| Author | Message | ||
| rklisme
Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 72 Registered: 5-2004 |
Hey Guy's It is pretty obvious that we all play and love our Alembics but I am sure like myself some of us have other instruments we play. What other basses do you have and why do you use them? While you are at it what style of music do you enjoy playing? I can think of many reasons to buy a bass but a few might be price, sound, investment, looks, or maybe your favorite bass player plays one! I personally have in my collection, One Black Fender Jazz Bass with maple neck, 6 string Ken Smith Bubinga with hard rock maple and Pau Ferro fretboard, two 5 string Ken Smith basses with quilted maple and maple neck with rose wood fretboards, two band and four band electronics, Red Essence 4 string with Europa electronics, maple top with ebony fretboard. I mainly play through a Gallien Krueger combo amp with 1-10 and 70 watts but my main rig consist of Eden 6-10 setup. Most of the gigs I do are replacement bass player gigs so my style varies however I probably do most of my work out of the fake/ real books! It seems sometimes when you show up to a gig that nothing will do for that particular gig but a Fender. I often hear I want that Fender sound, blah, blah, blah, so I bring it and change to my Alembic later! Anyway I would love to hear what everyone else is doing! Rory | ||
| smokin_dave
Intermediate Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 153 Registered: 10-2002 |
Over the years(tooo many)I have owned a Crestwood,a 77' Fender P,a 72'Rick,an 84'Fender J,a '93 Musicman Stingray which I sold a few months later one fateful day to buy my 94'Alembic Epic 4.Nine years later I bought a 03'Rogue 5.After I bought the Epic,I swore I would own no other bass but an Alembic.I've played but never owned Ken Smith's,Zon's,Yamaha's,Steinberger's,ect...but nothing,so far,even comes close to an Alembic.I run my Alembic's through an SWR sm400 with an Alembic SF-2 in the effects loop and into 2 Eden 410XLT's.I would love to own however,a setup like Paul's Tweak Peaks.I WANT GLOCKENKLANG POWER/SPEAKER'S AND ALEMBIC PROCESSING.NOW! | ||
| dannobasso
Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2004 |
In addition to my family of 9 (soon to be ten) Alembics I just picked up a Gibson Ripper L9S to replace my first bass. I also picked up a Jetglo Ric 4003 stereo. I replaced the pickguard to make it all black. My bro has a rare dark walnut 4001 in the 70's. I didn't have any cash to buy it from him. So now I play my Yes, Rush, etc in my studio. I'm even dusting off my PK5 pedals and synth modules to rattle the foundation! I only gig with Alembics. The others are for sentimental reasons and severe GAS while waiting the past 15 months for #10! | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 432 Registered: 12-2002 |
A De,armond pilot bass is my other axe,but it's in the closet,my alembic (old#12)is my best friend and has been for 25 yrs. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 510 Registered: 11-2003 |
Around about 1968 I convinced myself that Jack Bruce is some form of deity, hence my Warwick Thumb Bass. That's my only other bass besides the Epic. I sold the Fenders to get the Warwick and never looked back. Not that they were bad instruments but I'm much more satisfied with what I have now. I'm bidding on a Guild B302 that's on ebay. This is for sentimental reasons only (see the regrets thread). That was my first bass and I'm getting soft in my old age. Any new serious aquisitions though will be Alembic. There is just nothing like them in any catagory, tone, playability, workmanship, etc. Twin Peaks is awesome as is Bonnie. There isn't a Glockenklang dealer anywhere near me. The only place I know that I've heard them is Twin Peaks herself on the Drive website. Very much worth the visit BTW. Sam | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 367 Registered: 6-2002 |
(Message edited by rami on July 24, 2004) | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 368 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Danno, I remember the Ripper! I had a thing for it at one time - I particularly liked the fretless one. Although I feel it's unfortunate that Gibson never seemed to put the same effort to developing and marketing their basses as they do their guitars. I have one Gibson Bass - an SG-Z I found used. It's in perfect condition. They only made it for a short time (1998-2001) until like most Gibson Basses (except of course, the legendary Thunderbird)- it was discontinued. I paid $600 for it. I was shocked to find out it was selling new for almost $2300!!!! Probably explains why it never sold. I'm thinking about sending it to Alembic to upgrade it, or maybe I'll just keep it as is... A cool looking SG Bass that was too short lived and WAY overpriced. | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 246 Registered: 9-2003 |
