Jack's Alembicized Starfire

bytr6

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I was at the RnR Hall of Fame and was delighted to see Jack's first Alembicized Starfire. Looked kind of ugly, the wooden pickguard was gone and one could see how butchered the top was to add the electronics.
 

ukulelelab

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It has more knobs than the red light district of knobsville and no doubt each one has a purpose.. :?
 

adorshki

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ukulelelab said:
It has more knobs than the red light district of knobsville and no doubt each one has a purpose.. :?
OK, I'll bite, what's the purpose of the red light district in Knobsville?
And just where exactly is Knobsville, for that matter?
:?
 

mikko

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This was the Sunburst Starfire? How it looked, was all the electrics still there? Would be nice if someday somebody could make the electrical drawings according to Jack´s old bass and then we all could do the same mods to our own basses….I´m just day dreamin´ here, sorry.
 

fronobulax

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mikko said:
This was the Sunburst Starfire? How it looked, was all the electrics still there? Would be nice if someday somebody could make the electrical drawings according to Jack´s old bass and then we all could do the same mods to our own basses….I´m just day dreamin´ here, sorry.

Can't say I've ever fantasized about having the same electronics because I believe having Jack's fingers (and the associated brain) would get me much closer to his sound than anything else :wink: but it would be nice if pictures and specs were available as part of the record.

Something to look forward to next time I am in Ohio.
 

mellowgerman

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Actually, his first Alembicized Starfire, affectionately called Yggdrasil (deep mahogany/natural finish) was stolen in August of 1969. The one in the RnR hall of fame, as far as I know, is his second one (sunburst finish). Also, if I remember the story correctly, after the first one was stolen, this one had to be produced in a hurry for him, thus it was not as pretty/ornate as the original Yggdrasil bass.
 

mgod

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I don't know where the idea came from that Jack's first Starfire was called Yggdrasil by him. He never referred to it by that name when talking with me. He said it was his favorite, that's all. It might be called that affectionately by others though.

I have always presumed "Yggdrasil bass" was his style, not a specific instrument.
 

adorshki

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mgod said:
I don't know where the idea came from that Jack's first Starfire was called Yggdrasil by him. He never referred to it by that name when talking with me. He said it was his favorite, that's all. It might be called that affectionately by others though.
I have always presumed "Yggdrasil bass" was his style, not a specific instrument.
According to this website, on "Crown of Creation" he's credited as "Yggdrasil Bassist".
I knew it rang a vague bell from somewhere so I googled it. Website is "Jefferson Airplane Recording Library" for those who want to be forewarned before clicking on links.
Just sayin' it's probably the source of the whole "myth". Only later, like here in fact, did I ever see references implying that was its "name", as you're trying to explain. I like your explanation, especially coming from someone who probably has better insight than anyone else here.

I always took it to mean his playing was as heavy as the tree of life, but now I can see it might have been intentionally meant to imply any number of metaphors or similes, like "the root support of the band", that kind of thing. In fact in '68, it might have been for no other reason than it "just sounded cool". :lol:
That same google search ("Yggdrasil bass guitar")turned up this interesting link too:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/26 ... 1143641487
Posts date back to '06 and I recognize a couple of our members on there, and have a suspicion maybe our own Mgod is on that thread under another name?
Anyway, just adding a couple more tidbits of info to the thread and the original question.
I know somewhere in the archives here is a thread with a link to some very extensive background bout Jack's and Phil Lesh's instruments, from an interview with Phil and maybe one of the Alembic founders, IIRC? In fact, I think you might have been the source of that link, Mgod ?
 

Yggdrasil

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As noted above, I've always connected Jack's name to Yggdrasil, ever since I bought Crown of Creation hot off the presses! - Just rechecked my vinyl - he is indeed credited on the "Brumus Sheet" insert with playing "Yggdrasil Bass" (Brumus is the big dog featured on the sheet - some claim it is RFK's dog, IIRC). The attribution of the name to a specific bass is likely a fan-based extension of that album credit.

