| Author |
Message |
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon
Post Number: 645
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 8:29 pm: |  |
I love it. I played it 4 times tonight- my wife approves as well. Good work. |
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin
Post Number: 1382
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 3:18 am: | |
sounds good ....what about the six string? |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 257
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 9:14 am: | |
Thank you very much everybody.
I think I do have some video of me playing the six-string. It's tuned A-A, so it has quite a different sound. I'll see if I can dig that up, but it will take a while.
Also, I will probably be taking it to the Northern CA gathering in March! |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 261
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 11:36 pm: | |
Here ya go keavin! The baritone in action:
horologium oscillatorium |
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin
Post Number: 1384
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 3:24 am: | |
Good.......I enjoyed it while having my morning coffee & a big bowl of this! |
byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung
Post Number: 976
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 9:31 am: | |
My mouth now hurts. |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 262
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 1:14 pm: | |
Mmmm, I always preferred mine with crunchberries. |
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami
Post Number: 765
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 4:50 pm: | |
I just love that picture of Rick Turner and Ron "Making a wish"! I believe that Pete Townsend actually did it with his Gibson.
Before wish:
After wish:
Notice the change of angle between the necks. If you look closely, you'll notice the seam where he split the necks apart. |
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami
Post Number: 766
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 7:50 pm: | |
Here's a close up shot.
I wonder if his wish ever came true.....
It's a good thing he never played Alembics!!!
;) |
speicky
Advanced Member
Username: speicky
Post Number: 264
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 3:31 pm: | |
He did, Rami, he did... look here ! I don't know if he "modified" any of John's basses on or off stage, though 
Christian |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 270
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 10:39 pm: | |
Thanks guys! Cool pics! Maybe if Ron Wickersham comes to the Bay Area Gathering I can try and get him to recreate the wishbone shot with me! |
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami
Post Number: 767
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 6:25 am: | |
Harry, your Doubleneck is absolutely beautiful. I really LOVE those recordings you made with it. You may not know this, but I actually had the chance to buy it a long time ago. VERY regrettably, I couldn't buy it because I had just started my "Black Byrd" project in 2002. So it was an issue of money flow.
I'm just so happy that it went to such a creative and accomplished musician who can do the amazing things that you do with it.
All my best wishes,
Rami |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 272
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 4:05 pm: | |
Thank you for the kind words Rami! I really appreciate it.
You're not in Northern California, are you? Because I will be taking it to the gathering this weekend. I finally tried putting the case in my car, and it doesn't fit width-wise, but if I put the seats down I can put it in through the trunk! |
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami
Post Number: 768
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 8:08 pm: | |
I wish I was in Northern California! Unfortunately, I'm in the frozen north in Montreal. I would have loved to meet my fellow Alembicians as well as admire that awesome doubleneck in real life.
C'est la vie! |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 283
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 4:58 pm: | |
Remember this shot?
Well, at this past weekend's gathering I got the courage up to ask Ron Wickersham if he would be willing to duplicate the pose:
The original picture is in color, but I thought it would be fun to try and duplicate the original, though I didn't go so far as photocopying it! |
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck
Post Number: 6354
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 6:15 pm: | |
Cool!!!! |
2400wattman
Senior Member
Username: 2400wattman
Post Number: 525
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 7:30 pm: | |
You got to meet the MAN!!!!!!!! |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 286
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 10:17 am: | |
"You got to meet the MAN!!!!!!!!"
Yeah, I still kind of can't believe it! Definitely an honor and a privilege! |
hernan
New
Username: hernan
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 - 10:21 am: | |
I'd love to know the weight of that monster... It must be pretty heavy for sure!!! |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 385
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 - 10:37 am: | |
Hello Hernan - the weight is extreme for sure! I kind of want to know myself, but I don't have a scale! I should buy one - if I do, I will post the results! |
funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky
Post Number: 159
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - 8:01 am: | |
Is the output jack mono or stereo? |
hieronymous
Advanced Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 388
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - 10:17 pm: | |
It's stereo - basically the two necks share the same set of Series I electronics, so the extra knob is a two-position selector where you can select either the baritone or the fretless. |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 538
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 10:50 am: | |
Lately I was fantasizing about playing my double-neck (we moved recently and it's in its case behind a bunch of boxes) and I realized that I might like to try stringing it more like a Bass VI - EADGBE. Not sure if the strings would fir the current bridge and nut, but I think I could give it a try. Also, it was hard to get the low A string ball-end into the tailpiece, so I'm thinking that could a problem with a thicker string. |
artswork99
Senior Member
Username: artswork99
Post Number: 586
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 10:54 am: | |
I'd love to play that beautiful instrument strung in any fashion |
coffeegod
Junior
Username: coffeegod
Post Number: 12
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 4:36 pm: | |
Just a note (though I already emailed you this privetely Hieronymous) just thought it would be good to have it here.