I aquired a Gibson EB-3 (vintage '68 or so) from a friend back in the early '80's for a song. I fixed a guitar tech's A/C in his old Buick in exchange for him setting up the thing (neck needed to be clamped, etc.). My brother still has it. Unfortunately, even though it has two p/u's plus the five-position "Varitone" p/u selector switch, it has five sounds,: mud, mud, muddy, muddier, muddiest, LOL! The weird scale limits your choice on strings as well...no Rotos for this bad boy, LOL! As a long-time Gibson fan and an owner of a Custom Shop Les Paul: Gibson should spend "Les" money on marketing, and more money on making their instruments better. I used to think their stuff was quality, until I saw Alembic's stuff up-close and personal: no comparison. Just my $0.02. | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 175 Registered: 1-2004 |
Besides my 3 Alembics I enjoy an all original 1977 Fender Precision with maple neck for some vintage passive sounds. In the living room hangs my first bass, a customised 1977 Guild B-301, that gets picked up occasionally for some 'acoustic' plucking on the sofa. You can see that strange phenomenon on the picture in my profile BTW. I also have a DeArmond Pilot Deluxe that I'm looking to sell, great bass but just no comparison to my Alembics. Wilfred | ||
| rklisme
Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 73 Registered: 5-2004 |
Hey Guys It is interesting to hear so many of you own or have own Gibson Basses. To me it almost seems like they are the exact opposite of what Alembic is all about as far as tone and sound are concerned but, "what do I know?" Rami, you probably have more basses than all of us combined, how did you first get started with Alembic? What style of music do you play? What would be your all time favorite Alembic? Keavin,will you retire #12 anytime soon or will you wear her like a Timex? Might be time for #12 to have grandkids! I would like to thank everyone for chiming in on this subject, I am sure it has come up before in the past but I have only been around a short time. Most of you did not mention styes I would also be interested in what style of music you play! Rory | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 369 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Rory, My first Alembic is a '98 fretless Excel 4 Walnut top. I found it (it found me) one day as I was browsing my local music store for a fretless Bass. It was only $1499. Totally blew me away! The salesguy knew enough to leave me alone with it long enough until I fell completely in love with it. I held it in a full embrace as he was preparing the bill and calling for it's case from their stockroom. Until I played that Bass, I never truly heard a Bass sing. That kinda says it all for me and Alembics - they're simply the best, the Stradivarius or Rolls Royce of Basses. That one will always hold a special place in my heart. My current favorite(s) have to be the ones designed by myself and Mica, The "Dark Prince", "Evil Twin" and (currently being completed) "Black Byrd". As for the type of music I play on them, Everything and Anything!!! They sing! | ||
| hup
Junior Username: hup Post Number: 25 Registered: 1-2003 |
I got my first and only Alembic Spoiler 5 (coco bolo) back in 94, it has been the best bass ive ever played, before this i had a 91 Fender p bass lyte, and i still have a 76 Fender Musicmaster great little bass but it just sits in the closet, My next Alembic will be Spoiler 5 (coco bolo) with led's, series II electronics - the style of music i play is all original heavy alternative rock with female vocal - can be heard at www.songramp.com band name White Iris - you may have to join songramp to hear us but join cause its free and you can post your own music there and hear some great other songwiters and bands cheers Hup ALEMBICISE THE WORLD | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 258 Registered: 5-2002 |
In addition to my 4 string Series I and 5 string Series II, I have....(in the order I acquired them) * a 6 string fretted Hanewinckel * a 6 string fretless Hanewinckel * a 5 string Marchlewski My Series II is my main bass and is featured at all gigs. The fretless Hanewinckel goes with me on gigs and gets played on some of the more mellow tunes or on stuff that moves so fast that I want to eliminate noise from me banging against the frets. Peace, James | ||
| ajdover
Intermediate Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 108 Registered: 11-2003 |
My herd is as follows: 1973 Fender Jazz Bass, with Badass Bridge and Seymour Duncan pickups. Has black block maple neck. 1994 Fender Jazz Bass 1975 RI, set up as above. 1974 Gibson Ripper, and it's beat to ?hit. But it plays and sounds great! 1976 Rickenbacker 4001, Autumnglo. 1979 Musicman Stingray, Maple. Got it off of ebay, and I think it's been refinished. Just had the neck refretted (same on the '73 Jazz). 1987 Gibson Thunderbird that's about to have Bartolini pickups and electronics dropped in it (stock TB pickups suck, IMHO). 2003 Alembic Spyder, #7 of 50. 2003 Alembic Europa 4, with LEDs. 2004 Ovation Celebrity Acoustic bass (bought it yesterday in the Nakwon market in Seoul, South Korea). The Ripper, Thunderbird, Musicman, and Alembics I bought because I always wanted them when I was younger, but couldn't afford them. The Jazz Basses and the Rickenbacker is what I grew up playing. I also had Guild B301 (my first decent bass), but I haven't been able to find one in good enough condition to bid on on Ebay. Favorites? The Alembics, of course. But I do love the Jazz, Rick, and the Ripper as well. I find myself playing my Alembics more than the others, but I play all of them. I'm not a collector - I play my stuff. I really like some of the funky sounds you can get out of a Ripper, and the Jazz sound is kind of a standard for me (it's why I bought the Europa). Alan | ||
