Cosmo Valdemar

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1396702776' post='2416579'] Comparing Alembic to other other custom bass builders such as Sei or Shuker is a complete red herring , an irrelevance , not least of all because both of those builders produce basses that use bought -in packages of electronics and hardware. Also , significantly, neither of those builders make basses with the kind of iconic design and unique personality that Alembics have in spades. Sei, Shuker and whole host of other manufacturers will make make you a fancy bass, but none of them will substitute for a proper Alembic. [/quote] This. Personality and character. Every Alembic I've played or heard, regardless of model or electronics, sounds like an Alembic. This to me is what sets them apart from most other 'over priced' custom builders I can think of (with the possible exception of Wal). If that particular character isn't your thing, they probably will seem ludicrously extravagant. Like Foderas - I really don't get them at all!

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1396641653' post='2416065'] I spoke briefly with Stan when I was working at a Jazzfest. I had been expecting lots of Alembic action but was in awe of his double bass playing and told him so. "Thanks man", he said and was gone. [/quote] I saw him at the Jazz Café a few years ago - as marvellous as his Alembic stuff was, his double bass solo just blew my mind. He said in a BP interview a few years ago that he intended to give up playing the electric when he 'got old', luckily it seems like he's changed his mind.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1396526881' post='2414627'] But his back catalogue contains some absolute dross too (IMO of course!) [/quote] Pretty much. Mostly from the 80s, unsurprisingly! Although his hip-hop dalliances in the 90s are also pretty painful. Still, with albums like Journey to Love, we can't complain.

What about a Yamaha BB425? It does have two pickups but you can always leave the back one off.

The Ultimate.

They must get through a lot of bows... Or have to regularly restring their bows, whichever applies.

I'm an oceanographer and I'm desperate to buy an amp but nobody takes me seriously.

Just sold my Greco Thunderbird to Martin - well part-ex really, I've come away with a smashing fretless Jazz! To echo earlier sentiments, Martin's a top gent who was good enough to bring his rather lovely rig with him as I am temporarily ampless. He knows his onions too, and a fellow Entwistle fan to boot. Could have chatted for hours, hopefully we will in future.

I've never seen an Alembic Crusader! Is it a bass?

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1395931742' post='2408109'] Oh, by the way, the Mi10 Cabs have a whizzer design, like the EA 10" cabs, not exactly sure how it works, but it's a lot more subtle than a tweeter/horn. A much more natural sounding cab in general, I'm very happy with mine so far. Eude [/quote] That's reassuring. [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1395932268' post='2408121'] Yup, make sure there is an actual problem there before attempting to fix it! Not all horns/tweeters are fizzy sounding. I've been scarred by the horrible one in the Markbass CMD121P I used to own! [/quote] Never thought of it like that. I've just never liked the sound of horns in any cab. I have ocassionally had to play through cabs with non-defeatable horns, and have EQd out some treble to compensate but always found that it adversely affected the rest of my tone as I generally go for a trebly, driven tone anyway. Food for thought. I was looking at the Ashdown VS cabs but can't find any info about them anywhere! But that probably deserves it's own thread.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1395840088' post='2406913'] I guess you could always unplug it?! [/quote] Interesting... Is this doable?

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1395923539' post='2407939'] Took me about 15 or so gigs before I understood mine, but it's simply a superb cab. [/quote] Dedication!

More to the point, how are you all getting tickets for KB before the official release date?!

I was all ready to buy a couple of these when I noticed the horn is always on.

I once found an immaculate DeArmond Starfire in a junk shop. Do I regret selling it? Yes, yes I do. Congratulations on a great find!