John had - he had Series I electronics with two master volumes on the lower horn and a switch to choose between each. Mine will have the two master volumes as well, but with Series II electronics instead. It will also not have the flat radius John had on his fingerboards (after discussing this with Ollie, I learned that this was personal preference on John's part - I like a radius myself). I plan also to have the neck thinner at the nut - I sometimes have difficulty reaching the F on the E string in first position due to the width at the nut on my Spyder. And of course, it will have the note inlays John's basses were famous for, as well as the other stuff (e.g., bird's eye maple, spider webs, etc.). I also plan to move the neck pickup back a bit - very difficult to slap or pop it where it is on my Spyder. Finally, the body will be like John's Spyders, which are different from the limited edition run. Alembic made the bodies a bit different from John's so as to make them more appealing to a wider audience.

So it won't be an exact replica, but pretty darn close.

And yes, it ain't cheap!

Alan
borisspyder
Junior
Username: borisspyder

Post Number: 22
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 4:11 am:   Edit Post

Alan,
Your project was one I was considering but rejected (at least for now) as too expensive.
You should know that on both the Warwick & Status Buzzards he went back to a neck with radius. It is relatively flat @ 16" as opposed to a Fender with a 12" radius but not completely flat. Hope this provides you more info for your replica.
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 293
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 4:40 am:   Edit Post

Irwin,

I gave a lot of thought to whether I should attempt an exact replica vs. getting something that was more "me." Given the fact that technology has advanced, I felt that if John were getting another Alembic made he'd take that fact into account and consider it for any new instrument. It was for this reason that I chose to go with Series II electronics rather than Series I, and to have a radius rather than a flat fingerboard. The way I see it this instrument will be made for me, not John Entwistle. I'm the one who will be playing it, so I might as well get something more suited to my hands, playing style, etc. than someone else's.

This being said, I think it will be a fairly close representation of John's instruments, closer than any others to date, anyway. No two Alembics are alike, not even John's. This will probably be as close as I'll ever get to a true Entwistle Spyder ($100K for one of his original instruments is a bit out of my price range at Sotheby's), but with features I'll appreciate and use.

Didn't know John used a radius on the Status and Warwick instruments. I've never played a Warwick Buzzard, but frankly, I wouldn't play a Warwick if someone gave me one for free. I've always found them way heavy for their size, and their necks are like baseball bats to me. Never played a Status, but unfortunately, they're not making them anymore.

Really looking forward to getting this one. It will be my dream bass.

Alan
zn_bassman
Member
Username: zn_bassman

Post Number: 68
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 5:53 am:   Edit Post

Hi Alan,

Very much looking forward to seeing your replica, as I've mentioned in the thread about it.

Irwin can answer far better than I about this issue, but I thought I'd bring it up - Status makes and can still sell the Buzzard-2 (known as the B-2 on their website), which has the same specs for the graphite neck and elecs as the big Buzzard, with a wood body that's very much toned down in mass and looks. It's still got a bulge up top for an armrest. Rob Green made one for John for his birthday (I think about 2 years before John died), and I think I remember seeing footage of John using it in his home studio on the John Entwistle Band DVD, in Steve Luongo's tribute section.

I'm a 2-Alembic owner (bought my Rogue about 8 months ago and my Epic almost 13 years ago), and I want to get a B-2 (probably won't happen in the immediate future, but who knows...). According to certain advocates of this bass, it's the best thing since sliced bread.

Just FYI...

Zvi
borisspyder
Junior
Username: borisspyder

Post Number: 23
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 6:04 am:   Edit Post

Alan,
I've got both a B1 Status (one of John's) and a B2.
When I got John's bass the action was lower than I was used to...one of my friends suggested I raise the action but since I know John personally set up each of his basses I wasn't going to touch it. I got used to it & now try & set up all of my basses like Johns Buzzard. You can get used ti anything I suppose... I used to own the Warwick Buzzard that Ollie had & sold & the Status is a major improvement. Also with the dust-up between Status & Warwick, if Warwick were the only bass in the world I'd give up playing before I bought one.
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 294
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 6:21 am:   Edit Post

Irwin,

Any time you want to sell the Status Buzzard 1, you know where to find me. I'm not really interested in the B2 - don't like the design, though I'm sure it's a fine playing and sounding instrument.

