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jazzyvee

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Everything posted by jazzyvee

  1. jazzyvee
    Aston "family Man' Barrett of the Wailers band plays with his thumb on the neck and actually plays over the end of the fretboard and this gives him a wonderful warm and powerful sound to his reggae bass lines. Jazzyvee
  2. jazzyvee
    [quote name='fatback' post='1048477' date='Dec 5 2010, 05:49 PM']Anyone actually had an RCD trip? I've never used one, but i'm starting to think I should.[/quote] I've used one that I got from B&Q since the late 1990's when I started doing lots of outdoor gigs with a calypso band and i have never had one trip on me. I have twice had electric shocks on stage but fortunately they were in the USA where the voltage is much lower than our 240v and it was just a mere sting. But still came as a "shock" :-) Jazzvee
  3. jazzyvee
    The Marcus Miller Version of What is Hip? from his Free Album. Here is my clip on you tube. The video clip was recorded on a mobile phone so quality isn't that great. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf2b2IVfEiM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf2b2IVfEiM[/url] Jazzyvee
  4. jazzyvee
    [quote name='alexclaber' post='346781' date='Dec 5 2008, 08:46 PM']Indeed we were! I'd really recommend anyone looking to use an ACG preamp on their bass to consider Q-Tuner pickups. The Q-Tuners have a much higher resonant peak than any other passive pickups so you can then use the ACG filters to simulate the sound of any pickup you want without having to fight the sound inherent to most pickups. Another approach would be to use a low impedance low output pickup like Alembic ones which have a similarly high resonant peak but need a suitable high impedance buffer and then voltage gain to drive an amp (which the ACG can probably do) but the Q-Tuners achieve that response whilst also being powerful enough to run totally passive (due to some kind of Dutch black magic in them - or possibly air coils and neodymium magnets...) Alex[/quote] I've recently had the ACG filters added to one of Alembic basses that originally had one filter circuit. The ACG has really livened up the bass sound and it sounds more flexible tonally than before. However I do find it quite difficult to add warmth to the sound. But maybe that will come with more experience of the way that tone is produced by these filter circuits. The great thing is it still sounds like an alembic. Jazzyvee
  5. jazzyvee
    [quote name='obbm' post='791093' date='Mar 30 2010, 07:53 PM']Sounds to me like a placebo effect. I spent a good part of my 40 working years designing, building and comissioning TV and radio studios, edit suits and TV outside broadcast units. The only equipment we ever put in them for the AC power was an automatic voltage regulator, good earth leakage warning and completely separate technical earth. The latter being the most important. Never any fancy power condioners and never a problem. If the broadcasters don't need one then you certainly don't need one with a bass ampplaying at the local pub. If you think you can hear a difference then you must be one of the tiny minority who apparently have "golden ears". You certainly won't hear any differnec in a gig situation doing battle with a drummer and two Marshall stacks. The UK mains is one of the best in the world. The US mains is a joke which is why they need them. Power conditioners in the UK are a waste of money. If you want a rack power distributor then get one of those. They are a fraction of the price of a Power Conditioner.[/quote] Hi there, can I tap into your experience here. I recently did a corporate gig in a big marquee and plugged in my bass rack system and go loads of high frequency sizzle through the rig even before connecting my lead and bass to it. Now there were loads of christmas lighting in the venue, the dj had motorised lighting systems, fans and chemical fog machines etc and the back of the stage area was covered in little led starlights which flash on and off. My presumption was that the interference was coming from this array of electrical stuff plugged into the same supply to the marquee. Is there anything you could recommend for eliminating this kind of noise from my system in situations like this? Thanks Jazzyvee
  6. jazzyvee
    [quote name='jazzyvee' post='1017733' date='Nov 9 2010, 04:05 PM']I'm going over to see John tomorrow to have some of his filter circuits installed in my Alembic Bass. Jazzyvee[/quote] Well what can I say, i'm smiling all over the place. I went over to see John East today to get him to install some of his circuits into my Alembic Europa 5 bass. Got home and put some new strings on it and plugged into my Mesa boogie Rig. I am absolutely astounded by how wonderful this bass sounds. Before the change the alembic circuits always sounded fantastic but I always felt it needed one filter circuit for each pickup as I do on my signature alembic basses. Now with the upgrade to ACG/East electronics I have a low pass and high pass filter for each pickup. I have had a play with it for about an hour and the sounds I am now experiencing from the bass are nothing short of incredible and a far wider spectrum that before. I couldn't say with any degree of honesty that the quality of the sound is any better than alembic but it certainly offers more scope and at a incredibly more affordable price. I've never played or knowingly heard a series II bass so I can only imagine that the sound is very similar to what I have now especially as it's in an Alembic bass. I had a good chat with John about the filter circuits and he said that the idea was to encompass the whole spectrum between the low end of the Wal 70Hz and that of the alembic which goes from 350Hz-6KHz then by adding the high pass filter we can get access to higher crisper frequencies. I was considering ordering a new Series II bass recently and decided to try these filters out first to see what was available to me at a lower cost outlay. Money well spent. It's been given the audio equivalent of a dose of strong mentho-lyptus...!!!! Jazzyvee
  7. jazzyvee
    I'm going over to see John tomorrow to have some of his filter circuits installed in my Alembic Bass. Jazzyvee
