The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: hieronymous on March 15, 2008, 12:18:59 AM
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Last year we had the first "San Francisco Bay Area/Northern Calfornia Alembic Gathering," and tomorrow is going to be the sequel! You can see pics from last year's gathering here (http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/38245.html?1200500687) at the Alembic Club. Last year I took a ridiculous amount of gear:
(http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6804/jam2doubleneckblurrybr7.jpg)
(my stuff is the PJB Suitcase, Epiphani cab and rack with Glockenklang Soul Head and Alembic F-2B (not wired up if I remember correctly); Alembic Spoiler/Exploiter not pictured)
This year I'm leaving the PJB and Exploiter at home and just taking the doubleneck, Epiphani, and rack with an SF-2 replacing the F-2B.
Should be fun! I'll post pictures when I get back. In the meantime, feel free to post pics of your Alembics!
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I just love doublenecks!
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I just love doublenecks!
Me too!
Here's a classic picture of my doubleneck that was in an old catalog (probably '70s):
(http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/9712/wishbooneas1.jpg)
When my wife found out that the gentleman on the right, Ron Wickersham, was at the gathering and I didn't get him to duplicate the pose, she got angry, so this year I grabbed him my first chance:
(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5872/wishbonebwnb5.jpg)
Ron Wickersham is one of the founders of Alembic - he was very involved with the gear for the Grateful Dead, and specializes in the Alembic electronics. A real honor to get to meet him!
One more thing I should point out - the case is the same too, thought inner lining has been replaced on the bottom. But you can see the texture on the top part matches the lining in the old picture!
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Great photo op! :D
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Great photos, Harry! That looks like it would be a fun event to attend.
Might as well add a shot of mine (an '83 Distillate) while I'm here!
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/alembic/DSCF1019.jpg)
I love the range of tones that it gets. Obviously, it can do that clear-and-present JE-ish sound, but it can also get nice warm, round R&B/classic-rock type tones (especially thru my Orange), and some pretty wild stuff too.
I recorded a tune recently that features some of these other sounds:
Centrifuge (http://www.hillscloud.com/music/Centrifuge.mp3)
The distorted melody motif is the Distillate -> EHX English Muff'n -> Moog MF-104 delay -> Alembic F2-B. The bassline was recorded straight into the preamp, both pickups on, Q-boost, with the filter rolled off.
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I love Alembics. Very nice basses. I always wanted a series I or II, but as they keep going up in value they keep drifting further away.
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Cool track, Joe! What synth(s) are you using on there? The bass line sounds great - nice and warm and round.
I think it's worth hanging out at the Alembic Club (http://alembic.com/cgi-bin/alembic-club/discus.cgi) - Ron Wickersham's daughter Mica posts often, and she was also at the gathering. She brings cool swag, like coffee mugs and baseball caps, plus she gave me polishing cloths for silver and gold parts.
Before I forget, here's the thread showing the results from this past weekend's gathering:
Northern California Alembic Gathering - THE AFTERMATH (http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/49545.html?1205778508)
Not so many pictures so far. One guy came all the way from Belgium (well, actually he was in the area for work), and he took a bunch of close-ups, so I'm hoping he posts those when he gets the time.
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That's an impressive gathering of Alembics.
I see kungfusheriff posted in that thread. I wondered whatever happened to him, good to see he's still posting somewhere in the bass community.
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Impressive spread indeed.
Yeah that forum is great - I've been lurking over there for a while. My bass is from one of the members there. Lots of great info, and it's nice to see such support and active involvement from Alembic (Mica) - taking the time to participate in discussions and respond in detail to technical inquiries about their old instruments. You can tell they are really passionate about what they do. I like that their forum doesn't seem to have the fanboy vibe that sometimes plagues manufacturer forums - at least it doesn't strike me that way.
Cool track, Joe! What synth(s) are you using on there? The bass line sounds great - nice and warm and round.
Thanks. The synth is a Yamaha CS-40M (http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/cs40mleftkn3.jpg), and I'm using a ribbon controller that I made (http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/ebay/ribbon_controllers/ribbon9b.jpg) to control the filter. It's my mini CS-80 (http://www.hyperionwebs.com/electronicshadows/archives/techtalk/vangelis_yamaha.jpg)! :)
but as they keep going up in value they keep drifting further away.
The market seems very cyclical with them. I bought mine during a slump in the summertime, and got it at the lower end of the spectrum.
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I like that their forum doesn't seem to have the fanboy vibe that sometimes plagues manufacturer forums - at least it doesn't strike me that way.
There's definitely a few people over there that are a little too rabid in their Alembic-worship. One guy tries to come across as all peace and love but every single thread he starts turns into a flame war. Doesn't help that his username is named after two famous musicians and he misspelled one of them!
Your ribbon controller looks great! Are you taking orders? ;)
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Are you taking orders? ;)
PM or email me if you want. I'd just send you one. For "beta testing" ;)
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what is a ribbon controller?
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what is a ribbon controller?
Think whammy bar, but for an analog synth. And you can control more than just pitch.
This was a video I made of mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbCTLd0wNUo
Folks sometimes even play them in place of a conventional keyboard. Creating an effect more akin to a fretless instrument, or a theramin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL0aE3t8ftk
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Thats really cool!