I had an Alembicized Starfire for awhile - I've kept the page up on my site (most of my other past basses referenced in the Alembic thread are now removed):

http://music.jeffersoncampervan.com/AlembicStarfire.html

FullBody.jpg


On another note, last week I picked up a second Casady Sig - a "silverburst" to join my sunburst. Funnily enough - to maintain the dog/Casady/Yggdrasil connection - we also have a one year old Silver Standard poodle - they are born black, then gradually turn gray over two years - so at this point in his color change, Odin is "Silverburst"! :)

CasadySilverburst350s.JPG
CasadySilverburst+Odin350s%20%281%29.JPG
 

Yggdrasil

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krysh said:
Yggdrasil said:
...
I had an Alembicized Starfire for awhile - I've kept the page up on my site (most of my other past basses referenced in the Alembic thread are now removed):

http://music.jeffersoncampervan.com/AlembicStarfire.html

FullBody.jpg
...

what happened to the bass, what did it sound like and why is it gone, if I may ask?

I sold it to a well-known bassist/equipment designer. I had received many unsolicited offers to buy it, but felt it was best that it went to the fellow I sold it to.
I just wasn't comfortable with maintaining the esoteric electronics myself, so chose to place it somewhere where it could be properly maintained, should the electronics go south.

It was/is a very full rich & resonant bass. The name "Yggdrasil" would be fitting.
 

krysh

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Yggdrasil said:
krysh said:
Yggdrasil said:
...
I had an Alembicized Starfire for awhile - I've kept the page up on my site (most of my other past basses referenced in the Alembic thread are now removed):

http://music.jeffersoncampervan.com/AlembicStarfire.html

FullBody.jpg
...

what happened to the bass, what did it sound like and why is it gone, if I may ask?

I sold it to a well-known bassist/equipment designer. I had received many unsolicited offers to buy it, but felt it was best that it went to the fellow I sold it to.
I just wasn't comfortable with maintaining the esoteric electronics myself, so chose to place it somewhere where it could be properly maintained, should the electronics go south.

It was/is a very full rich & resonant bass. The name "Yggdrasil" would be fitting.

I would have loved to check this one out. :D
 

idealassets

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Looked kind of ugly
Yah, but it sure made for a great sound, didn't it? I can only imagine how this was envisioned and then put into practice. I can't think of very many players today that are doing any really cool stuff with their technology or sound.

As far as the name Ya...(whatever it was) I suppose you had to be there, eh?

Craig
 

idealassets

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Here's a familiar video of the airplane at Woodstock. In review we have:

1. Lots of cool bass sound
2. Racing stripes on Paul Kantner's 12 string Ric, although I can't hear him playing
3. Jorma's swell guitar riffs
4. Grace's bod
5. Spencer's rather modest drums, but cool hat
6. 2 lead singers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_gg6JNLtXI
 

adorshki

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Yggdrasil said:
As noted above, I've always connected Jack's name to Yggdrasil, ever since I bought Crown of Creation hot off the presses! - Just rechecked my vinyl - he is indeed credited on the "Brumus Sheet" insert with playing "Yggdrasil Bass" (Brumus is the big dog featured on the sheet - some claim it is RFK's dog, IIRC). The attribution of the name to a specific bass is likely a fan-based extension of that album credit.
Ahhh... slight veer, but who do you think might have actually coined the name? I doubt very many people at all even knew what Yggdrasil the Tree of Life was back then...I happened to know from references in Mighty Thor comic books.. :lol: ...but I'd bet a buck maybe a certain Scandinavian bred fellow by the name of Kaukonen might have had something to do with it. Chances are pretty good he ran into Jack pretty frequently. :lol:
idealassets said:
As far as the name Ya...(whatever it was) I suppose you had to be there, eh?
Yeah, and I'd bet another buck that even the guys who were there, don't remember anymore... :lol:
 

idealassets

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I doubt very many people at all even knew what Yggdrasil
Perhaps it was all in a dream.

I believe the Airplane was way ahead of their time, if only they started rap music we would have Yggdrasil instead of shanizzel (or whatever it is).

Regardless all those knobs and wires did the job. Apparently the power bill at the time was of no consequence.

Craig
 

adorshki

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idealassets said:
Regardless all those knobs and wires did the job. Apparently the power bill at the time was of no consequence.
Yep. 'lectricity was cheaper'n'dirt back then. Sometimes it was even free on a sugar cube.
 

mgod

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krysh said:
Yggdrasil said:
...
I had an Alembicized Starfire for awhile - I've kept the page up on my site (most of my other past basses referenced in the Alembic thread are now removed):

http://music.jeffersoncampervan.com/AlembicStarfire.html

FullBody.jpg
...

what happened to the bass, what did it sound like and why is it gone, if I may ask?
Its sitting in my closet, next to a bunch of other Starfires. Managed to blow a Versatone 12 with it.
 
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