(Message edited by jazzyvee on October 15, 2009)

Just seen this on the UK American Guitar web site. (UK Alembic Distributor)
 
http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/bassshop/alembicB.php
 


 


 


 


 
 
 
A lovely Jazz bass.....!!!
I'm guessing it's based on the Elan, ( Vol, Pan, Filter & Q-switch and maple body), but with an Orion headstock.
 
Now wouldn't it be good to hear Marcus play one of those.
 
Jazzyvee

Beautiful bass, I'd love to have it! I'd also love to hear Marcus on it but let's face it, Marcus gets an amazing tone out of his Fender. A true master!

I really like this !

Graham gets some nice instruments in ( I ordered my Rogue through him). It would be interesting to know who's buying them and why they're not members of this forum. I notice the dragon wing he's had for years has gone.
 
Graeme

It is a really stunning version of a jazz bass. I don't know what the top wood is but its swirl pattern is amazing.
I bet the fender custom shop would look at that with envy. :-)
 
jazzyvee

It is a really stunning version of a jazz bass. I don't know what the top wood is but its swirl pattern is amazing.
I bet the fender custom shop would look at that with envy. :-)
 
Maybe I should be devious and join a fender bass forum and paste it in there......  
 
jazzyvee

Jazzyvee, don't be mean haha !
 
Really gorgeous bass !

i would really love to try this one!! i love jazz basses just like alembics. i am really curius how this one sounds and how much jazz bass there is to it. anyone here ever played something like this?

Wow!
 
Imagine Jaco playing one of those in a fret-less version...?
 
The world will never know.
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 16, 2009)

In the absence of Jaco, maybe Victor Bailey or Richard Bona would be good guys to give it a whirl.  
 
But, I think Stanley Clarke should buy it and give it to Marcus as a gift on the next SMV tour.
 
Imagine an alembicised Miller tone......!!!
 
Jazzyvee

I could see it... sure, I see this one going to Markus Miller definitely.
 
But Stanley would have to do it, because if Markus thinks Alembic would present him with a bass of this nature, it would take about 30 years of using an Alembic professionally, and by that time, Markus would probably be in his 80's driving a Ferrari around the backdrops of the French Rivera or Monaco looking to better days. (Well, perhaps I reveal too much of my own fantasies...)    

I've read an interview long time ago where Marcus said basically this: the man, not the bass. In other words he was ( proudly ) stating that you don't need an expensive bass to be a great player. So I don't see him willing to switch to Alembic any soon...

I think Marcus Miller would still play and be recognized as Macrus Miller, if he played Alembic. But as the same time I am very certain that the sound would be different. I too believe its about the player, the hands, the touch etc. that create a unique voice. But I dont think anyone can deny that the instrument also plays a certain role in the tone. Otherwise Anthony Jackson, Jimmy Johnson, Marcus Miller could all just buy a cheap squier p-bass and let their hands create all the tone ;-) I mean if its not about the bass at all, we wouldnt even be on this forum, right?

I agree Chris, Marcus would still sound like Marcus whatever he plays and I would still sound like me on his bass.  
 
I think also along with the bass that a player uses, it is also the note choices and how they are articulated them that makes a players style  recognisable so it's more than just the sound an instrument brings with it.
 
True, you don't need an expensive bass to be a great player. I would confidently assert that most of us learnt our craft on pretty dodgy, cheap basic instruments and only when we got to a competent level, and finance allowed, chose to purchase an expensive or quality instrument.
 
It would be an interesting test to get a band of some top musicians to record/perform on stage completely using beginners starter instruments and back line, everything from brass, to drums, guitars, amps, mics, cables cabs, keyboards, the works,  taken right from a shop without any modifications adjustments or anything.  Just tune up and go. I wonder how much different the overall sound of the band would be?
 
Jazzyvee