| Author | Message | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 24 Registered: 3-2009 |
 | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2232 Registered: 2-2006 |
Nice rig! I lost some hearing just looking at it. LOL I have been looking to buy some new cabs and Bag End are on the top of my list. OO | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1009 Registered: 11-2004 |
AWESOME!! More pictures and info on that rig is required. A series I with a Distillate body is killer- nice neck lam combination too. Are those 15's on top and 2x10's on bottom? | ||
| gregduboc
Junior Username: gregduboc Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2008 |
Holy Mama! That is one amazingly awesome Distillate... Mine is shy now... Congratulations!! I agree Olie, that is one nice rig, but as a Brazilian that only sees limited equipment here, I'm not aware of these Bag End cabs... Are they really worth a look? Well done man, you've got the right stuff! Greg | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2233 Registered: 2-2006 |
I'd like to see a close up of the bass, it looks awesome in this picture. I'm afraid next month when I fly up to the Chicago Gathering I may need to leave my wallet at home. (Bag End is hosting). Worth a look and a listen Greg.  Good stuff! OO | ||
| gregduboc
Junior Username: gregduboc Post Number: 48 Registered: 11-2008 |
Olie, advice taken!! I will check them right away, but just after I've hidden my credit card some where I'm not aware off!! Man, I wished I lived in the US to get together with you guys on these Gatherings... Must be awesome! Greg | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 25 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thanks to all of you and your comments! I have been trying to figure out how to post these photos for a few weeks now. I'm more of a player than computer wiz! Anyway,You are right about the 2X15" I Use them on occasion. Actually I want to sell them because I want another 2X10" Cabinet to use for my Double Bass. And I have an older F-2b preamp that I would like to get rid of for another Superfilter for my Double Bass. For me after playing through Bag End once...I was totally sold (aurally speaking). And I can move some air with any combination!!!! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1010 Registered: 11-2004 |
I love the Bag End 15's.... It doesn't matter what head I've run through them, they always sound great. I know there are a bunch of guys here who use Bag Ends with their Alembics- very few go back once they play them. | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1601 Registered: 12-2002 |
Vintage BagEnd is what my vintage alembic is Pumping thru.....nice choice!  | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 26 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Keavin Man, That is a slammin' Alembic bro'!! Is that a long scale? How do all of those pots function? I've been a Bag Ender over 10 yrs now. I'm staying pat with that!! Keep up the low end! Peace! | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 111 Registered: 6-2006 |
Charlie Charlie Charlie - We certainly need more pics of that beauty - close ups, a few details about the woods and maybe a picture of the back side also. | ||
| charles_holmes
New Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 9 Registered: 3-2009 |
Ok Pauldo, I'll get some more photos. As far as the build history, I asked Mica to Sleuth it's history and I'm still waiting. Additionally I have a few honorary basses I'm going to post due to the customizing that I had done by my friend Kenny Wittman. | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1602 Registered: 12-2002 |
Hey holmes looks like your bass is a seriesI with a distillate body shape, is it also a short scale? or is it the pic angle?.........my bass is a Medium scale with seriesII guts.  | ||
| charles_holmes
New Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 10 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Keavin, You are correct on all three assumptions. It is a series I, Distillate body, and short Scale. I'm just waiting for Mica to get back to me on the type of woods that is was created from. Hopefully one day I can afford a 5 string series, another bag end 2x10, a superfilter, and QSC 2450 to complete my dream arsenal. | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 833 Registered: 4-2005 |
Yes, very nice! | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 12 Registered: 3-2009 |
Ok Pauldo, I'm still new to the photo download thing. (I'm showing my age huh?) I'll try this download thing again..here goes  | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2009 |
Yea!! Here's a few more..(I think) | ||
| peoplechipper
Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 81 Registered: 2-2009 |
Charles, nice rig!! and nice bass too!!! the shop I work at has a QSC 2402 ( I think?) is that close enough for you? I also am curious about Bag End, as I've never encountered one myself (they must be allergic to Canadians...)I currently use a Gallien-Krueger 4x10 and a Verlage 15" w/ a Fane in it; as my old drummer said, my rig is '60's,70's, and '80's all in one...the head is an Acoustic 370...man, that is a pretty bass... Tony | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 28 Registered: 3-2009 |
 Hey Tony here is a photo of my pre- amps and power amp... My power amp is a 2450. | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 114 Registered: 6-2006 |
SWEEEEEEEET!!!! | ||
| enzo
New Username: enzo Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2009 |
Charlie, that's one the nicest one I ever seen ! | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 34 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thank you so much Enzo! What Kind of Axe are you performing on? | ||
| enzo
New Username: enzo Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2009 |
Something that doesn't look like yours at all !  [IMG]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/enzo42/TE.jpg[/IMG] ...and it might go for sale pretty soon ! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7908 Registered: 5-2002 |
Charlie; your signal path is very interesting! | ||
| basser
New Username: basser Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2008 |
