Armistead Burwell Smith IV (what's he playing here?)

[ishouldbeking]

In case you're wondering, Armistead Burwell Smith IV (also known as ABS-IV, or "Zach") played bass for one of my favorite bands of the 90's, Three Mile Pilot. ABS-IV technically never left the group, he just spends all of his time now playing with his other band, Pinback.

I never really had a clue how he got his bass sound, and I'm not sure what he's playing in this video (taken from a pseudo-reunion show). To my very untrained eye it looks like an Alembic, is that what it is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8pdBr81M_g

If anyone else has knowledge or info about his gear feel free to chime in.

 

[ishouldbeking]

anyone?

or can anyone at least tell me what this guy's playing from looking at the vid? it looks like an alembic, but it could be a hondo for all i know.

 

[j-raj]

looks like a Stanley Clarke Alembic, w/ a different electronics package... like a Rogue or Persuader electronics set up... Just not the Standard SeriesI/II electronics.

 

[ishouldbeking]

oh awesome, thanks!

i bet that's an expensive piece of gear...

 

[The Lurker]

per the Pinback site, it's an Alembic Stanley Clarke piccolo bass.

 

[Pr0x1mo]

per the Pinback site, it's an Alembic Stanley Clarke piccolo bass.

Not a piccolo bass. It's just a short scale Alembic, i have the same bass guitar he does. His sound is a mix of his octave and effects pedals.