| Author | Message | ||
| jimbryan
New Username: jimbryan Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2010 |
Hi everyone. I have emailed Alembic twice in the last month to arrange a tour of the factory.I have had no response.I am in staying in San Francisco on 19th June Friday afternoon and Saturday 20th june. I need to know if a)Alembic are open on those two days and b) if anyone in the San Francisco area will also be going so that I may catch a ride with them.I am returning to the UK on the 22nd June.Thanks,Jim Bryan | ||
| enzo
Senior Member Username: enzo Post Number: 493 Registered: 4-2009 |
Your best bet is to make a phone call, emails sometimes take too long. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1680 Registered: 2-2011 |
Alembic is closed on Saturday, but they should be there on Friday. Call Mica to set up a tour. Their hours are from 10-4 I believe, & they are about an hour & a half from San Francisco airport. You can rent a car at the airport & drive to Santa Rosa but you will need to get an early start because traffic going through San Francisco can be bad. | ||
| jimbryan
New Username: jimbryan Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2010 |
Thanks Rusty. Looks like I wont be able to go. I have a pre~booked tour with the holiday company in the morning.Probably wont have time to organise transport and get to them in plenty of time unless some~one else is going up there at the same time. Shame,never mind. Jim | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1685 Registered: 2-2011 |
Sorry you won't be able to go by the factory, it is an amazing experience seeing how these incredible instruments are made! Where is your tour going? If they take you to the wine country you will be close to Alembic, maybe they would stop off for you! The factory is one block off the freeway & easy to get to. Have fun on your trip even if it doesn't include a stop at Alembic. At least you will see the Golden Gate Bridge, & that's pretty iconic too! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3674 Registered: 10-2002 |
"At least you will see the Golden Gate Bridge, & that's pretty iconic too! " We were in S.F. for 4 days in 2012 and didn't get to see the bridge due to fog which I believe is more common than you'd hope. At least we did get up to santa rosa though. Worth dumping your work mates and going to the workshop if you can. Graeme | ||
| jimbryan
New Username: jimbryan Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2010 |
Thanks Jacko. I dont think my wife would agree though!! My SF tour lasts till 1pm on friday.I believe the factory closes at 4 but please correct me if I am wrong.I am still hopeful I can find a way. Jim | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 889 Registered: 9-2004 |
It's really worth doing. I bought a nice wood box from them while I was there that I now keep my picks in. We also walked across the Golden Gate, which was an experiance I will never forget!  | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1016 Registered: 12-2003 |
When I was in San Francisco for a meeting about a year and a half ago, I went to Santa Rosa while one of my guitars was being built. While the tour is definitely a great experience and it's nice to put faces to the names, what I got most out of it was a sense of perspective. If you're doing a custom build and it's taking what seems like an eternity to get completed, the tour makes you realize that this really is a family business. There is so much attention to every detail and only a small handful of people there to do it. I left with a new appreciation for how much they are able to do. I recommend a visit for anyone who wants to see where the magic is made and if you're doing a build, I think it's invaluable for a number of reasons. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 552 Registered: 6-2012 |
+1 Both of my visits have been memorable and enjoyable experiences. There is so much to see that it borders on sensory overload. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8548 Registered: 6-2000 |
We have had some email issues as of late. Should be fully moved over to the new ISP before the end of the week... yay! We don't close at 4 - we just stop answering the phone then. If you can make it up to Santa Rosa by 6pm you're welcome to stop by, and it's likely we'll be here later than that. After 5pm and the weekend has pretty much no activity in shop, which is much more interesting to see when hands are working on things, but you're welcome to come. On Saturday, I could meet you here after 11:00 am. Let me know if either time works out for you. | ||
| jimbryan
New Username: jimbryan Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2010 |
Thats great Mica. I will look into the transport situation and let you know as soon as I can. Thanks! Jim | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 715 Registered: 9-2009 |
I'll third or forth that it's well worth the trouble. As long as you're not heading out there during rush hour it doesn't take that long to get there. Be warned, however... it's best as others have stated to go AFTER you have started a build (unless you've got a lot of money hanging around because after you meet the people and see the magic that goes on in the place you'll shortly be placing an order. I've lost count of those of us who have visited and within 6-months have something in the works. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 553 Registered: 6-2012 |
