When I saw Phil in december 2005, I think he played this bass once.  It was the only time the bass actually stood out from the rest of the music. When he was playing the Modulus 6 string basses, I heard nothing.

i dont know his problem is and i am guessing its the speaker set up or whatever because it sounds good on sdbds etc but live unless youre really close  in my eyes it sounds like poop
muddled and toneless not clear at all and
someone should drag him by his neck over to sit with susan....

Both the modified Starfire and the modified EB0 that Phil had in the early 70s had very distinct tone. It's a tone I wish I could get even today! Check out the GD 4-29-71 Fillmore show, you'll see what I mean.

thanx for that pix - what a bass! how to find close-ups would be appreciated...and I ?d love to here that sound...again...Dick?s Picks 35 - ahhh, so sweet!

What's the wiring setup for that bass?

It's at the core, a Superfilter. There are descriptions of this on the regular Alembic site.
 
Edwin

playing a gulid starfire with hagstrom pick ups, with a superfilter with a f2b comes pretty darn close to phils tone from that era.

Hi, and I agree with jseitang - pretty darn close! I acheive it with a DARK STAR?d De Armond Starfire, superfilter+F1-X. The pickups built by good man Fred Hammon are essential...(Hagstroms on steroids). And don?t forget to use a pick. Happy New Year to all Alembicians!

yo albrecht, where's you find a de armond starfire. i've been looking and can't find one anywhere.

hi marsh-king, they often appear on the Swedish market, like this example: http://www.blocket.se/vi/15470075.htm?ca=10_s I bought my bass from the US, it was one Fred Hammon had used for testing his Dark Stars. it?s one awesome bass with wicked pickups!

I found this link to a video with Phil playing the starfire ( i think).
I've been looking around for some Dead video's to see if I like any of their music. I really don't know anything about them.
 

 
You may enjoy this anyway.
 
 
Jazzyvee

Anyone played one of these?:  
http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?katID=22043&cl=EN
I have a suspicion that this would be a great starting point for building a modern version of this bass.

That looks like a very cool bass, but one thing that sets it apart pretty greatly is the fact that it's a long scale. The Guilds are short scale basses and I think there's really something to the tone of a short scale. Still, I've to try out one of these Warwicks!

  I sold this Bass in 1978 But I still have another  in mahogany that also has Alembic Modifications that I have owned since 1974  I will post some pics of it latter because I just lemon oiled the finger board and I am about to put on   some NEW Pyramid Gold flat wound strings on it .I took it up to the 'Mother Ship "  not that long ago to show.It has a very rare Alembic tail piece that was installed at the old 60 Brady St. Alembic location for me  .Pics will follow of the one that I still have when I restring it .

I'm looking forward to seeing it Wolf,
...pretty dang cool  : )