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There are a lot more pictures up at the No. Cal. Alembic Gathering thread (http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/49545.html?1206024681).
Here's my favorite one (because it has me and my gear in it!):
(http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7653/doubleneck1ef5.jpg)
And to top it off, it was taken by Ron Wickersham's daughter, Mica.
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Any Entwistle-a-like Spyders here?
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Hello, Dave!
Uwe gave me the heads-up about this forum a few days ago, and invited me to join. It's very flattering to be remembered, and more so to be part of this community. Thank you for having me.
KFS
That's an impressive gathering of Alembics.
I see kungfusheriff posted in that thread. I wondered whatever happened to him, good to see he's still posting somewhere in the bass community.
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Welcome back, so many old faces or at least old basses!
You are going to have to update us on your basses. Last I remember you were looking to get a Series I or II Alembic
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Hello, barkless
Right now I'm privelieged enough to have two Series basses, both "Stanley Clarke"-style 1982s in flamed koa. One has a graphite neck, and they both rule the world. Is there an FAQ on posting pics here?
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Welcome - I remember seeing your graphite @ DP. Beautiful bass.
Is there an FAQ on posting pics here?
If it helps, I've been using Photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com). Sign up (free), upload images, and just drop whatever it shows under "IMG code" for each picture right into your post:
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/orangealembic2.jpg)
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Hi Shawn, glad to have you.
You can upload direct from your computer, just click on the additional options to the lower left of the text box. But it's limited in size and overall storage capacity. And for some odd reason, Uwe can't see directly uploaded pics on his office computer, so he gripes about it instead of getting somebody to look at his settings. :)
If you have some good size images, I'd recommend signing up for a free (or paid premium) Photobucket account.
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Hello, barkless
Right now I'm privelieged enough to have two Series basses, both "Stanley Clarke"-style 1982s in flamed koa. One has a graphite neck, and they both rule the world. Is there an FAQ on posting pics here?
I was formally Redbird. I would love too see the flamed koa one!
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Any Entwistle-a-like Spyders here?
I have a Spoiler/Exploiter:
(http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/1961/body2qm3.jpg)
"Spoiler" refers to the electronics as much as anything - in this case, volume, filter, and Q switch. The Q switch selects between 0 db boost and a +6 db boost where the filter is set. You can probably have any electronics package with an Exploiter body shape - Distillate, Series I or II, etc.
Besides the details like the electronics and the spider-web inlays, a big distinction between my Exploiter and a Spyder is that the Spoiler is 32" scale, and the Spyders are 34". Also, apparently the Exploiter shape has evolved over time, and they will customize it.
There's a thread here at the Alembic club (http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/47877.html) that goes into more detail (plus has another view of my bass).
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Thanks for explaining, the link and the pic.
I like 32" inch basses. My Burns Vista Sonic has it. It's very easy playing and it still has enough lenght for the E string.
I saw a Spyder for sale at the Alembic site. 'only' 8.500 dollars... I like yours better. Really Entwistle, but simpler, but more sophisticated. Nice bass! How would you describe the sound of it?
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Thanks! You can actually get a lot of sounds out of it. With the filter all the way up, you get a really deep but bright, almost Stanley Clarke kind of sound. Like this: schweppes (http://hieronymous.us/music/schweppes_take_two.mp3)
But if you turn the filter down a bit to the midrange you can get a mellower, jazz guitar kind of sound for leads that I really like. The lead parts on this track (same as the one with my cat playing with the string in front of the bass) are with different settings of the filter: circumambulate (http://hieronymous.us/music/circumambulate.mp3) - the first instrument you hear and all the lead parts are the Exploiter, the "regular" bass part is 4001:
(http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/7672/alembrickla8.jpg)
With the Q switch set to +6, you get a really snappy attack, very unique sounding.
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There is a beautiful long-scale Exploiter w/what looks like Series-I electronics on evil bay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Exploiter-4-String-Electric-Bass-Guitar-USA_W0QQitemZ230248914400QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
(http://i6.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/ed/f7/8a32_1.JPG)
Don't see that everyday!
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There is a beautiful long-scale Exploiter w/what looks like Series-I electronics on evil bay right now:
Don't see that everyday!
Yeah, I noticed that! I actually convinced myself that I wouldn't buy another Exploiter. The one I have was near mint when I bought it, but playing it in my house I would always bump the pointy part into door jambs! It's bad enough with a headstock, but the Exploiter just sticks out. Plus it doesn't really make sense as an instrument to only play at home. And I've heard that it can be uncomfortable to reach the 1st fret on the 34" scale ones.
Does all this sound like rationalization? :P
I think that if I were to buy another Exploiter, it would have to be an 8-string!
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I think that if I were to buy another Exploiter, it would have to be an 8-string!
There was a 8-string Distillate w/Exploiter body up a few months ago that went for ~$2700. It's always hard to tell where they're gonna land pricewise, since the Exploiters don't show up too often, not to mention an eight string!
I don't think I saved pics of it, but it looked almost the same as this one:
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/DS00283111_1.jpg)
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Wow! I like the zebrawood top ones too. Right now I'm focusing on my Fender Telecaster Bass, but this thread has me tempted to pull out the ol' Exploiter again! It's been sitting in its case for a while - I've been pondering whether to string it up with cello tuning again, though this time starting on low D, or just standard tuning...
