I try to explain how the special Alembic Signature electronics works and how I use it. #alembic More sounds from this bass: • More Alembic Signature...
Thanks for the great video! It was good seeing someone play with an exact understanding of how Alembic circuits work (which really changes the game in my opinion) Will look forward to your future uploads 😄
I had a Stanley Clarke standard model Alembic bass some years ago. A beautiful bass, but very neck heavy, so, inevitably, more difficult to play. Over the years, I’ve had all sorts of basses and, these days, I play a Ken Smith, a Sadowsky and a Spector. These are amongst the best, in my opinion.
Ouch.... You're explaining the sounds of my teenge years... Fascinating. I can just see Mark King trying out these settings to create the tone needed for the song, from round harmonics to that tactile sound where you hear the fingers moving over the frets....
@@jwcbronski Hallo, super Video, kannst du mir bitte sagen, welche Saiten du für den Stanley Clarke Signature verwendest?, ist ja ein shortscale! Beste Grüße
@@jwcbronski ok, danke, naja ich dachte..., und ich dachte je kürzer die Mensur, umso dicker müssen die Saiten sein...?(hab seit letzter Woche auch einen Alembic SC und muss gleich mal Saiten wechseln ;-), findet man dich auch bei instagram etc.? Beste Grüße, Armin
Great video, thanks for the clear explanation, Jwc!! I have an Alembic EvH with Signature electronics and this helps a lot to discover even more possibilities of these great instruments.
now if i just had 20 grand to buy one i would love to try all of that LOL I had a chance to buy a Stanley Clarke version in 76 for $1,200 should have done it
I have the Epic version which was very affordable at $2,500. But I would love one of these signature models. I see correctly around $6,500 and up :( But I guess that beats $12k.
Really nice sounds, awesome demo! There are not many electronics out there that can do that, but it's still not the only one: There is Wal, and there are aftermarket electronics by Lusithand, the NFP, both with the same concept. But I'm not sure if they can sound so good...
@@davehoyt8965 ? Those prices are outrageous. I can’t see a typical Wal bass going for that much without a famous connection. The current listings in Reverb range from 7,800 to 15k(overpriced and won’t sell). There’s also one for 20k that was on multiple famous records available.
How balanced are the Stanley Clarke Signature Alembics? I played one & had no neck dive. I played another one that was older & it had some neck dive where I was holding the bass neck to keep it from being neck heavy. I use to have a '87 Spoiler & '96 Rogue 6 string. The Rogue had long horns to around the 12th fret.
Just think - You can get a GOOD Alembic for around $2k-$4k and a new Spector, Dingwall, etc is well over $2k, so look at it that way. A good bass in 2022 will list for $2,999 or so.
suono stupendo complimenti , ho anchio uno strumento del 1980 e sto' cercando il picup al ponte ,abbiamo contattato alembic ma non rispondono magari tu che sei un esperto mi puoi dare un consiglio dove recoperarlo grazie
The explanation in the video applies to Wal Basses too, as the Signature Series Alembic Preamp works essentially the same as the Wal Preamp. Only differences being the resonance peak may be different between the two Brands, and instead of a "Q-Switch" on the Alembics, Wal uses a push/pull pot on the filters to engage the resonance boost at the cutoff point. I personally think the Wal interface is more elegant, but I love the Alembic pointer knobs. Alembic series i & ii onboard preamps have a few more features, like the Series ii resonance peak being variable. Individual pickup volumes along with the master volume and a 5 pin XLR jack, while Wal has the more common 3 pin.
hallo, das ist ein Cooles aufschlußreiches Video! Da ich mir leider keinen Alembic bass leisten kann (kostet €1500++) habe ich jetzt ne Frage: Gibt's da eigentlich so was wie ein eq-Pedal was genau diesen Effect der Alembic Bass Electronics nachmacht, sodass ich nur dieses equalizer pedal brauche und einen x-beliebigen bass anschließen kann und dann diesen coolen Alembic Bass Effekt nachmachen kann? THANKS FOR THE INFO, LG #FunkyFlo
Hallo FunkyFlo. Ich weiss nicht ob es sowas gibt. Es würde auch nicht richtig funktionieren weil Du damit nur den Gesamtsound verändern würdest. Für den Alembic Sound brauchst Du einen Filter für jeden Pickup. Es gab die Elektronik mal zum Nachrüsten. Ich glaube das nannte sich Alembic Activator.