I used to own this bass. When I bought it in the early 90's from Gruhn guitar, it was set up as both necks being bass... both tuned with the lowest note being an E. When I called Rick Turner to inquire as to its history he suggested that if it were his he would turn it into a baritone guitar on the shorter neck..and it would"sound just like a great big acoustic guitar". He gave me the name of a guy at D'Addario strings to contact as to string guage suggestions. I liked the idea because i thought it silly to duplicate the 4 strings from neck to neck.
When I first got the bass both necks were horribly bowed with super unplayably high action. Eventually the solution ws to place my foot squarely at the middle of the neck/body, grab the top of the neck with both hands and pull as hard as possible while someone else adjusted the truss rod. It worked great.
Loved the bass but it was an albatross of sorts... too heavy for constant live play but in the studio unecessary as no one can see you have a doubleneck. |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 560
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 8:20 pm: | |
Douglas, thanks for posting this! I got it out of the case, it's sitting on its stand, just haven't had much time to play it. Thanks so much for the history you passed on about this instrument.
Here she is with some of her cousins:
 |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 579
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 6:35 pm: | |
Interesting thread here from John Judge, with his memory of being told that my doubleneck is probably the first doubleneck Alembic made! Woohoo!!!
(Message edited by hieronymous on April 17, 2009) |
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra
Post Number: 856
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 6:58 pm: | |
nice bit of news, huh? congrats |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 591
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 01, 2009 - 2:18 pm: | |
Different view of some of the basses above...
 |
kenbass4
Advanced Member
Username: kenbass4
Post Number: 344
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 01, 2009 - 3:11 pm: | |
Glad to see Sadie is still on guard duty Harry! |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 593
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 01, 2009 - 3:45 pm: | |
Thanks - I never thought of it that way! |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 983
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 12:32 pm: | |
Update: I ordered some Bass VI style strings - none of them fit the nut or saddles, so if I'm going to have it converted, new ones will need to be made (or the current ones modded - actually, that makes it a little less intimidating!)
For now, it's living in its case. But I am thinking I might take it out at some point, just make sure there isn't mold growing in the case or something! |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1005
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2011 - 3:05 pm: | |
Been trying to clean, go through boxes that haven't been unpacked since we moved - almost three years ago! Found the old picture that John Judge sent me (linked to a few posts above this one) - made a new scan of it so thought I would share:
 |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1015
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2011 - 9:42 pm: | |
Took the doubleneck out to a recent mini-gathering in Alameda - here's a link to that thread.
This picture from the gathering is currently my wallpaper:
 |
afrobeat_fool
Senior Member
Username: afrobeat_fool
Post Number: 407
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2011 - 11:10 pm: | |
I love that shot, Harry! |
collyman
Junior
Username: collyman
Post Number: 11
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 5:00 pm: | |
Just curious why you believe the 6 string neck to be a baritone? Back in the day it wasn't so unusual to have a guitar and bass on these doubleneckers. and you say that the set of bass6 strings you bought don't fit the nut or bridge.... |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1026
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 9:08 pm: | |
One of the previous owners contacted me and told me that it had originally been a 6-string bass, but he thought that was redundant since the fretless neck was already in the bass range. So after speaking with Rick Turner (who was involved in building the bass) he decided to have it strung as a baritone, from A to A, between bass and regular guitar. Also, the 6-string neck is 30" scale, like a Bass VI - an instrument that I really like too!
