I am a first-time owner of a 1989 Alembic Elan 4 string bass and am just discovering the range of sounds I can produce with it. It is truly fantastic, and well-built bass and a dream to play! Thank you for the background on these truly iconic basses. This is the most informative background I have come across.
I've dreamed of getting an Alembic bass ever since I first started playing. Finally bought an Epic-4 earlier this year and it's beyond my expectations. :-) Fantastic instrument!
I found an epic at a pawn shop for $1400 I couldn’t pass it up. This is their “cheap”, “mass-produced”, bass and is by far the best sounding bass I own.
Admirer (from afar) about these basses. Beautiful works of art. I didn't know about Rick (RIP) was involved in the early days. I can now see where some of his designs could be similar. I have to be realistic and "settle in" with my loved Jazz Bass for the time being. Well done, enjoy your Alembic !
I also own an Epic and love it. Mica is the best I could speak with her for hours on end! I am looking at my next Alembic purchase, its between the Excel and Rouge :) I actually want both.
I really enjoyed this video having been a bassist since 1990 and seeing Alembic basses over the years. Great bass rundown and history lesson. Great playing too. The bass sounds fantastic! Another notable player…Jason Newsted on the “black album” tour.
Sounds great !!!!! You should do a vid with an Alembic 6 string electric guitar, they are equally awesome. Rock on !!!!! I want to add that John Paul Jones played Alembic as well. There is a great vid with Eddie Hazel playing "Maggot Brain" with the Phunkadelics live using his Alembic electric guitar. He sounds amazing. I looked up the video... Maggot Brain-Houston 1978
I traded a Ken Smith Elite six string bass for a 2004 five string Alembic Essence, and I was so psyched about it. Shorty after, I had hit professionally setup and soon after that, I discovered that the bass had many dead spots in higher registers. I took it back to my guy, and he everything he could, but it couldn't fixed, he told me. His guess was that the previous owner likely had it stored in a pretty lousy for a lot of years that ended up warping the wood. I was gutted. I took it home and continued to play the hell out of it, but those dead areas were killing me. I ended up, reluctantly, trading it for something else. Not only did I lose my Alembic, but I also ended up giving up my Elite Ken Smith for nothing. This was back in 2015/2016, and I'm bitter as hell about it.
Thanks for watching! I was running the bass into a Warm Audio TB12 set for vintage. Then, into my Apollo Twin with a UA 1176 compressor plugin as I was tracking. No amp sims, just some slight EQ on the channel afterwards. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
Such a unique setup and amazing tones and versatility are what I love about the Spoiler. 😎👍🏻 And it’s all thanks to the late great Cliff Burton that I even know about this bass! But is it true that this awesome instrument is no longer available? ☹️😔
I see now. My parents were always huge Deadheads. My Dad played bass in a band and when he got his Alembic, he always cherished it. NOBODY was allowed to touch it. I see why.
Hey, thanks for watching! Good question about the sound of this bass vs Warwick. Off the top of my head, I'd have to say the Alembic has more clarity in the bottom and top end but I think a video shootout might be a good idea. Thanks for the idea!
No prob, I'm in the process of Alembic building me a bass, so I love hearing other players comments/reviews about these instruments. They are rare even by boutique instrument standards, so thorough and thoughtful player insight and playing samples are hard to come by. So thank you so much for sharing.
Alembic will make you a bass in any shape, with any electronics, with any custom features you may want. The only restriction is your budget. I have a 1990 Elan with A PJ configuration, a master , blend , tone , and q switch. The Elan is the model played by Jason Newsted in his early days in Metallica.
How come the bridge is far from the edge, the distance between 24th fret and bridge is short but it's still a 34 inch scale? This is a question preoccupies my mind in Alembic basses.
I'm a Deadhead. Every Grateful Dead follower knows the history of Alembic. It is required to get our Grateful Dead fan membership card. We are all taught about Bear and Rick Turner and Doug Irwin.
I've had the good luck of owning nearly every 4 string model, and like the foolish, no temperament 25 year old I was I didn't keep them long enough to make an opinion. Well, the silver lining is that I don't have a bunch of Alembics sitting around collecting dust. I own 3 Alembic that between them do anything I want, some are more "Alembic" sounding than others.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I am a first-time owner of a 1989 Alembic Elan 4 string bass and am just discovering the range of sounds I can produce with it. It is truly fantastic, and well-built bass and a dream to play! Thank you for the background on these truly iconic basses. This is the most informative background I have come across.
Hey Michael, welcome to the very distinguished Alembic club!🙏 ... and thanks for watching!
Thanks, great jam!
Thank you so much for this very succinct and yet very informative explanation of Alembic instruments: they are truly fantastic.
Thanks, I really appreciate you watching!
I've dreamed of getting an Alembic bass ever since I first started playing. Finally bought an Epic-4 earlier this year and it's beyond my expectations. :-) Fantastic instrument!
I totally agree, thanks for watching!
I found an epic at a pawn shop for $1400 I couldn’t pass it up. This is their “cheap”, “mass-produced”, bass and is by far the best sounding bass I own.
Admirer (from afar) about these basses. Beautiful works of art. I didn't know about Rick (RIP) was involved in the early days. I can now see where some of his designs could be similar. I have to be realistic and "settle in" with my loved Jazz Bass for the time being. Well done, enjoy your Alembic !
Alambic bass guitar is very famous in sri lanka 🇱🇰. such as epic 4 and epic 5.
Awesome, thanks for watching!
I also own an Epic and love it. Mica is the best I could speak with her for hours on end! I am looking at my next Alembic purchase, its between the Excel and Rouge :) I actually want both.
