Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: dtothec on November 07, 2015, 02:35:50 PM

Title: What is this?
Post by: dtothec on November 07, 2015, 02:35:50 PM: This just popped up on EBAY and it is not an Alembic!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-shipping-Moon-JJ-Limited-ALEMBIC-CG-E-Bass-Guitar-/161869928161 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-shipping-Moon-JJ-Limited-ALEMBIC-CG-E-Bass-Guitar-/161869928161)
Title: What is this?
Post by: bigredbass on November 07, 2015, 04:54:43 PM: Yes, that's a MOON 4-string Jazz, evidently with Activator J's. The three-knob with a switch might indicate an Elan circuit (vol-bal-tone with 1-way Q switch), which would be perfect for this axe. Stained Ash, not a bad imitation of walnut or some other dark wood.

MOON is one of those Far East Only builders, like Bacchus, Tokai, Atelier Z, Navigator, etc., that we rarely see on this side of the Pacific, a real shame. If you'ever seen Larry Graham with that white Jazz-style bass, that's his signature model from MOON. I've played one once, and it's in that very 'better than Fender' mode, the Japanese when they're serious at the right price point, just terrific guitars. I often think that Sadowsky's are just from one of those companies, re-branded with his name on them for the Japanese models.

That slanted neck-pickup rout was very common in Japanese axes in the 80's, and Moon continues to offer it in some models today.

This is the beauty of Activators, in those common shapes, you can put them in a lot of axes in place of the 'usual suspects'. I'd suppose then, that this is an 'East Meets East' bass !

http://www.moon-guitar.co.jp/index.html (http://www.moon-guitar.co.jp/index.html)

Joey
Title: What is this?
Post by: bigredbass on November 09, 2015, 10:22:38 PM: OK, here's the Larry Graham model, from the same EBay store ( . . . hope you like white !):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-shipping-Moon-JJ-300B-SWH-M-GO-Larry-Graham-Model-Bass-Guitar-/161871751939 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-shipping-Moon-JJ-300B-SWH-M-GO-Larry-Graham-Model-Bass-Guitar-/161871751939)

Joey
Title: What is this?
Post by: dtothec on November 10, 2015, 11:40:33 AM: That'll light up a stage!
Title: What is this?
Post by: jazzyvee on November 10, 2015, 01:33:56 PM: Doesn't look like it has the microphone socket on the top though.

I wonder if anyone has had one of those fitted to an alembic.
Title: What is this?
Post by: jazzyvee on November 10, 2015, 01:45:26 PM: Doesn't look like it has the microphone socket on the top though.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/221782.jpg)

I wonder if anyone has had one of those fitted to an alembic.
Title: What is this?
Post by: dtothec on November 10, 2015, 02:08:04 PM: Joey, east meets west good one LOL! So are those neck through? Are they hand built, and do they sound like an Alembic?
Title: What is this?
Post by: elwoodblue on November 10, 2015, 06:27:55 PM: I didn't know anyone but Les Paul did the mic socket mod.thx jazzy
Title: What is this?
Post by: bigredbass on November 11, 2015, 12:43:46 PM: Darrel, they're bolt-ons; just a very high quality axe of the 'hot-rodded Fender' mold. A domestic equivalent would be a Sadowsky or a built-to-order Fender Custom Shop axe. They're built to a very high standard, and with the yen/dollar exchange rate, these are in the $3000 range.

The 'lawsuit guitars' spectre still looms large, and these companies are a fraction of the size of Gibson or Fender, so they will likely remain only in the Far East.

Joey
Title: What is this?
Post by: dtothec on November 11, 2015, 07:08:31 PM: Joey
I'd purchase one if it came with Larry Graham's skills! LOL!