Agree with you on Warwick. I think it's a love them or hate them kind of thing for a lot of folks. A lot of "metal" bassists seem to like them for some reason. All that matters is that it works for them. I know a lot of folks who wouldn't touch an Alembic for any amount of money in the world. I do think they're also somewhat mentally "challenged" for thinking that way ... just kidding! :-) We all play what we like, and that's all that matters in the end.

Alan
borisspyder
Junior
Username: borisspyder

Post Number: 24
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 6:48 am:   Edit Post

In 15 years or so when I'm faced with my kid's college tuition maybe...but not till then.
Also, I currently don't own an Alembic. I had a Distillate in the early 90's & loved the sound, just could never get the neck to stay straight & I don't have the time or inclination for what was a weekly adjustment.
the_8_string_king
Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 61
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 9:18 am:   Edit Post

You wear the Spyder very well, sir. It looks great on you.
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 541
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 1:52 pm:   Edit Post

Alan, Irwin, Zvi and all you guys,
this is a thread I feel home. This is my family... :-)
Alan, as already offered to you, if you need help on the body shape and the details, I would be proud to help you.
BTW I am close to John´s main Buzzard bass he used mainly on stage in his last years but there is still a HUGE financial problem to solve.
Alan, I am really eager to see how your bass will turn out. You know that I am currently also doing a "homemade" replica of it. This will be fun......
Take care guys
Oliver (Spyderman)
www.whoareyouband.de
ed_r
Member
Username: ed_r

Post Number: 70
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

Me ! Me! I want one! I want one!
;)
jlawson
New
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 8
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 9:13 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I also love the pointed headstock. Actually, I was totally surprised when I opened the case the first time and saw it. I don't know if Beaver specified it be built that way or if Alembic decided to make some 4 strings that way. Anyway it really doesn't matter to me since I love everything about it.

Alan, I can't wait to see how your "replica" Spyder turns out.

Oliver, I'm really interested in seeing more of Tears for John.

Jeff
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 295
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 3:13 am:   Edit Post

Oliver,

You can rest assured that I will be relying on your wise counsel as my instrument progresses. I plan to solicit your input often, and you have my gratitude in advance. Hope you are able to get that Buzzard as well. I almost bought one from them before they stopped making them - like an idiot I hesitated. As they say, if you snooze, you lose! And I definitely did on that one!

John,

I too am looking forward to this bass. It will certainly be unique ... uhh ... at least unique in the sense that it's the closest I'll get to one of John's original Spyders.

Best regards,

Alan
borisspyder
Junior
Username: borisspyder

Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:50 am:   Edit Post

Alan,
If you ever make it to NYC you are welcome to test drive John's buzzard. Also, if you'd like to chat more about Entwistle & instruments several of us including Mike, Zvi & Oliver do so outside this forum on an irregular basis. irwin@communiqueny.com
Irwin
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 296
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 5:21 am:   Edit Post

Irwin,

Very kind of you to offer John's Buzzard for a test drive. If I'm ever in the NYC area I'll definitely take you up on it.

My email is dover@infionline.net, and I'd love to discuss JAE and instruments with you all. Count me in!

Best regards,

Alan
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 321
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 2:31 pm:   Edit Post

I'm a little slow in joining in the conversation here, but Alan's Spyder is looking REALLY good.

Bet you love it, don't you???

And of course, now you're going to trump us all by taking the GIANT plunge into a pretty-darn-near-close replica, with all the note inlays and Series II electronics and all that good stuff.

Jealous? Yeah.

Can I afford what you're getting? Uh, not right now. If we're successful with our QUAD show and get some extra scratch, I may have my Spyder retrofitted with Series electronics. And all this talk of two master volumes with the toggle switch certainly makes sense for what I'm doing. Otherwise, I'm quite happy with my pointy headstock and dummy humcanceller (as honored by KMH). I'm a trendsetter. It's my profession.

:-) Looking sharp, Alan. Can't wait to see the custom job.

Mike
ed_r
Member
Username: ed_r

Post Number: 71
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 4:17 pm:   Edit Post

I'd love to be included in that chat, if it's ok with you guys.
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 299
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 10:41 pm:   Edit Post

Mike,

I've yet to see my bass in construction. I'm guessing that Alembic hasn't begun building it yet. I've emailed Mica and Susan privately on the matter, and am waiting for a factory to customer thread to start. I'm not too concerned at this point since I know that not every project gets worked on every week/day, and besides, it's not like I'm going to be able to play it any time soon being where I'm at at the moment. Patience has its virtue, and that is certainly true in this case.