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I saw the one on eBay. Very nice!!
I like the Explorerbird too, which appeared at the Gibson forum some months ago. Fiesta red Explorer boy with maple P neck. Different beast of course.
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There was a member at DP v.1 who bought an Exploiter that had been owned and played by Entwistle. But I haven't seen him around the forums for a few years.
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Here's one at the Low End (http://www.thelowend.net/gallery/viewtopic.php?t=2465) that's signed by John Entwistle - that would be cool to have one that was owned by him! I have to admit that I did fantasize about buying one when they had that big auction of his stuff.
Oh, and the gallery of sold Alembics at the Low End (http://www.thelowend.net/gallery/viewforum.php?f=6) is fun to browse through!
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I like that one too! I guess it isn't played/owned by Entwistle (I'll ask him), but only signed.
I have the Entwistle auction catalogue where I drool over once in a while. I read an interview of an English Ricky collector who bought a 4005.
I noticed the Alembic being neck through maple with a mahogany body. I'm busy with a middle-pick-up-only passive Buzzard with that wood combination. I hope it'll turn out a bit Rick-ish and a bit Bird-ish.
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Thought I would add my new-to-me Stanley Clarke Signature Standard five-string:
(http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1971/sadiestanley1ro5.jpg)
In this picture I think it was still strung BEADG but I restrung it EADGC. I'm going to take it over to Alembic in a few weeks for the correct saddles and a new nut for EADGC tuning. I put the Alembic strings on it, but I also have a pack of DR Sunbeams that I might try.
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That is awesome! You said this one is a short-scale? That ought to be a nice fit for a 5 w/a high C. How did the low B sound on it? Is that mahog core/maple laminate/figured walnut(?) top?
What happened to fretless?? ;D
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Wow, cool! With cat! ;D
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meow!
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That is awesome! You said this one is a short-scale? That ought to be a nice fit for a 5 w/a high C. How did the low B sound on it? Is that mahog core/maple laminate/figured walnut(?) top?
What happened to fretless?? ;D
Yeah, it's short scale, which had a lot to do with my buying it. The guy I bought it from had put DR Lo-Riders on, which I like, but they felt really loose. I didn't like the low-B too much, but I'm not a fan of low-B strings in the first place. It felt/sounded kind of thuddy and indistinct, but I wouldn't take that too seriously because it could have been due to a lot of factors.
The top is flame-walnut, and the back is bubinga! Here's the original build-thread from 2003. (http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/6033.html) You can read about his disappointment with the low-B. Not sure what the laminates are, but the core is mahogany.
Now that I have one Alembic each from the '70s, '80s, and 2000's, I could go for that '90s fretless I was talking about 8) But I think I'm good for now (famous last words?)
Oh, and here's the other picture with cat for the cat lovers out there:
(http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1883/sadiestanley2ep5.jpg)
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SkateRat will be happy:)
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I want to see a pic of it with Skate Rat's lizard 8)
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No lizard, but one thing I liked about this bass is the 2+3 headstock, which strikes me as rare on Alembics:
(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3943/scheadstocklr5.jpg)
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the 2+3 headstock, which strikes me as rare on Alembics
That's what I was thinking too - seems like they are usually 3+2.
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/alembic/26104.jpg)
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/alembic/FrontFull.jpg)
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/alembic/PegheadFront.jpg)
Or sometimes 2+1+2!
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/alembic/8457.jpg)
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! ;D
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The Jimmy Johnson pic is great - the 2+1+2 - ewww!!! :puke:
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meow.
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Figured I would post this one here - my Alembics as of last week:
(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1125/expdnsc2qu7.jpg)
I sold the Exploiter, so now I'm just down to two.
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Here's mine. My 3rd Alembic and the bass they'll have to bury me with. When I ordered the bass, I combined the neck and fretboard dimensions of my favorite couple of basses and wound up with the Goldilocks special: Not too thin, but just thin enough; not too wide but just wide enough, etc. Makes every sound I want. I have other basses I really like, but once I pick up the Brown Bass, I realize how good it really is. I'm not an Alembic-Koolaid type, but it's hard not to love 'em. ;D
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/bassman10096/P1000148.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/bassman10096/BB50799.jpg)
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That looks great!!
Is that one short-scale, with mostly mahogany neck? I think that would make a great combo on an Alembic.
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Loves it! I'm falling in love with the Brown Bass, and yours is an incredible example! Love the grain on the top. And the look of the mahogany neck. If I am ever able to order a custom, there's a good chance it'll be a Brown Bass.
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Thanks. This is my favorite bass ever. It's a shorty (30.75"), but because the bridge is placed so far up the body on Alembics, the reach and wrist angles to get to lower frets are a lot like a 34" scale. The mahogany (the stringers are: center-Walnut, flanked by 2 beech) realy warms things up. The sound is much rounder than my maple-necked Alembics, but with no loss of articulation in the high mids and highs. The body core is myrtle. ;D
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I really, really want to try a Brown Bass at some point. There are stories of early Small Standard basses with myrtle body cores that weigh a whole 6 or 7 pounds. :o I could live with that very easily.
