Black Coffee

The Garland and the Jupiter are appealing. In a strange way I think Ive seen the Stealth before. Did the 'Disneyland after dark' bassist play something like this ?

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1357190052' post='1918863'] In 2012 I bought a used Alembic series bass from a seller in the USA and had it shipped to the Alembic workshop by the seller so that I could collect it. get a factory tour and get to their annual California meet. They are completely dedicated to delivering top quality in building their instruments from choice of raw materials through construction to setup and after sales service. For the Series basses, Ron Wickersham, can spend many days in his lab on one bass tirelessly swapping and matching the pickups to an individual bass and calibrating the electronics and noise cancellation so that when the bass leaves the factory everything is as perfect as it can be for that bass. There are no third party builders for them and no labour workshop somewhere else making the lower priced models, they all are made by the craftsmen at the workshop. My particular bass was made in 2003 and when the bass got to the factory, Alembic were not happy with the way the plating had tarnished in that period of time, so they made a complete new set of hardware, bridge, sustain block, tailpiece and adjustable nut for the bass and replated, all under warranty. All that and I wasn't even the original owner of the bass!!!. How many bass makers would give that level of service for a bass of that age. I doubt many would do that. I'm very impressed with them in every respect from sound to build quality. I'm not a fan of many of their body shapes but the one I have suits me. [/quote] This reads quite impressive. I don't mean to be controversial and start a whole sequence of this and that, but why did it tarnish in the first place in only 9 years to a degree where they (Alembic) were unhappy with it ? Would someone who lives in the European area be fit to get the same level of attention under warranty I wonder.....

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1357081411' post='1917392'] I think you are right. Maybe I am being a little hard on myself , and I should have not sold "that" bass. I bet there are a few BC members that feel the same way. [/quote] Ive owned 3 mm stingray 5s and moved em on to try different basses. Combination of not havin the money to be able to get away from one out one in policy and grass looks (or sounds) greener over there. I wud say i regretted parting with each one as they were all good. Ive just maybe learnt not to beat myself up over it cuz i cant afford everything i want so move around on gear a bit. They are kinda like a benchmark of a sort. Id buy another and put a match to the GAS. Im struggling at the minute over a four string buy. GAS never really in check.

[quote name='Mog' timestamp='1357025800' post='1916438'] Seriously though, you've raised an interesting point, What if bassist X auditioned for a gig with band Y who are highly regarded within a certain genre, say Brit Pop. After the auditioning process the band realises that bassist X is the most suitable in terms of technique and attitude and offer him the slot. However bassist X is endorsed by company Z and is obliged contractually to play their basses. The basses company Z produce are not what would normally be used by a Brit Pop band and Band Y tell Bassist X that he must use another company's product. Obviously Bassist X would have to explain to Band Y that he cannot use another bass. Does band Y allow bassist X to use the bass from company Z therefore employing the most suitable person for the job (musically at least) or do they move on to another bassist who is willing to play whatever is required aesthetically but is a weaker musician technically? Getting a bit off topic; IMO the only reason why image has such a strong influence on musical genres is because people are too willing to go along with the trends and therefore become just another indie bassist with a stingray or a punk bassist with a precision or a prog bassist with boutique 6 string or whatever cliche you may care to add. [/quote] Hard to disagree with this.

[quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1356993236' post='1916240'] No insecurities here, I play 4, 5 & 6's, whatever the gig needs Im glad ur happy. Again, dont replace words please. you just implied it, You will read what you want from it. that's hardly just asking not to give grief is it? who says they can't play a 5 string? If they cant play it because they have been told not to, walk away and be comfortable. [/quote] Regardless of anything there will always be stigma.

You haven't misread it. It's an oxymoron and was meant that way. The pistols achieved notoriety by playing the game long before the public knew there was a game to play and the public were duped. They made money, fame and all the stuff that came with it and musically were.......... mmmmmm I will stop here for fear of bearing the wrath of those who either loath or hate them. I have my own opinion and I am comfortable with it. I still wouldn't have told Sid his bass had to go.

[quote name='basslondon' timestamp='1356989573' post='1916208'] heaven help us.... if ever a band were all about attitude and image it were the 'pistols........ i thought we were talking music here. [/quote] Perfect example of not giving a stuff about anything and being absolutely certain that your image said exactly that. Can't help but love some of it. Wonder what bass Sid would have played if he had the choice that's here now.....? Or who would have told him that he had to change.....?

Here's a thought. Imagine if Leo Fender had put out the P bass looking like a 5 string BC Rich Black Widow back all those years ago. Would that shape now be the norm and the four, 'rounded body' be the supposed imposter?

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1356784180' post='1913532'] It boils down to froth v substance - unfortunately there's a certain amount of froth around amongst the music scene. [/quote] Nuff said. If your not part of the substance what does that make you. I think we spend time playing where we are wanted and if you are not welcome you won't likely be back. It's natural musical seleciton. I would play whatever I feel comfortable with. 4, 5, 6 or whatever. But it would be because I want to and feel right about it. Not because some primadonna with an image problem demands it.

[quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1356982644' post='1916124'] Attitudes like that are why people don't like bassist that play 5 & 6 strings, more strings doesn't make you better, [/quote] If you read the post you will actually notice that I didnt say it made you better; I just asked that you dont give others grief if they choose to be different. If you have your own insecurities I am sorry if you feel bothered by my suggestion but please dont put words in that weren't there. It's a tongue in cheek comment. Ironic in how it works the other way around. In other words as a five string player I don't criticise the four stringers or their choice of bass. Come to think of it, in 25 years I don't think I have ever once complained about someone's gear or refused to play with them or told them to go buy a different piece of kit. Kinda bad manners. What works for you, works for you. 4 isnt better than 5 or 6 or anything else for that matter.

