Bass Direct is the New UK Alembic Dealer

[prowla]

22 hours ago, gjones said:

I once got the chance to play the Alembic of a bassist from a big (ish) heavy rock band from the 70s and 80s. It had an action like a crossbow, flatwounds fitted and he played it with a pick. Frankly he probably would have been better buying a Precision and using the money he would have saved to buy a Ferrari.

I played Greg Lake's 8-string a couple of times: once when he played at our uni and once in a bass shop in Romford.

I don't remember what it was like (in fact I didn't remember it at all until the above comment!).

[Misdee]

23 hours ago, gjones said:

I once got the chance to play the Alembic of a bassist from a big (ish) heavy rock band from the 70s and 80s. It had an action like a crossbow, flatwounds fitted and he played it with a pick. Frankly he probably would have been better buying a Precision and using the money he would have saved to buy a Ferrari.

 I know it's a longshot, but did that bass belong to Pete Agnew from Nazareth, by any chance? 

[Misdee]

On 15/01/2025 at 09:36, Leonard Smalls said:

Aye! back in '91ish when I went to Allbang and Strummit (RIP!) in Covent Garden they had 3 beautiful 2nd hand basses...

There was a Jaydee for £400, a Wal custom for £500 and an Alembic Series 1 at £600...

I loved 'em all with the Alembic and Wal being very close and the Jaydee just behind. But the fact that the bank loan I'd got was for £500 and I had no extra meant I bought the Wal!

 

 

I used to call into Allbang and Strummit back in the late '80s and early'90s and there was usually  a big bloke with a beard cajoling me to buy whatever gear I was trying out. Nice chap though, and a very nice shop.

 

£600 for an Alembic Series 1?!! That was a ridiculously low price even for 1991. I would have bitten his hand off! 

[Misdee]

2 hours ago, NickA said:

seriously they're great basses and reasonably priced 2nd hand. I had a go on one of Jazzy Vs Europas once, a really good, solid, no vices bass with a good range of tones..(think it had series 1 electronics?). I started to consider trading in my MK2 Wal.  Not done it tho ( not yet) too expensive new ($19k) even with a Wal to trade!

What Wal and Alembic have in common is that they both have a very distinctive signature sound that is inimitable. Nothing else sounds like an Alembic, and the same with a Wal. Youve either got one or you haven't. (I haven't, but I definitely deserve one, or indeed both.)

Edited January 22 by Misdee

[Bass Direct]

1 hour ago, prowla said:

I played Greg Lake's 8-string a couple of times: once when he played at our uni and once in a bass shop in Romford.

I don't remember what it was like (in fact I didn't remember it at all until the above comment!).

Awesome story! Great tone on that bass too

[Bass Direct]

43 minutes ago, Misdee said:

 

 

I used to call into Allbang and Strummit back in the late '80s and early'90s and there was usually  a big bloke with a beard cajoling me to buy whatever gear I was trying out. Nice chap though, and a very nice shop.

 

£600 for an Alembic Series 1?!! That was a ridiculously low price even for 1991. I would have bitten his hand off! 

Me too, get me a time travel machine!

 

 

[Bass Direct]

38 minutes ago, Misdee said:

What Wal and Alembic have in common is that they both have a very distinctive signature sound that is inimitable. Nothing else sounds like an Alembic, and the same with a Wal. Youve either got one or you haven't. (I haven't, but I definitely deserve one, or indeed both.)

nail on the head

[jazzyvee]

On 21/01/2025 at 21:41, NickA said:

dentists!

When I go to the dentist, only one of us in the room has an alembic and it's not the dentist.😆

[jazzyvee]

5 hours ago, NickA said:

seriously they're great basses and reasonably priced 2nd hand. I had a go on one of Jazzy Vs Europas once, a really good, solid, no vices bass with a good range of tones..(think it had series 1 electronics?). I started to consider trading in my MK2 Wal.  Not done it tho ( not yet) too expensive new ($19k) even with a Wal to trade!

I think that was this one in the middle then NickA, 5 String Series I Europa in burl redwood. Great sounding bass and weighty.

.

Edited January 23 by jazzyvee

[tauzero]

6 hours ago, NickA said:

seriously they're great basses and reasonably priced 2nd hand.

 

I can see I'll have to nip down to Warwick and find out if they're worth five times as much as a Sei.

[Bass Direct]

6 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

I can see I'll have to nip down to Warwick and find out if they're worth five times as much as a Sei.