Since I last posted here, I've picked up a gorgeous long-scale, walnut six-string Series 2. 14 pounds!
If I can stop photographing my beautiful baby daughter ( :mrgreen: ) I'll photograph my beautiful basses and take another crack at getting the shots onto Photobucket and posted here.
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Congrats on your baby girl! and on the new Series!
Regarding the prioritization of your photo subjects, you could always multitask ;D
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/family/josephalembic.jpg)
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"Regarding the prioritization of your photo subjects, you could always multitask"
Hmmm...putting 14-pound bass on a 13-pound baby. Mom would just love that one.
Beautiful bass, and beautiful boy too. Is that a recent pic? If so, he'll be talking you out of 'that old bass' sometime later this week. 8)
My daughter seems to like it when I play the Alembics for her, but she loves the Earthwood. Grins and babbles like she's on Jeopardy and Alex hasn't called on her yet. I may have made a bass player.
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Hmmm...putting 14-pound bass on a 13-pound baby. Mom would just love that one.
Hey that's what boppies (sp.?) are for! ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Cl2XIr3VY
Note the strategic use of the beat-up Aria. It takes to baby slobber better than the Alembic. Now that I think of it, it did okay with the old man's slobber too - back when I was using it regularly :)
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Ha ha, good idea.
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There are stories of early Small Standard basses with myrtle body cores that weigh a whole 6 or 7 pounds.
Wow. Mine's quite a way north of that. Never felt it was heavy enough to weigh. Regardless, it's very managable, given compactness and my attachment to 4" straps. ;D
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OK, let's see if this works. Mods, feel free to edit these if they come out gi-normous.
First, a gig shot from over the summer, the first time I played the 6 in public. I'm 6'1" so you can figure how big the bass is:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/kungfusheriff/Big6.jpg)
This is the wooden-neck '82 I play most of the time. Frets need work and the pots are shot, but a great bass nonetheless:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/kungfusheriff/bellstock.jpg)
Finally, the little graphite wonder with my wife and I at a jazz gig a few years ago:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/kungfusheriff/JazzGig.jpg)
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So was that your first six string? If so, how are you liking that? (other than the extreme massiveness...)
Is the graphite also a Series II? Just from a casual observation standpoint, basses with Series II setups don't seem to pop up as much. Did you specifically seek those out?
Those are truly beautiful! Sweet amp too :)
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amazing basses. I remember when you just got started collecting them. I have horrible Alembic envy of you guys.
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All three are Series 2s. I got the graphite bass first and it spoiled me for (most) other basses forever. It's an incredible instrument. As far as ending up with three of them, well, I guess luck was on my side.
I gigged the 6 last night, and it is massive. My spine feels crooked, and it was only a 90-minute set. But I had a lot of fun playing it because the tone is huge but incredibly clean and responsive, and the neck, while freaking wide as hell, is really comfortable to play. I got used to the bass in about two weeks. It's my first 6.
Thank you for the compliments. Hopefully, one day I'll deserve to have three of these. :mrgreen:
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Shawn, didn't you buy one of yours from Mark Andes? Or am I remembering wrong?
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Good memory you have, Dave. The Spoiler Exploiter I bought and sold in 1998 came from Mark Andes. Been a while since I've heard that name.
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He's still around Austin, playing with Ian McLagan & the Bump Band and probably doing other projects.
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Good to hear that he's still active. I can't say I know much about him, but he struck me as a very nice guy.
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Ian McLagan is a hero!
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on MySpace:
Mark Andes (http://www.myspace.com/markandes)
Ian McLagan (http://www.myspace.com/ianmclaganandthebumpband)
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I recorded a short piece with my Stanley Clarke bass - actually, the idea began with a sruti box program for the iPhone called, simply enough, SrutiBox (http://www.jhhl.net/iPhone/SrutiBox/). Then I recorded what ended up being four tracks of the Stanley Clarke bass, then finished it off with another iPhone synth program called miniSynth (http://www.yonac.com/software/minisynth/). Here it is:
possibilities (http://hieronymous.us/music/possibilities.mp3)
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One of a kind custom attached. How do you get the image into the post?
DS
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Oh, it just shows up.
DS
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Hi Dan, I remember you.
Is that short scale?
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No , long. Sam Field called it continuously fretted. AFAIK, one of 3 made. McVie, me and a guitar.
DS
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Oh, it just shows up.
DS
Very glad it did. I remember you mentioning that bass on the DP ages ago and wanting to see it since then.
Good to hear from you, by the way. FYI, you came up in conversation on Alembic's site recently. Look here:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/58599.html?1227032759
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Great story about the Guild fretless. :)
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Is the fingerboard metal or something?
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Something metal - stainless steel.
DS
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From Susan Wickersham's history of the company:
"1976: We developed with Geoff Gould, founder of Modulous Graphite Instruments, the first graphite neck through body necks. The first two basses made in this fashion were sold to Stanley Clarke and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac in June of 1976. This is the same year that we made a custom bass for John McVie that had a stainless steel fingerboard with no frets. Rather than call it a fretless bass, I preferred the term 'continuously fretted' bass."
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Dare I ask - how does it sound?
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Dare I ask - how does it sound?
Probably very steely with chromium overtones. ;D
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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chromium overtones
What do my partials have to do with this?
