Dan Horne (Circles Around The Sun) Plays A 1978 Alembic Bass | Let's Hear It

This is Episode 9 of the new series, Let's Hear It! Host Gary Waldman chats with #musicians, #instrument builders, #music store owners, songwriters and more who have an instrument they love. Today we're joined by Dan Horne, bass player for Circles Around The Sun and Grateful Shred, to hear the story behind his 1978 Alembic Bass and learn the history of the company with Owsley Stanley, Ron Wickersham, and Rick Turner.
More info on Alembic Basses: www.rollingsto...
More info on Owsley Stanley: www.psaudio.co...
Circles Around The Sun: www.circlesaro...
Grateful Shred: gratefulshredm...
Follow Dan Horne on Instagram: / danhhorne
Follow Gary Waldman on Instagram: / morebarnmusic
Let's Hear It! theme song written and performed by Jon Graboff
Graphics by Abbey Ley: / abbeyleydesign
Video Editing and Logistics: Ben Birchfield: / grateful_benji

[@eldiablo3794]

Jason Newstead is the guy who turned me onto alembic. He used the spoilers, and europa models... he played 4, 5, and 6 string alembic basses extensively throughout the black album era.

[@thebigmoist6937]

The black and gold 5 string jpj bass was actually an Elan, Europas are slightly different

[@nintendonut100]

I didn't know this, but it explains why his tone was so good in that era

[@Rondoggy67]

Great video, but he's confusing the neck and bridge pickups. The bridge pick up is the one that sounds nasal and funky.

[@reginaldfitzpatrick8681]

Definitely confused. Not sure how thats even possible ...

[@peterhess2610]

A little too much weed

[@justmarc2015]

I think the "hippy sandwich" actually refers to the body wings. They look more sandwichlike than the neck.

[@larryjonson3550]

MY GOODNESS! He got the bridge pickup demonstration sound on the FRONT pickup. THEN, the NECK pickup for the BRIDGE pickup!

[@MrWilhinds]

He’s a wee bit clueless about this bass😆

[@travisthornton1792]

@@MrWilhindsnah, he just misspoke

[@alvarhanso6310]

Owsley was an Alembic co-founder, but I believe Rick Turner and Ron Wickersham were the real engine behind the basses and active electronics.

[@finnmcginn9931]

Same Turner who built guitars for Lindsay Buckingham?

[@alvarhanso6310]

@finnmcginn9931 yes, though I had to look it up. He built the Model 1 for Buckingham in 1979, and the headstock is similar to the Alembic design, but otherwise completely different. He apparently also helped create the graphic neck that Modulus became known for. Incredible luthier and engineer!

[@hydorah]

I have an oddity of a bass; a neck through Aria Pro II with Alembic pickups and a filter. It's actually a factory model. Alembic had a deal with Aria briefly in the '80s. Just like Status had a deal with Washburn. Used to have one of those too, but sold that a few years back

[@FIGGY65]

I wouldn’t be getting rid of that bad boy anytime soon !🤣

[@hydorah]

@@FIGGY65 Yeah definitely a keeper - even if I eventually get an Alembic or a Wal, I think I'll keep it!

[@_Only_Zuul]

lol i just bought a status hyperactive pickup to install in my aria pro II SB-integra.. the pickup is from a 90's status energy bass..

[@thepaulmacfarlane]

An Alembic w/ flats, nice

[@funky1funkyflo]

I WISH I could once AFFORD! an Alembic Bass :)

[@hotwheel6663]

Yes anything cool now from the 70s are crazy prices they were so cheap back then.

[@ruffian1868]

The English equivalent of an Alembic would be a WAL bass. They too have the "hippy sandwich" neck laminates (not neck through though) and the passive pickups have a parametric EQ filter system. Beautiful basses both :)

[@philipchurchill6508]

had no idea wal were a british company

[@ruffian1868]

@@philipchurchill6508 Indeed they are :)

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Its magic ! What a cool bass , man !

[@usernameinvalid2675]

Thanks for this love Dans work

[@m.loughlin1915]

Lamar Williams from the Allman Brothers Band played one for quite a few years. Beautiful instrument.

[@ShawnBarnesbass]

John Paul Jones also played an Alembic in Led Zeppelin during the latter half of the seventies. Although Jimmy Page's initial reaction to the bass wasn't entirely positive. According to the interview from Geddy Lee's book, Mr. Page's exact words were: "I'm not playing to THAT".

