| Author | Message | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 500 Registered: 1-2004 |
We all love our Alembics, that's for sure. And the Alembic Club is a wonderful place to talk about everything Alembic, but... ...I believe most of us - being the open minded, critical and creative musicians we always say we are - own, play and enjoy other instruments too. So to satisfy everyone's (especially my) curiosity please use this thread to list the 'other' instruments that every now and then steal some time, love and attention from your beloved Alembic(s)! I'll start: Benavente SingleCut 5-string Wilfred  | ||
| bassplayer2106
Junior Username: bassplayer2106 Post Number: 22 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hi - like I've said before I do like that singlecut very nice.My Alembic will soon be joined by a Status Kingbass when it's finished being built.Rob informed me today that they're about to start laquering it.I'll post some pictures when I get it.Regards Kevin. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 748 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wilfred, do you still have the Guild B301? That's still a sentimental favorite of mine. To answer the question, my other toy is a Warwick Thumb Bolt on. I also have three guitars, a MIM Strat, an Ibanez AE300, and a Yamaha G-55A classical that I rescued from an ex-wife. The poor thing was all dusty and missing strings being hidden away in a closet.  Sam | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 305 Registered: 11-2004 |
I still play my upright (German circa 1910) some. http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/17267.html?1111100980 The black 5 string on the wall is a Washburn active J style. Washburns are known for their acoustics more than for their electrics but I always liked the way it feels. The neck is as narrow as my Epic 4. The hollow 4 string is a Tacoma Thunderchief (pre-whoever it is that bought Tacoma). I really like the way it sounds. The amplified sound is very much like the unplugged sound. I wanted one that didn’t color it too much. I really like it. It still gets a little playing time. I really try to give the violins and viola a little attention, too. http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/14898.html?1110075428 The other 2 basses used to get some playing time when I give my 8 year old a bass lesson. It is such a treat for him to get a lesson on the Epic 4 that we don't even get the other ones out anymore. Rich | ||
| darkstar01
New Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2005 |
WEll, even though I've already posted mine, I guess i should try out my new name :] Not pictured are my new custom Balance k (which i've named Dark Star), and my MK Standard 4. -Austin  | ||
| stoney
Senior Member Username: stoney Post Number: 409 Registered: 7-2002 |
Occasionally I take the Jazz Bass out for a spin. Here it is at a Relay for Life show a few weeks ago.  (side note...this was my 50th birthday gift from my wife) Stoney | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 501 Registered: 1-2004 |
Hey Sam, yes, I still have the B-301, but it's gutted and not really a bass at this moment. Therefore I didn't mention it, but the moment phase 6 (or was it 7 already?) of this ongoing project is finished it'll be considered part of the family again... Wilfred | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 150 Registered: 7-2004 |
Here's my small but always changing string family. Everything has been well played, though, perhaps not always played well. The Skylark gets the most attention lately, with the Martin a distant second. Another being built (not an Alembic, I'm afraid) will be added to the crew sometime this Winter. Tom  (Message edited by tom_z on June 21, 2005) | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 483 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here are a couple of my all time favorites, My '68 Jazz Bass,  And my '81 Gold Jazz Bass  The Gold one has been with me longer than any other Bass in my collection. | ||
| jalevinemd
Intermediate Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 179 Registered: 12-2003 |
Here's my family photo. The Little Bear and Big Bear get most of the attention, followed closely by the PRS and Les Paul. I break out the Dean Time Capsule when the southern rock bug bites and the Taylor is mostly for when my daughter wants to hear a little Old MacDonald. I'd love to find a good home for one of the 330's.  | ||
| stoney
