jazzyvee

[quote name='Vibrating G String' post='902767' date='Jul 23 2010, 07:01 AM']Hmmm, seems like that last line contradicts what's above it. If the pickup is responsible for so much of the sound (which I subscribe too) then a bass wouldn't sound the same un amplified as it would amplified as a major part of the tone wouldn't influence the un amplified sound. What are some examples of voiced and non voiced pickups? I'm not sure what you mean here.[/quote]

[quote name='Chris2112' post='962970' date='Sep 21 2010, 08:58 AM']Awesome link, thank you! I love the coco bolo top of one of the Mark King basses but I don't like the stinger tail, if I could have that top on the other body shape I'd be very happy! I'd ideally like one with a flamed or quilted maple top, I'll just keep my eyes open over these next few years![/quote] I took a trip down there a couple of years ago and tried out some of the basses there. The sound of all of them was incredible. The one that surprised me the most with how fantastic it sounded was the Dragons Wing model. Although the shape of that model is too loud, the sound was spectacular. Jazzyvee

If I'm doing sessions for other bands or singers, its usually my 5 string bass as the tracks are usually soul or Rnb with more bottom end. I'm a 4 string bassist at heart so for my own band we tend to play tracks that work well on 4 strings. I rarely ever take more than one bass to a gig. Jazzyvee

[quote name='Chris2112' post='962406' date='Sep 20 2010, 05:00 PM']I know this is all the way from the first page but I quoted it because it made me laugh. I'm still on the lookout for a Mark King signature, one of these days I'll find one right around pay day! [/quote] If you are unaware of it, you may wanna keep this link so that you are ready when the right pay day comes along :-) [url="http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/bassshop/alembicB.php"]http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/bassshop/alembicB.php[/url] Jazzyvee

[quote name='Clarky' post='960181' date='Sep 18 2010, 09:39 AM']Hey Jazzyvee! The new Elan 5 is very nice. Very fast, flat/shallow neck (I have taken the action down pretty low although I need to get some new strings) and it really could pass for a new bass if you don't inspect too close up (amazing for an 18 year old bass). It sounds similar to my Spoiler ( not surprising given it has the same pickups and similar electronics) and very Alembic! Weighs 10.5 lb which is completely manageable and half a pound less than my Spoiler despite being a bigger bodied bass and with a wider neck. The flame walnut top is beautiful but I think I would prefer it in black. I will probably send it off to Sims in the next week or two to get it re-finned and keep the back of neck as is - unless of course you want to sell me your bass (OK, I know the answer is no!)[/quote] I remember passing up on a 6 string Elan about 6 years or so ago because there was some deformity in the neck near the nut and the laminates were lifting. Other than that it was a beautiful bass with in madagascar ebony top. It had a very piano like tone. That really convinced me that the elan's are great basses. I read on the alembic forum you are thinking of upgrading the electronics to signature. I know now that would be a perfect mix for that bass but if that option is a bit expensive you may want to check out the Europa electronics for it instead. I have an elan 4 with europa electronics and that offers great tone and the best thing about it is it's very easy to change tone quickly with the cut/flat/boost, bass and treble switches as well as the q-switch. Surprisingly flexible tonally and of course you would have less problems with the layout of the controls. Jazzyvee

[quote name='Clarky' post='961145' date='Sep 19 2010, 01:23 PM']A re-fin will almost certainly be detrimental - although there is a hard core of Metallica fans out there that are after Burton/Newsted-alike basses should I have to sell. For example I keep getting messages from the Alembic Club from people after my black Spoiler (the same model Burton played). I tried (and failed) to track down a black Elan or Europa 5 as I would rather buy one that was ready-made rather than have re-finned (you will see me nagging Jazzyvee above to sell me his black Elan/Europa 5 but he sensibly doesn't want to part with his!)[/quote] When you have the refinish done, will Simms, remove all the existing finish and spray black onto the wood or will they do like alembic do and apply a clear finish first before applying a bold colour on top? If they do then it means if you later decided to sell it the new buyer could always go back to a natural wood at a later date. I'm glad you are happy with the new bass. It looks sharp. I guess you have your own reasons for wanting it all black but as you know I prefer a natural wood as that top looks great. I think mine is a flame maple top under the black paint which looking at the alembic build thread is not that exciting in the grain pattern so probably painting it black was a wise choice by the original buyer. Jazzyvee

