Alembic Spoiler

The Alembic Spoiler is an electric bass used by Prince, Brownmark, Levi Seacer Jr and Sonny T.

A number of natural-finish Spoilers were acquired before the Purple Rain tour - Brownmark can be seen rehearsing with two of them in the Nothing Compares 2 U and Manic Monday videos. At least one of these was refinished white and given a flower pattern. Prince also played this bass in concert, and it was used again by Brownmark on the Parade tour.

For the Parade tour, Brownmark also used a natural Spoiler fitted with a Roland MIDI pickup for connecting to a Roland GR-77B synth unit.[1] The Roland MIDI pickup was fitted so Brownmark could avoid using the "weird-looking Roland bass thing” (the Roland G-77, the bass version of the G-707). It is unknown whether this was one of the older basses retrofitted or a new custom build. Brownmark still owns this bass and uses it in concert.

On the Sign O The Times and Lovesexy tours, Levi Seacer Jr played a black Spoiler. This bass was also later played by Sonny T. This bass remains in the collection at Paisley Park. Brownmark has mentioned that the other Spoiler he played is still at Paisley Park but is "unrepairable" due to "moisture in Paisley's basement"[2] . It is likely that this the same as the white flower Spoiler and it was refinished before the Sign O The Times tour.

The Spoiler was also Prince's preferred bass in the studio from Around The World In A Day to Lovesexy. Susan Rogers has mentioned that Prince used a Spoiler "painted orange" in the studio. Its possible that this is one of the original natural-finish Spoilers (which had an orange tint) or was a different custom finish not seen live.