Senior Member Username: stoney Post Number: 411 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Rami, I wondered when you'd chime in. How about a nice airel photo of your "bass warehouse".... | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 484 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Stoney, I'd love to, but I just don't have enough floor space in my appartment to lay them all out! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 427 Registered: 9-2002 |
I was never just nuts for having lots of instruments; I just felt funny that some of them would never get played much or at all . . . it must go back to my piano days in that I'd go to other people's homes and invariably they'd have a 'furniture' piano. Just sat in the living room unplayed along with the 'nice' furniture they only used for having company over . . . always unplayed, untuned, and forgotten. Just didn't seem right. Basses were always like tools to me, the way a great mechanic has a really used but CLEAN set of SnapOns. I never babied them, but I always wanted them tight, tuned, and ready to go, and they always needed to look good and feel good. So I never got crazy about a collection for me, though I admire people that can maintain a closet full of them. So at this point in my life, now that I rarely gig, it's all abour sentiment. My ALEMBIC basically fell out of the sky one day, stole it as a consignment in a local store. My brother-in-law fronted me the funds, and my mother paid him back for me. LOTS of emotion in that story, and the instrument still reveals another side of itself and reaffims its supremacy every time I play it. I always think of all of you often when it's in my hands, and it's all the more satisfying that it was built by a Family Business. The other two are also sentimental faves: My '87 Yamaha BB5000 and it's son, a '91 BB5000A. 'Back in the day' in the 80s, the vision of a white BB owned my daydreams, the way guitar players lust for that flametop LP of their dreams. I had a white 3000, but could never score a 5000. Anyone who's ever had to deal with Yamaha vis-a-vis back orders will laugh out loud watching people wait for their ALEMBIC to be finished and shipped. I was on back order for a BB2000 for TWO YEARS. Christmas two years ago I walked into a nearby pawn shop I usually cruise every so often, and there was a really clean BB5000A hanging there. These were even more rare than the original 5000s. One little dent on the rim I could live with, no case, great price. I bought it on the spot. Couldn't believe it. I still was looking for a white 5000 though . . . Found one this year for my birthday in March. A Bass-only store in my home state of Texas. Dead-mint, the original Yamaha brown/green fur case, even the original tuning key wrench, price OK. Got it. After 25 years ! It's amazing, I felt like Ahab finally catching the white whale, utterly shamed by how long a vision of an instrument can stick with a musician. So these three warm my heart in ways that are difficult to illustrate to 'civilians', but I know you guys understand. I feel better having them around me. J o e y | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 339 Registered: 5-2002 |
In addition to my Mark King / Series II 5 string and my Series I, I have two Hanewinckel 6 stringers (one fretted, one not) and a Marchlewski 5 string.  I also have a Musicman Bongo 5 that I picked up for a ridiculously low price at a Guitar Center Memorial Day Blowout. And finally, there's the Elephant Bass (look at it sideways). It's a Fernandes Nomad. I picked it up pretty cheap with the intent of having a bass my kids could play and keep their hands off mine.  Peace, James | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 237 Registered: 10-2002 |
seen before but I don't mind posting pictures of my small collection...  Aside from the 2 alembics, I have a '79 precision that used to be a tobacco sunburst. A friend added the p'ups from his dead ricky and I added the schaller bridge. This gets alot of use by my eldest daughter just now - at least it's not redundant. The black thing was my attempt at building a bass when I was too poor to afford a real one. It's loosely based on the gibson RD but is lined fretless (I used car body filler for the fretlines). The action is usually excellent but the neck couldn't really be described as stable. I also have a '60s Hofner President single cutaway deep bodied Semi-acoustic that was gifted to me by my dad. Unfortunately no pictures as my eldest brother currently has the guitar in Aukland - says he was going to have it professionally restored. That was 9 years ago ;-( I also have a cheap Yamaha acoustic guitar that I use foe songwriting but it needs the strings changing. graeme | ||
