hiram.k.hackenbacker

I have no idea, but given John’s style of playing, I’m not sure whether that’s right. My one is very low anyway. It could probably do with just a hair off the tension it has at the moment. I don’t have any plans to sell. It’s been on my bucket list for some time 😀

The headstock shape is an option available to whoever commissions the bass from Alembic. Other options are the colour of the LED’s, whether to have front, front/side or presumably no LED’s, whether to have continuous wood back plates and to choose the number of strings. Most are four, but I believe there is at least one 8 and even a fretless, although quite why you wouldn’t want frets on one of these is beyond me.

Bass Central in Florida had at least one in stock for quite a while. Just checked them and they don't have any at the moment. Neither does Will Gunn who has very close ties with Alembic - in fact, he doesn't sell any other brand. His archive shows two that have been sold.

Good luck trying to find one for sale. It took me long enough 😂 Although there are couple of new ones left to commission from Alembic as above.

Ah, every day a lesson learned. Apparently, it does have a stereo output after all. One of those switches toggles the output stereo/mono and the other one is the on/off for the side LED’s.

No, it doesn't. Just a standard mono output jack.

Nice info @4000. Thanks 👍

Mmm, let me think about that for a millisecond 😂 I will gig it. I’ll just have to choose the right venue.

Noted. I’ll be learning Won’t Get Fooled Again as well 👍

Mrs.H is an absolute diamond. I showed her a picture of it last week and she said ‘just buy it’, which is the standard response. I usually don’t like rushing into things, which I think is what bothers her. I like to bounce the pro’s and con’s about until I’m happy. Usually off her 😂. So no persuasion needed. I do have two basses up for sale you know 🤪. A couple of times a month I like to have a rummage around eBay for certain brands, Alembic being one. I just happened to search when this was up on a 7 day listing. I don’t think it had been listed before. Luckily I happened to see it on day one. The seller lives in Belfast and he drove it to Essex himself yesterday. Via Stranraer and then Cardiff. In one day. That’s service for you!

Yes, I played a couple of Stanley’s at Bass Central and they were about the same weight, but with a smaller body shape and a lot of neck dive. I was pleasantly surprised by the Spyder, although I did fear the worst when I picked it up in it’s case for the first time. I had flashbacks off carrying my Trace Elliot V8 about 😬.

No, not quite that bad. It’s 12.4lbs 😀

It's really smooth, almost effortless to play in fact. So perfectly finished IMHO. I do love a nice piece of flamed maple.

Yes, it’s been on my list a while along with three others. One of them I very much doubt I’ll ever get my hands on. One is easily ordered, funds allowing and the last one, as fate would hate it, has just popped up on FB 🙄

I'm finally back in the Alembic fold after a fairly long absence. I have wanted a Spyder for some considerable time and had all but given up on the the chances of getting one after an initial quote ran into five figure territory - and it didn't start with a '1' either! It's a limited run of 50, but they have been available for over a decade and Alembic still haven't made all of them yet. Also, they have not been made sequentially either. The last time I checked the following were still available, although I think one of them has been commissioned since: 22 of 50 27 of 50 28 of 50 29 of 50 35 of 50 48 of 50 It's bit of a beast and I accept it's not for everyone, especially those that have bad backs, but I have to say it doesn't feel that heavy. I think part of that is that it's well balanced. It's 10 years old this year and has been a Case Queen for all of its life. It's set up ridiculously low and really is everything I hoped it would be. That said, I haven't put it through my gig rig yet, so I have that to look forward to in 2020. The case is an absolute monster (see photo for comparison with a standard size case) and the bass in its case weighs just under 42lbs.

Great memories mate 👍 Yes, I think it was Rita. My wife would remember. She’s great with names. I’m better with faces 😀.

The first time I went there, many years ago, there was a lady there who had been working there since it opened. The tales she could tell believe me and a lovely warm genuine person. I actually quite like the food. The wings we had in Tenerife were divine.

Forgot to add this one from HRH Tenerife. On close inspection this Stingray looked completely knackered. The saddles were all at different heights and there were chunks missing out of the fretboard. It is also kept in a glass fronted cabinet which gets a proper full on dose of sunshine throughout every morning. Bit of a shame really. There were no basses of note in the HRC Tenerife (different place altogether). There were a few that had been 'signed by', but had no history with the artists named.

Oh yes, I'm aware of them, it's just they're more than a little bit different from out lot 😀

Yes, an unfortunate co-incidence 😀

All the ticket money and donation buckets have been tallied up and we raised just under £5000. Very pleased with that, as are The Lords Taverners.