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 6 hours ago 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 2 hours ago 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.