[quote name='Clarky' post='952541' date='Sep 11 2010, 10:32 AM']I am not getting it re-finned immediately as I want to see how I get on with the bass and how I feel about the wood finish. I do like darker woods ( this is walnut) and I do already have the black Spoiler so it's not certain I will get it re-finned.[/quote] Hi Clarky, how you getting on with the new bass? Jazzyvee

Maybe you can enlighten me here. I can't understand why someone would pay the amount they do for an Alembic Bass which is renown for it's clean tones, then put some overdrive on it. Once you put the overdrive on it, to me, you lose a lot of the sonic reason for buying the bass in the first place because I'm sure it's gonna sound pretty much like any other bass with distortion. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SZ__yGE7y0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SZ__yGE7y0[/url] Forgive my ignorance in this matter as I don't play rock music at all but enjoy listening to it. That maybe the norm in rock bands as far as I know. What does an expensive bass like an alembic, etc give you when you add overdrive to the signal? I've seen clips of Metallica and John Entwhistle on you tube with distortion on their alembic basses and sound does noting for me at all and makes me wonder why you would do that to such a great natural sounding instrument. In contrast I've heard a track with Stanley Clarke using overdrive on his bass, but then this was a piccolo bass for a solo so much higher up the frequency spectrum and more guitar like tones. But at the bottom end..... Please educate me! Don't get me wrong I'm not criticising these musicians ability at all, just trying tounderstand the reason for adding distortion to these great basses. Jazzyvee

I have a custom Alembic bass that was originally spec'd out for a player in Austria. Virtually as soon as he got it he decided the sound was not for him so he put it down and bought some Sadowsky's instead. Anyway I bought it off him a couple of months ago and saved an absolute fortune over what it would have cost me to have it made by Alembic. It's a great bass and I thought I'd share it with you since I just found this thread. here is the build thread on the alembic page. [url="http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/57606.html?1279803631"]http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/57606.html?1279803631[/url] It's an all maple body based on Alembic Europa model, maple and purpleheart neck, Elan 4+1 headstock, all black finish apart from the neck which has a satin finish. Electronics are from the Alembic Signature range with an additional standby switch, top mounted jack and switchable red side LED's. In terms of sound it is as you would expect from alembic. Very Hi-fi and balanced. The maple body does give the top end a sting and the bottom end some bite. I'm loving it every time I pick it up to play. Jazzyvee

Just want to pop my latest gig on here. It's at Birmingham Artsfest 2010 in Birmingham city centre, all the gigs and performances are free from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th September. My band will be playing at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Sunday 12th September from 3:00 to 3:30pm. We will be doing some stuff from Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Lenny White and Jeff Lorber if you are around Brum at the weekend why not pop in and see us.

I'm sure those basses would have sounded good live but over the computer it's gonna sound thin. I have seen the who live and JE's sound i thought was very top heavy. From a mere mortals personal point of view, i've found that Alembics do respond better to good quality gear, amps, speaker cabs you will never get the best out of them using lesser rigs. I found that every time I use a rehearsal room. I understand what you mean about that kind of sub bass sound that they give. It's something I've never heard on stage but have been told about it by other bass player friends of mine who have been to my gigs. I'm hoping to get a reggae gig soon so I can really investigate the low end properly. I read that Aston Barrett the bass player for the Wailers bought himself an Alembic Elan 5 bass in recent years which is a pretty good recommendation for the bottom end especially since it's all maple which is known for a bright tone. Jazzyvee

