Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: elwoodblue on August 01, 2012, 11:58:00 PM

Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elwoodblue on August 01, 2012, 11:58:00 PM
As the auction says :
I think this guitar was made by some one who worked for alembic bass company I was told , you have to investigate  
 
 So...Investigation initiated -  
  Does the logo ring any bells? The scroll says Oasis to me , the bat wing headstock seems familiar. ??
 
 
Zebrawood mystery bass (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BASS-GUITAR-VINTAGE-/170887614006?pt=Guitar&hash=item27c9b20e36#ht_500wt_1289 target=_blank)
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: longhorncat on August 02, 2012, 07:39:06 AM
I emailed the seller a few days ago asking for larger pictures and a shot of the electronics cavity.  
He replied with What you see is what you get.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: wookie on August 02, 2012, 08:42:13 AM
What a jerk! I'm going to email him too : ) lol!
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: longhorncat on August 02, 2012, 09:15:24 AM
I'd love to see what's inside.  
I assume that the Alembic electronics are gone.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: mtjam on August 02, 2012, 09:19:27 AM
Wow! What a motivated seller! LOL
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: hifiguy on August 02, 2012, 09:21:14 AM
To paraphrase an old Monty Python sketch, this is a bass with a message, and the message is Beware!
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: wookie on August 02, 2012, 09:47:17 AM
I'm with hifiguy! I read his feedback... No bueno! If he's not being cool, he's hiding something, and I don't want to spend my money buying this guys lies and ambiguity. I don't care if Jesus made this bass. I will say that body is cool though maybe the next Alembic model?! The mini me if I could, I'd copy the pic and ruin some wood trying to make one! Lol!
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: hammer on August 02, 2012, 10:35:01 AM
With that attitude the most pertinent questions are...(a) does he really want to sell it, and/or (b) what's he know that he doesn't want prospective buyers to know about?
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: hydrargyrum on August 02, 2012, 11:22:14 AM
I wonder if this was a shop night instrument.  That headstock also looks vaguely Irwinish, so I would guess that it would have been made sometime after Garcia made Irwin famous.  Too bad the guy won't share a gut shot.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: gtrguy on August 02, 2012, 11:28:46 AM
Hmnn, in the sellors feedback there is a guitar they sold with a comment, bent neck not disclosed', EBay made him give a refund.
 
Shipping is also way too much.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: wookie on August 02, 2012, 12:21:03 PM
Yea, gtrguy, that's what I saw that made me think, no way! can anyone here save and print an outline of the body? If you can do it I'll give you $5 bucks and pay the shipping : ) I would actually bid on the bass but I have a real bad feeling about it. I still think the mini body and head are pretty cool! Let me know fellas! Thanks!
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: mica on August 02, 2012, 12:52:42 PM
Wasn't that peghead logo found on a Mark Johnson instrument before?
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: mica on August 02, 2012, 01:14:46 PM
Here's an MJ peghead shot:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/137004.jpg)
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: mica on August 02, 2012, 01:25:45 PM
I have no idea on the electronics. We certainly sold parts to Mark, but those pickups look like someone used a blow torch to disconnect them. There's no shots of what's under the hood, so it's anyone's guess as to what's is actually in there.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: wookie on August 02, 2012, 02:26:12 PM
Is that a led zep pic inlaid (forgive my ignorance, I'm not much of a fan, sorry)? It looks cool though... I love when Mica gets in on the posts! hey, before that Orion comes home can you sign the inside electronics cavity cover? And maybe you could print a full size pic of the mystery (probably all jacked up) bass body and head?
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elisha_wiesner on September 04, 2012, 05:29:11 PM
I did my research and then took the risk and bought this bass. It turns out to be exactly what I thought, a very early Mark Johnson! I spoke with Mark today and he is going to go through his archives and find his original records on it. It is one of the best playing basses I have ever played. The original Alembic pickups were obviously changed but were included with the bass. It actually sounds great as it is but I'm sure wit will sound better with the original pickups re-installed. Just amazing craftsmanship all around on this one. The ebay photos don't do it justice at all. Mark told me that the peghead logo is actually a winged Pete Townshend! I can't believe the deal I got on this amazing bass.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: sonicus on September 04, 2012, 06:29:12 PM
Congratulations ,   It looks like the Universe wants you to have this instrument !  The transitive nightfall of diamonds  for you ! That has happened to me as well with an Alembic bass .
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elisha_wiesner on September 05, 2012, 10:24:49 AM
It get's better. I took off the large black pickup surrounds and to my surprise A) they were't glued down so they just came right up without leaving a mark and B) there was no routing done when the new pickups were installed. The originals fit right back in place and look like they were never removed! I'm going to re-install them soon.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on September 05, 2012, 01:10:03 PM
Photos please
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elisha_wiesner on September 05, 2012, 02:51:53 PM
Here are a few that I took yesterday to send to Mark. Like I mentioned earlier, the ugly black pickup surrounds pop right out and the original pickups fit right in with no fuss. Now I just need to figure out about the wiring. If anyone can point me in the right direction as far as that goes it would be greatly appreciated. This bass plays like butter!  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138773.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138774.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138775.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138776.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138777.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138778.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/138779.jpg)
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elwoodblue on September 05, 2012, 05:56:17 PM
Wow...coool !!!!
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: jacko on September 06, 2012, 04:43:45 AM
That really is a superb looking instrument. Congrats Elisha  
 
Graeme
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: wfmandmusic on September 08, 2012, 04:34:20 PM
Congrats on the bass. The pickups you took out look like DiMarzio's. If you want to sell them, please send me an email.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elisha_wiesner on September 09, 2012, 10:20:39 AM
wfmandmusic,
 
I very well might decide to sell them. I'll let you know if I do.
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elisha_wiesner on September 12, 2012, 04:17:23 PM
Original pickups are back in and sound really nice!
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elwoodblue on September 12, 2012, 04:30:12 PM
Yahooo!!
 
joy
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: dela217 on September 12, 2012, 05:31:25 PM
Can you post a pic or two with the original pickups??
 
Thanks,
Michael
Title: Mystery bass on ebay
Post by: elisha_wiesner on September 13, 2012, 12:24:52 PM
I can post some but I was wondering if I should just start a new thread on this bass in the main section? I'm pretty new around here