Hallo FunkyFlo. Einen Alembic in dieser Kategorie bekommt man nicht unter 3000 bis 4000 Euro. Die großen Serie 1 und 2 nicht unter 10 000 neu. Aber ich kann dir bei dem Problem helfen. Es gibt einen drei Band Eq von Glockenklang . Den ich seit Jahren selbst benutze auf 2 Bässen benutze. Dieser arbeitet hervorragend... nicht auf der Basis mit den Q sweets bei alembic. Aber die sounds die damit produziert werden können, sind Alembic like. Ich kann dir das bestätigen. Da ich großer großer Fan von Stanley Clarke und Mark King bin und sehr oft zu Musik von ihnen spiele. Du bekommst keinen original Sound eines Alembic, aber etwas was sehr sehr nahe daran klingt. Passt du dann noch deine Wahl bei Seiten an. Klappt dir aller Wahrscheinlichkeit die Kinnlade runter, was dann aus deinem Bass für sounds möglich sind. Die Glockenklang Regelung arbeitet sehr fein und liegt preislich jetzt bei ca 150 Euro. Sie produziert so gut wie null Müllsound und Einstellungen lassen sich schnell wieder finden, da sie sehr fein arbeitet. Im Zusammenspiel mit dünneren Bass Seiten und vor allem frischen Seiten, ist diese Elektronik in der Lage dir sehr sehr ähnliche sounds zu schenken. Ich hatte übrigens selbst mal einen der großen Alembics und kann dir sagen, die waren auch nicht immer gut zu regeln. Ein großer alembic ist wie eine Diva... launisch und manchmal wiederspenstig. Dann aber wieder gutmütig und ein Sound der Träume wahr werden lässt. Aber die verzeihen auch null Fehler beim Spielen. Ich habe es immer wieder bereut ihn , für ein Motorrad verkauft zu haben. Ich war einfach blöd damals. Kauf dir die Glockenklang Regelung.. Damit wirst du 100% sehr sehr glücklich werden. Lg Stefan
Ja den habe ich hier kurz demonstriert: ua-cam.com/video/RRMBRl1V_3U/v-deo.html Im Wesentlichen ist das ein P und ein J Pickup mit separaten aktiven Tonreglern. Egal wie die eingestellt sind sie klingen immer fantastisch. Problem ist, dass die 9V Batterie schnell leer ist..
The Mark King Bass has the best tone of any bass that I have heard. This is a very nice bass; indeed, unfortunately, the money is too much to spend on a bass.
You would need an Alembic Series Model like Stanley Clarke played on that recording. Maybe he emphasized a certain midringe on the bridge pickup using the q-filters. The sound is also kind of dirty like it was recorded by miking an amp. Maybe ianalog tape or valve compression using the studio gear of the 70s. It's really hard to tell what kind of equipment is involved. And as I said before: It's Stanley's fingers...
Sounds like he favours the bridge pickup. There's also some compression/distortion going on. Maybe a miked amp mixed with the d.i. signal. And then his fingers...
...ein wirklich super guter Sound, vielen Dank für das Video 👍...dafür würde ich einige meiner Bässe verkaufen - allerdings ist die Optik ...ähm... nicht mein Fall...
@@jwcbronski ...ich sage ja nicht, dass Dein Alembic hässlich ist - bitte nicht falsch verstehen! Aber mein WAL 5 MK3, mein Fender P-Bass Pro CS CC TSB oder auch mein Modulus FU 4 orange flake sind - obwohl super unterschiedlich hinsichtlich Sound & Optik - irgendwie spannender für mich... Aber der Sound vom Alembic ist definitiv absolut traumhaft und Dein Slapping passt fantastisch dazu!
I have been playing for 40 years (DAMN I'm getting old) and have played nearly every production bass, and for ME, there are two brands. Peavey and Alembic.
@@PjRjHj That's what people say, and I have owned both. Smith are amazing, and Peavey Cirrus is THE best bass dollar for dollar, and regardless of price they are still some of the BEST basses ever made. I only own Peavey and Alembic (and one Kawai !) .
Awesome basstone!!! So powerful and clear but also growling!!! If these beauties would not be so incredibly expensive!!! Great video! Thank you!
these basses sound so amazing
Thanks for the great video! It was good seeing someone play with an exact understanding of how Alembic circuits work (which really changes the game in my opinion)
Will look forward to your future uploads 😄
Thanks,...I think this is the only video that has ever covered this topic in detail.
I had a Stanley Clarke standard model Alembic bass some years ago. A beautiful bass, but very neck heavy, so, inevitably, more difficult to play. Over the years, I’ve had all sorts of basses and, these days, I play a Ken Smith, a Sadowsky and a Spector. These are amongst the best, in my opinion.