You haven't actually seen it, have you? If you have, then I should be the jealous one!

And yes, you are the trendsetter. Let's just hope that the "Roger induced cracked headstock" isn't a trend that's repeated! :-) Your Spyder is far too nice an instrument to have that happen again.

My bass will certainly be my dream bass. I can't wait to get it.

Alan
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 322
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 8:25 pm:   Edit Post

Alan,

No I haven't seen a pic of your Ultimate Spyder under construction. I wish!!! I presume you will pronounce to the world when it hits the Factory to Customer thread. You'll just have to deal with your already fabulous bass collection until then. Boo hoo.

John - you said you were surprised when you got the "cone" headstock - did you custom-order it that way? I understood that the 50 Spyders were all supposed to come with the V headstock. Did Susan and Mica change it up at some point? I remember speaking to Mica when my bass was undergoing its reconstructive surgery about this topic - she said that according to her mom, it was John Entwistle's wish that the reissues have the V headstock (I assume this means they had approached him with the concept before he passed away). Alembic wanted to honor John's request. I guess a number of folks have asked for the cone headstock, probably either for their own cosmetic preference or after hearing about my disaster.

Either way, it's a great bass.

PS - I have instinctively learned how to turn my body at a 90 degree angle away from the singer everytime his microphone goes airborne. So far, so good. And I never bring the Spyder when I know we're going to be on a small stage. I recommend this practice for all Spyder owners, whether your singer revolves his microphone or not. Can't be too careful!

Mike

(Message edited by ox_junior on January 16, 2006)

(Message edited by ox_junior on January 16, 2006)
jlawson
New
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 9
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 9:53 am:   Edit Post

Mike,

My Bass was ordered from Beaver at Bass Central. I believe the bass which was "4 to 6 weeks out" at the time I ordered it, must have been custom ordered with a cone headstock by Beaver.

Beaver never told me about the headstock so I was very surprised and happy when I saw it for the first time.

I am a little bit curious as to whether mine and yours are the only Limited edition Spyder 4's that have cone headstocks.

John Jeffrey Lawson (I go by Jeff, my dad is John!) but I answer to either!
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 543
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 2:24 pm:   Edit Post

Guys,
no you are not the only one LE Spyder owners with the pointed headstock. There is another one, maybe the first, in existance.
go to www.buzzardbass.com, then go for the Buzzard bass stand,
there below at the page you will find a couple of pics, also with a pointed headstock Spyder

Oliver (spyderman)
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 544
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 2:32 pm:   Edit Post

Guys,
here is the pic as said above.
This is the first pointed Spyder I had ever seen.
Note the chrome hardware.

Oliver (spyderman)
jlawson
New
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 10
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 4:16 pm:   Edit Post

Oliver,

Wow, so there are at least 3.

Also, several of the remaining LE Spyders may also be built this way.

Jeff
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 323
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 7:01 pm:   Edit Post

Hm. So there's a third one out there.

Mica did say that Alembic was considering making a few with the cone headstock. Possibly after my "incident" and customer requests. She said they did talk about it from the beginning, but Susan mentioned that it was John's wish for them to have the V headstock, so that's how they started out with the run of LE Spyders.

Chrome hardware on this one - even more accurate. Alan, is yours going to have Chrome tuners?
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 324
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 7:05 pm:   Edit Post

Just for kicks, here's another shot of my modified Spyder in action:

ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 300
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 9:51 pm:   Edit Post

Mike,

I'm toying with the idea of gold since the hardware will be gold plated (yeah, I know, not like John's, but damn, I hate having to polish brass!). Not something I have to figure out just yet. Maybe I'll buy two sets of tuners, one chrome and the other gold. We'll see I guess.

Alan
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1638
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 5:44 am:   Edit Post

Alan,

A word of advise about the gold-plated hardware. While Alembic's gold plating is done by a jeweler...and it is impeccable plating...it is extremely soft gold and it scratches when you breathe on it, LOL! A standard guitar polishing cloth will scratch the finish.

Now the chrome plating, that's a different story. It is at the opposite end of the spectrum...it's so hard you need special tools to cut through it, according to Mica.