How did we ever make it out of the leo fender p bass years. What happened to baving fun and giving people satisfaction. Do sportsmen get the same grief about football boots they wear? I think not cuz they all do the same job. Why dont the 4 string army wise up and embrace the future. Just because you cant play a five string dont give other folk grief about it. Lets be honest if you are playing in a pub half the audience will be too oiled to care by the time you are on stage after ten oclock. All that matters to me is that i do my job accurately and consistently. If you are more interested in looks over sound then trythe x factor show cuz theyll have space for you im sure. They will love u bass barbie.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1356930132' post='1915262'] I wouldn't like to be in a band with a guitarist that has one of those pointy BC Rich's. To me, that's making a fairly firm statement about what image you like. Let's face it, somebody who likes a pointy guitar isn't really going to want to play nice slow melodic pieces. Although, having said that, i know there is a sh*t storm coming now. [/quote] Not quite a storm. Just wonderin if a gibson flyin V wud get the same response. ;-)

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1356807163' post='1913890'] Presumably in light of that adage , women in wheel chairs ( tits [i]and[/i] wheels ) are considered to be particulaly troublesome ? [/quote] Mmmm. Tally ho the women drivers.

Be sure to try before u buy. It aint evryones cuppa tea. I love them but cant get comfortable playin them and tried three before admitting it. Also cost a fortune.

U can buy a new one on evilbay for about £1499.00 Start ther and work down i think. With push pull vintage option i think it makes it post 2006. Someone correct me if im wrong. If its fireglo it may be more. Some variables, but 1499 is a new one.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1356783950' post='1913522'] Funny you should say that, as one of the factors that went through my head recently when deciding to buy a Sandberg Cali VM4 rather than lay out a considerable extra wedge on a Dingwall AB1 5-er was: How can I turn up at a country gig with this weird-looking fanned-fret 5-string? So it was partly down to my own conservatism, partly down to my perception of the audience's conservatism. [/quote] I play a DIngwall ABZII at the minute and my feeling is if you don't like it find someone else. Most people generally spend the first 5 minutes asking about how does that fretboard work; then the next 5 mins working up to asking for a play on it. Then generally agree it's the mutts nutts afterwards. Are we all bowing to the image of a Leo inspired wooden slab with the bare bass-ics. . . Guitar players get to play weird and wonderful shapes and sounds. Drummers percuss on whatever they find. Why do bass players have to conform to someone's (probably the gear slave guitarist) idea of how it should be. With expression / technique / effects / plucking and picking / accent are we not there or thereabouts with most sounds if you have a decent quality passive / active bass and amp. If it is the case - then we are image driven.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1356783472' post='1913513'] Not so sure about this. I have come across drum snobbery - a jam night where the guy that ran it (a drummer) once brought just kick, snare and hi-hat with the comment "that'll sort the men out from the boys"! [/quote] Maybe he just drove a Reliant Robin. How is Rodney these days?

If it's got wheels it will give you trouble.. . .. not if. When.

[quote name='Angel' timestamp='1356778698' post='1913443'] Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. I seem to recall that Oasis told the bass player to lose the 5 string if he wanted the gig. [/quote] Shame they hadn't told the singer to get a personality and a voice . . . . . Some people , just put them in front of a microphone and they think they can sing and that they are important or something. Brotherly love and a sympathetic co-operative bassist clearly made the band a success. Did the bass player not eventually leave ? I never really followed every move or bought many CDs but you couldn't avoid the strangled cat with mancunian twang on the radio andTV.

MMMMM What about a BC RICH ex Blackie Lawless Black Widow with stage blood and raw meat (and other dubious substances) caked around the pickups and frets. Or the bloke from GWAR and his ..........thing, appendage, bass , whatever he calls it. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Motown fun . . . ..He he he, or in spirit of the season Ho ho ho,

[indent=1]My experience of this I have to say is pretty limited to one particularly funny incident personally speaking although I have heard of the guitar player in some other setups having a girly hissy-fit because the bass players kit looked better than his boring axe did. What a proper little drama monkey I was thinking.[/indent] [indent=1]I have had an instance where the guitar player yells at me to stop playing the wrong note cuz he sees me playing G on the "wrong string" as far as his little 6 string from E and up world is concerned. As we all know G is on the second string down on a 5-er. I took the time to explain the applied advanced rocket chemical science knowledge required and he carried on. Then the drama started again when playing low D on the fifth fret as I was tuned to low A. Oh my goodness - what a complete plonker. Safe to say I haven't been back to that. Shame as the drummer was excellent, but under the thumb of the primadonna on the tele.[/indent] [indent=1]May I hazard a suggestion that the guitar genius is afraid of being upstage by the expected to be hamfisted single note boring bass player and image is nothing to do with it ? Just that he wants the lions share of fills and someone on a four string is more likely to be Cliff Williams than John Myung.[/indent] [indent=1]PS before the AC/DC fan club assassinate me - I aint sayin Cliff is bad as his (knowing his place) bass provides the foundation for the Young brothers to dance their magic all over the place. Basic drumming dominated all early AC/DC too but thats for another forum Im sure. [/indent] [indent=1]Point I'm making is, Cliff and Myung are different spec models of a famous bass player.[/indent]

Ditto

Maybe some day. Perhaps when I retire I will have the money. Until then I will always wonder. I will also be very happy with whatever I am playing at the time. . . . . .