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Alembic style basses look ugly to me...

#62
Wood is immaterial. Shape matters to me only so much as it gives me high fret access and looks "balanced" to me...think art-deco and you've got my favorite kind of design. I like quilts better than flames, but again, it doesn't matter too much.

Sound and feel matter. Everything else is icing on the proverbial cake.
 
#63
Quick question:

How many of you here who hate Alembic looks would drool at (or even take seriously) a double bass that had been painted Lake Placid Blue and had chrome hardware?

Now, how many would drool over a double bass in a nice deep amber varnish that had flamed maple for the back and sides, and a lion's head carved into the top of the scroll?
 
#65
Auriaprottu said:
Quick question:

How many of you here who hate Alembic looks would drool at (or even take seriously) a double bass that had been painted Lake Placid Blue and had chrome hardware?

Now, how many would drool over a double bass in a nice deep amber varnish that had flamed maple for the back and sides, and a lion's head carved into the top of the scroll?
Click to expand...

I'd drool over both of em. Seriously.
 
#67
ndrly said:
Electric bass guitar and double bass are like different instruments. I prefer my acoustic basses in natural, but my electric basses in various colours (preferably black).
Click to expand...

IconBasser said:
I'd drool over both of em. Seriously.
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Honest answers, both.

lbanks said:
Post stating a contrary opinion, then realizing its in the wrong thread.
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LOL...

My post is essentially a question about why solidbody guitars and basses aren't expected to share the same sense of aesthetics and construction that has guided the building of all the other stringed instruments for more than half a millenium. No other instrument in the string family with Alembic's reputation for craftsmanship gets so little respect, either for appearance or tone. Those "coffee table/hippie sandwich/aircraft carrier fingerboard" basses are among the best examples of real lutherie out there, folks.
 
#68
I like the idea of high end basses and active electroncis, but I have pretty much yet to feel the need for an instrument made out of exotic woods, or more than four or five strings. I'm pretty sure the wood contributes less to the tone than the pickups, or the body shape. I might be wrong.

Anyway, I might pick up Warwicks if I get into a metal band. Otherwise, I'd be happy to play through a P-bass for an indie band.
 
#69
ndrly said:
I I'm pretty sure the wood contributes less to the tone than the pickups, or the body shape. I might be wrong.
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I think you need to talk to some decent luthiers....

Despite berating myself for replying yet again to this ludicrous thread, having thought about the issue, I've come across an awful lot of people who seem to "only like painted basses" or "only like fancy wood basses". Why? Isn't that rather like saying "I only like blondes", regardless of what they actually look like? I like some exotic wood basses and don't like others. I like some painted basses and don't like others. It's all down to the specific instrument. Even then I don't expect anyone else to share the same preferences, which is one of the more juvenile attitudes that seems to be prevalent here. It's perfectly possible to appreciate Art Nouveau and Art Deco at the same time ( I do), but I don't expect anyone else to like either.

Regardless, I'd far sooner see a thread about how great someone thinks something is (i.e. a positive thread!!).
 
#70
Auriaprottu said:
Quick question:

How many of you here who hate Alembic looks would drool at (or even take seriously) a double bass that had been painted Lake Placid Blue and had chrome hardware?

Now, how many would drool over a double bass in a nice deep amber varnish that had flamed maple for the back and sides, and a lion's head carved into the top of the scroll?
Click to expand...

They both sound bleh.

Uprights are beautiful things but overly figured wood just makes me think of those adverts you get in mid 90s design journals for those coffee tables made from what looks like the same stuff. Bleh.

Also, I've only ever seen gold hardware look nice once on a bass (a kind of albino p bass if you can imagine that, was quite odd). 99% of the time it just looks tacky to me :/
 
#75
Topics like this one (along with a rash of other recent lame topics) make me think of arsonists. They start a fire and then lurk around the scene of the crime watching the damage spread. It must be that feeling of power. The TB firestarter thinks to himself, "Hmmm...what topic can I come up with to bait folks into posting? Maybe I'll get the record for the longest thread." :scowl: And we fall for it nearly every time. :(

M. M.
 
#76
blowinblue said:
Topics like this one (along with a rash of other recent lame topics) make me think of arsonists. They start a fire and then lurk around the scene of the crime watching the damage spread. It must be that feeling of power. The TB firestarter thinks to himself, "Hmmm...what topic can I come up with to bait folks into posting? Maybe I'll get the record for the longest thread." :scowl: And we fall for it nearly every time. :(

M. M.
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Check out the OP's created threads list. It's pretty impressive.
 
#77
marcopalla said:
ugly? Probably you prefer guitars ... so go go go!
:D:D:D

Link Removed

ugly? it's all about tastes, someone prefer women some others males....

the sound, but if you are in a show....
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Now that is amazing!

I like Alembic's original designs better than the entry level Fenderish ones.

Their designs reflect the California Hippie movement and are pure musical art. Everyone does not have to like them though and everyone can have and express their opinion, but you should at least explain why.
 
#79
here's an alembic that is awesome ...

jae-alembicexpl-ca76.jpg
 
#80
marcopalla said:
ugly? probably you prefear guitars ... so go go go!
:D:D:D

Link Removed

ugly? it's all about tastes, someone prefer women some others males....

the sound, but if you are in a show....
Click to expand...

Beautiful bass, but does it look like the body isn't straight to anyone else? Look at where the E and G strings line up with the laminates at the neck and at the tailpiece.

If you want ugly there's plenty of basses out there that some people find attractive and others hate. Here's one that made me feel sympathy for the poor owner:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

(not mine!)
 

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