  8. jazzyvee
    [quote name='lozbass' post='1000765' date='Oct 26 2010, 08:10 AM']Hi Jazzyvee, Thanks for the kind comments...acquiring the Alembic was just the start of a habit that is now quite out of hand...I'll try to get a photograph up later. The small bodied short-scale is just perfect for me (apart from the fact it simply doesn't balance on a strap) and I now play little else.[/quote] Well if you decide it's not perfect for you anymore, please give me a shout as it may just be perfect for me. :-) Jazzyvee
  9. jazzyvee
    [quote name='Clarky' post='1004229' date='Oct 28 2010, 07:14 PM']This is a serious rock machine, the model played by Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted of Metallica (and thus highly sought after as there aren't many in circulation in this colour scheme). As a Metallica fan I love the way this bass looks and plays - with one fatal flaw, it weighs 11 pounds and thats just too much for me, my back and my left shoulder (which had a rotator cuff injury a couple of years ago and is prone to grumble with heavy basses strapped on). The good - plays beautifully (32 inch scale length is very easy to navigate fast), sounds very Alembic (ask jakesbass, old horse murphy, or jonthebass), looks rock, and is an Alembic you would happily gig rather than admire and polish. The bad - the weight (though its nowhere near as heavy as, say, an MK 5), and the finish has a couple of small chips in the headstock, lots of fine surface scratches in the picking area (which could probably T-cut out) and quite a few bumps/dints (none breaking the thick black gloss finish) on the rear, especially at the back of the horn (photo below). You might want to do a partial re-fin but, TBH, it didn't bother me as it meant I could happily gig it without fussing. I imported it from the US for over £1300 and have since added some very nice Alembic 40-100 stainless steel round strings. It comes with a very solid fitted Alembic hard case I am after £1400 posted to recoup my total outlay. [attachment=62430:alembic05.jpg][attachment=62431:alembic02.jpg][attachment=62433:alembic10.jpg] Here's Cliff Burton (RIP) with his one: [attachment=62434:43212.jpg] and Jason Newsted with his: [attachment=62447:DSC01551.jpg][/quote] Hi Clarky, sad news you have to sell that bass. I did my first gig with my new Alembic bass yesterday and it sounds great. All the best with the sale. Jazzyvee
  10. jazzyvee
    [quote name='Wally' post='998445' date='Oct 23 2010, 08:29 PM']I started as a punk player with a pick. Older age has brought a mellowing and now I'm back playing I've taken to playing with fingers for the warmer sound. However I play with my thumb for the downstroke and first two fingers for the ups like a finger playing guitarist does. I beleive that this is not regarded as good technique for bass but I don't know why and wonder and ask what the downside for this is. Its been a very natural way to swap a pick for fingers. My thanks in advance.[/quote] I'm a guitarist and have been moonlighting on bass for a while now and although I mainly use the first two fingers, I find that I use a technique very similar to yours when I want to palm mute the strings to get a specific type of sound out of my bass. I agree with the others, if the sound you get works for you then it's ok. I wouldn't know what the downside is though I suspect that like many other ways of plucking the string it's different strokes for different folks. Jazzyvee
  11. jazzyvee
    [quote name='lozbass' post='494651' date='May 21 2009, 08:49 PM']I've been promising this for a long time - so...a little late evening sun in Manchester and here we go (the sun does little for my photography skills). It's an Alembic Series II custom - built around the small standard body shape. This is just around 2 years old - I've had it for about a year. Obviously, the photographs can't do it justice - it has a few unusual options - front and side blue LEDs (lasers in the front of the board), and extra laminates in the body (its cocobolo, maple, purpleheart, maple, vermillion core, maple, purpleheart, maple, cocobolo). Strangely, it has extra LEDs in the first position (a nice touch). The guy that commissioned this is an extraordinary aesthete with fabulous taste (IMO) - a really nice guy too. Update: a few more photographs with some close-ups for detail - thanks to all for the comments[/quote] Wow that is an incredible bass. Congratulations..... Jazzyve
  12. jazzyvee
    [quote name='Chris2112' post='963651' date='Sep 21 2010, 07:03 PM']Sadly it's a bit far off the beaten track for me, but I will keep my eye on it in future! Do they seem to sell their stock fairly quickly or does it tend to sit around for a while? Bass Central in the US has seemingly had certain Alembic models for ages that just dont' sell despite looking amazing![/quote] I think the reason the basses stay unsold for a long while is because many people think they are far too expensive and so leave them alone.
  13. jazzyvee
    Here is an article about pickups which is on the Alembic forum. It may help understanding of pickups. [url="http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16350.html?1107707912"]http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16350.html?1107707912[/url] Jazzyvee
  14. 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] Not at all, non voiced means means that the pickups are designed to produce a signal from the vibrating string that is in turn influenced by the wood it is secured to via the hardware, without the pickups colouring the signal themselves. If a pickup is voiced have a particular sound then i think that would have a greater influence on the tone of the instrument and could hide the subtle differences that may be obtained by careful wood selection. The pickups on my bass are low impedance Alembic pickups. Jazzyvee
  15. 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]
  16. jazzyvee
    [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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. jazzyvee

    Gigs in Birmingham

    jazzyvee posted a topic in Gigs

    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.
  25. jazzyvee
    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
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