While the gold would look better on your Spyder...and I have both gold and chrome plated hardware on my two 5A quilt-topped alembics (gold on the Orion, Chrome on the Series)...if you want it to stay pristine, go for the chrome.

Cheers,

Kevin
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 301
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post

Kevin,

I normally polish my instruments with a microfiber cloth, which solves the scratching problem, while polishing anyway. However, I do appreciate the info and it is yet one more thing to consider. I do like the look of the gold/brass better, and it's what John had (brass).

Some of the things I'm considering will leave me with less than an exact replica, but that's OK. John always said he was always looking for the perfect bass; my choices are in that vein as well. As I've noted before, John's not playing this bass, I am. I think, however, I'll be able to capture the essence of what made those basses so special and hopefully why John liked them as well. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!

Alan
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1640
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:43 am:   Edit Post

Alan,

You're welcome.

Personally, I like the look of gold as well, especially on maple because of it's nat'l golden color. I think my Orion is prettier all dressed in gold than my Series is with the chrome.

Having said that, I'm anal about my stuff and the Orion's gold bridge, tailpiece, TRC and backplates all have scratches and trying to polish them out only makes more scratches. Fingerprints are tough to buff out, and when you do, it makes more scratches.

The chrome on my Series is surely affected by prints, but you can buff it out easily and with no scratches.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd go with CW TRC and backplates to eliminate polishing and scratches, and I'd probably go with chrome hardware, even though I prefer gold (excluding clashing color combo's). Unplated brass and the requisite polishing is a no-no for me, personally.

In the end, I'm sure whatever you do will look spectacular and will be, of course, to your specification, not JAE's or anyone else's.

Cheers,

Kevin
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3029
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:08 am:   Edit Post

Kevin; I can't remember, I was thinking the nickel plating was the really hard stuff.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1644
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:38 am:   Edit Post

Nickle tends to be dull and soft...and is easily scratched (unless chemically or heat-treated). Alembic's chrome plating is super-hard a la hand guns.

I posted a thread recently about how to care for each finish and Mica posted a similar response (a dialogue we carried over into a recent phone conversation I had with her).

http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/22917.html?1133392772
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 573
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 6:53 pm:   Edit Post

MajAJ

You might consider the brass hardware with gold tuners: My BigRedBass is like this. The 'bird' tailpieces are shot over with polyuerthane, probably your style will be as well. The plating on the keys is harder. You'd only have to polish the brass bridge from time to time. But the gold keys set off the brass nicely AND you'll save a few nickels in the process.

J o e y
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1650
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 5:22 am:   Edit Post

Joey:

If our man Alan's bass started as a Series I or II, he gets plated hardware "gratis" (chrome or gold, respectively). Of course, it can be deleted for a "credit".

Any other model, you are absotively correct.

What's that 'ole tune..."To Each his Own"? LOL!

Cheers,

Kevin
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 326
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 5:12 pm:   Edit Post

When I had the peghead disaster, they drilled the holes in the new peghead to accommodate the gold Gotoh tuners that come standard on the Spyder basses.

I asked Mica if I could switch to the chrome Schaller tuners for authenticity purposes - she said the holes are different sizes. So Alan - getting two sets of tuners won't solve the problem (if you perceive it as such).

The gold does look good, but it does indeed scratch easily. The chrome doesn't look as nice but it is more durable and JE-authentic.

One thing Mica suggested that you might try, if you want, is to simply take a screwdriver and take the gold tuning keys right off and replace them with the chrome ones - not sure if they're an exact fit but you could try. I'm talking about the keys only - not the actual "gearbox".

I never tried it but it might work!

MB
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 634
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post

Perhaps a wooden or metal sleeve to make the schallers fit snugly in the holes drilt for Gotohs? Something on the order of copper tubing cut to length slightly shorter than the thickness of the peghead with a notch out of the perimeter to allow for fitting??? Simply a thought...

John
dfung60
Intermediate Member
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 184
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 4:31 pm:   Edit Post

Here I am, posting on this thread 6 months later...

jlawson, are those Wilson WATTs in the background? Delicious!

I was kind of surprised that Alembic chose the split headstock for the Spyder reissue. Although the split head bass appeared on the cover of Too Late The Hero, almost all the live pics (and Kids Are Alright) show him with the cone head Exploiters.

