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11-13-2005, 07:53 PM
|  | TalkBass' resident Bongo + Cowbell player | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Bucaramanga, Colombia, South A | | | Does anybody know...
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why Alembic instruments got that name? I mean, most musical instruments are named after the luthier's last name (Fender, Zon, Pedulla...), others have music-related names (MusicMan) and others are a corporate name (Yamaha). But what the hell has an alembic to do with a bass? (maybe the Wickersham family also produces alcoholic beverages along with basses?) I looked in their website but couldn't find an answer. Just curious. |
11-13-2005, 08:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gainesville/Tampa, FL | | From Wikipedia: Quote:
An alembic is an alchemical still consisting of two retorts connected by a tube. Technically, the alembic is only the upper part (the capital or still-head), but the word was often used to refer to the entire distillation apparatus.
The word "alembic" has taken on a metaphorical meaning - anything that refines or transmutes, as if by distillation - as in "the alembic of creative thought."
The word, as most alchemical terminology, comes from the Arabic: al-ambiq, "still;" ultimately from the Greek ambix, "cup."
The alembic was developed circa 800 AD by Arab-Yemeni (Iranian-born) alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan.
| Maybe they mean "alembic" as in that refining or transmuting concept - "the alembic, or refining, of bass guitars"? Just an idea, as I have no clue what the actual reason is. |
11-13-2005, 08:24 PM
|  | put a bird on it | | Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Minnesota | | | its true...the guy got his start by modifying jack cassidy's and phil lesh's basses...that makes sense |
11-13-2005, 08:32 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacific Northwet, USA | | from the logo explanation on the website -
General: Mankind takes everything available in the universe and in an infinite search for wisdom, focuses energy into the alembic resulting in the purest goal.
Specific: Alembic utilizes all available materials and in their quest to learn, focuses their efforts in their factory and produces the purest of electric guitars and basses available.
Last edited by AlembicPlayer : 11-13-2005 at 08:44 PM.
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11-13-2005, 08:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Charleston, WV | | | wow Nspark, I thought you were superbassman when I read this post after just your reply.
Gotta lova Calvin and Hobbs
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11-13-2005, 08:42 PM
|  | Four on the floor | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 大和/Alyeska | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by nspark From Wikipedia:Maybe they mean "alembic" as in that refining or transmuting concept - "the alembic, or refining, of bass guitars"? Just an idea, as I have no clue what the actual reason is. | I love this site!  |
11-13-2005, 10:44 PM
| | TalkBass' resident Bongo + Cowbell player | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Bucaramanga, Colombia, South A | | Nice edit and move, mods. Thank you!  |
11-13-2005, 11:45 PM
| | put a bird on it | | Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Minnesota | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by SnoBassMan wow Nspark, I thought you were superbassman when I read this post after just your reply.
Gotta lova Calvin and Hobbs | everybody loves calvin and hobbes! |
11-14-2005, 03:36 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hong Kong | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by nspark From Wikipedia:Maybe they mean "alembic" as in that refining or transmuting concept - "the alembic, or refining, of bass guitars"? Just an idea, as I have no clue what the actual reason is. | ... or maybe you asked the question and got a funny retort |
11-14-2005, 04:24 AM
|  | Unprofessional TalkBass Contributor | | Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Brighton, England, UK, Europe | | Alchemy!!
Transmuting bass (sic) metals into Gold!! 
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“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.”
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11-14-2005, 01:47 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York, NY | | | Aren't the founders of Alembic hippies?
Hippies are into that whole alchemy/wizard/fantasy/Middle Earth scene.
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11-14-2005, 02:17 PM
| | Dumbing My Process Down | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Michigan | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by superbassman2000 everybody loves calvin and hobbes! | I do!
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