weaponepsilon Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I was trotting across the web when I cam across this company in Cali that makes these extremely beautiful pieces. Has anyone ever seen one? I mean, they even hand make their own hardware! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 When Alembic started back in 1969 ... Yeah, they've been around for some time. Used to see players in magazines with them all the time, now not so much I think. Maybe because I don't read as many magazines as I used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!WOOD!! Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I believe that they started out making custom basses for the Grateful Dead and then started making basses for the public.I guy I worked for owned one and actually let me play it until I showed him up and made me put it down.His guitar was absolutely stunning.Mahogany back with a Quilt cap.And the hardware is a work of art.Maybe the nicest bass I have ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernova9 Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 (edited) Seen them before. Disturbingly expensive. I mean, $15,000 base price? And a $250 upcharge just for a bevel on the front and back of a headstock? $1350 upcharge for ebony laminates instead of purpleheart? Wow. I'm in the wrong busines. Edited March 10, 2006 by Supernova9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyB7539 Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I had an Alembic back in the 80's. I traded a Steinberger and a '74 Jazz Bass for it. Sweet instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardd Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 The first guitar I built was in the late '70s and I used a "How to" book that had a picture of an Alembic in it. I believe they were on the cutting edge of adding pre-amps etc. inside the guitar and using neck through designs, at least in those days. Be Cool, d ward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tundra_Man Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I believe the late John Entwistle played Alembic basses, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Ever heard of Stanley Clarke or Les Claypool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser Rob Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I don't think they start at $15K but I'm sure you could go that far. Alembic was probably the first company that produced a really high end bass ... Teles, Strats and Les Pauls have never really been improved upon (unless you like Floyd Roses which I don't) but the basses needed a bit of help. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing like a good Precision or Jazz but there was room for improvement. The first one I actually heard in person was back in the 70s and its sound just blew me away. BTW ... Les Claypool actually uses Carl Thompson custom basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaponepsilon Posted March 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I don't think they start at $15K but I'm sure you could go that far. Alembic was probably the first company that produced a really high end bass ... Teles, Strats and Les Pauls have never really been improved upon (unless you like Floyd Roses which I don't) but the basses needed a bit of help. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing like a good Precision or Jazz but there was room for improvement. The first one I actually heard in person was back in the 70s and its sound just blew me away. BTW ... Les Claypool actually uses Carl Thompson custom basses. I know Les uses a Carl Thompson 4 string with a Kahler Tremolo, the "Rainbow" six string fretless bass, an old Fender, an upright, and electric upright, and "Whamola" a single string bass with a sort of reverse tremolo style device. I just liked the look of those Alembic basses with there coco bodies with ebony. I had never before heard of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primal Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 I know Les uses a Carl Thompson 4 string with a Kahler Tremolo, the "Rainbow" six string fretless bass, an old Fender, an upright, and electric upright, and "Whamola" a single string bass with a sort of reverse tremolo style device. I just liked the look of those Alembic basses with there coco bodies with ebony. I had never before heard of them. I think he also has two 4-string Carl Thompsons and a 6-string fretted Carl Thompson (which if I recall was the first true 6-string bass [i.e. not counting that oddball Fender] built). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dash Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 cliff burton (rip) played an alembic spoiler for a while, till it was stolen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Jason Newsted plays Alembic, too. He said one of the reasons he needed a break from Metallica was because of the heavy maple Alembic basses he was playing with them. Quite honestly, though, there is only one Alembic--and that's why they can charge what they charge. Is it ridiculous? To a point. These are professional-grade instruments, kinda like old Valley Arts was trying to be. They don't cater to the crowd who's playing the local brewhaus or county fair. They're catering to studio and session players who show up on obscure Simon and Garfunkel Madison Square Garden shows or need an instrument that is absolutely, positively going to work and work the same every day or night of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Actually, the non-custom models aren't too badly priced: http://www.alembic.com/prod/prices.html For a bass of that absurd quality, I'd say it's worth every penny. I got the opportunity to try out an acquaintance's wenge-topped Rogue bass, and, well, it was a religious experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileynumber13 Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 I just found that site like 4 days ago... I really personally have been eyeing up their guitars... the skylark in ocean burst finish. Beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primal Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Jason Newsted plays Alembic, too. He said one of the reasons he needed a break from Metallica was because of the heavy maple Alembic basses he was playing with them. I've only seen Newsted play Alembics during his first years with Metallica. Towards the end he was playing Sadowsky basses exclusively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Ramsay Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Alembic does some pretty nice guitars too. Here is mine: http://www.geocities.com/jbstratman/Alembic.jpg Heavy guitar, beautiful laminates, neck through, separate on/off switch for each pickup. Not crazy about the trem though. It is a Kahler Floyd Rose licensed (fine tuners, through route, springs in back, etc.) Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primal Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Alembic does some pretty nice guitars too. Here is mine: http://www.geocities.com/jbstratman/Alembic.jpg Heavy guitar, beautiful laminates, neck through, separate on/off switch for each pickup. Not crazy about the trem though. It is a Kahler Floyd Rose licensed (fine tuners, through route, springs in back, etc.) Don Kinda bland for an Alembic imo. And whats with that monsterous... THING up at the nut?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Ramsay Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Also a Kahler device. A locking nut (uses clamp levers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyB7539 Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 I used to really dig the kahler lock nut... no tools needed, just flip and go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 This is the best part of the Alembic website. Click on a link and see an Alembic being built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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