Alembic, Ken Smith, and Music Man were the first manufacturers to break the mold as far as bass tone is concerned and Alembic was the first to make basses that were technological marvels and look like works of art! When I first heard Stanley Clarke playing an Alembic on "Lopsy Lu", I was mesmerized by the tone before being mind-boggled by his technique! I miss my 1982 Spoiler 4!!! Thank you for a great demo!
I own two Alembics right now. This is a great review. One thing he doesn't really get into here is that Alembic basses are truth serum for your technique. Any flaws in your playing are accentuated by the Alembic electronics. So they basically force you to be a better player.
Interesting... I found Alembics amazingly easy to play. So sensitive that they respond to almost every technique amazingly well. Almost seemed like cheating. Going back to a Fender P bass after playing an Alembic was jumping behind the wheel of a pickup truck after driving a sports car for a week. To each their own I guess.
That bass is outrageous! wish I could afford a new one like that. When I was in Chicago I visit music exchange and had the opportunity to play one similar to that one. Indeed it was tremendous to play I think I sat in the room and played it for about an hour. I think the store manager had to pry it out of my hands. LOL
This is one of the few video, where an Alembic (especially a super expensive cocobolo one) demonstrated properly. With a correct record quality, according to the speciality and the price of the instrument. A lot of YT Alembic owners shows their insturment by a cheap iphone in the huge room.
I love the Harley Davidson comparison the way you worded it. The Route 66 feel, etc. It's a way of life. You will be mystified to hear this - I traded a new Ampeg SVT head for a STANLEY CLARKE signature headstock brown bass in around 2010. I then sold it and made $2k, but I'd MUCH rather still own the Alembic. $3k can always be saved up. The problem is, a Brown bass now is a $7k investment, minimum in 2022. I think I've owned four Epics (not all at one time) that never cost over $850, but that was the high end of the prices then. It's all relative. I guess I could be just as happy spending $7k now (IF I HAD IT) and know it will be worth $12k , so it's moot. Bottom line, find an Alembic YOU connect with and just go....
A pretty thorough explanation (what do those filters do?) of a very high class instrument. Ha! makes Fodera's look reasonably priced :) Top marks for explaining what makes it so special, and mentioning, that compared to "Pro" Classical instruments an Alemic is not so pricey at all. Cheers from Australia
THE Dream Bass to own for a Pro Bassist! ..Period!!✨🎸‼️👍🏾🤣If anyone has had the experience of playing one of these will know the difference of WHY it is desired despite the cost! The “Real Alembic” deal in getting one to the zone of where they know they can get to in playing music from an exquisite Bass‼️✨🎸😎👌🏾Got it⁉️
Hey Ove , what’s up bro , I was never lucky enough to have played an Alembic bass let alone a series one or two they look very beautiful and I bet they play out of this world but I will be getting a Warwick dolphin 7 string fretless soon could you please if possible try to do a review on this bass . Great informative videos by the way keep it up man
I own three Alembics. Excellent review. As a professional-quality instrument, $20k is inexpensive relative to most. There is nothing quite like an Alembic, so forget about price, and focus on value!
Thanks Ove! Station Music also has an Alembic Rogue 6 with Flame Sycamore. I wonder if they may let you review that bass as well. I won’t be able to afford one of the high-end Alembics, so I may like to see a demonstration of an Alembic among the lower price-range.
I played a series 1 and compared it to my Alembic elan and don't get me wrong the series 1 is a monster and a lot more tone but you can hear Alembic in all of their stuff
Thank you so much for this very interesting information! I'm getting a Spyder ltd tomorrow and I have no idea what on earth to do or what will be involved with it. So nice I hope I have the tenacity to figure it out too! Richard
Who owns that? Think Phil had the 1st bass, then Jerry had something built. Grateful Dead put most of its profits back into sound during the early years.
My guess is that most owners of the Series 1 or 2 are hobbyists. Working musicians probably use Fenders or at least a bass that costs costs less than $5,000. Would you take an Alelmbic like that into a smokey bar to play? Do you even have the money to buy anything like this?
It would be great if they could design the electronics so that when the bass is plugged into the power supply that it could recharge Lithium Ion Batteries so one doesn't have to replace the batteries, just charge the bass when not in use.
I haven't owned an Alembic, but I've had the opportunity to play a few, including a Mark King Balance K Omega, which, in appearance, is similar to the one Ove plays here. Just an astonishing instrument, but the $8000 (used) price tag was too much for me. :/ I suppose it was a relative bargain.
And of course "electronics first, wood second" is far more sensible and concrete. It's a lot more down to earth, ironically for one of the most expensive and elite brands on earth. "Wood first" enables a company to leverage the Emperor's New Clothes smokescreen of tonewood, where if you don't see the difference or the value it's because you're not sophisticated enough. Genius marketing tactic that. "Electronics first" demystifies the whole thing substantially and feels more honest.