Hi guys I've recently started getting a problem with my PJB briefcase combo. It intermittently switches off with the indicator light turning from green to red. I've narrowed it down to the fan not coming on when it should. Previously when I'd been practicing on it for a while I could hear the fan cutting in and out to keep the thing cool. Now the fan hardly cuts in or out and at the point the sound cuts out the fan is not running so i'm pretty sure overheating is the problem area. Anyone had the same problem. I plan to take it to the shop I got it from but if anyone has any experience of this and has a simple solution then please chip in. I'm not averse to taking it apart if you know there is something simple inside to reset or check. It's out of warranty by a good few years so not a problem. I did email PJB and got a reply that the UK distributor was going to contact me but that never happened and subsequent emails to them have not been responded to. Jazzyvee

[quote name='tedgilley' post='867097' date='Jun 14 2010, 03:16 PM']Thick leather strap. You have to work to get it on; no worries about it coming off. TG[/quote] I can second that. All my basses have leather straps and strap locks and not had problems with any of them. In fact one of my basses has a leather strap that I bought for a guitar in the late 70's, and i still going strong. Jazzyvee

[quote name='saxobass' post='907554' date='Jul 27 2010, 08:31 PM']Hi all. I`d like to buy a Godin A4 bass from Canada at a very favourable price. Has anybody had any experience of taxes due, (customs etc.) especially as this is a commonwealth country?[/quote] I got stung very badly last year when I bought a unique electric guitar from a store in Texas and had it shipped over. Even though it was a used instrument it was a huge shock. I would have been better off taking a weekend break there and carrying it back on the plane. However in an interesting conversation with the HMRC man after he had taken my money, he was very amicable actually, he informed me that tax is payable on all instruments imported into the uk from outside the EU unless they coming back to the UK after being sent abroad for repair or under warranty. So i guess if somehow you were able to get the documentation for shipping to be worded to that affect you may be ok. But equally if the tax man isn't convinced you could be worse off. I've heard of people who have asked the seller to down value items in the customs declaration in order to get a lower import tax bill on delivery, but it's a risk as if it is insured shipping and there is a breakage or loss you could find yourself under insured and out of pocket. I guess the safest option is to bite the bullet, give the tax man his money and enjoy the bass if it's a bargain even after taxes. Mine was. Jazzyvee

I have travelled a lot abroad with my guitar with bands whilst touring and have in the main had very few problems at all. Most of the time I was travelling I took the guitar in a custom fitted flight case and a few times they have been damaged or covered in water but never damaged the instrument inside. What I have found is that in the USA they always open the cases and check. After doing so they leave a message inside to let you know it's been security checked and information if you need to contact them about it. My preference would always be to carry it in a gig back or semi flight case and carry it on board with me into the passenger compartment. But it has always been difficult to get it confirmed in advance that it is ok to take the guitar on board so you take the risk when carrying it in a non flight case that the airline will insist it has to go in the hold. This happened on a tour to the states when the outgoing flight was cool about on-board guitars but on the way out the USA officials said NO!! So we had to put the guitars and basses & Saxes in the hold. Fortunately nothing was damaged but it does make travelling less relaxing. Strangely I find if you are carrying a guitar or bass in a guitar or bass shaped case the check in people are more likely to let you carry it on board than if it's in a rectangular case. btw I can recommend flightcase warehouse flight cases. Jazzyvee

[quote name='lozbass' post='903076' date='Jul 23 2010, 12:24 PM']+1 - oh dear me! I feel euphoric and slightly nauseous at the same time...an absolutely staggering bass. I'd love to hear this one. I can see that Jazzyvee's acquisition is going to make me want another Alembic (one I don't need and can't justify). Unusual to have the standby switch - extremely useful on a 'live' bass - I think we should see more of these[/quote] It is an incredible sounding bass. The normal body wood of alembics tend to be mahogany, but this one is all maple except for the purpleheart laminates in the neck so it is a very up front, with a very powerful bright, and with a heavy meaty tone. I'm not used to having that level of high frequencies in my sound so it is going to take a bit of time before I can find my starting sound on it in a live situation. I agree with you on the justification angle and if I was to I focus on the price of them it is probably quite hard to justify. I think the cheapest ones are at least the price of 2 or three good quality pro basses. But I rationalise it to myself in this way. I've been a guitar player for years and years and it has taken me so long to find get a guitar that I'm completely happy with and to think what I spent on duffers to get here. So when I decided I wanted to start playing bass as well to broaden my gigging opportunities I just cut out the middle man well most of them and went straight to the source of where I thought my voice on bass would be. I think i have made the right choice. I appreciate that many people think they are over priced and not worth the money and dated etc etc. I do think the sound is not for everyone and it does take a while to get your head and ears round the way that the alembic electronics work so that it becomes second nature, but for me Alembic is sonic ecstasy. If I'm ever gigging down your way I'll let you know. Jazzyvee

