| Author | Message | ||
| lidon2001
Junior Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2005 |
It never ceases to amaze me how certain members of this group will take ANY opportunity to bash Fender products. One would think that product bashing could be kept out of what was an already contentious post, but no, it was added for some type of effect. I'm not sure of the poster's intention. Correct me if I am wrong, but Alembic's first product was patterned after, ummm, was it, ummm, a Fender? Imitation is the HIGHEST form of flattery. My Bible: On the 6th day, God made lots of stuff, including Fenders (including Burgundy Mist, yum...). They were really good. Seventh day, He rested, and listened to what He created. It was pretty darn good, but He thought he could do better. Eight day, He made Alembic. What a day that was.... So put your Fender bashing or praise here. It's a nice single place to put all of your hatred/love for pieces of wood and metal bearing a true innovator's name. I'm still waiting for the recipe post....  (Message edited by lidon2001 on July 20, 2005) | ||
| jagerphan84
Advanced Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 203 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm the owner of a '76 P-bass in addition to my Alembics, but I wanted to make a somewhat neutral comment here: I don't think any of the 'Fender bashing' is meant to be serious. I would guess that a majority of the members here currently own, previously owned, or have at least played one or several Fenders throughout their careers. I don't think there's any malice intended in the statements, just poking a little fun. We're all pretty well aware of the contributions made by Fender to the development of electric guitars, basses, amps, etc., and I doubt anyone here would try to contest the significance of the company. That being said, my P-bass is a great instrument. The quality in construction is not in the same league as Alembic, but it's an entirely different animal which I use for entirely different purposes. Both will have a permanent place in my bass arsenal. Just my $.02! Adam | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 55 Registered: 6-2005 |
Easy lidon, easy. Take a pill and relax, jeeze o' Pete. Make sure you pick up a sense of humor with your next set of strings. Hey man, I'm just messing with you. My crack at the unwashed Fender hordes was aimed at "tongue in cheek" land. I own three of the old boat paddles myself, easy mad dog, more humor there. I have a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, a Mike Dirnt Precision with a custom pickguard, and my favorite, a 50th Anniversary P Bass. They are great basses with their own feeling and sound. But,but,but, then came Alembic, all bow down, Alembic. No harm, no foul there lindon, it's those Rickenbacker guys I don't like. Oh wait a minute, I got a few of those too. I'll have to get back to ya when I think of a bad bass. If I may quote James, Peace. | ||
| lidon2001
Junior Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2005 |
Yes, that lump in my cheek is my tongue. I was hoping someone will read this and start the recipe post. I'm hungry. | ||
| lidon2001
Junior Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2005 |
My formerly feral Fender, now existing domestically until I bring it in the wild and let it go off  My currently feral Rick - last seen passing through Uncle Bob's about 7 years ago. Please come home.  And my feral cat. Born in my back yard, currently sleeping on my recliner, and still feral when he wants to be. I'm gonna end up like that magician in Vegas.  | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 486 Registered: 11-2002 |
Good, now that we're past that, what sort of food do you like? | ||
| lidon2001
Junior Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2005 |
Someone once told me there's only one thing more amusing than a feral Fender - a Grateful Dead concert! I can't comment, I've never been to one, but I sure like Touch of Grey! lol | ||
| jetbass79
Member Username: jetbass79 Post Number: 65 Registered: 2-2005 |