[@philipchurchill6508]

these guitars have amazing unique sound ability [entwistle sound all clangy and metallic sounding with its harmonics always changing from gig too gig ] but this guy s choice of sound is really run of the mill bass sound like a precision or something

[@laurageorgiadis5561]

Hope Dan Horne is still on for Lockin' 2021

[@dog-toupe]

So so sick. Dreamy bass

[@ivanmay7890]

I read that this is the bass that John McVie played on much of the Rumours album.

[@Kotzfunkel]

Hell yeah!

[@BrooksysBassCorner]

Great video, love it. Loving that Alembic!

[@josephzummo9685]

This guy was born about 50 years too late!

[@LichenAndMoss]

Yeah interesting schtick, even the eyeglasses

[@ErikShen2907]

Owsley IS KID CHARLEMAGNE!!!

[@WayneDraves-hv3sp]

Flat wounds on this? Sounds great.

[@normanhacker3588]

He doesn't know as much as I would of thought .most guys aren't that technical.but bridge and neck reversal. I've had my long scale since 1980.Short since 85.Upgrade the power supply , and explore a new tonal world.

[@MarklynMusic]

Bass great!

[@riffwizardsupreme]

i’ve always wanted at least a copy of a series i bass

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

“Engineered some other stuff”….LSD lol

[@widescreennavel]

There's a famous preconcert interview from 1977 with JG where he tells a fan he doesn't trust Alembic to work on his guitar lol

[@ujnawierzbie72]

Really? I'm not sure why would he. Could you give a link to it, please?

[@Meddled]

@@ujnawierzbie72they probably did unsolicited additional work and replaced parts without getting Jerry to agree first?

[@MrBINGEBOY]

Sounds good

[@jamesgumm2281]

These hipsters obviously have no background in bass guitars.

[@ErikShen2907]

But it's... COOL...

[@theyoungamptech320]

“Engineered some other stuff” lol.

[@miketausig4205]

That great intro to Owsley Stanley but no mention of LSD?!?

[@Jaycee37]

Stanley Clarke plays Alembic and So does Bootsy Collins

[@RSTI191]

It will never cease to amaze how manly post the same review as if they believe they are the only one to own an Alembic "This is the Q switch, this is the volume, this is the mahogany top with purple heart wood".. and so on and so on.... Too bad you don't discuss how the mighty Alembic bass doesn't have any low end..

[@steveslate3601]

Jimmy Johnson gets plenty low end from his Bass!

[@RSTI191]

@@steveslate3601 Show me..

[@kodykindhart8230]

🤘🤘🤘

[@jarrodrose9746]

I think his pick up switch is reversed.

[@lilpbass]

This guy doesn’t know anything about this bass. 😒

[@connellybrown4669]

all knobs to 11 kinda guy

[@hotwheel6663]

Crazy prices of course.

[@louski331]

Hello sir can you listen to Vulcan worlds by return to forever the bass solo how is his alembic getting that tone

[@businessofrhythm2315]

Stanley Clarke uses a "tenor" bass, which is why his instrument sounds so unique. His string gauge is somewhere between a guitar and a bass.

[@louski331]

@@businessofrhythm2315 what tuning is the strings tuned to in Vulcan worlds

[@businessofrhythm2315]

@@louski331 I'm pretty sure standard, just an octave higher than bass

[@barendtromp]

He didn’t use a tenor bass in RTF. Just standard tuning. He started using tenor basses a bit later in his solo career.

[@creamydistortion]

John McVie

[@ErnestLemmingway]

All that technology going to waste 😔

[@BERTLEWEED]

The most boring Alembic sound ever. What's the point of an Alembic if you don't use the filters....

[@ErnestLemmingway]

Because he's from the bay area dood so he's gotta act like it 😄

[@slacker42uk]

Not the best review of a wonderful bass.

[@gabrielesquaratti5709]

flatwounds on an alembic...how to cut out all the cool nice overtones...nice job to tame this bass best quality xD

[@reeserichardson]

engineered some "other stuff".... lollll

[@rosscostuart3409]

The grateful dead are horrible

[@broberts1505]

I bet you didn't know its a semi hollow body.

[@Braglemaster123]

He looks too weird “

[@businessofrhythm2315]

That mustache needs some sperm