Actually, the term "baritone" is not strictly defined. I personally consider the Bass VI to be a short scale "extended range bass," but I know other people approach it more like a guitar so for them it might be more of a baritone. |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1027
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 7:46 am: | |
Here's a cool guitar/bass doubleneck Series I |
collyman
Junior
Username: collyman
Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 5:52 pm: | |
The more I look at the pictures of your Bass, the more interesting it becomes. Very unusual indeed -- everything -- the dual bass necks, the large tuners on both necks, the logo, the bird tailpieces, wow, crazy. Well I hope you can get that 6string strung and find the ideal tuning... cool stuff |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1029
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 03, 2012 - 11:01 am: | |
Yup, it's definitely an odd bird! A few other things - the radius on the 6-string is really flat - like a classical guitar. Plus, the single truss rod in the fretless neck & double in the 6. It's really hard to string up because the two headstocks get in the way on some of the tuners. |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1158
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2012 - 8:54 am: | |
We had another mini-gathering at Bill's house. Here's a shot I didn't share in that thread:
Another thing I've been meaning to add to this thread - I finally weighed this thing - 15.2 pounds! |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1525
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2015 - 9:38 am: | |
Been trying to take creative pics of my basses and then playing with the filters in Instagram - here's the doubleneck:
Still want to get the 6-string neck converted back to EADGBE - the re-emergence of the John Judge doubleneck has me inspired though! |
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo
Post Number: 1511
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2015 - 7:58 pm: | |
Harry, what is the six tuned at now? |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1526
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 19, 2015 - 9:09 pm: | |
Guitar tuning starting on the A a 5th up from the low E on a regular bass, so ADGCEA? I gotta retune - it really messes with my head! I would be so happy with EADGBE, like a Bass VI... |
coffeegod
Junior
Username: coffeegod
Post Number: 23
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 23, 2015 - 10:57 am: | |
Harry... I made no changes to the action/neck/set up when switching to the A tuning. Just get the appropriate strings for that length neck and an E tuning and do it. No conversion necessary.
You'll just be putting back what was on the bass when I got it.
Glad you still enjoy the bass. |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1549
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 - 9:49 am: | |
Hey! Good to hear from you coffeegod. I dug through some of our old emails and you said the same thing (re: not changing the nut) - I thought, have I been holding off on switching it back for nothing?!! However, I wonder if an owner between us had the nut & bridge saddles converted - all the strings fit snugly in the nut, and I know that once I tried putting a regular Bass VI E string in there and it was too thick. But I'll try again! |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1589
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 08, 2015 - 3:42 pm: | |
My new friend Dave who I met at the recent Gathering in Canyon took some nice shots of the doubleneck on the "woodpile" in nice mellow late-afternoon light. Here's a shot of the back - don't think I have any on here yet:
 |
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus
Post Number: 4536
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, October 08, 2015 - 4:03 pm: | |
A great pic! |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1593
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2015 - 11:42 am: | |
I had a nightmare this morning - we were at a gathering, and my doubleneck was in a gig back leaning against a closet door. Someone moved the stuff that was in the way to get into the closet. When I opened the case, I found the the doubleneck had been snapped in half! In other words, it had almost turned into two basses! Actually, that's how I kept from getting upset - I was envisioning having each set turned into a separate bass, which actually seemed like a good idea.
I seem to remember the headstocks had been snapped off too, though, so not an easy job. But remember - it was just a dream! (whew...) |
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq
Post Number: 6279
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2015 - 5:52 pm: | |
Hey Harry, not a bad idea - two basses for the price of one! I've got a saw you can borrow.
hehehehe
Bill, tgo |
tubeperson
Senior Member
Username: tubeperson
Post Number: 524
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, October 30, 2015 - 6:20 am: | |
Sounds more like a nightmare to me. |
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1616
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 11, 2016 - 6:53 pm: | |
Been playing the fretless neck a fair amount - getting inspired to finally take it to the mothership and have the 6-string neck converted back to EADGBE - I know I keep saying it but this time maybe I really mean it! ;)
And here's a track that I've posted elsewhere at the Club but want to link to it here too for posterity - the fretless neck in stereo - neck pickup clean, bridge pickup distorted - main parts recorded Christmas Day 2015, solo recorded the day Lemmy died (12/28/15). The drums are by my buddy Greg DeGuglielmo and were recorded over 10 years ago, maybe 2004? Vibes by my friend Lee and originally from a different version of this piece.
https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/rays-of-sound-seven |
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