Somebody on here compared Alembic to a 5 star restaurant and Fender to McDonald's. Hold on a minute. They are different animals entirely. You can say what you want but a Fender Precision or Jazz (and variations on themes thereof) is still a perfectly acceptable way to make fine bass sounds. They wouldn't still make them if people didn't buy them. Simple, effective, and portable was the mantra for Fender's bass designs and they got most of it right. My only beef with Fender of today is that they market like a corporate giant. They have the ability, if they wanted, to have a few "standard" models and then have the sky be the limit and make it work for most people. But they see the product as something that needs to be categorized: low, low mid, mid, mid high, high, and very high end. That way they make as much money as possible. Don't go ripping the Precision or Jazz or you'd have to toss out 70 percent of your record collection. Let's not forget the guitars either... Furthermore, some people just don't have the money for deluxe ebony neck lams, quilted cocobolo tops and backs with Series II electronics with a volume knob per string and a parametric EQ for each string. The greatest thing about the electric bass is the diversity that has spawned in the last 54 years. But it came from somewhere: Fullerton, CA in 1951 when some madman named Leo Fender came up with an instrument that nobody knew who was supposed to play it. | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 56 Registered: 6-2005 |
Hey jb79, wadda talking about some folks can't afford a Series Alembic? How much ya think it will cost to care for that fearsome feline from above? You are right, Fenders sounded good on those old, hard to hear, low tech, pieces of wobbly vinyl. But on a crystal clear CD, oh yea, they sound darn good there as well. Come to think of it, James Jamerson would sound brilliant using my old Crestwood Hofner copy bass, drunk with nine of his fingers broke. Scary to think what might have happened had he an Alembic lying around. Hmmm Mr. Clarke? | ||
| 57basstra
Junior Username: 57basstra Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2005 |
I Promise pics soon....I had to jump in... I have a 1969 Fender Telecaster Bass that has a voice all of its own and boy does it thump! I also have a 1984 American Fender Precision and a 2005 American Fender Jazz (Plus two American Strats, one a Jeff Beck and an American Telecaster. Not to mention my Fender Bassman Amp..)....as I've said before, Alembics are King, but there are Fenders inthe Royalty Line | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 58 Registered: 6-2005 |
Nice collection, single fella eh? Gotta favorite? Bass and amp? Trust fund? | ||
| 57basstra
Junior Username: 57basstra Post Number: 46 Registered: 4-2005 |
My favorite rig right now is my '98 Mark King Custom 5 played directly through my Gallien Kruger 700RB biamp. Then with the balanced, independent direct out on the GK (with seperate volume control) I run into my Digitec 8Valve stereo process, and then stereo into my Sunn Colisium with 2-18-CVs and the other side into whatever other amp I'm favoring that day. Could be the Hartke w-410s, the Rogue wi-4-12s, or the smaller stuff...SWR, Peavey, Fender... (Everyone around my parts has a bass boat. I play my bass boat. Bass or bass, same spelling, sounds different....anyway.....I hesitate to compare Guitars to Women, but I like 'em both in all shapes and sizes.......(Oh, I bought a cream white 1977 Ric 4001 that has doubled in value in two years. It's outperformed stock portfolios that I know of.....But back to the point of the thread....I like Fenders.... | ||
| southpaw
Junior Username: southpaw Post Number: 30 Registered: 12-2004 |
Where's Rami on this thread? He has a few beautiful Fenders he has proudly shared with us before. Rami get in here! As for me, I have a '75 Jazz bass that is great. Swamp ash body, 8.5 lbs, pearl block neck, great low tone for motown, jazz , blues... As stated earlier, apples & oranges... I got a few Ricks too... Variety; the spice of life. (Message edited by southpaw on July 21, 2005) | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 285 Registered: 3-2004 |
No wife, no kids, no pets, no Fenders (bassesI mean, I have 4 of their guitars). Waiting on my 12th Alembic. Time to sell my non-Alembic stock! Basses, poweramps, cabs gots to go! BTW I'm always having my stones busted by Fender lovers who sound badly on my basses. C'est la gerre! Danno | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 59 Registered: 6-2005 |
Hey jb79, look at all this big buck Fender artillery. I would venture a guess that some of these rarities would make an Alembic price seem very reasonable. Are we on the correct site? Where did all the high priced talent come from? You fellas lucky enough to own some of this cool old hardware, please consider throwing out some photos. 57, I think I burst a blood vessel in my eye trying to follow your set up. I'm going to have to insist on diagrams from you boys out on the ledge. Sounds like you spent some time and effort to arrive at your present set up. What type of band, music and rooms are you playing? For the scary rooms, what's your favorite weapons system? | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 112 Registered: 6-2002 |
