I had a similar experience. I was playing at Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. While we were playing I noticed some guys from another band watching us. After we finished our set, three of them walked over to me and one of them said Holy SH*T is that an Alembic? He had never seen one. They loved the bass so much that they actually helped us break down and load out while we talked.

It's quite an ice breaker.  I was at a studio recently and a fellow guitarist got down on his knees and started to cup and stroke my guitar  (like a woman ACK!)while on the stand muttering under his breath about what a BEAUTIFUL guitar it was.  Made me a little nervous, but I can understand the appreciation.  Mica said Susan designs these things with sensual curves for a reason.

got down on his knees and started to cup and stroke my guitar (like a woman ACK!)while on the stand muttering under his breath about what a BEAUTIFUL guitar it was.
 
Been there, done that!
 
(Message edited by 811952 on March 01, 2007)

Me as well.
In Glasgow, I was trying an Ashdown system with my Series 1. The whole shop came around to look, NOT my crap playing, but the sheer sound from the Alembic!!

Genuine Olympic for sale on a Dutch site: Click here

I really like the tortoise slagplaat.

You can't beat dead schildpad.

I once had someone ask if my old Warwick Dolphin was an Alembic.

... but you can flog it! (rimshot)

You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.  
 
Bill, tgo

Surely you're not implying one can make a her think?

I've seen a few of the basses in the flesh, but only in stores-never live. That should change when I get mine, though.
 
The only Series bass I've seen in person was John's. (811952)
 
I've never seen one of the guitars in person.
 
(Message edited by 82Daion on August 21, 2007)

Wow, this little thread I started almost a year ago, glad to hear many others have had the same experience.  
 
Over the weekend at a Pancreatic Cancer benefit I was thoroughly interrogated about what kind of guitar that is, where did it come from, how does it sound like that, and it's an Olympic?.  Thats the first time I've been asked that back after I say Alembic.   Then I had to explain what Alembic is, then what an alembic is.  The fun will never end.  
 
Of course when asked how much did that cost I pointed them to the Alembic website since I don't like to cheapen my guitar by equating it with a monentary value.  It's priceless to me!
 
(Message edited by paulman on September 13, 2007)

Roger, I've been getting asked that question a bunch lately, too.  My stock answer is that it's a lot less than my 2002 Mercury has depreciated in the 5 years that I've owned it, and I sure don't mind driving it for a few more years to pay for the Alembic.