Sorry - bad dental/music humor - Its late, and I still have most of my teeth :-)
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Probably very steely with chromium overtones. ;D
As a material to make galloshes, I think chromium is a little "Elton John/Yellow Brick Road". Am I the only one? ;)
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We had our annual Northern California/San Francisco Bay Area Gathering again a couple of weeks ago. This time I didn't take my rig, so I played through someone else's SVT. First time I ever played through an SVT - sounded OK, but I had just gotten my Stanley Clarke bass back from Santa Rosa with new electronics, and wasn't comfortable changing the settings so I can't really comment on whether or not I liked it. It was hot that weekend, but fun!
(http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8227/scgathering09.jpg)
The funny thing is, we were playing UFO's "Lights Out"! One of the Alembic bass owners is in a classic rock kind of band, and this is the first time I sat in with them - it was fun!
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Hi Hieronymous,
great to see you also in here.
OK, so here two of my basses, a real Alembic (the famous Dragon Wing "Tears for John") and a Spyder Tribute to Alembic and JE
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/TFJ3-1.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/P1050279.jpg)
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Cool! I didn't knew you had a Dragonwing too! Can you tell me something about the specs?
I always have the idea that Alembic made the Dragonwing (Buzzard style) as answer to Warwick making the Stryker (Spyder style)...
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Hi Chris,
no, the real story about the DW is the following:
short before his death JE had contacted Alembic again to have him buildt another bass out of wood.
Concept drawings were made but then he suddenly died and the concepts were forgotten.
Then a friend from the UK went to Alembic asking to have a design of his own buildt.
As he presented the drawings with them they remembered the old JE concept and realised, that the two
designs were very similar to each other.
So you can say that the DW could have been JEs next bass if......
The original concept name was Dragon Claw.
We all know the story.
So my idea was originally to have a special DW as a tribute to John, using the original woods and tint.
So that was my idea after it.
Core wood is walnut like on Johns Spyders, top and back are solid birds eye maple like on the Spyders and it has a custom vintage amber tint similar to the aged one on the Spyders.
The lower front horn is bigger than on the usual DWs as I had asked to add the pickup selector and a master volume there....
That bass is everywhere known as "TEARS FOR JOHN" as someone on the Alembic forum wrote that all the birds eyes in the wood remind him of tears.......
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/_MG_7516.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/P1140215.jpg)
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Right on - good to see you here too Oliver! Thanks for spreading the good word about Alembic here at the Outpost. Your new Spyder tribute is awesome!
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Dear Senmen,
Please see this as me just being ciritical and trying to uncover the truth. I'm writing an article about JAEs last couple of basses, so I'm really interested. And I have to say I love both your basses! Especially the Spyder! Have you checked my Buzzard?
But here are my question marks:
JAE used to play wooden bodies and necks. His last wooden basses were Warwick Strykers. After a while je didn't liked wooden necks anymore, so some Warwicks were made with Modulus graphite necks. Warwick still have some necks in stock.
After that Entwistle went to Status to have him made complete graphite/carbon fibre basses. He used them to the end and as we know JAE was always looking for new techniques.
Then his dead happens. After that:
- Alembic claims he wanted a new wooden Alembic, which means he would go 'back to 1976' instead of exploring new territories.
- Lakland claims he wanted a new Fenderbird kinda Lakland, which means he would go back to 1973 (?) instead of exploring new territories.
And no JAE around to tell the truth. So you can imagine I am a bit sceptical. But I would love to talk to the guys of Alembic to hear their story! Alembic makes great basses!
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Hi Chris,
je bent van Nederland? Wist ik niet....
Well, of course everyone can tell everything.
This is how the story went. If true or not, don´t know. Anyway the Dragon Wing is a great bass.
John never played a Stryker, he played Buzzes with Warwick, then Modulus and then Status of course.
He never had any relationship nor speeches with Lakland rgdg a Fenderbird.
To my personal opinion the last Bs were the best but I could imagine that you get tired of the sound of it after some time. I do own two Status basses, they are great no doubt, but after some time I love again that particular Alembic sound. I did own also a W.Buzz but they are not my thing.
As said, just my personal taste and opinion.
tot kijk
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Lakland? ??? I'm really skeptical of that claim.
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Lakland? ??? I'm really skeptical of that claim.
Yeah, that beast never looked right to me.
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7546/11333602.jpg)
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Anyone recognize the bed sheet? :mrgreen:
(http://i26.tinypic.com/1zvgb6f.jpg)
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Bed sheet.. JAE's? ;)
Yep, I'm from the Netherlands.
And yes indeed: John never played a Warwick Stryker. It was made after his dead.
But still I think it would be strange of JAE leaving his Statusses and going back to wooden basses. No matter if it's a Lakland or an Alembic. The Dragonwing sure is pretty, though!
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All I meant was that I never heard of any contractual relationship between Entwistle and Lakland. Just because Lakland made a Fenderbird-style bass doesn't mean anything one way or another.
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But still I think it would be strange of JAE leaving his Statusses and going back to wooden basses. No matter if it's a Lakland or an Alembic. The Dragonwing sure is pretty, though!