Yeah...I'm a victim of that as well. Don't believe it if someone tells you there's no harm in just looking... Because what you're looking at has more than enough power to render you completely helpless to say "no" to doing what you know you really want to do. And there is no turning back should you happen to "accidentally" play something that you've been "casually looking at"... ;-) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1523 Registered: 1-2005 |
If this weekend wasn't one of the busiest in my work-year, I would offer to drive you up. But I have to wake up at 3 am the next day, so I think I have to pass - sorry about that! Another potentially interesting thing for you to do: Stanley Clarke at Yoshi's in Oakland all weekend! http://www.yoshis.com/calendar/ | ||
| jimbryan
New Username: jimbryan Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2010 |
Hi Mica. We (My better half) will definitely be there as soon as possible after 11am.on saturday We are planning on getting a bus to Santa Rosa. hieronymous...Thank you very much for the kind thought! And the heads up on Stanley! Cant wait! This is the icing on the cake for me! Jim Bryan. | ||
| jimbryan
Junior Username: jimbryan Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2010 |
I think I have died and gone to heaven! Not only am I going to Alembic on saturday,we have got tickets for Stanley at Yoshi's on friday night! Somebody pinch me!!!! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6099 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jim: You might want to consider having dinner at Yoshi's. I haven't been there in a while, but, unless they changed their policy, if you make reservations for dinner and have tickets for the show, your waitperson will reserve you a table near the front for the show while you eat dinner in the restaurant. Enjoy Stanley at Yoshi's and your tour of the Mothership. You're in for an outstanding weekend. Bill, tgo | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3675 Registered: 10-2002 |
... and if you're too late to book dinner at Yoshi's I can fully recommend the clam chowder in a sourdough loaf from one of the little stalls on Fisherman's wharf. Graeme (jealous as hell and trying to convince Mrs j we don't need to move house and we could spend all our savings on another trip to the US) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6103 Registered: 7-2004 |
Those "little stalls on Fisherman's Wharf" are across the pond! Yoshi's is in Jack London Square which is in Oakland. Fisherman's Wharf is in San Francisco, on the other side of the Bay, or, as previously stated, across our own little pond. Otherwise the chowder in the sour dough bread bowl is quite good. Bill, tgo | ||
| stephenr
Member Username: stephenr Post Number: 89 Registered: 9-2014 |
Yoshi's will definitely give you a better seat if you eat dinner before the show. When we went to see Bill Frisell recently we didn't realize that you had to be seated by an usher and were confused since all the tables had reserved signs on them. We wandered around looking for a table with no reserved sign but couldn't find one. By the time we figured out who to see about seating most of the better seats were gone. Have fun at the show and enjoy the tour! | ||
| xlrogue6
Advanced Member Username: xlrogue6 Post Number: 311 Registered: 8-2002 |
Definitely have dinner at Yoshi's--the food is quite good and the table reservation clinches the deal. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1524 Registered: 1-2005 |
Be forewarned - the food in the dining area is pretty expensive - I like to sit at the bar or the seating area near the bar and get a couple of items - the bar food is a bit cheaper, you can get sushi rolls, burger, etc. - as long are you are there more than an hour before showtime you can still get the reserved seating. You are in for a treat! | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 555 Registered: 6-2012 |
This entire thread is further proof that I'm so living in the wrong place... Glad to read that you plan to take the tour and have fun at the show! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8550 Registered: 6-2000 |
OK, I'll be here on Saturday. The door will probably be locked, but knock so I know you're here, my office is just off the front showroom area. I think I'm going to Yoshi's on Sunday night, I'm trying to schedule too many things over this weekend, but I'll already be in San Mateo Sunday afternoon, so if I come home thru the east bay, Yoshi's will be on the way home  | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8551 Registered: 6-2000 |
OK, I'll be here on Saturday. The door will probably be locked, but knock so I know you're here, my office is just off the front showroom area. I think I'm going to Yoshi's on Sunday night, I'm trying to schedule too many things over this weekend, but I'll already be in San Mateo Sunday afternoon, so if I come home thru the east bay, Yoshi's will be on the way home | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6105 Registered: 7-2004 |
And the double post bug hits Mica! No one is safe!!!! hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| jimbryan
Junior Username: jimbryan Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2010 |
Cant wait! Thanks for the food tips.I think we will be eating there. The double post bug can get everyone! Jim |
