Groove Mama Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 ...and a Lull and an Alembic (with way-cool LED marker dots on the side of the neck), all while plugged into a Hartke stack. Wowza! Talk about a heady experience! What an awesome pilgrimage it turned out to be. Ed was wonderful; got everything set up and tuned for me. They even gave me a Bass Central T-shirt. I told the guys there I'll come back when I can play better and have more disposable income. When it comes to Orlando, Bass Central is WAY better than Disney World! Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Sorry pix are so fuzzy, but do I look happy or what?! Delectable Dingwall: http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm28/nhopp/2010%20Bass%20Central/IMG00013-1-1.jpg Lovely Lull: http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm28/nhopp/2010%20Bass%20Central/IMG00019-1.jpg Awesome Alembic... http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm28/nhopp/2010%20Bass%20Central/IMG00020-1.jpg ...with LED marker dots: http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm28/nhopp/2010%20Bass%20Central/IMG00021-1.jpg Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxofunk Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I have to know, what components make an $8K Hartke stack? - Matt W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Sorry. Don't know specifics. I just asked Ed how much the whole thing would cost, and I thought he said it was around $8k. Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juancarlin Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 The Alembic is a "Brown Bass" or Stanley Clarke Signature model, with Signature electronics, the LEDs are most probably custom-ordered, I guess the 8k would rather apply to the Alembic than the Hartke stack, that would sum 2k or around... Brought to you by Juancarlin. www.juancarlinmusic.com http://www.youtube.com/JuanCarlinMusic www.facebook.com/JuanCarlinMusic Instagram: @JuanCarlinMusic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 I guess the 8k would rather apply to the Alembic than the Hartke stack, that would sum 2k or around... We were throwing around a lot of numbers re basses and equipment, so I must have misremembered. My bad. I will check with Ed on the specific components and cost. Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 You & any one of those basses make a fine pair, Nancy!!! G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Nice rack you got there :grin: And yes, I was talking about the Hartke "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Nice rack you got there :grin: And yes, I was talking about the Hartke OK. I am not humorless. Your clever reference to the other thread did make me chuckle. And, heck, at least I knew your name first. :-) Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 OK. I am not humorless. Your clever reference to the other thread did make me chuckle. And, heck, at least I knew your name first. :-) Well, a relative newcomer you may be, but I've seen enough to know you would get it I was clarifying it for the forum in general. Whatever rep I have here, I don't want "perv" added to it :grin: On a side note, it IS cool to see a woman with a bass. So no denying it, a purty bass looks great on you :grin: "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 OK. I am not humorless. Your clever reference to the other thread did make me chuckle. And, heck, at least I knew your name first. :-) Well, a relative newcomer you may be, but I've seen enough to know you would get it Like I say, having grown up with two older brothers, I've pretty much heard it all. On a side note, it IS cool to see a woman with a bass. While I was at BC, a guy was there with a cute little girl, presumably his daughter; she had to be no more than 4 or 5 years old. She came over to watch me play, and he said, "See, honey? Girls can play bass, too." On top of all the other bottom-end rapture I was already experiencing, that just really made my day! Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Looks like a really fun time! Ok so what did you think of the basses especially the Dingwall? Inquiring minds want to know. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 so what did you think of the basses especially the Dingwall? (Please prepare to settle in for a long post.) Disclaimer: I am a rookie bassist, so this is analogous to giving a 16-year-old the keys to a Maserati, a Lamborghini and a Porsche and asking which was best: "GAH! I don't know! They were all SO COOL!!" In other words, I lack a sound basis for comparison. That said, and despite the fact that they all sounded incredibly good, the Lull seemed to have an especially deep, rich tone. The Alembic was an amazingly beautiful instrument with some cool electronics built in, but it was so heavy! It must have weighed at least twice as much as my Ibanez. The weight alone would be a deal-breaker for me...uh, that and the price tag. Ultimately, I have to say that in terms of playability and comfort, the Dingwall was my surprise fave. I thought the fanned frets would be awkward to play, but they were not...at all. The relative weights of the neck and body were nicely balanced. It just seemed to "fit" me to a T. And on top of that, the model I tried retails at just a tad over $1k, which surprised me. Maybe someday, if I'm a really good girl, Santa will bring me one of those. Of course, I would love to repeat this pilgrimage when I have more knowledge and playing experience under my belt. By the way, I asked to play a Fodera as well, but Ed says they never have them in stock; the Fodera waiting list is 2 years long, and people just buy whatever comes into the store. Well, at least I got to have the Hartke end of the Victa experience. :-) Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Thanks for the info Mama! You are articulate and seem grounded so I value your opinion. With your background with music you're probably a much better bass player than you let on. Besides anybody who's actually hung with Victa can't be that bad! I have not yet seen any Dingwalls here in my area and am really curious about them. Maybe if I win the lottery I'll just out-and-out buy one online. Caution be damned! Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Aw-right Mama! Momster! The Mominater! Mama-rooney! Mama-mundo! Out there playin' the high-dollar fishes! Yeah! Everybody needs to play a few really expensive instruments every so often, first to find out then to be reminded what quality feels like. Good for you, especially having pictures of them. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Berry cool bases, Mama. Must have been a lot of fun. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rizzo9247 Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Ill take that alembic please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 so what did you think of the basses especially the Dingwall? Inquiring minds want to know. Actually, I would be interested to hear feedback from those more knowledgeable than I about their Alembic/Lull/Dingwall/Fodera/HighEndYouNameIt comparison experiences. Obviously, personal preference will be a big factor, but I'd love to hear others' reactions as well. Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 anybody who's actually hung with Victa can't be that bad! Thanks for the kind words, b5, but just to clarify, my Victa experience is a direct reflection of Victa, not me. He is amazingly personable and eager to talk to any and all fans. When I attended his clinic, he told the story of how he had written a fan letter to Stanley Clarke when he was eight years old and how affected he was by Stanley's response. That experience obviously has stayed with him ever since. The guy couldn't possibly be more approachable or encouraging. If you haven't already done so, check out his book "The Music Lesson" for a good illustration of his mystical/spiritual approach to learning and playing music. He is an incredibly deep thinker. Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I've tried nearly everything made at various NAMM shows, have had tours of the factories at Alembic and Modulus, been in small shops including Mike Lull's and Ralph Novak's. Ralph invented the fanned fret design and later licensed it to Sheldon Dingwall. I played a few prototypes at Ralph's shop. The instruments which I play were carefully chosen to fit my tastes. Everyone has different tastes, and despite my choice of instruments, I sound pretty much the same no matter what I have in my hands and the people I play with have to actually look to see which instrument I have brought on a particular day. There are a lot of great basses being made at the present time and they are often made by very nice people. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 I sound pretty much the same no matter what I have in my hands Now, that's an intriguing statement, Jeremy. Just playing the devil's advocate here, if that's the case, why own more than one instrument? Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Well, the first reason is because I can afford to. I have a 4 string, a 5 string, a 6 string, an 8 string (octaves), and a fretless. The fretless is the only one that sounds radically different and it was chosen because of that. The others each serve various needs, which have more to do with what music I am going to play, rather than the sound of the instrument. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Aw-right Mama! Momster! The Mominater! Mama-rooney! Mama-mundo! Out there playin' the high-dollar fishes! Yeah! Just like an episode of "Queen for a Day." Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Everyone has different tastes, and despite my choice of instruments, I sound pretty much the same no matter what I have in my hands and the people I play with have to actually look to see which instrument I have brought on a particular day. Yeah I get that too. Last gig we played, the band complained that I'd brought the cheap-ass fretless bass instead of the Fender, but some minor intonation issues aside it simply sounded like me playing. I figure that once I get a certain level of expertise on the electric upright, even that one will sound like "me" as opposed to "me on electric upright". Which kinda defeats the purpose of having an electric upright :grin: "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Ultimately, I have to say that in terms of playability and comfort, the Dingwall was my surprise fave. I thought the fanned frets would be awkward to play, but they were not...at all. The relative weights of the neck and body were nicely balanced. It just seemed to "fit" me to a T. And on top of that, the model I tried retails at just a tad over $1k, which surprised me. Maybe someday, if I'm a really good girl, Santa will bring me one of those. So...was I wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 FWIW, Dingwall's aren't like cars where they lose a ton of value as soon as you drive them off the lot. If you ordered one (even a Combustion...I'm envious of theat candy apple green, BTW) and didn't like it, it could be sold for little to no loss if advertised accordingly on TB, the Dingwall forum or similar. Actually, many retailers offer a satisfaction guarantee so if you choose to go out on a limb with a high-end bass and end up not liking it once it's in your hands you can return it for a refund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Ultimately, I have to say that in terms of playability and comfort, the Dingwall was my surprise fave. I thought the fanned frets would be awkward to play, but they were not...at all. The relative weights of the neck and body were nicely balanced. It just seemed to "fit" me to a T. And on top of that, the model I tried retails at just a tad over $1k, which surprised me. Maybe someday, if I'm a really good girl, Santa will bring me one of those. So...was I wrong? To quote a wise man, "Davio, I think you're absolutely right," heh-heh. In fact, although we didn't get a chance to meet last Saturday, I got a nice email from Beaver today, telling me a great Victa story and inviting me back to visit the next time I'm in Orlando. I told him yep, fer sher, would love to chat sometime -- and, besides, I can't stop fantasizing about that Dingwall... Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Mama Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 FWIW, Dingwall's aren't like cars where they lose a ton of value as soon as you drive them off the lot. If you ordered one (even a Combustion...I'm envious of theat candy apple green, BTW) and didn't like it, it could be sold for little to no loss if advertised accordingly on TB, the Dingwall forum or similar. Actually, many retailers offer a satisfaction guarantee so if you choose to go out on a limb with a high-end bass and end up not liking it once it's in your hands you can return it for a refund. Don't tempt me. Maybe after I learn how to play a little better and get my second offspring through college... Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Maybe after I learn how to play a little better... I should also say that my technique improved greatly after buying my first Dingwall. It necessitates a light touch and slight changes (like digging in) make a bigger difference which opens up a ton more tonal and stylistic possibilities. Glad to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 To quote a wise man, "Davio, I think you're absolutely right," heh-heh. Don't encourage him. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.