Thanks for your comment with which I don't agree. Tonewood is a huge factor in what an instrument sounds like. If not important, there would be no reason for Alembic to use high class woods nonetheless of their philosophy.
Thanks for watching, David. The possibilities with the filters and the EQ are endless. You're right, the review doesn't go too much into detail about the sound options coming from the electronics. But on the other hand, a YT review can not substitute an in depth check you do yourself with such an amazing instrument.
I hate and love these sites, love because I own one, hate because everyone that doesn't have a Alembic say negative stuff about their instruments, If you can't beat them join um
I constantly beat my head against my desk trying to explain this to people. But they justify all the brass on their instruments by saying it helps sustain. So, they are not innocent.
Ove Bosch sorry for over-harsh comments. Like your Warwick reviews. Surprised to see another make in your hands - for which you're more than justified to use! Which Warwick comes close?
Alembic, Ken Smith, and Music Man were the first manufacturers to break the mold as far as bass tone is concerned and Alembic was the first to make basses that were technological marvels and look like works of art! When I first heard Stanley Clarke playing an Alembic on "Lopsy Lu", I was mesmerized by the tone before being mind-boggled by his technique! I miss my 1982 Spoiler 4!!! Thank you for a great demo!
I own two Alembics right now. This is a great review. One thing he doesn't really get into here is that Alembic basses are truth serum for your technique. Any flaws in your playing are accentuated by the Alembic electronics. So they basically force you to be a better player.
perfectly said, my 1st Alembic is Rogue 5 and it pushes me to be a cleaner player
Try playing any precision....
P basses and Fenders in general are exceedingly forgiving.
Interesting... I found Alembics amazingly easy to play. So sensitive that they respond to almost every technique amazingly well. Almost seemed like cheating. Going back to a Fender P bass after playing an Alembic was jumping behind the wheel of a pickup truck after driving a sports car for a week. To each their own I guess.
Great work, sir! Loving the video, loving the bass! Fab!
A trully masterpiece... Thank you for sharing it with us.
Best review I’ve seen of this mysterious instrument. Thank you for explaining everything from the history to the electronics in full detail 👍🏽
Thank you!
Yeah if you want to hear what his voice sounds like..
Fantastic presentation and review of this great instrument!!
That bass is outrageous! wish I could afford a new one like that. When I was in Chicago I visit music exchange and had the opportunity to play one similar to that one. Indeed it was tremendous to play I think I sat in the room and played it for about an hour. I think the store manager had to pry it out of my hands. LOL
This is one of the few video, where an Alembic (especially a super expensive cocobolo one) demonstrated properly. With a correct record quality, according to the speciality and the price of the instrument. A lot of YT Alembic owners shows their insturment by a cheap iphone in the huge room.
Thanks for your comment, kolbola. I'm glad you liked the video.
I love the Harley Davidson comparison the way you worded it. The Route 66 feel, etc. It's a way of life.
You will be mystified to hear this - I traded a new Ampeg SVT head for a STANLEY CLARKE signature headstock brown bass in around 2010. I then sold it and made $2k, but I'd MUCH rather still own the Alembic. $3k can always be saved up. The problem is, a Brown bass now is a $7k investment, minimum in 2022. I think I've owned four Epics (not all at one time) that never cost over $850, but that was the high end of the prices then. It's all relative. I guess I could be just as happy spending $7k now (IF I HAD IT) and know it will be worth $12k , so it's moot. Bottom line, find an Alembic YOU connect with and just go....
A pretty thorough explanation (what do those filters do?) of a very high class instrument. Ha! makes Fodera's look reasonably priced :) Top marks for explaining what makes it so special, and mentioning, that compared to "Pro" Classical instruments an Alemic is not so pricey at all. Cheers from Australia
THE Dream Bass to own for a Pro Bassist! ..Period!!✨🎸‼️👍🏾🤣If anyone has had the experience of playing one of these will know the difference of WHY it is desired despite the cost! The “Real Alembic” deal in getting one to the zone of where they know they can get to in playing music from an exquisite Bass‼️✨🎸😎👌🏾Got it⁉️
Hey Ove , what’s up bro , I was never lucky enough to have played an Alembic bass let alone a series one or two they look very beautiful and I bet they play out of this world but I will be getting a Warwick dolphin 7 string fretless soon could you please if possible try to do a review on this bass . Great informative videos by the way keep it up man
I own three Alembics. Excellent review. As a professional-quality instrument, $20k is inexpensive relative to most. There is nothing quite like an Alembic, so forget about price, and focus on value!