Really nice summary for any uninitiated. Definitely need more Alembic content around. Thanks!
Thank you and I appreciate you watching!
I have a 1986 Spoiler 5 exactly like the one in your video. Bought new at Nadine’s Music in Hollywood.
Awesome, they're great basses. Thanks for watching!
Dude,....you sir are the man for doing this story🤘🤘. Thank you sir. You are a beast on bass by the way😂.
Wow, thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Outstanding work Dave! Great stuff!
Thank you, Brooksy!
@@DavePorterBand I'm having a mooch around your channel...really great content... very impressed!
That's really cool, I feel the same about your channel. Great collection of basses and content. Hope to catch a live stream soon.@@BrooksysBassCorner
@@DavePorterBandCheers Dave, you're always welcome!
I had an Alembic Persuader. Never understood the Q filter's use until this video. Thanks! Miss that basss.
Great bass! Thanks for watching.
I really enjoyed this video having been a bassist since 1990 and seeing Alembic basses over the years. Great bass rundown and history lesson.
Great playing too. The bass sounds fantastic!
Another notable player…Jason Newsted on the “black album” tour.
Yes, Jason's black Alembic Elan is a really cool bass, thanks for watching!
Prince and Brown Mark both played a Spoiler in the Purple Rain days.
Sounds great !!!!! You should do a vid with an Alembic 6 string electric guitar, they are equally awesome. Rock on !!!!! I want to add that John Paul Jones played Alembic as well. There is a great vid with Eddie Hazel playing "Maggot Brain" with the Phunkadelics live using his Alembic electric guitar. He sounds amazing. I looked up the video... Maggot Brain-Houston 1978
I'll have to check it out, thanks for watching!
Love the Europa 4's & 5's.
I traded a Ken Smith Elite six string bass for a 2004 five string Alembic Essence, and I was so psyched about it. Shorty after, I had hit professionally setup and soon after that, I discovered that the bass had many dead spots in higher registers. I took it back to my guy, and he everything he could, but it couldn't fixed, he told me. His guess was that the previous owner likely had it stored in a pretty lousy for a lot of years that ended up warping the wood. I was gutted. I took it home and continued to play the hell out of it, but those dead areas were killing me. I ended up, reluctantly, trading it for something else. Not only did I lose my Alembic, but I also ended up giving up my Elite Ken Smith for nothing. This was back in 2015/2016, and I'm bitter as hell about it.
Sorry, that sounds like a horrible experience.
Thanks, excellent. I love your tone at the opening. Could you share what you are using as far as comp, eq, amp. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! I was running the bass into a Warm Audio TB12 set for vintage. Then, into my Apollo Twin with a UA 1176 compressor plugin as I was tracking. No amp sims, just some slight EQ on the channel afterwards. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
Such a unique setup and amazing tones and versatility are what I love about the Spoiler. 😎👍🏻
And it’s all thanks to the late great Cliff Burton that I even know about this bass!
But is it true that this awesome instrument is no longer available? ☹️😔
The Spoiler body style isn't on the website but I bet they'd create one as a custom order.💰💰💰 Thanks for watching!
Awesome video!! Also, are my eyes deceiving me, or is that a young Michael Manring at 5:03? Probably just an uncanny resemblance…
Wow, you're right! I don't think it's him but very close resemblance. Thanks for watching🙏
Wow!! What a great tune!
Awesome, thanks Bob!🙏🙏🙏
I see now. My parents were always huge Deadheads. My Dad played bass in a band and when he got his Alembic, he always cherished it. NOBODY was allowed to touch it. I see why.
Lucky ! I wish I could say that about my parents.
Beautiful Alembic; I remember seeing it on Reverb. Nice playing as well. How does it sound in comparison with your Warwicks? More or less Hi-Fi?
Hey, thanks for watching! Good question about the sound of this bass vs Warwick. Off the top of my head, I'd have to say the Alembic has more clarity in the bottom and top end but I think a video shootout might be a good idea. Thanks for the idea!
No prob, I'm in the process of Alembic building me a bass, so I love hearing other players comments/reviews about these instruments. They are rare even by boutique instrument standards, so thorough and thoughtful player insight and playing samples are hard to come by. So thank you so much for sharing.
Awesome video
Cool, thanks for watching! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
Great video Dave… thanks… Jim Cammack
Wow, thanks for watching Jim!
Alembic will make you a bass in any shape, with any electronics, with any custom features you may want. The only restriction is your budget.
I have a 1990 Elan with A PJ configuration, a master , blend , tone , and q switch. The Elan is the model played by Jason Newsted in his early days in Metallica.
That Elan sounds like a great bass, thanks for watching!
How come the bridge is far from the edge, the distance between 24th fret and bridge is short but it's still a 34 inch scale? This is a question preoccupies my mind in Alembic basses.
Great observation! The Spoiler in this video is 32" scale and they make a lot of 30 and 32 inch scale basses in addition to the standard 34.
@@DavePorterBand that makes sense
Alembic Basses have killer tone
I'm a Deadhead. Every Grateful Dead follower knows the history of Alembic. It is required to get our Grateful Dead fan membership card. We are all taught about Bear and Rick Turner and Doug Irwin.
Uh, that first photo was Ron and Mica Wickersham........Mica is their daughter.
I've had the good luck of owning nearly every 4 string model, and like the foolish, no temperament 25 year old I was I didn't keep them long enough to make an opinion. Well, the silver lining is that I don't have a bunch of Alembics sitting around collecting dust. I own 3 Alembic that between them do anything I want, some are more "Alembic" sounding than others.
Awesome, thanks for watching! 🙏
👍👌
Let's not forget the late great Louis Johnson.
Thanks!🙏