I was at the Ronnie Scotts gig last Friday and it was a fantastic night. He did a couple on electric bass then the rest of the gig on double bass. I've seen Stanley a number of times over the years and the best were when I saw him at the Coachhouse in California with Billy Cobham, Najee, Larry Calton, Deron Johnson and the gig he did at the 02 with Return to Forever. I'm a big fan of Stanley and he is by far my favourite bass player on electric and double bass. Yes he does have a trademark sound/ style and is easily recognisable on record but then isn't that what we are looking for as musicians, a sound that represents us. I don't see it as a bad or negative thing. I heard an interview by marcus miller where he suggested that people should be able to recognise who you are in two notes. Jazzyvee

[quote name='Clarky' post='901877' date='Jul 22 2010, 01:45 PM']For those wondering why I am jealous of jazzyvee, feast your eyes on this beauty: [attachment=54789:60534.jpg] Enjoy JV![/quote] Here are some Photo's of my new Alembic Europa/Elan The build Record/Spec is as follows. ------------------------- Model Name: Europa Model Number: ULB5 Completed: 23/01/2009 Scale Length: 34 inches Fingerboard: Ebony Inlays: Mother of Pearl Ovals Machine Heads: Gold Alembic-Gotohs Top Laminate: Flame Maple Accent Woods: None Body Wood: Maple Back Laminate: None Neck Woods: Maple & Purpleheart Finsh: Polyester Gloss with Satin Neck Feel Electronics: Signature - Master Volume, Pan, Filters x2, Q-Switch x2, Mono Output. Custom Options: Side LED's in Red with on off toggle switch Custom Black/Clear Finish Toggle switch for on/standby Elan in-line Neck 100% made in the USA [attachment=54853:EuropaFive_2.jpg] [attachment=54854:EuropaFive_3.jpg] [attachment=54855:EuropaFive_4.jpg] [attachment=54856:EuropaFive_5.jpg] [attachment=54857:EuropaFive_6.jpg] [attachment=54858:EuropaFive_7.jpg] [attachment=54859:EuropaFive_8.jpg] [attachment=54860:EuropaFive_9.jpg] With it's wide tonal palette it is going to take a while to find my sound on it. Fun fun fun. Jazzyvee

[quote name='lozbass' post='897898' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:32 AM']+1 - hi Jazzyvee - it's good to have you on Basschat - I've been reading your posts on the Alembic Club (with great enthusiasm and interest) for years...I'm off to look at the 5 that Clarky mentions...[/quote] The bass arrived at my office today so will give it a bash tonight when I get home.

I think the choice of woods in an instrument must make a difference to the tone and impart it's character to it. Whether you can hear that or benefit from that is probably a lot to do with the pickups on the guitar and whether the manufacturer has voiced them or not. Many of the pickups used on basses and guitars for that matter are "Voiced" to give a particular type of sound. Many manufacturers use these pickups rather than develop their own which I think is why, a lot of basses just sound like either fender clones or super fenders.( Not that that is a bad sound). The vast number and variety of after market pickups just make this point even more.I think the type of wood used on these basses would have less impact on the sound since the primary voice is coming from the pickups. I think if the pickups are non-voiced and are designed just to reproduce the signal from the vibrating string in front of them, then you will be able to benefit sonically from using different woods in the instrument construction since the woods will impart their character on the vibrating string which will be picked up and amplified uncoloured. If I play my basses unplugged they have one sound, when plugged in they sound the same just louder. Jazzyvee

