I guess we all know what happened, very early in their career, Return To Forever's gear bus had been stolen leaving them without gear.
 
Clarke's replacement bass for the one that was lost in that theft was his famous Brown bass but I think I found footage of Clarke playing his first Alembic.
 

 
Clarke is playing a Blonde Alembic bass with wood covered pickups and a non standard body shape.
 
So, correct me if I'm wrong but I think that this is his original bass.

Nice video!!!
 
The pickups are not wood covered, but are the cream casings found on early basses.  The brass plate between the pickups is another early feature.
 
Kinda like this one.
 
So I would guess it's a '73.
 
It's hard to tell, but it looks like a very unusual tailpiece.

The Dragon's Breath was the 30th anniversary of Clarke and Alembic, so that would suggest that the bass in the clip is a '74.

On the other hand, Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy was recorded in '73.

Well he could've either played his Rickenbacker 4000 bass or his Gibson EB2 bass on the original recordings.
 
Check this out...

Stanley Playing Lopsy Lu with jeff Beck.
 
(Message edited by Blazer on August 26, 2006)
 
(Message edited by davehouck on August 26, 2006)

Great vid!!!!!

'73.

The legend gets a kick start!

 
 
(Message edited by keavin on August 27, 2006)

stanley's first alembic was a 1972 which was his origonal 1st alembic & his 'brown bass'was also a 1972,but however his schooldays alembic was (Serialnumber80) which was probably was made in 73 or 74 which he gave it to Bassist Victor wooten some years ago.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt2ro4rwYmQ&mode=related&search=

Is there any way of downloading the video's from that web site?
 
Jazzyvee

Keavin,
 
number 80 was a 1974.  I used to own #84 and it was a '74.
 
I always thought #80 WAS the Brown Bass.  When I bought 87-4431 back in 2000, Stanley was trying to get $16K for #80.  I know the auction never got that high, but it makes me wonder whether Victor Wooten bought it from Stanley or if Stanley gave it to him.
 
Peace,
 
James

I remember reading somewhere,that stanley was soo impressed with Vic's bassplayin that he presented it (#80)to him during a visit to stans house one day as well as the uprite,,,,,,but correct me if I'm wrong anybody?

It wouldn't totally surprise me.  It's just that Victor wound up with the bass so soon after two auction listings, I just figured they may have struck a deal.  As you point out, I know that Victor has #80 as well as Stanley's upright.
 
Does anybody know for certain if #80 is The Brown Bass or was a replacement for the Brown Bass
 
Peace,
 
James

Jazzyvee,
 
I found and posted some info on saving vids here:
 
http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/449/30978.html?1156769920
 
John