Alembic, worth the hype?

[c0nsilience]

Hey JMJ,

Kudos on the cover of BP!

Have you played/owned an Alembic, any model, age, etc?

I've been looking into them for quite awhile, but I'm not sure that I can justify the price.

I know that many greats have played them, but I also realize that, once upon a time, Alembic was a small company based in CA that needed to get their basses to the masses.

So, what, if anything, do you think of them?

Thanks!

 

[jmjbassplayer]

No I have never owned/played one. Maybe held one once. I'm afraid you're asking the wrong guy, unfortunately. There must be a more apropos forum in which you can find some of our people who have been down that road.

What do I think of them? I like the groovy look of John McVie playing them back in the day. And John Paul Jones. And once upon a time, Kira from Black Flag rocked one. But other than that, it's not my cup of tea to say the least. ;-)

Best,
JMJ

 

[c0nsilience]

Thanks for the input man!

Yeah, I figured as much. Good gear helps, but tone is in the fingertips when the heart and head combine, at least, that's what I've learned from my own experience.

Would Michael Hedges be any less of a talent if he didn't play 20k Ervin Somogyi guitars? Or Michael Manring before there was even a prototype of a hyperbass? The answer is probably, no. Talent like that, and like yourself, is a wonderful thing that seems to be nurtured by the failures and humbled by the accomplishments. Practice makes permanent, right?

Alembic's are nice. But, in a world where people can't afford a decent education or nutritional food, it just seems to be a bit gawdy and insane to drop that much grip on an instrument, even if the bells & whistles scream out your name. =)

The burden of a free market, I guess.

 

[pbass2]

I like the groovy look of John McVie playing them back in the day.

I always wondered if that "jump outta the speaker in your Celica" tone on the big Mac hits was his Alembic or . . . whatever? Coulda been almost anything, considering what they went through making those records, but it sure sounded good.

 

[JimmyM]

I think "The Chain" was the Alembic. Sounds like most of the Rumours album is Alembic to me. Alembics are pretty identifiable. That's why I never got along with them. Everyone I ever heard play one had that sound. And for all the switches and knobs, all they do is give you a variation of that sound. It's great if you're looking for that sound, and they're put together beautifully, but they don't do much for me.

 

[StreamerDavid]

Those Fleetwood Mac tones are great. After having picked up an Alembic at a store and trying it, I'd say that John McVie was definitely a skilled player to get such a warm tone from that instrument. The Alembics do not lend themselves to that tone, but more of a high-fi fusion sort of tone if you dig in at all.