| Author | Message | ||
| slugbass
Junior Username: slugbass Post Number: 11 Registered: 3-2003 |
Here's a picture of The Ox from 1978, taken from "The Kids Are Alright". Incidentally, this was the last time that The Who played with Keith Moon.  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 64 Registered: 8-2002 |
here are some photos from the sosby's auction-check it out-in addition to these alembics John had some sweet axes!  (Message edited by goooge on April 23, 2003) | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 65 Registered: 8-2002 |
an alembic V  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 66 Registered: 8-2002 |
dig the bigsby!  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 67 Registered: 8-2002 |
scorpion  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 68 Registered: 8-2002 |
and another  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2002 |
this looks to be the one slugbass posted up top  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 70 Registered: 8-2002 |
an eight  | ||
| goooge
Member Username: goooge Post Number: 71 Registered: 8-2002 |
and a five  | ||
| slugbass
Junior Username: slugbass Post Number: 12 Registered: 3-2003 |
The Spoiler Exploiter that Entwistle played was the reason that I wanted to get an Alembic in the first place. I finally had a chance to put the bass through its paces the other day with a band rehearsal, as opposed to just playing at home at low volume, or through headphones. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement. First of all, my drummer and guitarist were just BLOWN AWAY be the sheer physical beauty of the instrument. And then I plugged it in. We couldn't get over the beautiful, beatiful tone. It's everything. It's punchy, rumbly, bassy, has a crisp, clean high end that doesn't saw your head off. Wonderful sustain and attack. Just an awesome instrument. I usually record our rehearsals on a digital 16-track I have, so I'm able to isolate the instruments in mixing a little better. In listening to our rehearsal in the subsequent days, I'm still blown away. I find myself going "Is this actually my tone? This is the sound I've been searching for for years!" My bandmates have the same reaction. I really can't imagine buying anything BUT Alembics in the future...they're ADDICTIVE! | ||
| keebler
Junior Username: keebler Post Number: 17 Registered: 2-2003 |
Yeah! That's the exact reaction I had when I got my Alembic. It still makes me smile every time I go to plug it in. . . | ||
| slugbass
Junior Username: slugbass Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2003 |
I smile just looking at it. I've been smiling A LOT the past month or so... | ||
| 811952
Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 52 Registered: 10-2003 |
So, I'm assuming the 8-string above is the one he bought from Greg Lake? Also, if I'm not mistaken (I probably am), the zebrawood 4-string was JE's first Alembic. I also recall seeing a picture of him playing it onstage, probably in a thread here somewhere.. John | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 192 Registered: 7-2003 |
John, yes the 8string is the one he had purchased from Greg Lake and was the particular one with the pirate motif inlays. This particular one was auctioned at Sotheby´s in the JE auction last year for GBP 10800. Yes, the Zebrawood was his first and then main stage bass and was also sold last year for GBP 13200. John also had another Series I bass with a bird´s eye maple top which was auctioned at Sotheby´s on April 7th 1988. It is a little strange as it had a Kahler tremolo bass bridge installed. To my knowledge is this particular bass now located at the Rock´n Roll Hall of Fame. Many greetins Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 193 Registered: 7-2003 |
By the way, in a previous post in this thread someone wrote that the Spyder with the pointed peghead pictured on top (the KAO excerpt)is the same that was auctioned last year at Sotheby´s. This is wrong. The Spyder he played in the film (during the Shepherd´s Bush gig) is the then main Spyder by John and was also THE one that failed at the Live Aid gig. This, at first main used Spyder, is now located at the Hard Rock Cafe in Berlin/Germany. Oliver | ||
| 811952
Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Oliver. You're an encyclopedia of Entwistle and Alembics. It is extremely sad to me to see his massive collection split up and sold off, but I guess that's how it goes.. John | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 195 Registered: 7-2003 |
John, thanks for your kind words. And yes that point also saddens me that much. I know that some of his best instruments went into collections or were owned by the HRC and are now only displayed. OK, this might be fun but my biggest dream is ever have the chance to get one of his original instruments to play them and to keep the spirit alive.... Take care Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| bigbadbill
Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hi Oliver I too agree that its saddening to see this wonderful collection broken up. I just hope enough were bought by real JE fans and not just "collectors". The Ox was also a huge influence on me(albeit initially indirect as I came to him via Chris Squire)and I'm so glad I got to see him a couple of times. Maybe with luck one day one of his instruments will make it into your hands (I'll keep my fingers crossed); I think anyone who is as big a fan as you obviously are deserves it! All the best Shaun | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 196 Registered: 7-2003 |
Shaun, many thanks for your kind words. It is really good to hear this and I hope that I really have a chance one day without paying horrible sums to a collector. Below plse find a photo of the Sotheby´s auction. Unfortunately this is not me; photo courtesy of Billy Agner. Oliver (Spyderman)  | ||
| bigbadbill
Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 52 Registered: 10-2003 |
Maybe one day it will be you Oliver, maybe one day.... All the best Shaun | ||
| willie
New Username: willie Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2003 |
thanks for the photo at top. it makes a great background for my computer. it was the picture inside the Kids Are Alright album that sent me on a mission to find and get one of those basses. i finally had something to take to the music stores and show them and say i have to have one of these basses. be fore that i would go to the stores and tell them i wanted the kind of bass John Entwistle played but none of them seemed to know.I had one made in 1983 and played it till trading it to get a Stanley Clarke bass made because the Europa i got in 1995 was impossible to put down and i didn't want the exploiter just sitting around. that was before john died and now i wish i still had it. but the stanley clarke gives me more options sound wise because its tuned as a tenor bass. i learned one lesson though, never let an alembic get away | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 238 Registered: 3-2004 |
Speaking of the picture at the top.... I like to call this picture "Father and Son".... Enjoy.  | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 442 Registered: 7-2004 |
Does Cat Stevens know? (nyuk, nyuk) Bill, tgo | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 443 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hey Mike: Is that your group listed on Craigslist for a show this weekend in S.F.? Bill, tgo | ||
| s_wood
Intermediate Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 148 Registered: 5-2002 |
I found this grainy but very rare shot of JE and his Exploiter taken in Toronto in 1976. Why is it rare? The Ox is smiling! http://www.thewho.org/photos/toronto2.jpg | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 455 Registered: 7-2003 |
Steve, many thanks for the link to this great photo. I haven´t seen this before and I have seen many.... Many greetings Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| ed_r
Junior Username: ed_r Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2005 |
COuld it be the rum and coke? | ||
| s_wood
Intermediate Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 193 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here's a entire web page devoted to pictures of The Ox and his Alembics. Cool stuff! http://www.geocities.com/viciousinterlude/alembicbass.html | ||
| nanookanono
New Username: nanookanono Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2003 |
I see a good picture of John playing the SC S1 (tremolo) by Barry Plummer. This is in the "Rock bass manual" by Hugh Hopper page 37. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4218 Registered: 5-2009 |
Check this video out ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5IBRLu-z7I Wolf | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 531 Registered: 6-2012 |
Kewl. Unfortunately the phasing / flanging effect sometimes overwhelms what his fingers are doing - but it was probably needed because he's not playing an Alembic... ;-) IMO, his playing is like a great steak - it needs no further embellishment - ! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11765 Registered: 5-2002 |
I just watched the video that Wolf linked, and David's comment doesn't seem to match up with what I just watched. Looked like an Alembic to me. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 533 Registered: 6-2012 |
My bad - you are 100% correct, that link is to the signing of the Exploiter, obviously an Alembic product. After watching that, I accidentally hit this other link: John Entwistle's Bass Solo 1999 (5 mins) HD Which shows him playing a Buzzard. FWIW: last week was a weird week for me and my mind was elsewhere, so it's no surprise that I jacked-up this post... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11771 Registered: 5-2002 |
 Just read in the other thread, and yes, that kind of thing would definitely be the primary focus of attention. Hopefully, it's taken care of, and you're recovery goes as well as possible. |