A very very nice bass(and equipments too!). Didn't know that Series electronics could fit into Distillate. It would be great to know how your bass sounds different with a Series 1 since they both have the same electronics but different body construction (hollow body for Series). | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 15 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Dave, I'm not a computer guy. What does signal path mean? | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 16 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thank you very much Andrew! My axe sounds great. Alembic is the greatest maker of basses on the planet period. The mothership connection can put series in any bass that our/your heart(s) desire.But I really do need a compressor to even the sound of the notes. If any body out there knows of a compressor to reccomend please let me know. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7928 Registered: 5-2002 |
The signal path is the path that the signal takes from the pickups to the speakers. In your case, it looks like you have the neck pickup going from the DS-5 to the SF-2, which appears to be running in parallel mono mode with the dry signal maxed and mixed with a good sized amount of low pass filter set fairly low with lots of Q. The second filter appears to be off. The bridge pickup goes directly to the F-1X, where the treble is maxed with the bright switch on, and the mid is cut significantly. I don't know what happens after that; my guess would be that SF-2 is going to one channel of the QSC, and the F-1X is going to the other. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7929 Registered: 5-2002 |
Andrew; the body was probably made deeper when the bass was built to fit the Series electronics. | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 37 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Dave! Ok, now I understand you.Yes I do have the bridge pickup connected to the F-1X with the treble maxed and the bright switch on also I have the High Frequency maxed out too that will pierce the hardest diamond. For some reason the picture that you saw I have the filter down on the right channel and I always have that up like the left side. In addition, I use a "Y" cord in the back of the Superfilter to use both sides to dial in really low thunderous earthshaking lows. With the two frequencies blended (or 3 if you count the other SF channel)the tones are utterly aurally satiating! I thank the genius of Mr. Wickersham and his family along with Stanley Clarke's playing this magnificent bass to help me find my voice! And thank you once again Dave in helping me find the build history of my axe. If I write to Mica (3rd time due to my stupitidy in not starting the question with the serial number)do you think that she would send the build papers to me? Thanks Dave!!! P.S. 7,929 posts by you?!....Excellent!!! | ||
| basser
New Username: basser Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2008 |
Dave, many thanks for the comment! | ||
| smokinbear
Junior Username: smokinbear Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2008 |
Hey Charlie nice setup!!!!! Beautiful bass i love my Distillate too. As for a compressor i'm using a old dbx 160 a with a kern pre, sf-2 , and a crown 2402 bumpin a hard trucker 2x15 and an ampeg 4x10 hlf and the dbx really evens things out string to string. Plus I just read Phil Lesh article in the last Bass Player, and had to give ritter swordsteel strings a try since they tout even volume between strings . They really do have an even string to string volume and a very nice feel with the custom gauges. Plus the sound is awesome with our electronics! .....Bear | ||
| chalie_holmes
Junior Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 40 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Bear, Thank you for the compliment! You gotta get some pictures to me bro'...I have that particular issue of Bass Player but have not had the chance to read it. I have always been afraid of losing tone and power with using a comppressor. So what do you think of that Drawmer MX30? | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 22 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Bear, I have been bidding on a Drawmer MX30 Compressor. Hopefully I won it. I am going to check it right now to see if I won it since the bidding should be over now.Wish me luck! | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 23 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Bear I lost the bid.Somebody got it for 3.00 more than ma @193.00 | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 28 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Bear, I just wanted to tell you I picked up a Samson S-Com Stereo compressor 2 weeks ago. I'm very happy with it too. The compressor really pulled everything together and evened my sound out too. I should have bought a compressor long ago! | ||
| jet_powers
Senior Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 448 Registered: 2-2003 |
Anything that has an extra volume knob or two can't be all bad! | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 61 Registered: 3-2009 |
I agree! That lil' extra doo-dad helps get that extra umph! | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 440 Registered: 12-2004 |
Ive got to get me a distillate!!!  | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 62 Registered: 3-2009 |
Is that Keavin jamming on that Distillate? That is a nice axe! I like the lil' amber led next to the jack! It looks like a short scale to me. | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 140 Registered: 6-2006 |
It's actually a red LED (funky camera angle).... but it sure looks good (and sounded great!)in Keavin's hands! :-D | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1619 Registered: 12-2002 |
Man i beat the Hell outta that Baby!!!.......we all beat each Others basses Up! | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 63 Registered: 3-2009 |
Cool! Paul, that must be your axe then oui? Keavin and Paul, how did you like the bag end cabinets and which type did you play through? I really wanted to be there but after playing the night before and packing my gear after the gig I was not done until 12:30 am, I couldn't make the drive there. | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1620 Registered: 12-2002 |
there was several rigs we jammed thru 8 15's 4 21'inch speakers there was some 10's tweeters all kinds of shit we knocked shit off shelves! | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2453 Registered: 2-2006 |
My head is still numb Keavin. OO | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2009 |
Ha Ha Ha!!! Keavin!! I'm really sorry that I didn't get a chance to meet you man! You are a funny guy! Olie, Is your head numb from the volume of the amps or the musicianship? | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 142 Registered: 6-2006 |