| rogertvr
Advanced Member Username: rogertvr Post Number: 236 Registered: 1-2003 |
I have my beloved 1980 Rickenbacker 4001 in azureglo. I got it new in 1981 - takes a while for these things to reach the UK! I also have a Westone Thunder 1A fretless, which cost something like £200 when I bought it new in the mid-80's. I bought it because it was hanging in the shop in the town I used to work in, it had been there a while and no-one seemed to want it. When I played it, I couldn't understand why. It played really well and still does - yep, it's on the basic side and it didn't cost a fortune (I struggled to afford it at the time) but it responds well to different strings and I really enjoy it. Along with the 4001, it's the only bass I've bought and kept. Plenty of others have come and gone along the way. You might seem amazed by this, but I still play them both regularly even though I have the Dragon's Wing. Obviously it can't replace a fretless but it also cannot make Rickenbacker sounds. Nothing can except Rickenbacker. I've also got a whole collection of synthesizers - basically I need to win the lottery and give-up working for a living so that all of my instruments can have the attention they deserve. If you're not interested in synths, stop reading now...the list is:- Moog Mini-Moog Moog Source Moog Taurus II Controller Roland Jupiter 8 Roland D-50 Roland PK-5 Novation KS5 Roland TR707 rhythm composer Cheers, Rog | ||
| rklisme
Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 74 Registered: 5-2004 |
Hey Guy's Quite a few of these basses I have heard of but some are very alien to me. James I have never heard of a Hanewinckel or a Marchlewski how do they compare to your Alembics? Are they high-end instruments? I remember the Gibson Ripper, although I have not seen one in a few years. At the time they were introduced I thought they were pretty cool. I think I just aged myself! Speaking of age, I went on a gig last night for someones CD release party, I was part of the opening act anyway it was in San Francisco and very overcast and cloudy. The venue was artsy with a lot of directional lighting but none on stage. As I have mentioned previously most of my work is from the real/fake book and I could not see. Had to borrow someones reading glasses to make it through. It is tough having 48 year old eyes! In one piece C diminished looked like C flat to me but no one seemed to notice the obvious tension I was creating. In fact afterwards another fellow musician from the audience compared some of what I was doing to Anthony Jackson! I think they were on meds but I will take the compliment. Thanks again for chiming in I didn't realize so many of you had so much equipment. One other question for anyone out there! I am thinking about doing a 5 string short scale series I, tuned E,A,D,G,C and I have a few concerns. First off how tough is it to get strings in a light round wound gauge for a short scale bass? I have never played a short scale bass so I wonder about playablilty. I sit down on all my gigs so will I have to worry about the famous neck dive I hear about? Any of you that have owned or played one please give me your feedback! Rory the old one! | ||
| karl
Junior Username: karl Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi guys, Here's my current line-up: 2001 Alembic MK standard 2004 Status KingBass Artist 1987 Jaydee GA24 1991 Musicman Stingray 1988 Aria Cat Pro II (did 'a Jaco' and ripped the frets out of this one - great fretless!) And the ones I've let go over the years: 1990 Washburn Status A couple of 1980s Hohner Steinberger cricket bats A Mexican Fender Jazz V Deluxe K. | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 333 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Guys, my current basses are: Alembic Spyder 4 Alembic Spyder 8 Ovation Elite Acoustic bass (former owner JE) I play through an Eden WT400 top plus 4x10XLT and 1x15XL. The basses I have owned over the years besides many guitars have been: -Ovation Magnum bass -Hoyer Flying V bass fretless -Hohner Steinberger Copy -Gibson EB-1 Violin Bass, original 1954 with o/c and endpin (I regret having this sold!) -(Chapman Stick) So in the old days besides the guitars nothing spectacular except the EB-1. As soon as I have a new job I want to concentrate on bass collecting again. Many greetings Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 514 Registered: 11-2003 |
Oliver, Eden makes great stuff. I was looking at the Metro combo at Bass Central a couple of weeks ago. However Senior Management thought furniture should be the priority for now. Good luck with the job hunt. I'm thinking about you. Sam | ||
| harald_rost
Member Username: harald_rost Post Number: 66 Registered: 6-2002 |
