charlietuna Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 I think Alembic basses have the best sound of any bass ever put on the market? Opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 You're entitled to your opinion. Many other people have different opinions and I can only think of a handful of top pros who are currently playing Alembics. Stanley Clarke Jimmy "Flim" Johnson and there must be someone else. Welcome to the Lowdown. Why not start with something more controversial and provocative on your first post to the list? Are you trying to make friends here or just showing off your 'tude? Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnb Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally post by Jeremy: Jimmy "Flim" Johnson Uummmmmm....Flim. What a player! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by jeremyc: ...I can only think of a handful of top pros who are currently playing Alembics. Stanley Clarke Jimmy "Flim" Johnson and there must be someone else... Yeah, there is...Wally Malone. Ever heard of him? spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnb Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Who is Wally Malone? Doesn't he play forward for the Lakers now? Seriously, Alembics are cool, but too much tone control for me. People like me need simple sound designs so that no matter what, the engineer's sound checks can be kept to under 30 seconds. If I had a Series II, I would spend more time tweeking the tone controls than I would playing the damn thing.They sure are pretty though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 And I think Les Claypool has got to be the best bassist like, ever! Can you imagine if Les played an Alembic? Then he'd be GODLIKE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pernax Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by BenLoy: And I think Les Claypool has got to be the best bassist like, ever! Can you imagine if Les played an Alembic? Then he'd be GODLIKE!Thats pretty hot, but still nothing compared to f1eLdY playing not one but two Alembics at once (he is so uber that he wouldn't even break a sweat doing that, it's so easy when you're the most bestest)!!! -P (up to 200 characters) You may use UBBCode in your signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by tnb: Who is Wally Malone? Doesn't he play forward for the Lakers now? Isn't that CARL MALONE? (im not even sure that he is on the lakers though) http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orphan wells Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 alembics are OK I guess, I have never been impressed with their Omega body shapes or whatever their top of the line bass is. They're way too....what's the word.....ugly. The other thing I don't like is the pickup placement. The neck pickup is placed right where I pop my G and D strings. It sticks out about 1/2 inch past the G string and just always gets in my way. Has anyone ever recorded with an Alembic? I noticed the last time I recorded with one I had to turn off all of the lights in the studio because the pickups are so sensitive they were picking up some buzz from the high powered mini halogens. Anyone ever had this happen? I didn't come here to play. I came here to make babies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 How I am supposed to know what Wally plays? He's all the way over on the other side of the stage from me! Louis Johnson played an Alembic for a minute. And I think I saw Robert "Kool" Bell playing one. Or course there is Trip Walmsley's 8 string. And the King of Thailand has one. If you go to the Alembic web page and look at all the custom basses that they make, you will see that generally they are going to semi-professionals or amateurs who have way too much money and time on their hands. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by jeremyc: How I am supposed to know what Wally plays? He's all the way over on the other side of the stage from me! And, Phil, it's Karl Malone. He doesn't play an Alembic. I think Wayman Tisdale plays Fenders, though. Can anyone verify this? spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Here you go, Willie! http://www.tisway.com/images/Way30001.jpg Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by tnb: Who is Wally Malone? Doesn't he play forward for the Lakers now? At 5'6" basketball wasn't quite my thing. My Alembic is the Orion model, I don't have a series bass but still love the tone I get from it. It has the greatest sustain and the B string does sound big. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by jeremyc: Here you go, Willie! http://www.tisway.com/images/Way30001.jpgThou kicketh much ass, Sir Jeremy! spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by Pernax: Originally posted by BenLoy: And I think Les Claypool has got to be the best bassist like, ever! Can you imagine if Les played an Alembic? Then he'd be GODLIKE!Thats pretty hot, but still nothing compared to f1eLdY playing not one but two Alembics at once (he is so uber that he wouldn't even break a sweat doing that, it's so easy when you're the most bestest)!!! -PThe mental image I now have of our good friend f1eLdY slapping one bass with another bass is making me laugh. A lot. *clik* *clickitie* *clak* *CLIck* *cLiKE* Speaking of Alembic basses. I personally am not a fan. I can't stand the necks on them. This is an amazing *looking* instrument though **Warning** If you've never been to Ed Roman's site, go grab a beverage, and perhaps a light snack; you're going to be at that site for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by Bumpcity: **Warning** If you've never been to Ed Roman's site, go grab a beverage, and perhaps a light snack; you're going to be at that site for a while.Absolutely correct there. Make sure you don't get sucked into the hypnotic world of looking at tonewoods. I have never played an Alembic. One of the most bad-ass bass players I knew growing up played one of those Stanley Clark models and he made it sing. I would like to play one. Maybe Wally'll let me test drive his Orion 6 the next time I'm out in Cali. Peace. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 I've never picked up an Alembic that I fell in love with. They are very well-made, and I love all of the attention given to the electronics. They just aren't sized/shaped for me. Here\'s my favorite Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnb Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Tom, what's with the lack of fretlines??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trip wamsley Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 I have 3 Alembics. An Orion fretless 5, an Epic and the beast. They are all quite amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Originally posted by tnb: Tom, what's with the lack of fretlines???Haha, fretlines on a fretless are for wimps!!! Even though I don't own a fretless, I'd still not want 'em on my own fretless, if I had one. Just the side dots would be okay. My opinion. Besides, when I played the upright back in my HS days, I used tape markers only for the first few months, then I took them off. I can go to a store right now, pick up an upright, and within a few minutes, play as if I never stopped playing one. Really. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 As for wanting an Alembic, I'd get the one that Tom looked at if money were no object. Five strings...nice Just wondering who that Susan person is, I bet she's hot. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Originally posted by Dr. Zarkov-Capasso: I've never picked up an Alembic that I fell in love with. They are very well-made, and I love all of the attention given to the electronics. They just aren't sized/shaped for me. Here\'s my favorite TomAT LEAST IT COMES WITH THE HARDSHELL CASE!!!! AND THERE ARE SO MANY KNOBS!!!! Seriously, that's too many...WTF do they all do? And are they practical? They better make magic fingers come out and play lines perfectly for you!! Or something... (it better for $11k!) http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abaguer Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Jack Casady also played an Alembic a long time ago, and not for very long. I've never warmed to the sound of the Alembic. I sold mine and I don't see a lot of guys playing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petethebassman Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 I also took a look at the Alembic custom gallery; ok, some of those are quite pretty, but every Alembic bass I've tried (4) has been way too heavy for me, I wouldn't want to play 3 or 4 sets a night with one! Besides, their basses have sooo many controls, take a look at this: http://www3.alembic.com/img/JEcontrol_layout.jpg GASP!! No thanks, I'll stick with the P-Bass: 2 controls, neither of which I use: if I want to change the tone I use my fingers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 I've never been too enarmoured with the Alembic sound - somewhat lacking in character IMO (growl in particular). I've played a few, most notably a £10,000 Series 2 custom 4-string, the most expensive bass I've ever played (and that includes a Fodera AJ signature). Nice, but not that nice. Alex P.S. Wasn't Carwash recorded with an Alembic? Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnb Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Originally posted by Dr. Taz: Haha, fretlines on a fretless are for wimps!!! Even though I don't own a fretless, I'd still not want 'em on my own fretless, if I had one. Just the side dots would be okay. My opinion. Besides, Gary Willis has fretlines and i am positive that nobody thinks he's a wimp. Also posted by Taz when I played the upright back in my HS days, I used tape markers only for the first few months, then I took them off. I can go to a store right now, pick up an upright, and within a few minutes, play as if I never stopped playing one. Really. Really??? Seems I can't even take a week off from playing upright without sucking ass for at least a gig or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Originally posted by tnb: Gary Willis has fretlines and i am positive that nobody thinks he's a wimp. Uhm...Can't ya take a joke? tnb sez: Really??? Seems I can't even take a week off from playing upright without sucking ass for at least a gig or 2.Well, we aren't the same person, are we? sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Trevor Dunn's 5 string is an Alembic...although lately when I see him live he's either playing upright or a hollowbody Guild Starfire with a pick. Alembics are fine instruments, although I've never cared for their ultra hi-fi sound. Every time I play one I'm always searching for a setting that gives me the sound of a jazz bass. I prefer the sound of Fender-inspired and/or designed instruments (Fender, Music Man, G&L, Sadowsky, Mike Lull, etc). An Alembic will sound better played solo than a Fender, but there's just something about the way a Fender sits in a track that just plain works. It's partly because engineers have so much experience with them that they get get a sound in 30 seconds...but you can't argue with their track record in recorded music. Even bassists who use tricked-out custom instruments live will often pull out an old Fender when they go into the studio. They work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnb Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Sorry Dr. Taz, I was just busting your chops. All in good fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onamission Posted October 6, 2003 Share Posted October 6, 2003 Originally posted by Bumpcity: [QB**Warning** If you've never been to Ed Roman's site, go grab a beverage, and perhaps a light snack; you're going to be at that site for a while.[/QB]And leave some crumbs on the floor so you can find your way back out. - Jon ----- You have the right to remain in the groove, any solos cannot be used against you, you have the right to snap and pop, if you cannot snap and pop, two fingers can provide the funk just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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