I see your point Chris, but, just to play Devil's advocate here..... I think part of being innovative and forward thinking is the ability to keep an open mind, and perhaps consider the possibility of re-visiting some older ideas. I mean, there is simply no denying the uniqueness, personality, and flat out killer tones that he got from the Fenderbirds and Alembics. Much more so (IMHO) than any of the Warwick or Status stuff he played in later years. Just a thought....
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I'm also playing the devil's advocate a bit. Just curious:) Alembic could be right and it is/was somewhere at the Lakland site...
I also think JAE sounded best with P's, Thunderbird, Fenderbirds... Some say he was after thios trebly sound cos he could hear that with his hearing problems.
It wouldn't be surprising if we had seen him once with a P again...
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Not wishing to hijack this thread, but does anyone have a Kawai FIIB, and how does it match up against the Alembic? I wish I had gotten one a few years ago, when they were going for about $350.
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Not wishing to cause a riot here but I can't think of anything I would consider significant that the Who recorded post Keith Moon's death - purely a personal opinion, although I was highly impressed with "Too Late The Hero"... correct me if I'm wrong, but was Mr Entwistle still on the Alembic's then...? Do remember that I am not an Anglophile with my musical tastes, so...
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I think most JAE's solo albums were at the Alembic period.
Last great Who album, IMHO, is The Who By Numbers with great Entwistle lines!
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Would that be the "wood" then... QED
... and a nice obscure drawing of a "Peter Cook" on the cover... ;D
(http://www.edroman.com/guitars/abstract/images/100_5265.jpg)
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That lightning bass is reissued by an American company too! Like the Explorerbird.
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There was a guitarist in Illinois, Billy Prewitt, who had a custom double-neck guitar/bass that was very close to that lightning bolt, back in the '70s. His band, Horace Monster, included Rob Harding (later of Off Broadway), who had a custom Epiphone double neck Embassy/Wilshire combo.
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Hi guys,
let me step in again on some points:
1. Too late the Hero was mainly recorded with Alembics. 4, 8 and piccolo basses.
The Rock for example was completely recorded with Warwick Buzzards, 4, 8 and one small
fretless part with a Buzz fretless.
You can hear the difference very significantly. Especially on TLTH you have that true Alembic sound.
Also you can hear this clearly when listening to the two Quadrophenia versions as the later filmtrack
was re-recorded, also with the Alembic Spyder.
Also for the Quad re-recording he used the first Hamer Quad 12string bass with a Standard (Explorer)
body shape.
2. As for Lakland the same than before; definetely nothing to do with John.
Also german make Hot Wire had put in a variation to his programme, the Funderbird.
3. The pictured Thunderbolt bass is the replica made by Ed Roman for the JE Foundation.
It is not correct as the upper black lining is missing and the headstock is too short.
The original is in the posession of the Hard Rock Cafe nowadays.
4. The ExplBrd by RS Guitars is not in production anymore.
Many greets
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Spyderman... (love that name, why didn't you use that one...?) re point 3 - that's where I got the pic - my interest is the Peter Cook angle, as I'm one of the lucky (?) few with an original PC T'bird, although that could be questionable after my mods...
Do you know which HR the "Lightning" Peter Cook lives, Oliver, and for that matter I thought the Alembic you've "honoured" was in the Berlin HR, as I sent my daughter there on a mission and it was not on show... I may have got it wrong...
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Thanks for the info Spyderman!!
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Kenny, Chris, Guys,
the original Thunderbolt was last displayed together with Spyder No.1 (the one which failed at Live Aid and was sold as "punishment" for the failure from John directly to the HRC) at the Orlando Vault.
I heard that the Vault was closed but I am not sure so I don´t know where they are today.
After Spyder NO.2 had gained such a high auction result with the Sothebys auction in 2003 the HRC moved No.1 to the Orlando Vault, but as you said right No.1 hang for a long time in the Berlin HRC. That is where I took photos of No.1 to measure it out for my replica Spyder.
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Not wishing to hijack this thread, but does anyone have a Kawai FIIB, and how does it match up against the Alembic? I wish I had gotten one a few years ago, when they were going for about $350.
Gary, I've only played Alembics in stores many years back but I did buy an FIIB a few years ago (for $350 :mrgreen:) and I was very impressed. It sounded pretty close to me. Obviously, an Alembic player with a trained ear would most likely disagree, but for what it is it's a great bass. I'd definitely buy another one if I had the need for that sound. BTW, it was heavy, very comfortable to play, and the best looking $350 bass I ever had!
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Guys,
wanted to share this photo with you.
Had the first rehearsal with the Spyder on tuesday and that bass is really awesome.....
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/Spyderman2.jpg)
Many greets
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Dang! You are going to put gentlemen's coats back on bands by setting a stunning example!!
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Awesome! Only thing missing is a wall of Sunns. ;D
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Gear,
I know....
I am working on that.... :-)
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Great pose, great bass, great suit!
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Come on Oliver, a bit of "National Pride", bitte...
Deutschland
Deutschland
Uber Bassline... ;)
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Kenny, you also mean a jacket with the German flag?
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Ya... ;)
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Oliver, I'm impressed with the bass (and the Jacket) but the main thing that struck me when I saw that pic was how well you had the JAE stare down pat. Awesome effort mate :thumbsup:
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Oliver, you have to check out this thread (http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=312.0) - the poll results might surprise you!
