Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: jazzyvee on August 29, 2015, 08:40:55 PM

Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: jazzyvee on August 29, 2015, 08:40:55 PM: Still at a low price and only a few days left on the auction.

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/212348.jpg)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Alembic-Series-1-Bass-Guitar-Very-Good-Condition-No-Reserve-/252073120882?hash=item3ab0ba9472 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Alembic-Series-1-Bass-Guitar-Very-Good-Condition-No-Reserve-/252073120882?hash=item3ab0ba9472)
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: hifiguy on August 29, 2015, 11:18:43 PM: Oh my. Those knobs are ghastly but the bass is beautiful.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: sonicus on August 29, 2015, 11:52:06 PM
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on August 30, 2015, 04:49:56 AM: A birdseye maple standard point... where's Mica?! =)

That is *precisely* the wood I'm hoping for on my custom... not too wild, not too plain - just right. That little bit of curl in with the birdseye... we now return to your regularly scheduled thread.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: rockerdebassman on August 30, 2015, 12:39:20 PM: Hey there knowledgeable folk!

I'm actively looking for an Alembic bass. After posting my intro a few days ago I've been reading the forum threads and researching which best meets my needs. I see it is a series bass, but what model is it?

Now, how do I know if this is a good deal? What value would be fair? As the seller posted it as no returns, isn't it a big risk purchase, since there are so few pics and who knows what electronics are under the hood? Did I miss the SR number or was it not posted?

/interested and concerned,

Matt
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: keith_h on August 30, 2015, 01:11:29 PM: It is what we would call a large body, Series 1 today. Back in 1976 they were just large or small body.

The seller says a full scale neck which doesn't really mean anything. He also say it is 35 inches which would not be a correct measurement. I suspect it is a 34 scale based on the 35 measurement. If it is a 34 inch long scale bass it is not uncommon for folks to have problems reaching the 1st position. I know I do and I stand about 5'9. If I were interested I would go back to the seller asking them to measure from the nut to the 12th fret then double this to get the actual scale length. This will determine if it is a long scale, 34 or medium scale 32 neck.

As far as the price goes. If everything is working and since they have the blue box and case I would say the price is pretty good. Based on the pictures is appears all of the original Alembic electronics are there. A 1976 might need an electronics upgrade to handle modern RF interference but the average cost of this would bring the bass value up to the typical market price so it would not be money wasted.

Keith
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: ed_zeppelin on August 30, 2015, 04:03:47 PM: >>> researching which best meets my needs. I see it is a series bass, but what model is it?
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: hifiguy on August 30, 2015, 04:18:13 PM: You nailed it, ed. It's been said many times but it still remains true. You don't even begin to know how sloppy and lousy the technique you learned on a regular bass (Fender, Ric, whatever) is until you pick up an Alembic for the first time. Absolutely unforgiving becaue you hear EVERYTHING you do. You clean up your act or else.

And that is a good thing
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: gtrguy on August 30, 2015, 04:24:58 PM: I find them easy to play (except the long scale neck sticks out a mile) and don't think they are at all unforgiving. Just a nice big friendly bass.

For gigging I much prefer the short scale series though.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: ed_zeppelin on August 30, 2015, 07:35:19 PM: I agree with both of you, which is unusual (for a married man), even though I think somebody misunderstood the context. But you're both right.

Besides, nobody understands the meaning of unforgiving until you marry a Scot. Trust me.

Hey, that reminds me. We toured the UK, and in this tiny Scottish town in the far north called Forres a very weird (but polite) man nearly went into convulsions over my Alembic. He was a bassist and had never actually seen one up close.

So I let him put it on (with an Alembic, for some people it's more like climb into it) and wang away to his heart's content. I was worried we were going to have to call an ambulance, he was so overwhelmed. He took pictures of it.

I gave him my address and we said we'd communicate, yeah yeah, sure. About two years later I get this from him, out of the blue:

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/212365.jpg)

That's my Alembic atop Heinz beans (confirmed by other Brits) and toast. I think it's supposed to be complimentary. That's how I'm taking it, anyway.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: rockerdebassman on August 30, 2015, 09:13:12 PM: That Alembic actually looks quite tasty.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: ed_zeppelin on September 03, 2015, 12:17:45 AM: The series 1 bass went for $3,071.75
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: sonicus on September 03, 2015, 04:39:58 AM: It was not that far from me in location for a personal pick up at the time of the Auction close. I considered a Dive Bomb Crow Bid , at the end , but displayed restraint and self control instead . Who ever got it got a great deal and a great bass . Congratulations !
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on September 03, 2015, 05:57:16 AM: Yeah, I was surprised at that one too... hopefully whoever got that one will turn up here.

At risk of saying it too many times, (what's one more?) I am spellbound by these early Alembics... every one so individual, yet so obviously related. I'm hoping when it comes time to pick out the wood for my Custom, Mrs. W. can find some maple boards close to that... the figuring is just so perfectly proportioned.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: spose on September 03, 2015, 07:53:16 AM: it was on TB for 4200

someone got a nice deal on a nice bass
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: flpete1uw on September 03, 2015, 07:59:28 AM: If it were 32 scale it would have been me. Or this person would have payed a lot more for it. ;-)
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: hammer on September 03, 2015, 09:50:36 AM: Great deal for someone willing to take a bit of chance as to what work, if any, will need to be done to the bass. I've been looking at vintage Series basses for some time now (I could never justify the cost of a new or newer one) but am always reluctant to pull the trigger because I just know I would want to send it back to the factory for updated electronics and a refurbishing/rebirthing and have no idea what these cost. Has anyone out there gone through the process and is willing to share the approximate costs of the electronics upgrade and refinishing.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: gtrguy on September 03, 2015, 11:03:00 AM: Yep. Sellor had limited feedback and the items previously sold were inexpensive stuff. The description was limited as well.

If a person was close enough to actually see the bass beforehand, that would be best.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: rockerdebassman on September 03, 2015, 11:16:44 AM: Looking for my first Alembic, I felt the same way, Hammer, especially since I'm such a NooB!
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: mica on September 03, 2015, 11:37:04 AM: It's not a secret - the price is tiered, $750 if it's easy, $1500 if it's hard. If you have brass plates, it's likely to be hard, but it isn't always.
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: slawie on September 03, 2015, 02:59:43 PM: That Alembic on the beans on toast will definitely give you GAS ;)
Title: Series I 1976 bass
Post by: sonicus on September 03, 2015, 03:28:01 PM: Indeed Slawie ! A severe case with enhanced sustain to boot !