Is this about basses only? My favorite bass AMP has always been a Fender Showman. I love the sound of 6L6 tubes. When I need more power, which is most of the time, I use an F2B with a Mesa Boogie power amp (6L6s again, eight of them!). Isn't the F2B patterned after a Fender? Hmmmm. | ||
| 57basstra
Junior Username: 57basstra Post Number: 48 Registered: 4-2005 |
It's all about the headroom, man. My rig moves the air in the room (no matter the size) and you can still hear people talk.....I play it all and have played it all. I plan to play more. I also have an Upright Engelhardt. I play with Bluegrass musicians who can tear it up and won't go near an electric bass....Don't think I don't have 'em and more....I also have An Aria Pro II 900 (SB) SuperBass that I haven't mentioned and she talks. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 523 Registered: 6-2002 |
I am guilty. I have a real problem with Fender too. I know I am just closed minded about it, but I just don't get it. I personally never really understood the Fender mentality. Sorry but that is just my opinion. Fender makes great stuff I am sure, but not for me. In fact I never even owned one. My first bass was a Ric. I sold it right away. My next bass was an Alembic. I was ruined. And lidon2001, I like to think that Alembic's first INSTRUMENT was patterned after Guild and not Fender. Yeah, yeah,... I know Fender Showman. You're right there, and I love my F2B. | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 60 Registered: 6-2005 |
Hello gb, do you run your Alembic through your Showman? If so how old is she and what speakers? Reason I ask is I use to run an old Showman years ago which as I recall had a twin 12" load. She sounded great but was a little tender. At the time I was running a Gibson EB-3 through her, a fairly tame instrument. My thought is with the punch an Alembic throws one would have to be gentle with the old Showman. The first time I fired up an Alembic through my old Trace gear, I darn near fired the speakers into the cheap seats. As a young budding rock star I use to think the old Showman and the monster Duel Showman were nectar of the Gods. They just looked like a amp was supposed to look. When you add the Boogie do you also add cabs? | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 61 Registered: 6-2005 |
Hey dela217, how in the world did you select an Alembic as your second bass? Man that is like Jennifer Aniston becoming your second girlfriend. Do you realize how many women, er, I mean basses I had to go through to find an Alembic? I kept my Rick for years. Oopps, still have her. What was the Alembic that caught and seduced you? | ||
| jetbass79
Member Username: jetbass79 Post Number: 66 Registered: 2-2005 |
I am to Rickys as Dela is to Fenders. Though I owned a 4003 for a few months and then I dumped it. I couldn't play it. It's the only bass I owned that I couldn't play, and it had nothing to do with poor setup or my playing ability. It just didn't work for me. Some instruments just rub people the wrong way. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 524 Registered: 6-2002 |
J_Gary - It was the 70's. Lots of hype in the magazines about Alembic. Alembic report...wall of sound...the mods they were doing to instruments, etc... Plus, there were lots of local heroes using the Alembic stuff. I opted for the Ric because of the price. I think it was something like $280 brand new. We just never got along. Especially since I had already tried out Alembics at the local music stores. Had the Ric for a very short period of time. I guess around 3 months or so. Then saved up a bit of money, sold the Ric, and that's that. I bought a new series 1 in 77 for $1550. It was purple heart topped bass, medium scale, and a large body. I couldn't get used to the large body, so ended up swapping it for a short scale standard body style bass with the same body woods. I often wonder where that 1st Alembic ended up. Michael | ||
| j_gary
Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 63 Registered: 6-2005 |