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Hieronymous,
thanks for the link to the poll.
Hadn´t awaited any other result.
But for me personally, the Alembic Spyders were my first love and the awesome sound with his Sunns back then, and the Stramp preamps of course.
I think we are one of very few WHO tribute bands that also do have a keyboard player as we also wanted to play 80ies and solo material of the WHO and not only Live at Leeds like most of the other guys do.
And, on the other hand, I haven´t seen any WHO tribute yet with a real close Spyder.....
BTW we are currently rehearsing DANGEROUS...
Believe me, this is an awesome song played with the Spyder.....
Oliver (Spyderman)
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Was watching footage from the 1983 US Festival on VH1 or something like that, and was surprised to see Francis Buchholz playing an Alembic Exploiter!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiOVP85Wmoc
Not sure if it's a Spoiler, Distillate, or what.
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I remember Francis playing that bass. Man, would I love one of those in the Spoiler configuration. I always liked the simpler Alembics.
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Got some video footage of my Stanley Clarke 5-string:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wixEfEeMm3o
The turntables may not be to everyone's liking, but I really enjoyed it! The bass is strung with Chromes, played through a Glockenklang Soul Head, Custom Audio Japan tube compressor, and Epiphani 2X10 cabinet.
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I got to try out a used Alembic recently - $2K at our local music store. It was a bright red flame maple finish, but a small body laid out somewhat like a Thumb bass. I haven't seen another like it - not the typical larger, roundish lower body of most Alembics.
It felt really solid (and heavy for its size) and the workmanship was excellent, but just noodling around in the store through a Genz-Benz head and 2x12 cab, I didn't hear anything I'd pay $2K for.
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To me the ultimate Alembic basses are the Series basses made from 1972 thru 1978. The combination of woods and the Single Coil pickups with Q filters make for the classic Alembic tone. I'd pay 2K for a Series 1 bass without blinking an eye.
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I like the vind, Hieronymous!
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Thanks Chris! Here's another one, just audio this time (and no turntables):
terminous live (http://hieronymous.us/music/terminous_live.mp3)
This time played with a pick, and with the new Moog Taurus 3 bass pedals.
(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/290/sctaurusb.jpg)
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Cool! I heard about the new limited edition Taurus pedals. I wanted to review one, but I believe there's only one for Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg...
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Ahh, the Benelux Coalition...
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Got some video footage of my Stanley Clarke 5-string
The bass sounds great- assertive and punchy. That one is a short scale, correct?
I thought the DJ fit well in there, too.
Oh- and congrats on the new Taurus!
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The bass sounds great- assertive and punchy. That one is a short scale, correct?
I thought the DJ fit well in there, too.
Oh- and congrats on the new Taurus!
Yup, short scale it is. I like the clarity of it, even with flat wounds.
The Taurus is very cool as well, but it is very large and heavy - don't really have space for it at home! Haven't had a chance to really play around with it yet - when I do maybe I'll post in the effects section...
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Studio version! Telembic bass, Greg DeGuglielmo on drums, DJ TAKA on turntables again. Any comments on the mix appreciated - not used to working with turntables...
AKA - studio version (http://hieronymous.us/music/aka_rough2.mp3)
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Studio version! Telembic bass, Greg DeGuglielmo on drums, DJ TAKA on turntables again. Any comments on the mix appreciated - not used to working with turntables...
AKA - studio version (http://hieronymous.us/music/aka_rough2.mp3)
Hey I just got a chance to listen to this. Nice job on the mix re: the turntables. I thought the panning, delay, etc was spot on. Another thing that might be fun is bussing them out and processing them with your Moog LP or the SF-2.
I was trying to think of groups that incorporated turntables in an actual band setting to give you ideas. You might check out Beastie Boys' Check your Head. There was a Dutch band called Urban Dance Squad that used tables, and I used to like some of their downtempo/psychedelic stuff (Careless, Piece of the rock, Alienated... come to mind). Maybe check out DJ Cam, DJ Shadow, The Dining Rooms, Mu-ziq, Blue States, Action Figure Party... for more recent stuff (although its mostly electronic drums or ambient)
For the bass, I kinda favored the Alembic sound in the live clip. The Fender sounds more middly/billowy to me here, compared to that tight punchy sound in the live clip - which fits better to me for this track. That's being really nitpicky though. Your playing sounded great.
Cool stuff! Look forward to hearing more. 8)
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Got some video footage of my Stanley Clarke 5-string:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wixEfEeMm3o
The turntables may not be to everyone's liking, but I really enjoyed it! The bass is strung with Chromes, played through a Glockenklang Soul Head, Custom Audio Japan tube compressor, and Epiphani 2X10 cabinet.
Nice video, I like the turntables. The bass a has a great warm tone to it, but still sounds like you.
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Got some video footage of my Stanley Clarke 5-string:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wixEfEeMm3o
The turntables may not be to everyone's liking, but I really enjoyed it! The bass is strung with Chromes, played through a Glockenklang Soul Head, Custom Audio Japan tube compressor, and Epiphani 2X10 cabinet.
Great voicing on the bass and rig. What I also loved was the sound of the snare in that hall, did something for me :)
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Thanks for the comments guys!
@Chromium: I actually briefly entertained rerecording the bass part with the Stanley bass - you have me considering it more seriously now!
