Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: kungfusheriff on January 02, 2014, 08:40:40 AM

Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: kungfusheriff on January 02, 2014, 08:40:40 AM: http://www.musicgoround.com/p/100139/used-alembic-series-ii-6-string-bass
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: gtrguy on January 02, 2014, 10:48:20 AM: Kinda looks like a series I guitar or Bari strung with bass strings to me...
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: nnek on January 04, 2014, 04:14:08 AM: The spacing appears to be like a Fender VI. Definately looks to be a series I. Love the Koa! Would like to see a pic of the electronics cavity due to the replacement filter switch...
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: gtrguy on January 04, 2014, 11:34:18 AM: Yes, it does seem to have some intriguing brass plates on the back!
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: lbpesq on January 04, 2014, 12:24:14 PM: Definitely a Series I, not a II. While it does seem quite guitar-like, the tuning machines and pickups are more bass-like. I agree - essentially an Alembic Fender VI. And the extended bass horn is a bit unique, too.

Bill, tgo
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: hydrargyrum on January 04, 2014, 01:33:35 PM: The switches are different colors. It may have had repairs.
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: adriaan on January 04, 2014, 02:13:44 PM: The narrow string spacing was used more often on 6 string basses of the time.

I happened to try out a Bass VI in a shop yesterday, the spacing looks awfully similar. Will take some getting used to, for sure. (Otherwise, that Bass VI wouldn't really compare to a Series II, now would it?)

The backplates look to be a perfect fit, and there's quite a number of holes to drill. And I seem to remember there was a great shortage of chrome-finished toggles for a while, so the extent of the repair might be a replacement of a toggle switch that went south.
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 05, 2014, 07:18:57 PM: I agree, Alembic Bass VI is what I think it is, I'll inquire about the scale length, Bass VI's are 30. I would loooooove to own this bass as my current band is a 3 piece and I use a Bass VI for cool guitar/bass octave playing with my brother but don't have the cash for this beauty

~Taylor
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: jacko on January 06, 2014, 03:50:19 AM: the spacing looks very similar to Mike Pisanek's 6 string spoiler. I found I could only play it with a pick as the strings were too close together for fingerstyle.

Graeme
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: hgregs on January 06, 2014, 07:00:20 AM: called last week and was told 35in scale length. string spacing was under 10mm. spoke to kieth who was very eager to help.
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 06, 2014, 10:05:55 AM: yea i just got an email and he said it was 35, makes me wonder how this was tuned when it was first built? also I got photos galore from them and everything appears to be hooked up and functioning, if anyone is interested i can send them the pics as they are way too big to post!

~Taylor
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: keith_h on January 06, 2014, 10:12:08 AM: Did they measure correctly? 35 sounds odd for a Series 1 of this vintage.

Keith
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 06, 2014, 10:30:00 AM: that was my thought exactly Keith but since I can't buy the instrument I didn't want to waste their time :/

~Taylor
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 28, 2014, 11:02:05 AM: It's on eBay now for $6,500(sorry mobile won't let me copy the link :/)

~Taylor
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: bsee on January 28, 2014, 08:26:27 PM: There's a small chance I might get out there to look at this one Wednesday. I have no interest in buying it, but I can look it over and get correct dimensions. May discuss with them the difference between SI and SII. Does anyone have any particular questions?
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 28, 2014, 08:30:53 PM: I'm curious about the scale length and how they have it tuned/strung up

~Taylor
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 28, 2014, 08:35:51 PM: Looked at it on eBay again and they dropped the price to $5500 OBO

~Taylor
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: keith_h on January 29, 2014, 09:27:47 AM: I had some e-mails back and forth with them about the differences between a SI and SII. They didn't really seem to care that it was misrepresented. Maybe you will have better luck them Bob.

Keith
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: bsee on January 29, 2014, 04:56:50 PM: Looking at it now. 85 3570. 34 scale and very tight spacing center to center across all six strings is a hair over 2 at the bridge. No way I could play this without a pick. It's a little dinged, and the action is set crazy high at the moment though the neck seems straight. Worst issue is that the neck pickup isn't connecting well through the quarter inch jack, though well enough to say that everything works, including the 3-way Qs. In store price is $4K. Not sure about blue box, cable, or case status, but that's probably listed on the eBay listing if it's there.
Title: Seen in Natick: Series 1 six-string bass (narrow spacing)
Post by: bsee on January 30, 2014, 10:59:26 AM: The ebay ad mentions the case and power supply, but doesn't say anything about the cable. Ask if you're buying...