I was made aware of a website with photographer Greg Gaar's music photography, all shot around the Bay Area in the 70s and 80s. During some initial poking around I found a nice shot of Dave Torbert's Alembic where you can see the entire bass including the headstock and logo. Only found one other shot of that bass here in the club forums, the Gaar photo is a little nicer. There is also at least one shot of John Paul Jones playing an Alembic. Here is the link to the Torbert photo.
https://opensfhistory.org/Music/Display/wnp73.0549.jpg


John Paul Jones with four-string Alembic. The shot of him playing a triple-neck acoustic is really cool, too.
https://opensfhistory.org/Music/Display/wnp73.1985.jpg


Great shots of Lesh with The Godfather and the Osage Orange bass in the Grateful Dead category, too.
https://opensfhistory.org/Music/list/?a=Grateful+Dead

Great shot of Torbert - but does anyone know who the harp player is?  Maybe Matthew Kelly?

Peter

Matt Kelly is a good possibility for the harp player...

Jack Casady sporting an interesting hair style and Alembic 72-01.
https://opensfhistory.org/Music/Display/wnp73.0345.jpg
https://opensfhistory.org/Music/Display/wnp73.0340.jpg

Stephen , I concur on "Kelly is a good possibility for the harp player... " I saw him live in that time period as well .
As well , I have seen Dave Torbert play that Alembic .Years later I met him in the mid 1980s when I was helping an opening act for King Fish with their equipment .Bob had already left the band .Rest in Peace ;Dave Torbert &  Robbie Hoddinott .

Kingfish was a good band, saw them a few times in the mid-70s when Weir was touring with them but for some reason I can't remember anything about the equipment. I saw the Riders at the Academy of Music in 1974 and don't remember what kind of bass Torbert was playing but do remember John Dawson's Alembic guitar, first time I had ever seen one. Realizing now that despite seeing the Riders multiple times in the 70s I can't recall ever noticing what kind of bass Dave was playing but I must have seen him play the Alembic.

I only saw them once, at On Broadway in Chicago, somewhere between '80 & '82 (things are a tad fuzzy from that period.....).  Alas, no Torbert & no Alembics.

Peter

Quote from: StephenR on March 25, 2021, 12:55:09 PM
Kingfish was a good band, saw them a few times in the mid-70s when Weir was touring with them but for some reason I can't remember anything about the equipment. I saw the Riders at the Academy of Music in 1974 and don't remember what kind of bass Torbert was playing but do remember John Dawson's Alembic guitar, first time I had ever seen one. Realizing now that despite seeing the Riders multiple times in the 70s I can't recall ever noticing what kind of bass Dave was playing but I must have seen him play the Alembic.

I saw Kingfish in '75 and Torbert was playing a Travis Bean bass. I don't remember the amps.

I had seen Dave Torbert with the Alembic , the Travis Bean and a Fender Bass , I do not recall if it was a Jazz or a P Bass .

I wonder what the serial number is on the Alembic ? It must be low ! I wonder where it is ?

Fascinating, that Torbert bass. This is exactly what I envisioned for my recent single-cut Peanut drawing. I wonder where it fell on the evolutionary timeline? Several things about it seem to be the genesis of Hyak design.

Really great collection of shots but c'mon...all those Who shots and not a single shot of Entwistle? That's some serious dereliction of duty!

First time I see a single cut Alembic, thanks!

I remember my professional interactions with Dave and Robbie; Clearly ! Awesome performers !    I remember leading Robbie to the stage , at Daxe Torbrt's  Request ! I handed him his Guitar and flip the stand by switch ! He was on fire  soon after ! AS well he expressed his gratitude to me for being Kool .

I thought I read on here some where that alembic were not interested in making single cut basses.
Here is a previous thread showing this bass and another.
http://alembicguitars.net/club/messages/402/26252.html?1143564037

I remember my recollections , and first hand experiences  with the actual performers very clearly  . 

Quote from: jazzyvee on March 31, 2021, 12:32:30 AM
I thought I read on here some where that alembic were not interested in making single cut basses.
Here is a previous thread showing this bass and another.
http://alembicguitars.net/club/messages/402/26252.html?1143564037

There is a picture around somewhere of, IIRC, 72-02 in a glass case at the R&RHoF or a Hard Rock or some such; it's a Tele-shaped guitar made for Weir.

Peter