Ouch.... You're explaining the sounds of my teenge years... Fascinating. I can just see Mark King trying out these settings to create the tone needed for the song, from round harmonics to that tactile sound where you hear the fingers moving over the frets....
Sounds amazing
Thanks a lot, Jwc it is a very intuitive explanation
Some of the best basses with some of the best tones on the planet and a great demo!
Nothing left to say but totally agree!!!
Halo Jwc,
this one of the best videos of the alembic bass and electronics. Thanks a lot for this! I've seen a lot, but that's the best!
Hi Frank, thanks a lot.
@@jwcbronski Hallo, super Video, kannst du mir bitte sagen, welche Saiten du für den Stanley Clarke Signature verwendest?, ist ja ein shortscale! Beste Grüße
@@gringoringobass8599 Danke! Das sind Ernie Ball Extra Slinky 95-40. Man braucht für den Stanley Clarke keine kurzen Shortscale Saiten.
@@jwcbronski ok, danke, naja ich dachte..., und ich dachte je kürzer die Mensur, umso dicker müssen die Saiten sein...?(hab seit letzter Woche auch einen Alembic SC und muss gleich mal Saiten wechseln ;-), findet man dich auch bei instagram etc.? Beste Grüße, Armin
Thanks for the info! Beautiful sounding and looking bass. The reflection off that head stock is incredible.
Great video, thanks for the clear explanation, Jwc!! I have an Alembic EvH with Signature electronics and this helps a lot to discover even more possibilities of these great instruments.
Very good demonstration! Thanks
Stunning bass sir.
Oh that bridge pickup sound sooo good 👍
What a great and unique bass tone, sweet and yet crisp. Great playing. Thank you for that lesson Mr Bronski 👍
I would LOVE an Alembic bass ❤ very hard and expensive to acquire here in Australia . I can dream 😊
Thanks for the demo.
I really enjoyed watching. Great way of making it easily understandable. Not that’ll I’ll ever be able to afford one haha but this is fun.
Thank you for this. Very useful and informative - much appreciated.👍
now if i just had 20 grand to buy one i would love to try all of that LOL I had a chance to buy a Stanley Clarke version
in 76 for $1,200 should have done it
its my dream Bass - sounds so great
I have the Epic version which was very affordable at $2,500. But I would love one of these signature models. I see correctly around $6,500 and up :( But I guess that beats $12k.
Great video JWC
Really nice sounds, awesome demo! There are not many electronics out there that can do that, but it's still not the only one: There is Wal, and there are aftermarket electronics by Lusithand, the NFP, both with the same concept. But I'm not sure if they can sound so good...
I know the Wal basses from the first Jonas Hellborg albums. Have never played one myself. They are rather rare and expensive.
Those older Wahl bases are incredible, tone wise. Just had a couple pop up on the reverb nation spam side scroll i get on fb sometimes... $25k.... 🤯🤯🤯
@@davehoyt8965
? Those prices are outrageous. I can’t see a typical Wal bass going for that much without a famous connection.
The current listings in Reverb range from 7,800 to 15k(overpriced and won’t sell). There’s also one for 20k that was on multiple famous records available.
How balanced are the Stanley Clarke Signature Alembics? I played one & had no neck dive. I played another one that was older & it had some neck dive where I was holding the bass neck to keep it from being neck heavy. I use to have a '87 Spoiler & '96 Rogue 6 string. The Rogue had long horns to around the 12th fret.
never heard an on board EQ sound like that!
Oh lord how I wish I could afford one!!
Signature models are way cheaper than series models. You can get a used signature model for a decent price.
@@jwcbronski ill have to look into it thanks!! Maybe a possible next year purchase lol
Just think - You can get a GOOD Alembic for around $2k-$4k and a new Spector, Dingwall, etc is well over $2k, so look at it that way. A good bass in 2022 will list for $2,999 or so.
Great video
Great demo- thanks
Thanks so much for your video
Its very good.
By the way what strings and gauge do you use on the base?
Yeah, like he said….
Gr8 video! But all I can hear with these is Stanley, Mark or Jaco. Maybe that's a failing of mine 😂
Awesome Job ☺☺😎👊💯💯 (I Want One of Those Alembic Models So Bad)
Thanks. Try to get a used Signature model. They're not that expensive.
Thanks for this
suono stupendo complimenti , ho anchio uno strumento del 1980 e sto' cercando il picup al ponte ,abbiamo contattato alembic ma non rispondono magari tu che sei un esperto mi puoi dare un consiglio dove recoperarlo grazie
Nice wideo.
Do those basses not sound good playing fingerstyle or a pick? I never hear them played that way.
Of course they sound great playing fingerstyle or with a pick. I play some fingerstyle in this video.