| zn_bassman
Junior Username: zn_bassman Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2005 |
Wow, there's some great stuff in this thread. Stoney, what year is your Jazz? Darkstar, can you give us some details about your collection? | ||
| darkstar01
New Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2005 |
I'd be happy to :] The top row left to right is: Modulus Quantum 5, Semi-hollow Modulus Quantum 6, Warrior 7 string, 6 string Rainbow bass built to Claypool's Rainbow's specifications by Darrin Huff. Laying down left to right: '03 Brown Bass, '02 Warwick LTD FNA Jazzman with Curly Bubinga top, '77 Jazzbass with Status graphite neck (which i've since replaced), '03 Warwick Fretless 6 string streamer with Zebrawood top, '75 Precision Bass with Status neck, Warwick Thumb (The fourth ever built, made by Hans Peter Wilfer himself), Zon Hyperbass, and a 5 string fretless Excel with ebony top. Barely pictured in front is my '96 Meisel upright. Austin | ||
| blazer
Member Username: blazer Post Number: 58 Registered: 12-2003 |
My list 1. "The Veteran" a 1989 Squier Stratocaster Red. Bought new in 1991. Untill very recently, this has been my main guitar for live use. It has Dimarzio humbuckers in both the neck and bridge positions, and a replacement Fernandes neck. I took the original neck off since I wanted to add a double locking bridge on my guitar but didn't want to ruin the old neck by installing a locking nut. That original neck ended up on... 2. "New Veteran" a mid eighties sunburst Fender Japan Stratocaster with the original neck from "The veteran", this one has since replaced my Red one as my main stage guitar. I installed a Seymour Duncan Little 59 pickup at the bridge. 3. Recent Ibanez RG 220, refinished in Baby blue. Bought to use live as a spare for "The veteran" But after I left my last band I played that one less and less, I'm currently thinking of selling it. 4. My 1998 Squier Affinity Telecaster. This one has been extensively modified, I stripped the body and inlayed the top with contrasting wood strips. Again a guitar that has proven its worth in live use. I also outfitted this one with Replacement pickups, a dimarzio PAF classic at the neck and a Seymour Duncan little 59 (my favorite humbucker) at the bridge. 5. 2005 Squier 51. Blonde with a black pickguard, totally stock. This is one of the two Squier 51's which were on display at the Fender stand in the Frankfurter musicfair last April (the other one was a sunburst) I found a music store which had bought the guitars on display and that's how I got it. It's a rare piece, Fender has since discontinued the black guard 51 and mine is likely to be the only one in the Netherlands. It's a sweet guitar. 6. The TelePaul. A selfmade telecaster/Les paul Junior hybrid. Sunburst, one of the first guitars I ever made. It always makes heads turn whenever I take it out. 7. My Jazzmaster Jr. A selfmade Jazzmaster like solid with a smaller body outline, P-90 soapbar pickups. 8. Mid nineties Epiphone Les Paul custom. This one is currently in repair I replaced the neck (the original had snapped off in a very ugly way) and it's being refinished in white. 9. Selfmade Nylong string solid. Amber. 10. My Martin Sigma DR18H Accoustic, Japanese made. A very well crafted and sounding guitar. 11. My mid eighties Aria classical guitar, the second guitar I ever owned. I wrote all my songs on it. 12. a Cheap no name Baritone Ukelele. I tune this one in fifths like a mandocello. 13. a recent Ibanez Mandolin. Sunburst, no big deal, cheap and resonably sounding. 14. Squier Precision Bass. Sunburst, replacment ESP neck. This bass sound much better than I thought it would. 15. Selfmade Alt guitar tuned a fourth higher than normal. Lovely chiming bell-like sound. 16. Selfmade Rickenbacker bass copy with Kent Armstrong pickups and a Maple and Platanus body. I also have several incomplete guitars and loose bodies lying around. | ||
| son_of_magni
Intermediate Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 176 Registered: 1-2004 |
The beauty and sound of my custom inspired me to try me hand at building. These are two of my creations that, along with my Alembic, are my main basses. My profile picture probably shows a few more. Enjoy, SoM     And if you have a broadband connection (and you happen to be interested) here's a quick video of me warming up for a jam a couple years ago with my custom... http://www.sonofthor.com/video/SoTBand4July2004.mov (Message edited by son_of_magni on June 26, 2005) | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 240 Registered: 10-2002 |