This is the list of my Instruments: Alembic Series 1 1976 Warwick Thumb 1987 Warwick Thumb Jack Bruce signature 1990 Fender Precision Bass 1966 Framus Caravelle 1966 Chapman Stick Cheers Harald | ||
| mdrdvp
Intermediate Member Username: mdrdvp Post Number: 123 Registered: 7-2002 |
Besides Alembic I own J.K. Lado standard 1978 EMG electr. (my first serious bass). Egmond bass 19?? (Feels like 1900 BC) Fender Jazzbass US 2000 with Bartolini and J-retro Music Man Stringray 1988 Moon Jazzbass all white Larry Graham type. 19?? That Moon bass is fantastic. One of the best basses I've ever had. (I want another one). Manfred | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 422 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have cut back on some basses lately, so here is what I have today. 1972 Alembic 1973 Alembic 1973 Alembic 1978 BecVar Bass 1978 Hyak Bass 1979 Rick Turner Model 1 1979 Hyak Bass 1981 Alembic 2000 Alembic That is too many. I am parting with one of the Hyaks, and I may part with the BecVar and one of the older Alembics. | ||
| jagerphan84
Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 58 Registered: 10-2003 |
Why limit it to basses? Here are my current instruments: 1982 Alembic Distillate 4 1990s Ibanez SoundGear 505 (not bad for the price!) DeArmond electric guitar (doubles as boat oar) Guild D-212 acoustic guitar (strung with 6 strings) 1970s Baldwin Fanfare Organ (free if anyone wants it!) And those instruments which are no longer with me: 1997 (I think) Alembic Epic 4 fretless (now in Germany, last I heard) 1987 Modulus 5-string (pre-Quantum) Fender American Standard Jazz 4 Warwick Corvette Standard 4 Gibson SG electric guitar Antigua Winds alto sax Selmer clone (cheap) tenor sax Monique baritone sax (used to be my 'main axe!' ... main sax, i suppose) Fender A-style mandolin Yamaha trumpet Jupiter flute ...and a bunch more I can't really remember... I'm always interested in buying and trading, so anyone looking to get rid of any gear (from basses to steel drums to saxes and anything in between) drop me an email. I am especially interested in fretless instruments, both bass and otherwise. (Hey, I got a great fretless trombone here...) | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 111 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ok, here's my list: 1973 Rickenbacker 4001 - Mapleglow, currently being refretted 199? Ibanez Soundgear 500 - Cheap, but really nice tone...it's a poor man's Alembic, and I bought it when I was...well...POOR. I also have a fair collection of synths, which include: Korg X-3 Korg Wavestation SR Korg Prophecy Alesis QSR Roland XV3080 All operated by either an 88-key controller or 17 pedal foot controller, depending on song/section of song. Ken (TEO) | ||
| jagerphan84
Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 59 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ken - Glad to see I am not the only one here with an Ibanez bass. I too have compared mine to a 'poor man's Alembic.' The feel and tone are great for the price. I bought mine when I was 16, so needless to say I was poor. Now I am 19, living alone, and still poor...but there is an Alembic in my living room, so all is well. | ||
| jorge_s
Junior Username: jorge_s Post Number: 35 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hey Malthumb, just curious, how is that Marchlewski bass? I saw your your pictures and that bass looks very pretty. Does it play and sound like it looks? Also Dela, if you do decide to sell one of those early Alembics let me know, I'll see if I can keep it in this great city of NOLA. | ||
| bsee
Intermediate Member Username: bsee Post Number: 157 Registered: 3-2004 |
Own? Several. Zon (2), Spector (2), original Dean, Tacoma. Play? No others since I got the Persuader 5. I need to buy another Alembic so that I can play another bass again. | ||
| gare
Junior Username: gare Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2003 |
Geez, we're all gear hawgs ! My current line up is '98 Spector Euro '71 Rick 4001 '67 Rick 330/12 '90 Rick 330/6 Hamer Special (forget the yr) '78 Ibanez Geo.Benson Oberhiem Maxtrix 6 Roland XP30 Yamaha TG77 Esoniq ESQ-M MOTM/Oakley Modular synth Pre-CBS Bandmaster Pre-CBS Bassman I'm still Alembic poor, but working on unloading some of the above. (besides,I need some room for more toys) Gary | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 265 Registered: 5-2002 |
Rory and Jorge, The Hanewinckels and the Marchlewski are all very nice basses. I'd hold either of them up as a decent "poor man's Alembic". Both types are named for the luthiers that produce them and exhibit excellent craftsmanship. All three of mine (2 Hanewinckels and 1 Marchlewski) have Bartolini electronics and pickups. Now, when I say they are "poor man's Alembics", I mean that in terms of styling and design and wood quality and craftsmanship. They don't sound as awesome as my Alembics. Email me at martinjlm@aol.com if you need more detail | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 746 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here's my list: Rice Lentils Split Peas Onions Carrots Mushro.. whoops; wrong list! |
