Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: fretted4 on October 08, 2013, 04:40:39 PM

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: fretted4 on October 08, 2013, 04:40:39 PM

Hey folks, well it seems the first ever graphite Alembic that John purchased in June of 77 at the trade show has popped up on ebay! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-one-bass-1973-John-McVie-Fleetwood-Mac-/171145471120?pt=Guitar&hash=item27d910a490#ht_253wt_1141 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-one-bass-1973-John-McVie-Fleetwood-Mac-/171145471120?pt=Guitar&hash=item27d910a490#ht_253wt_1141)

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: wookie on October 08, 2013, 05:58:38 PM

Someone but my accessory organs now!

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: wookie on October 08, 2013, 06:09:11 PM

Someone buymy accessory organs now! Sorry I'm at the bar.

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: bluplirst on October 08, 2013, 08:29:35 PM

graphite neck in '73? hmmmm

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: sjhoffma on October 09, 2013, 09:30:14 AM

No way its a 73 haha

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: pasewark on October 09, 2013, 10:27:20 AM

I have a 1776 Strat played by George Washington at Valley Forge during his Take Back America tour. Interested members contact me off line.

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jalevinemd on October 09, 2013, 11:15:08 AM

Maybe the body is that old. But to me, that graphite neck looks like it was installed sometime post-production. I've not seen any Alembic graphite neck basses with that huge chunk missing in the top or the hybrid wood-graphite neck towards the end. Seems that they've always done bookmatched to center tops and backs on these instruments but I could be wrong.
 
(Message edited by jalevinemd on October 09, 2013)

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: eligilam on October 09, 2013, 12:44:51 PM

From the Alembic History page:
 
1976 We developed with Geoff Gould, founder of Modulous Graphite Instruments, the first graphite neck through body necks. The first two basses made in this fashion were sold to Stanley Clarke and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac in June of 1976. This is the same year that we made a custom bass for John McVie that had a stainless steel fingerboard with no frets. Rather than call it a fretless bass, I preferred the term continuously fretted  bass.

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jalevinemd on October 09, 2013, 01:20:34 PM

Guess that explains why it ain't too purdy. Like they say...practice makes perfect!

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jon_jackson on October 09, 2013, 05:09:27 PM

I grew up in Easyville, 5 miles from Purdy. I can assure you we never saw anything like this bass around Purdy.
Jon
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/177755.jpg)

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jalevinemd on October 09, 2013, 06:09:17 PM

Would hate to be a woman living in Easyville.
;-)

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jon_jackson on October 09, 2013, 06:55:16 PM

Agree. My sisters have heard all the jokes.  
 
 
People usually don't tell them twice...
Jon

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: hydrargyrum on October 09, 2013, 08:16:11 PM

Hmm . . . well not to disagree for the sole sake of comporting myself in a contrariwise fashion, but by all visual evidence presented herein, Easyville lies a good six miles from Purdy.  

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: slawie on October 10, 2013, 04:43:07 AM

Or is it 10 miles away? Or...
7.16 miles if isosceles has anything to do with it

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jon_jackson on October 10, 2013, 04:45:27 AM

Hypotenuse versus the two legs of a right-angled triangle.
 
Hmm, I don't get a chance to use hypotenuse very often these days. Thanks Kevin!
Jon

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 10, 2013, 08:08:24 AM

Seller changed the date, and added the bit Will quoted.
 
Peter

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: hydrargyrum on October 10, 2013, 02:22:25 PM

Pythagoras would hold me in contempt.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/177882.jpg)

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: count on October 11, 2013, 04:34:12 AM

Is this for real..???
 
I thought John'd sold off his Alembics ages ago..

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: briant on October 11, 2013, 07:43:27 AM

If it isn't him selling them off it could very well be a collector who snatched them up trying to turn a profit.

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: jzstephan on October 11, 2013, 07:46:51 AM

 
The real Easyville according to Bernard Purdie

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: longhorncat on October 11, 2013, 08:08:05 AM

I spoke with (emailed) the seller a few times.  He's works with Fleetwood Mac and was instructed by John to dispose several basses - including all three of his Alembics - graphite, metal board and #27.  He also has the Starfire used with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.  Number 27 is not for sale - a suitable museum/shrine is sought.  The others are up for grabs.
 
Bill
 
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/177987.jpg)

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: pauldo on October 11, 2013, 02:35:07 PM

The stainless fretless is for sale !!! :-O
 
Dear Santa . . . I can't afford what he is asking for the graphite one and am sure the stainless steel will be just as steep. But man-o-man would that be a cool bass to have!

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: klinkepeter on October 13, 2013, 02:50:46 AM

i don?t know if the description changed, but it is written 1976...

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: elwoodblue on October 13, 2013, 05:13:32 AM

It did change..was '73

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: briant on October 14, 2013, 11:24:32 PM

Was it a 73 body that they modified in 76? I have no idea, just asking for personal amusement.
 
It would be cool to own one of his basses but for the price I'd rather order another custom.

Title: John McVie's Graphite Alembic!!
Post by: count on October 18, 2013, 02:14:12 AM

This one's definitely not a 73..