Wow Karl. Those are pretty impressive basses. On your profile pic, is that an Eden Preamp? if so, how do you find it? Thinking of the same myself.. Graeme | ||
| ajdover
Advanced Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 231 Registered: 11-2003 |
Here are mine .... sorry about the pic quality .. I've got to learn how to use my digital camera a bit better. Enjoy, Alan    | ||
| son_of_magni
Intermediate Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 182 Registered: 1-2004 |
Graeme, thanks for the encouragement. Yes, it's an Eden Navigator. It is very nice, I don't even regret spending all that money on it. There have been some changes since that picture though. The SWR 4x10 is replaced with an Eden 2x10 and the Mesa 400+ is replaced with an Ampeg SVT Classic. Each of those changes were big improvements. If anyone wants to make a compact rig that really sounds awesome, the Ampeg with the Eden cab is a great combo. But my full stack is bi-amping with the Navigator into the Ampeg SVT-CL/Eden cab for the highs and into an Ampeg B2R with a 1x18 for the bottom. It is sweet... | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 245 Registered: 10-2002 |
Karl. I've been looking at the WP100 navigator myself. Probably put it through a QSC PLX2402 into Eden 1x15 and 2x10 cabinets, I have a friend over here who's going to let me try out his rig - Very similar except he uses an alembic F1X pre amp and 2 210s, still sounds amazing though. graeme | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 122 Registered: 3-2004 |
This is an excellent oppurtunity to show my new Giffin (it arrives tomorrow). Now to set its signal coursing through my sf-2 . . .  | ||
| alanbass1
Member Username: alanbass1 Post Number: 92 Registered: 4-2005 |
Umm, I will have to get a family shot and post it. However, my current collection consists of: Guitars: DeTemple '56 Spirit Series strat (amazing) Goodfellow custom telecaster (and again) PRS Singlecut with solid brazilian rosewood neck (err, amazing) PRS 10th Anniversary (beautiful) PRS Santana Martin D45 Rodrigo Moreira Classical (Hauser style - Brazilian Rosewood) Basses: Alembic MK Signature (well, shall we say amazing) Icene Zoot Bass Warwick Thumb Bass 1978 Musicman Stingray | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1976 Registered: 5-2002 |
To paraphrase from another recent thread, "my other bass is also an Alembic". | ||
| 82daion
New Username: 82daion Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2005 |
Here's something that's almost identical to my bass, a 1982 Daion Power Mk. XX-B. Very "Alembic-esque," very rare, and very high-quality. I've been thinking about dumping the original electronics and replacing them with a Bartolini setup, or I might build my own filter set for it(yeah right!) They are really good basses, and it's a pity they didn't catch on, but at almost $900 less case in 1982, they were a bit much. It's nice having something that almost no one else has(kind of like Alembics). I wish I could flesh out my collection with an Alembic, but with c-o-l-l-e-g-e coming up, that's not likely, unless I take out a student loan or something. Here's the bass: http://www.diamondstrings.com/daion%20mxII%20bass%20-1.jpg | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 280 Registered: 3-2004 |
The stick was traded. The Ric, Tbird, and possibly the Ripper are for sale. $800, $800, $500. Ripper has no case but a lovely framed Gibson ad and 2nd set of tuners. Danno  | ||
| sfnic
Intermediate Member Username: sfnic Post Number: 103 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hmmm. I suppose I should add my list. No pics yet, but this might encourage me to take some: Basses (all years unknown): Hohner B2 (Steinberger clone) Sierra P-Bass Guild Starfire IV (Hagstrom pups) Tobias Acoustic Tenor Bass (highly custom) Guitars 1961 Gibson ES-335 (PAFs, highly modified) 1971 Gibson SG 1972 Gibson ES-345 1978 Ovation Glen Campbell 1118-4 12-string 1970s Regal Archtop (mfd. for Fender) 1981 Hondo (Strat-clone prototype) 1980s Martin D-16K 2005 Niles OM-C #1 1980s Chapman Stick Under construction: Niles "Spaltline" Bass prototype #1 Niles "Spaltline" Fretless Bass prototype #2 Niles "PX-1" Parlour #4 Niles "JP Kincaid Signature" prototype #1 (I need more stands...) (Message edited by sfnic on July 14, 2005) | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 513 Registered: 1-2004 |
Hi Nic, quite an impressive list! If you want to know the year of birth of your Guild Starfire, you could post or PM me the serial number. I own the Guild reference book written by Hans Moust (Dutchman, great guy BTW) and I will be able to help you... Wilfred |