Listen to Jimmy Johnson, finger style all the way!
@@alembicfunkbass Thanks. I will.
@@richsackett3423 just look up Jimmy Johnson bass, his live solo on "Rio Funk" is one of my favorite solos!
Sound great played with a pick or finger-style. I've had one since 1976 and have never been much of a slapper.
Great video. Do you have something similar for Wal Basses?
I would like to do that but I don't have access to a Wal bass.
@@jwcbronski i hope someday happens
The explanation in the video applies to Wal Basses too, as the Signature Series Alembic Preamp works essentially the same as the Wal Preamp. Only differences being the resonance peak may be different between the two Brands, and instead of a "Q-Switch" on the Alembics, Wal uses a push/pull pot on the filters to engage the resonance boost at the cutoff point.
I personally think the Wal interface is more elegant, but I love the Alembic pointer knobs.
Alembic series i & ii onboard preamps have a few more features, like the Series ii resonance peak being variable. Individual pickup volumes along with the master volume and a 5 pin XLR jack, while Wal has the more common 3 pin.
Appreciated ❤️👍
How can i buy a bass like yours? i liked the sound very much!
You can by a used one on eBay, Reverb etc.
hallo, das ist ein Cooles aufschlußreiches Video! Da ich mir leider keinen Alembic bass leisten kann (kostet €1500++)
habe ich jetzt ne Frage: Gibt's da eigentlich so was wie ein eq-Pedal was genau diesen
Effect der Alembic Bass Electronics nachmacht, sodass ich nur dieses equalizer pedal brauche
und einen x-beliebigen bass anschließen kann und dann diesen coolen Alembic Bass Effekt
nachmachen kann? THANKS FOR THE INFO, LG #FunkyFlo
Hallo FunkyFlo. Ich weiss nicht ob es sowas gibt. Es würde auch nicht richtig funktionieren weil Du damit nur den Gesamtsound verändern würdest. Für den Alembic Sound brauchst Du einen Filter für jeden Pickup. Es gab die Elektronik mal zum Nachrüsten. Ich glaube das nannte sich Alembic Activator.
Hallo FunkyFlo.
Einen Alembic in dieser Kategorie bekommt man nicht unter 3000 bis 4000 Euro. Die großen Serie 1 und 2 nicht unter 10 000 neu.
Aber ich kann dir bei dem Problem helfen. Es gibt einen drei Band Eq von Glockenklang .
Den ich seit Jahren selbst benutze auf 2 Bässen benutze.
Dieser arbeitet hervorragend... nicht auf der Basis mit den Q sweets bei alembic. Aber die sounds die damit produziert werden können, sind Alembic like.
Ich kann dir das bestätigen. Da ich großer großer Fan von Stanley Clarke und Mark King bin und sehr oft zu Musik von ihnen spiele.
Du bekommst keinen original Sound eines Alembic, aber etwas was sehr sehr nahe daran klingt.
Passt du dann noch deine Wahl bei Seiten an. Klappt dir aller Wahrscheinlichkeit die Kinnlade runter, was dann aus deinem Bass für sounds möglich sind.
Die Glockenklang Regelung arbeitet sehr fein und liegt preislich jetzt bei ca 150 Euro. Sie produziert so gut wie null Müllsound und Einstellungen lassen sich schnell wieder finden, da sie sehr fein arbeitet.
Im Zusammenspiel mit dünneren Bass Seiten und vor allem frischen Seiten, ist diese Elektronik in der Lage dir sehr sehr ähnliche sounds zu schenken.
Ich hatte übrigens selbst mal einen der großen Alembics und kann dir sagen, die waren auch nicht immer gut zu regeln. Ein großer alembic ist wie eine Diva... launisch und manchmal wiederspenstig. Dann aber wieder gutmütig und ein Sound der Träume wahr werden lässt. Aber die verzeihen auch null Fehler beim Spielen. Ich habe es immer wieder bereut ihn , für ein Motorrad verkauft zu haben. Ich war einfach blöd damals.
Kauf dir die Glockenklang Regelung..
Damit wirst du 100% sehr sehr glücklich werden.
Lg Stefan
So great Sound ... the Bass is Short but the Sound ist full and round...
Soooo great Bass.
I love Alenbis since 1987
Ja den habe ich hier kurz demonstriert:
ua-cam.com/video/RRMBRl1V_3U/v-deo.html
Im Wesentlichen ist das ein P und ein J Pickup mit separaten aktiven Tonreglern. Egal wie die eingestellt sind sie klingen immer fantastisch. Problem ist, dass die 9V Batterie schnell leer ist..