Unfortunately DJ TAKA is moving to Japan in September, but hopefully we will have a few more chances to play before then. We have something in the can that is pretty cool, but I have a bit more editing and overdubbing to do.
I actually saw Urban Dance Squad live - I really like them! Saw 'em open for Living Colour in Worcester, Mass., probably around '90 or '91.
@Barkless: Thanks John! I know you miss the mudbucker bass! ;)
@Freuds_Cat: I've had a few people comment on that snare - it's a piccolo! I definitely like the spaciousness of the room sound too, I tend to go dryer on my studio stuff...
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So I created another opportunity to jam with DJ TAKA today! I videotaped it, but haven't had a chance to listen. Since I was disappointed with the way my bass recorded the last time I played (http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=3769.0), I decided to record the bass by itself direct! I plugged one of the effect loop outs from my Glockenklang Soul Head into my Tascam DR-1. Even when you set the gain on the Tascam pretty high so that it looks like it's almost peaking out, the actual recording volume is pretty low, so I did some compression, EQ and loudnessing with Ozone 3 (not to mention some reverb) and came up with this:
bass & turntable jam (bass only) (http://hieronymous.us/music/bassturntablejam_bassonly.mp3)
I should have a better title than that! It's my 5-string Stanley Clark Sig. Standard with newly-strung Chromes, into an MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter and Glockenklang Soul Head with CAJ V-COMP Tube Compressor in the effects loop - I'm not sure where in the signal chain the effects-loop out I used is, so who knows how much effect the amp and compressor had on the sound? Plus, I didn't have the time to fine tune the filter, so I think I'm hitting it a bit too hard, but I kind of like it.
Hopefully the video came out at least half-way decently - if so, I'll post some more!
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The audio from the video tape recording came out pretty good, minus the bass, so good thing I made the direct recording of the bass!
bass and turntable jam (http://hieronymous.us/music/bassandturntablism.mp3)
I'm kind of surprised at how sloppy my playing is - well, no I'm not, I'm rusty! But I like the energy of the track. DJ TAKA on turntables - he's moving to Japan in September - I'm bummed!
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I don't think Alembic lovers will like me now, but I'm reviewing a nice bass these weeks:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4588863571_14283017fa_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/4621714206_d14c6d9a96_o.jpg)
I guess Warwick and Alembic don't like eachother that much. Alembic makes the Tears Of John (or something) Buzzard clone and Warwicks makes the Spyder clone.
This is one hell of a bass though!!
- Mirrored active P pic ups
- 3-way EQ
- Quilted maple top
- Mahogany bodywings (Hollow!)
- Maple neck through
- Ebony fretboard
- 24 frets
- Buzzard headstock
I'm enjoying myself a lot until I have to send it back again...
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Now that is what I call posing, but you haven't yet learnt the true art of the blag... ;)
(ie you have to send her back...?)
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You mean I have to keep it? Steal it? Yeah, why not;)
I do need two dringking cannisters with straws. One of them with cognac and the other with red wine:)
(http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/399912/John+Entwistle.jpg)
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Those bottles (JAE's) have been up for sale forever...
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I don't think Alembic lovers will like me now, but I'm reviewing a nice bass these weeks:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4588863571_14283017fa_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/4621714206_d14c6d9a96_o.jpg)
I guess Warwick and Alembic don't like eachother that much. Alembic makes the Tears Of John (or something) Buzzard clone and Warwicks makes the Spyder clone.
This is one hell of a bass though!!
- Mirrored active P pic ups
- 3-way EQ
- Quilted maple top
- Mahogany bodywings (Hollow!)
- Maple neck through
- Ebony fretboard
- 24 frets
- Buzzard headstock
I'm enjoying myself a lot until I have to send it back again...
I like it - what do they call that model again? Looks better with the Buzzard headstock, though it's kind of hard to see in the pic. What does that fourth knob by closer to the lower horn do?
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It's called Stryker and I will post some better pics soon.
The control at the lower horn is the master volume and it's a push/pull for bypassing the active electronics. The pick ups are active, so it's never completely passive.
Then there are three other controls:
- Balance (between pick ups)
- Mid (push/pull for lo/hi mid)
- A stacked bass/treble
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Cool - I think I saw one in a store in Japan right before I left to come back to the States (2006) - it had the dark wood top (zircote?) and the regular 2+2 headstock - I like the one you're playing a lot better!
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Looks very cool Chris but I cant help wondering why they put Split P's on it instead of Buckers like the Ox's
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(special order option... ;D)
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The first couple of Strykers had a 2+2 headstock, but they changed it to the Buzzard headstock. The first years you could by mahogany ones with a visible maple neck through or ones with the ziricote (indeed) top. First proto's of the reversed one for Adam Clayton head a ziricote top too and I believe he will play one next tour.. U2 tour is postponed due to back problems of Bono though...
After the humbucker loaded Alembics, JAE went to Warwick which made the 'mirrored P' Buzzards. So you can call this a bit of a hybrid between a Buzzard and an Alembic. Or the bass JAE never played...+
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This has the Peter Cook version he did play... (sitting in the background and throughout video - now owned by Hard Rock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_FZVD5lsAw
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I miss them both !!!!!!