Tonight, I was at an open mike blues jam (not my favorite genre, but it's all that's available to me at the moment).  After much hand wringing, I decided to take my Spyder.
 
When I got to the club, everyone kept asking me if I had a keyboard due to the size of the case.  When I opened it, jaws dropped.  
 
The house bass player uses SWR amplification and cabinets, but another player brought his Ampeg preamp/power amp set up to use.  The house player did the first three tunes, then it was my turn.  I got up, made sure I had the 15 dB pad on, EQ flat, etc., then plugged in.  I still had to turn it way down - the Spyder was just too much for it.  Anyway, we did a few tunes, I stepped off stage, and went into the crowd to talk with fellow musicians.  Comments included:
 
Man, it was like night and day with you and [the house bass player].  I could hear every note you played.
 
There was no mistaking when you were up there playing.
 
That thing rocks!
 
Uhh, what are you bringing next week?  Another Alembic, I hope.
 
Ahh, the joys of owning an Alembic. They never cease.
 
Alan

Alan:
 
I always love the 'what's in that BIG case' transition to 'HOLY SMOKES!!' when you open it (Mine is a Series Omega-shaped Spoiler in transparent Ruby Red), like they've seen a UFO.
 
Then when you sit in, they all look around during the first verse because they HEAR it . .
The regular Joe's Fender/MusicMan/etc., is sure gonna be slogging uphill after I leave !
 
J o e y

I can understand where you are coming from here.  I was in a house band that hosted a open mic night for a couple of years.  Of course all I used was my Alembic Series 1.  I had no problems with anyone who wanted to use it.  Most players went for the Alembic just to check it out.  Every once in a while someone brought their own bass in, but they would usually switch to the Alembic after a song or so.  I think that they wanted to do this so they could make comparisons.  After a couple of years of doing this, I finally got burnt out on the open mic thing and moved on.  What I liked most was being able to play with all of these GREAT New Orleans musicians.  I also enjoyed seeing the expressions on players faces when I agreed to let them use the Alembic.

I too was in a host band for an open mic night. I would usually bring my Rogue 5. Most of the other players were intimidated by the 5 strings and would use their own bass. I recall one guy who would bring his but ask to use mine. Eventually he stopped bringing his. A year later his band was on the same bill as mine and he was playing his very own Essence. Another convert.....
 
JP

...i can easily understand what you folks are talking about ...: i actually have a spoiler ( for sale ) ; wherever i play , people come and ask what is that for a bass What a sound !!!...here in belgium , alembic's are so rare ! ...i'm waiting for my bal. k . 4 strings series 2 ...What am i going to hear Then
 
ALAIN

everyone will be paying attention to nothing but the bass player,,,,be prepared!!!(all eyes & ears will be on you!)

Alain (great name, by the way),
 
What you'll probably hear:
 
From other bassists:
 
Hey, can I play it?
That thing is awesome!
Uhh, can I borrow it?
It's beautiful, man.
Hey guys, take a look at this?
Hey, have you seen his Alembic yet?
 
From other musicians:
 
What is that?  Huh?  An Olympic?
Next time leave the Fender at home and bring the Alembic.
It cost how much?  Wow!
 
And finally, from the audience:
 
Say, can you guys do Proud Mary?
 
Best regards,
 
Alan

Hi ALAN ,  
 
...yes indeed , ALAN or ALAIN , are nice names...in fact , the finest you could find on earth , alan ( and alain ) means : perfection , talent , intelligence , brightness , happiness...and modesty of course !!!!
 
Regarding my bass , i hear the comments you mentionned...I must also say that on each gig we have , i play a bass solo , ( alone with no other instruments playing with me ) in which the audience participates with some  yeeeaaaahhhh between some fast runs ...so after the gig , i let you imagine what the comments are...!!! great of course ! i Think all alembicians are great people !!!

Alan  
here in Okla they allways say hey man , can you play rollin on the river

GIVE THE BASS PLAYER SOME!!!

Guitarists need some too!!!!

Alembics sure do draw attention at gigs. I attribute this to tone mostly. Of course they are not too hard to look at either.

I overheard somebody saying at my last gig That's the freshest bass I've ever seen...  Yes people do say the word 'fresh' and variances on that theme...  Funny thing was they hadn't HEARD the bass yet...

I can think of a whole lot of complimentary adjectives to describe an Alembic but I don't think I'd ever get to freshest.

Well in Portland, OR people use strange words like that...I don't think word 'fresh' or variations thereof have been used as adjectives since the '80s anywhere else in the country.