The Alembic Spoiler is an electric bass used by Prince from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s.
Prince acquired a number of natural-finished Spoilers before the Purple Rain tour - Brownmark can be seen rehearsing with two of them in the Nothing Compares 2 U and Manic Monday videos. Prince chose these basses for their increased clarity in the larger arenas he was playing. At least one was refinished with a floral design, which Prince played in concert.
For the Parade tour, Brownmark used a natural Spoiler, fitted with a Roland MIDI pickup that controlled a Roland GR-77B synth unit. The Roland MIDI pickup was fitted in a Spoiler so Brownmark could avoid using the “weird-looking Roland bass thing” (the Roland G-77). Brownmark still owns this bass and uses it in concert.
The Spoiler became Prince’s preferred bass in the studio from Around The World In A Day(/era/around-world-day) to Lovesexy(/era/lovesexy). Susan Rogers has mentioned that Prince’s Spoiler was painted orange. It is not known where this bass is or whether it was ever played live.
On the Sign O The Times and Lovesexy tours, Levi Seacer Jr played a black Spoiler. This bass was later played by Sonny T. This bass is currently 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. It is likely that this is the white flower Spoiler and it was refinished before the Sign O The Times tour.