It seems like almost all the Exploiters over the years have been cone heads as well. I have a 1987 Series I Exploiter with the cone (actually it has a little curve, almost like a bell). The headstock on my bass and Entwistle's Spyder look pretty close in overall size. The new cone Spyders seem to have a much longer headstock. Perhaps this is the pattern for the 8-string headstock.

David Fung
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 339
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 1:28 pm:   Edit Post

And here I am, also posting six months later!!

David, I think the cone for the 4-string and the 8-string are different sizes, although I could be wrong. The cone on my Spyder is a little larger than the cone on my Spoiler. Mica said that the cone on my Spyder was made from the exact template they used on John's custom basses...so it's hard to say if it's the same cone used for the 8-string. Ollie, you own a 4 and an 8 - maybe you can shed some light on this?
jlawson
Junior
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 11
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 9:50 am:   Edit Post

David, those are Wilson WATT Puppy 6's

Sorry to take so long to reply!

Jeff
dtrice
Junior
Username: dtrice

Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 2:17 pm:   Edit Post

Hey guys I just bought Spyder 4 #19 and it does indeed have a cone headstock. :-).It is like Jeff's except it came with Abalone inlays and Front LED's. Can we find out how many have the cones and how many have the V? It was a surprise to me when it arrived, so I was just curious about how many are there. Happy New Year.
jlawson
Junior
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 12
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 3:40 pm:   Edit Post

Daniel, congratulations on your purchase.

Happy New Year.

Jeff

(Message edited by jlawson on December 29, 2006)
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 691
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 12:23 am:   Edit Post

Maybe it's me, but I don't think I've ever seen a picture of anyone holding a Spyder with a smile on their face or give any impression of enjoying themselves. Please prove me wrong, lets see some happy Spider owners :-)


Jazzyvee
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2472
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 12:21 pm:   Edit Post

Spiders are scary!
I hold one

PTBO
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 694
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 12:16 am:   Edit Post

Good point.... I forgot about BORIS....
Jazzyvee
dtrice
Junior
Username: dtrice

Post Number: 22
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 7:26 pm:   Edit Post

Maybe we're all doing our best impressions of the Ox on stage. You know the look, a cross between bored because he never had to strain to hit any note he ever wanted and a little grimace because he realizes that he is indeed the best guitar player in his band but still has to share SOME volume with the other one. Well I think that I learned a lot about bass playing from listening and WATCHING my heroes. Heroes like the Thunderchief (that's John Paul Jones) and the Ox who assumed that look that hid all of their excitement behind their focused concentration about being the best at what they did. So I, maybe the others too, am not smiling because I'm concentrating on what I'm doing, and the band sounds as a whole, and not just smirking for the crowd like certain people in the band who often play a certain 6-stringed instrument and love a lot of attention. Because I know I love my Spyder, sorry if I don't give it enough PDA.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 729
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 2:33 am:   Edit Post

I take your point. He was a kind of cool character. I am pleased to say I saw the WHO in concert on their first tour after Keith Moon died. That was and still is the loudest thing I have ever heard in my life....!!!

Monster of a concert though.
Jazzyvee
dtrice
Junior
Username: dtrice

Post Number: 24
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 2:33 pm:   Edit Post

Jeff, I looked your Spyder pic and noticed that your headstock was a little different than mine. My logo is between the nut and the first pair of tuning pegs. Yours is placed like the V-headstock models, was that your specification? Also, is it me or is your headstock point sharper than usual or is mine blunter? I'm curious in the different features among each of the Spyders.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1258
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 12:44 am:   Edit Post

Daniel, the curves on the pegheads seem to be carved by hand - or at least they're never 100% symmetrical. For what it's worth, I have a Spoiler with a very pointy cone shape.
jlawson
Junior
Username: jlawson

Post Number: 13
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 7:08 pm:   Edit Post

Daniel, I honestly don't know about the pegheads. Beaver had already ordered my spyder when I purchased it, and I just waited for it to be shipped to me by Alembic. I guess the major question is whether the unique features of some of the spyders are due to Alembic or customer requests. Does anyone know?

Jeff
dtrice
Junior
Username: dtrice

Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 11:43 am:   Edit Post

I think it is very interesting in the way that individualty is really able to show itself in Alembics. More so than in almost any other company I've used, each Alembic is truly unique; even among the same models.

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