Excellent video, well done!!! Does anyone make an aftermarket filter circuit like this for mere mortal basses?
Theres a company called lusithand devices that offers a similar preamp for way way less money than an alembic bass.
Super tone super price!
I heard some crazy P bass tones you dialed in a few times. But "better" quality and flavor than an actual P bass
That's the genius of the Alembic electronics. Incredibly versatile tone.
I favor the last setting which sounds deeper but might not come through as well as others in a mix.
Yes, the more neck pickup you dial in, the more bass you get.
this sounds so cool! does anybody know of a pedal that emulates this low pass filter boost to experiment with?
I would love to own a Alembic, but I’m afraid I might need both kidneys one day ☹️
Great job there sir. What strings and gauge are you using for this video? Also how did you record this?
Thank you. I use Ernie Ball Extra Slinky strings 95-70-60-40. It's a direct recording.
@@jwcbronski
Thank you. One more question. Does the pickup selector have a center detent? How do you know when both pickups are used equally?
@@dslapster64 Yes, there's a detent at the center position.
@@jwcbronski
I see… my 1987 doesn’t have a detent . I wonder if I could have one installed?.
The Mark King Bass has the best tone of any bass that I have heard. This is a very nice bass; indeed, unfortunately, the money is too much to spend on a bass.
The bass in this video is a Stanley Clarke Signature model.
No filtering, sounds like a Spector NS2.
It's a shame these things are like $10,000.
Try to get a used Signature model. They're not that expensive.
$12,000
@@PhuckHue2 Exactly.
@@jwcbronski Still, many thousands, I'm sure!
@@skeeter197140 You have to distinguish between Series and Signature models. Big price difference.
COME ON BROTHER MAKE WITH SCHOOL DAYS AMAZING US
Could you try to duplicate the tone of the song earth juice/return to forever group/ and share the equipment needed to achieve this tone
You would need an Alembic Series Model like Stanley Clarke played on that recording. Maybe he emphasized a certain midringe on the bridge pickup using the q-filters. The sound is also kind of dirty like it was recorded by miking an amp. Maybe ianalog tape or valve compression using the studio gear of the 70s. It's really hard to tell what kind of equipment is involved. And as I said before: It's Stanley's fingers...
WOW
I wish I could get a mortgage for one of those.
Good vid though.
Thanks. Try to get a used Signature model. They're not that expensive.
Could you listen to Vulcan worlds return to forever how does Stanley get that tone
Sounds like he favours the bridge pickup. There's also some compression/distortion going on. Maybe a miked amp mixed with the d.i. signal. And then his fingers...
@@jwcbronski awesome yes?
Oh ‼️Do I soooo ENVY 🤤🥴A Bass that I’ve forever desired to own‼️😒Straight up “the Stanley” tone!! b(‘_
...ein wirklich super guter Sound, vielen Dank für das Video 👍...dafür würde ich einige meiner Bässe verkaufen - allerdings ist die Optik ...ähm... nicht mein Fall...
Wie verschieden die Geschmäcker doch sind. Für mich ist das der schönste Bass den ich je in den Fingern hatte.
@@jwcbronski ...ich sage ja nicht, dass Dein Alembic hässlich ist - bitte nicht falsch verstehen! Aber mein WAL 5 MK3, mein Fender P-Bass Pro CS CC TSB oder auch mein Modulus FU 4 orange flake sind - obwohl super unterschiedlich hinsichtlich Sound & Optik - irgendwie spannender für mich... Aber der Sound vom Alembic ist definitiv absolut traumhaft und Dein Slapping passt fantastisch dazu!
@@FunkBass010 Einen WAL habe ich leider noch nie gespielt. Würde mich aber sehr interessieren. Ich liebe die alten Jonas Hellborg Sachen.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🖤🖤
I have been playing for 40 years (DAMN I'm getting old) and have played nearly every production bass, and for ME, there are two brands. Peavey and Alembic.
Never had a Peavy bass in my hands.
@@jwcbronski You would REALLY love a USA made Cirrus. It is quite amazing.
@@michaelb.42112 Am I correct in reading that the Cirrus has a similar tonal vibe to a Ken Smith at a much more affordable price?
@@PjRjHj That's what people say, and I have owned both. Smith are amazing, and Peavey Cirrus is THE best bass dollar for dollar, and regardless of price they are still some of the BEST basses ever made. I only own Peavey and Alembic (and one Kawai !) .
That bass might be ~$30K
You have to differentiate between series and signature models. Signaturen Models are about half the price.
Also, prices doubled in the Last 10 years.
Tuning is useful mkay?
Still, Jaydee sounds better.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🖤🖤