Michael, Michael, why do you hurt me so? $1550 for a new Series I? There goes my lunch! I just gave up twice that for a tired 1980. You were fortunate to have Alembic in the area. I live in the metro Detroit area and was whoring around the bar curcuit for years, five nights a week, and never saw an Alembic. My date was a Rick 4001 and a two ton Acoustic.( Ampeg SVT/810,ha!,I can lift with one hand)I do not recall seeing them in the many music stores I hung out at during the day. Mr. Clarke was the first I heard or saw of an Alembic. In fact today there is no dealers in Michigan. On occasion I take the Rick out for a one night stand, as I think my body morphed over the years so as to fit against the back of a Rick. I completely understand how some basses just do not "fit". God I miss the 70's. In fact I am fairly certain I missed the 70's, for I lived like a vampire, rarely saw daylight. Do you still favor the small body short neck? I have a SC and a large body, medium scale Series I. I find I prefer the Series feel. I looking for a Series II and am thinking long scale. Have you run a long scale? If so what were your thoughts? Your Honor, the defense rests! | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 525 Registered: 6-2002 |
J_Gary - I guess I was in the right place at the right time. In the late 70's through the early 80's it seemed that every bassist in New Orleans was playing an Alembic. I could walk down Bourbon street and go from club to club and every bassist was wearing one. There was even a left handed bassist with a series II. I have even traded Alembics with local guys more than a few times. That definately was the good old days! Anyway, I think that all of the Series instruments are great! I personally don't use the large bodies because as you say, they don't fit. I am 5' 6" tall and I find the bodies just too big for me. I use only the small basses, but scale to me don't really matter. I have had short, medium and long scale in the small body style with no problems. From what I understand Alembic will not make a small body in long scale any more because of neck dive. It never bothered me. I did have a large body with an omega cut that I regret getting rid of. I remember it was figured Koa with a maple core and a rosewood looking fingerboard and medium scale. I really liked that bass a lot. I am going to try to find some pics of it and post it if I can. It was truly beautiful. I traded it for a zebrawood series 2 with a small body. Of course I no longer have the series 2 and I have no idea where either one is today. I don't even remember their serial numbers. I have been through a lot of Alembics. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 433 Registered: 9-2002 |
I've n-e-v-e-r owned a Fender bass. I'm fifty years old. When I took up the bass in the late 70s, Fender was still reeling from the CBS ownership and all of them (new ones)routinely felt BIG and THICK and CLUMSY in my hands. A friend let me try his early 60s PBass (which had this mysterious aftermarket pickup installed bearing the name 'EMG Overlend') and then I understood . . . just how bad the new ones were. Original Fender basses were as dearly priced in 70s money as they are now (I went to the first two Dallas Vintage Shows) and I had no intention of shelling out that kind of money for an 'old bass'. Fast forward to the mid-80s. I was working in a music store and held the Squier PBass reissue that LISTED for $179, tortoise pickguard, 3-color sunburst, rosewood fingerboard. Great neck, right weight, it just felt RIGHT. I was fortunate to work with a great guitar tech, and we promptly installed an EMG PJ set and tone network. TOO cool for school, we sold it the next day for $795 with a tweed case. Little did I realize that series of Squiers was the vanguard of the revolution at Fender under Mr. Schultz that continues to this day. They have done a remarkable job of resurrection and growth and kept their prices reasonable. I agree with JETBASS that they have gone overboard to build one to every price point there is. But as H. Peavey points out, this is one more well-known brand name that has gone through several sets of hands. Ironically, Mr. Fender and his products went through several sets of hands (Fender, MusicMan, G&L). But of course I've said that to reinforce just how potent was the lightning he trapped when he invented the Broadcaster/Tele, Strat, Jazz, and PBass, and the amps. Of course today, the industry offers hundreds of clones, cousins, copies, and nephews of these designs. Just imagine how many Jazz-inspired basses there are to choose from. I suppose if I had to have one, I'd part it out through Warmoth and the aftermarket for parts, pickups, etc. It reminds me of customizing Harleys, they're all alike, but no two are identical. I'd spec it just with the stuff I'd want. I mean, they do screw together . . . and to think the removable neck was meant to be removed to make it easier to transport! I met Mr. Fender at NAMM in the 80s and will always remember the Dickies kahakis and the pocket protector. This was in the early days of G&L, and he was so very modest and unassuming I'm sure someone must have asked him to get a mop! J o e y |