You will either get it or you won't, either way it's cool

[gjones]

13 hours ago, Misdee said:

 I know it's a longshot, but did that bass belong to Pete Agnew from Nazareth, by any chance? 

 

You must be psychic

 

[Misdee]

4 hours ago, gjones said:

 

You must be psychic

 

It's a bit spooky isn't it?

[Wolverinebass]

18 hours ago, Misdee said:

 I know it's a longshot, but did that bass belong to Pete Agnew from Nazareth, by any chance? 

No, it belonged to Jesus of Nazareth as he could only afford it with help from his father.

 

Yes, that's in jest as I own 2 Alembics which are fabulously amazing instruments. Admittedly, I couldn't afford a new one now and unlike Jesus, don't have nepotism to fall back on.

[Terry M.]

2 minutes ago, Wolverinebass said:

No, it belonged to Jesus of Nazareth as he could only afford it with help from his father.

 

Yes, that's in jest as I own 2 Alembics which are fabulously amazing instruments. Admittedly, I couldn't afford a new one now and unlike Jesus, don't have nepotism to fall back on.

That's made my day 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Misdee]

Regarding whether Alembic.basses are worth the money, whilst I don't want to set off the usual  Basschat "is any bass really worth more than £7.50  and a bag of pork scratchings?" debate yet again, what I will say is that Alembics have something unique to offer in terms of sound. Most other high end basses, even equally expensive ones, don't.

 

You're talking about elite level instruments with their own design philosophy, built by proper craftsmen. That isn't going to come cheap. No one needs an Alembic. You buy one because you want one, and because you can.

[Bass Direct]

44 minutes ago, Misdee said:

Regarding whether Alembic.basses are worth the money, whilst I don't want to set off the usual  Basschat "is any bass really worth more than £7.50  and a bag of pork scratchings?" debate yet again, what I will say is that Alembics have something unique to offer in terms of sound. Most other high end basses, even equally expensive ones, don't.

 

You're talking about elite level instruments with their own design philosophy, built by proper craftsmen. That isn't going to come cheap. No one needs an Alembic. You buy one because you want one, and because you can.

100% agree, they are not for everyone but offer than unique thing that you simply cannot get from something else

[Leonard Smalls]

19 hours ago, Misdee said:

£600 for an Alembic Series 1?!

Aye... Unfortunately I only had £500 so had to make do with the Wal.

😁

I suspect that if I'd bought the Alembic either their Security Team would have had me liquidated for all the scuffs and fluorescent paint in the nooks and crannies, or they'd have re-released Stan's "If this bass could only talk " with a pic of my Alembic as "worn" as my Wal is!

[Kiwi]

On 13/01/2025 at 02:26, Wolverinebass said:

However, this may be a good thing, if of course Bass Direct can ever get the peeps at Alembic to answer the phone or email.

This can only be a good thing for both BD and Alembic.  I found dealing with American Guitar Centre challenging.  It was much easier to deal with Alembic direct because Mica is usually pretty quick to respond to emails and pleasant to deal with.   

 

On 23/01/2025 at 03:53, NickA said:

seriously they're great basses and reasonably priced 2nd hand. I had a go on one of Jazzy Vs Europas once, a really good, solid, no vices bass with a good range of tones..(think it had series 1 electronics?). I started to consider trading in my MK2 Wal.  Not done it tho ( not yet) too expensive new ($19k) even with a Wal to trade!

Some of those late seventies Series basses can still be picked up for a few thousand quid.  I know some owners who prefer the older Alembics anyway, believing the sound is a little warmer. 

[jazzyvee]

14 hours ago, Leonard Smalls said:

Aye... Unfortunately I only had £500 so had to make do with the Wal.

😁

I suspect that if I'd bought the Alembic either their Security Team would have had me liquidated for all the scuffs and fluorescent paint in the nooks and crannies, or they'd have re-released Stan's "If this bass could only talk " with a pic of my Alembic as "worn" as my Wal is!

I remember this response mica made many years back in response to a bass on sale on ebay that was re-finished by an owner, so i doubt if much would surprise them, and the love their basses to be played. 🙂

 

[tauzero]

On 19/01/2025 at 20:14, binky_bass said:

My personal favourite Alembic*:

 

 

*built 'off the books' by an Alembic luthier at the Alembic workshop as I understand it.

 

It's lovely, but could I have one fewer strings and split them across two necks, one fretted and the other fretless? And not fan fret either, ta.