[quote name='lozbass' post='897898' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:32 AM']+1 - hi Jazzyvee - it's good to have you on Basschat - I've been reading your posts on the Alembic Club (with great enthusiasm and interest) for years...I'm off to look at the 5 that Clarky mentions...[/quote] Thanks, I think the alembic forum is fantastic place and the only one I've participated in actively. I'm more a guitarist who plays a bit of bass really but a big stanley clark fan which got me into the alembic sound. I used to have a Musicman Sterling bass until I got into alembics then sold it. Strangely since I got an alembic and at least in the past 5 years I've done mainly bass session gigs. As for the new bass, it hasn't arrived yet but the seller tells me he is posting it tomorrow so it should be here soon. There is a small construction thread about it on the alembic site [url="http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/57606.html?1255532495"]http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/57606.html?1255532495[/url] Thanks again for the interest and welcome. Jazzyvee

[quote name='crez5150' post='897583' date='Jul 17 2010, 08:37 PM']As someone who has been Audited twice for band earnings.... I say regardless of how much you earn (unless its a paltry sum) DECLARE, DECLARE, DECLARE!!!!! I paid £33 tax on my last tax return[/quote] I agree I declare all and include reciepts for everything, rehearsals, strings, cases etc etc. An artiste I worked with a few years ago had a tax audit and they went through his stuff then asked him a general comment about a specific music festival as if he was interested personally. The artiste replied yes that he has been there but never played there, at which point the tax man produced a poster from his briefcase listing the artiste as headlining the festival. you can imagine how thorough the rest of that audit went. Its worth remembering from a tax point of view and also if you are on social security. Tax & DHSS people still have private lives and they could be at one of your gigs as a punter and recognise you when you sign on, ( again that has happened to a musician I've worked with), or get audited. So my view is that if you are doing something public like gigs are, it is safer to declare it pay your taxes and protect yourself from tax or DHSS fraud. If you are declaring you probably will not as you say end up paying much if any tax unless you are doing big stuff. I think my biggest tax bill for music was about £35 5 years ago on a good year when I was touring a lot. But then because I have a day job all my music earnings go back into upgrading, maintaining equipment etc. so I'm technically always running at a loss. Jazzy vee

[quote name='lozbass' post='852681' date='May 31 2010, 03:04 PM']That's a good question and one to which I don't have a ready answer (I'll do a bit of research!) It sounds a bit weird to talk of 'high-end' Alembics (they're all stratospheric!) but I know what you mean. The sigs and up tend to have a bridge block (a big piece of brass bolted into the body into which the bridge is fitted) - the idea is that this contributes to the distinctive tone of an Alembic...I'm not at all technically knowledgeable but those versed in physics can probably provide an explanation. The electronics also undoubtedly add a lot - I don't necessarily find them clinical (though it's such a subjective term) - indeed, with all the filters and boosters open wide, they sound huge! I'm trying to be objective here too - I've never heard any other bass with such an enormous, dynamic, ringing tone - no problem at all for big, brash, clanging rock.[/quote] Hi I'm a new member, a long time alembic owner and this is my first response. i'm an exclusively alembic bass player and have a number of their basses short scale 4 and long scale 4 and 5 string basses. The closest long scale bass that has simple controls like a spoiler is I would say the standard alembic Elan which has volume pan and low pass filter. It is also an all maple body and neck is maple with some slim walnut laminates, so the tone has a lot of high end frequencies without losing the bottom end. Most of the more higher end Alembics have the bridge bolted to a large brass sustain block. The idea being to keep the vibrating string vibrating for longer whilst reducing some of the higher levels of attenuation that would be experienced if the bridge was bolted directly to the body and hence improves sustain of the vibrating string. I don't find any of their instruments sterile sounding at all. I think one of the key things about their basses is their pickups and electronics. Their pickups, unlike most other manufacturers, are low impedance and "non voiced". The are just designed to reproduce as accurately as possible the signal from the vibrating string. The pre-amp and filters allows for a very wide, useable and versatile tonal spectrum. I wouldn't be interested in anything else. Jazzyvee