NBD - Alembic Brown Bass

[joe vegas]

This model should be in a design museum somewhere. Total timeless classic. Congrats!

 

[J Wilson]

I'm afraid of the series electronics. The one filter on a Rogue is too much so I turn it off / leave it open / wish it weren't there. I have an SF-2 with all the fliters and noticed my bass always sounds better without it no matter the setting. I haven't tried the series electronics but probably not for me.

This is the biggest part of playing an Alembic. It took me quite a while to wrap my head around it, and once you go to a S2 or use the SuperFilter, there's quite a learning curve, and believe me you're not alone: Long-time Alembic (-only) player Jimmy Johnson actually has little marks on his controls so he can get back to his settings Right Now.

If you've never played one and experimented with the controls, the closest thing from the 'outside world' I can liken it to (at least to me) is the cut-only graphic EQ's (I remember the Klark-Techniks) that were once prevalent in recording studios.

 

[J Wilson]

Master at Work: SC Model (go figure!), Cocobolo top, purpleheart stripes in the neckthrough, Series electronics.
Mr. Clarke's personal basses have shaved necks vs. the production model, like a VERY slim Jazz Bass profile.
Sometimes E-G, sometimes A-C, don't know if he has a piccolo setup Alembic.

Stanley Clarke Signature Bass | Smithsonian Music

And a SC in five strings built for him a few years back, strung E-C. The black stripe in the center of the laminations is ebony.

Alembic has made a handful of these 4-strings in this shape in long-scale (which absolutely will dive for the floor instantly with those short horns) and they almost refuse to build them any more and will do their best to talk you out of it. Fine in short, tolerable in 32", as are most of their classic shapes.

 

[alembicbones]

Bones...
Does that have Anniversary electronics and from Will Gunn Guitars?

Sweet.

This bass does have Anniversary electronics but I bought it from the fine folks at Bass Central.

Bones

 

[g-dude]

Alembic has made a handful of these 4-strings in this shape in long-scale (which absolutely will dive for the floor instantly with those short horns)

I'm sure that's not a problem for our friends in Australia.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Hi All,

This bass just shipped to me today. It's not my first Alembic but it is my first short scale bass. Very light at 8.5 lbs and balances very well. Classic Alembic tone which I really dig. This one is going to be fun to integrate into the arsenal.

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Bones

Cool, and it is a true classic!

 

[Chickenwheels]

This is the biggest part of playing an Alembic. It took me quite a while to wrap my head around it, and once you go to a S2 or use the SuperFilter, there's quite a learning curve, and believe me you're not alone: Long-time Alembic (-only) player Jimmy Johnson actually has little marks on his controls so he can get back to his settings Right Now.

If you've never played one and experimented with the controls, the closest thing from the 'outside world' I can liken it to (at least to me) is the cut-only graphic EQ's (I remember the Klark-Techniks) that were once prevalent in recording studios.

It’s super useful that Wal has numbers on their filters so I can grab settings for different songs quickly and accurately.

 

[jonasparker]

This is the biggest part of playing an Alembic. It took me quite a while to wrap my head around it, and once you go to a S2 or use the SuperFilter, there's quite a learning curve, and believe me you're not alone: Long-time Alembic (-only) player Jimmy Johnson actually has little marks on his controls so he can get back to his settings Right Now.

If you've never played one and experimented with the controls, the closest thing from the 'outside world' I can liken it to (at least to me) is the cut-only graphic EQ's (I remember the Klark-Techniks) that were once prevalent in recording studios.

Most of those controls tend to create a very audible resonant peak right before the roll off point, and other pointiness. I like wider q on my eq, pretty much flat, softer anyway, so that you don't have certain notes that benefit and others that suffer from each setting. I love the essential sound of the alembic pickups and pre though!

 

[alembicbones]

I've been playing Alembics for around 30 years now. I've had 3 used ones, all 5 strings. They were an Essence, a Europa, and a Series II. If it wasn't for poor ergonomics on the Series II, I would have kept it. I took the best features of the three when I ordered my custom Europa over twenty years ago. I could have put Series II electronics in it but I thought Series I would be easier to deal with. Now with the Brown Bass, I have a similar electronics package compared to my Europa.

I've always found the low pass filters, in conjunction with the Q switches, very intuitive to dial in a great tone. My two Alembics will be very different animals, but with a commonality from the Mothership.

Bones

 

[hasbeen]

I had an Alembic Distillate custom made for me back in 1990. Used it when I was touring. Amazing bass but wow was it heavy!

Talking about a brown Alembic, here is me from last month playing the actual bass Stanley Clarke used to record School Days on! It is now owned by Victor Wooten. Talk about mojo!

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Wow....that's very, very cool. Great photo.