| Author | Message | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 108 Registered: 2-2003 |
He happened upon a second-hand Alembic in a Los Angeles music store. “Someone had wired it incorrectly, so I gave it to my guitar tech, Pete Cook, to fix. Right before we were to leave for a U.S. tour, he brought it to a rehearsal, where I tried it and was, of course, blown away. I flew over early to order three more basses from Alembic, who eventually built me the Explorer-shaped models.” quote from http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear-74-85.html Hi guys...sorry if this has been posted before, but theres alot of great photos and info here on John and his Alembics/Amps etc. - Tom | ||
| jonj
New Username: jonj Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2004 |
Well if it has been posted before I haven't seen it. Great stuff! | ||
| stoney
Advanced Member Username: stoney Post Number: 329 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey, cool stuff, thanks...never noticed it before. Nice "Explorers" huh? (uugh) | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 109 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hi..... Does anyone know why John has two Master Volume controls on one of his Exploiters? Is this due to his playing style... Also, I have never actually seen an exploiter but I always thought they were huge... but in one photo where John is sitting it actually looks very managable, streamlined and comfortable.... - Tom | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 377 Registered: 7-2003 |
Tom,Guys, the page was updated some time ago and is really a great source now. As for the two master volumes: John had this setup on his two main Spyders with the pointed headstocks as well on the 8string Spyder. On the V-head Spyder he only had one master vol. With the two master volumes and the mini toggle switch between he could switch immediately between two settings. That´s all. As for the size, the Spyders are huge and very heavy. My two Spyders weigh around 7kgs. It is still very manageable and comfortable and very balanced, but also very huge and heavy. Many greetings Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 110 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hi senmen... thanks for the info, cool idea about the two different settings! I have heard that the Spyders balanced perfectly as well... and I love the shape, But am I right in my conversion of 7kgs = 15 lbs!!!!! that is one heavy bass, tone, tone, tone  - Tom | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 381 Registered: 7-2003 |
Tom, yeah very heavy but a real killer tone! Oliver | ||
| ox_junior
Intermediate Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 180 Registered: 3-2004 |
He ain't heavy, he's my Spyder. Mike | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 593 Registered: 9-2003 |
Correct me if I'm wrong, Spyder Ollie, but that quote about Pete Cook and John's first Alembic is also in the "Bass Culture" book. For those that missed the initial issue of the book (ca. 6 mos. ago), get your's at amazon.com...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...even for you guitar players: John collected all GUITARS, not just basses. Regardless, that is a very nice link! | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 111 Registered: 2-2003 |
 Hi, I just took a closer look at this photo that was posted at the same link as above, and It seems that John has the strap button (lock) placed on the neck (15th fret). I realize this is a short scale bass and that they have balance issues for some, but still I just found this a little curious, Seems like it would be an issue when venturing into the higher registers. - Tom | ||
| son_of_magni
Intermediate Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 125 Registered: 1-2004 |
I'm guessing that he just has it unhooked from the button and it's hanging... | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 112 Registered: 2-2003 |
yea maybe, In retrospect that really would not make sense to have a strap button placed there. ... but it sure looks like theres some tension on the strap. - Tom | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 384 Registered: 7-2003 |
Tom, no I also think he had just strapped off. The bass pictured, a Piccolo bass with a graphite neck,was sold at the Sotheby´s event and is now owned by an american guy. This guy had posted last year hear in the forum with a bunch of photos of this particular bass. The bass has an upward-down whammy bar installed which is not factory original following an older statement from Mica. Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 114 Registered: 2-2003 |
Yea it would definitely not make sense to have a strap button there... - Tom (who sometimes posts in haste) | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 48 Registered: 12-2003 |
I have seen a 1982 performance of the Who on german TV a few months back and John Used his cone head exploiter for almost the entire thing. (only switching when he needed a fretless sound at which he strapped on a Wal) If you think the exploiter looks huge, then you're not mistaken. John wore the bass way up high and the bass completely dwarfed him. He was constantly fiddling with the controlls on the lower horn, getting a really raunchy overdrive when flicking one of the switches so I guess that it had some kind of Distortion device built in. Here's the reason why John Entwistle eventually stopped using Alembics. “Unfortunately, the basses were very sensitive to the climate changes on our tour schedules, and I’d spend as long as a half-hour before every gig making adjustments. Also, I grew tired of the bloody 5-pin Cannon jack and transformer box I had to use with them. What finally put me off was when we did Live Aid. Right before we were to play, my main bass went dead because I’d accidentally crossed some wires while changing the battery. I ran for the backup bass but couldn’t tune it because there were no transformers backstage. At that point we were introduced, and I barely managed to get back onstage in time to start ‘My Generation.’ If you listen closely to the video, you can hear me tuning the D string as we go. I just about got it in tune in time for the bass solo. I sold the main bass to the Hard Rock Cafe — that was its punishment.” (Message edited by blazer on October 31, 2004) |