It's hard to forget about the price if it's more than you earn in a year, lol ;-)
WHAT??? 20k is not inexpensive even relatively speaking. I dont know ANY professional musician who would pay that. Its for hobbyist 100%
Thanks Ove!
Station Music also has an Alembic Rogue 6 with Flame Sycamore. I wonder if they may let you review that bass as well.
I won’t be able to afford one of the high-end Alembics, so I may like to see a demonstration of an Alembic among the lower price-range.
Hi Tolerance, thanks for watching the video. I'll go for a more affordable Alembic in a later video for sure. But this one is the "real deal" ;-)
Great review Ove! I feel very lucky to own a Series 2!
Lucky you! No need to be envious, everybody, breathe, breathe ;-)
Hey, that means we’re family Stefano! ;-) Indeed, we are very lucky.
Vielen dank für nice Information Video:)
Thanks for watching and your comment.
I played a series 1 and compared it to my Alembic elan and don't get me wrong the series 1 is a monster and a lot more tone but you can hear Alembic in all of their stuff
Hello sir could you listen to the song Vulcan worlds,and earth juice by return to forever and please tell me how to get this alembic bass tone?
Thank you so much for this very interesting information! I'm getting a Spyder ltd tomorrow and I have no idea what on earth to do or what will be involved with it. So nice I hope I have the tenacity to figure it out too! Richard
Richard, thanks for watching. Lucky you;-) Have fun with the Spyder, it's a beast.
Who owns that? Think Phil had the 1st bass, then Jerry had something built. Grateful Dead put most of its profits back into sound during the early years.
My guess is that most owners of the Series 1 or 2 are hobbyists. Working musicians probably use Fenders or at least a bass that costs costs less than $5,000. Would you take an Alelmbic like that into a smokey bar to play? Do you even have the money to buy anything like this?
It would be great if they could design the electronics so that when the bass is plugged into the power supply that it could recharge Lithium Ion Batteries so one doesn't have to replace the batteries, just charge the bass when not in use.
I haven't owned an Alembic, but I've had the opportunity to play a few, including a Mark King Balance K Omega, which, in appearance, is similar to the one Ove plays here. Just an astonishing instrument, but the $8000 (used) price tag was too much for me. :/ I suppose it was a relative bargain.
Mark King and Stanley Clarke are the only ones they can afford to buy these basses.... LOL
And of course "electronics first, wood second" is far more sensible and concrete. It's a lot more down to earth, ironically for one of the most expensive and elite brands on earth. "Wood first" enables a company to leverage the Emperor's New Clothes smokescreen of tonewood, where if you don't see the difference or the value it's because you're not sophisticated enough. Genius marketing tactic that. "Electronics first" demystifies the whole thing substantially and feels more honest.
Thanks for your comment with which I don't agree. Tonewood is a huge factor in what an instrument sounds like. If not important, there would be no reason for Alembic to use high class woods nonetheless of their philosophy.
I agree
I got caught at 14:00 by the knobs fiddling. Unfortunately it fell short from a thorough demonstration of the filters capabilities in my opinion.
Thanks for watching, David. The possibilities with the filters and the EQ are endless. You're right, the review doesn't go too much into detail about the sound options coming from the electronics. But on the other hand, a YT review can not substitute an in depth check you do yourself with such an amazing instrument.
@@OveBosch nevertheless thanks for your impressions on this amazing Bass ☺️
Did that man say 20,000 euros?!!! Wow!
If Gandal played bass.
I wish I could get my hands on that bass to compliment your video and to show how that bass really can sound like.
Faltou tocar para ver o som do baixo
Dont forget how HEAVY their instruments are. Some of their guitars weigh more than 13lbs. CRAZY heavy
I hate and love these sites, love because I own one, hate because everyone that doesn't have a Alembic say negative stuff about their instruments, If you can't beat them join um
Hi. Would you gift that bass to me for my birthday ? Coming soon :- )
Alembic got it right. Tone wood is a myth when it comes to electric instruments.
I constantly beat my head against my desk trying to explain this to people. But they justify all the brass on their instruments by saying it helps sustain. So, they are not innocent.
The electronics are the heart tone wood ?????
Hi Johnnie, yes that's the most important part of the Alembic philosophy. To my knowledge, no other company sees it that way.
Ove! I thought Warwick owned your ass!? "Will evangelise about a bass for money..."
visog thanks for watching and commenting the video. The number of wrongs in your post is pretty high though.
Ove Bosch sorry for over-harsh comments. Like your Warwick reviews. Surprised to see another make in your hands - for which you're more than justified to use! Which Warwick comes close?
Sorry but, way too much talk for human, not enough talk from the bass..
all talk, no actual bassing...