-Yes Charles - that is my Distillate being assaulted by Keavin. And he can have his way with it the next time we get together! :-) I'm hoping Olie says musicianship - goodness knows Olie was laying down some incredible grooves, it was fun watching him - he would get a calm serene look on his face - all the while his fingers are just burning all over the bass. I personally fell in love with the Bag Ends - they have incredible response, like Keavin said we played through all types of combinations and everything sounded GREAT! The speakers are a great match with an Alembic, as you dig in they responded seamlessly... for a further description of the 4 - 21's see my apology in the "Gatherings" section - I got really carried away with a low D. | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2009 |
Ok, I'll read the Gatherings Paul. Keavin does have an intense look on his face while thumping your axe! He must be an awesome bassist in order for you to say such things about him. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2458 Registered: 2-2006 |
It was a "combo" of both Paul. ;) Thanks for the kinds words but It was all I could do to keep up with you, Keavin and John. That serene look was from me trying not to get lost. OO | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1621 Registered: 12-2002 |
that intence look on my face is from my 'Nuts' rattling from those 21 inch speakers! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1159 Registered: 6-2002 |
he he he  MIke | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2009 |
Ha!You B a funny bassman! | ||
| rjmsteel
New Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2008 |
For what its worth, Olie, you sounded great with the funk/slap jams and arpeggios improve on that S.C Signature!!!! | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 30 Registered: 3-2009 |
Show me photos of the S.C.!!! | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 147 Registered: 6-2006 |
Here's one  It is a fabulous short scale, with blue led side markers. The neck is small and easy to play, the electronics are,,, well they are Alembic so there ya go :-P | ||
| enzo
Member Username: enzo Post Number: 54 Registered: 4-2009 |
I'm still dreaming it ! (Message edited by enzo on June 05, 2009) | ||
| charles_holmes
Junior Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 33 Registered: 3-2009 |
oooooh!! Ahhhhh!!! more please! | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 150 Registered: 6-2006 |
ask and ye shall recieve  Ollie laying it down with the SC in buckeye burl | ||
| enzo
Member Username: enzo Post Number: 55 Registered: 4-2009 |
Btw, Olie is a really great guy. A pleasure to meet him. | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thanks! Question~ I have never heard the mono version of the Clarke Axe. Sound-wise, How does it differ from the series basses? For me I love the series basses because it seems like you have more options timbre-wise. Is that true? Or can you use a stereo "Y" cord for a signature bass and connect it to two amplifiers and dial in the same tones as the series basses? | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1166 Registered: 6-2002 |
Chalie, You'll get close, but the series pickups are single coil, while the AXY or MXY are humcancelling. I believe the filter circuits are much the same, (I don't believe the preamp circuits are the same, because the series instruments include the dummy pickup and hum balance controls) Series Guys? Mike (owner of two Epics and a Distillate) | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 71 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thanks for the information Mike! You have cleared up the nebulous cloud that was in my brain! | ||
| bkbass
Advanced Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 203 Registered: 11-2003 |
There's no such thing as a bad sound from any of the instruments. Each is simply different in it's own right. A lot of people think that the signature is a boiled down version of the series pkg. Or that this is just a stepping stone till I get up the $$ for a series.I own both signature and series 2 electronics. Their is a distinct difference much more subtleties in the series and dead quiet.Dead,dead quiet perfect for studio work or lots of wattage. The space around the notes.... It's like looking at the stars in the suburbs for the signature pkg. and then looking at the stars in the country. It's just that much more.Each is very enjoyable and should be enjoyed for what it is. Two amps gets you more tone options and control etc. But it does not get you closer to a series.IMHO | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 98 Registered: 3-2009 |
Barry, I agree with you totally man. It would not be an Alembic if it were to sound "bad" anyway. Each type of wood has it's own timbre too, unique, beautiful to gaze upon and listen to!.....You'll have to school me as to what IMHO means though. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8286 Registered: 5-2002 |
In my honest opinion, and in my humble opinion, schooling is a good thing. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2561 Registered: 2-2006 |
You're on a roll today Dave, witt with the words. It's Mad Houcks Oratory! OO | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2562 Registered: 2-2006 |
Looking back over this thread I got to say it again, Chalie you're rig is SMOKIN'. I bet it kicks some major tail. And Pauldo, who's the old guy with gray hair wearing my red shirt? ;( OO | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 170 Registered: 6-2006 |
Olie! :-D You are right, after playing through the Alembic pre-amps and Bag End speakers it is a safe bet to say that Chalie has the rig to die for! That picture? Ohhh I just Photo-shoped that gray in there to make you look more ,,,uh 'mature' yeah that's it mature. ;-) | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2565 Registered: 2-2006 |
Well it worked Pauldo Enzo thanks for the kind words sir, the feeling is mutual. It was great to meet everyone. We have some great folks in this forum. OO | ||
| chalie_holmes
Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 99 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Olie and Pauldo ! I really am humbled by all of your compliments! Hey Dave I appreciate the enlightenment for IMHO!! It is really such a joy being able to be in "the mix" now when I play in a band.I get a lot of compliments about that distillate! I have a kind and loving wife that bought me that Distillate for a christmas present! If I had never got that bass I would not have had the desire to build my rig.!!! Peace my Alembic Brothers! | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 87 Registered: 3-2009 |
  Updated Racks as of 12/15/10 | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 88 Registered: 3-2009 |
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