Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: tncaveman on March 21, 2011, 08:20:40 PM

Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: tncaveman on March 21, 2011, 08:20:40 PM: I was curious about how many instruments have been made by Alembic? It would be cool to see a tally - especially the number of each model. I have a Rogue and have never personally seen another one. I have only seen a few other Alembic models over the years, other than in photos. I have never seen an Alembic guitar in person.

Stephen
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: FC Bass on March 21, 2011, 09:27:41 PM: They are heading for 14200, I think it's almost impossible to tell per model...

Check out this list: Click here (http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/alembic/10.htm target=_blank)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: jazzyvee on March 22, 2011, 12:28:18 AM: 14,000 is a very small number when you consider the number made by the big boys over the same number of years.

I've only ever seen my Alembic Guitars in person. They still seem to be rare in public. In saying that, I've only seen an alembic bass live in the hands of Stanley Clarke.

Hopefully some of the UK owners will post some gigs nearer to where I live so I can get a chance to hear.

Jazzyvee
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: rustyg61 on March 22, 2011, 12:47:12 AM: I asked Mica that same question when I spoke to her on the phone right after I got my Alembic. My serial # is 14148, but she said there were maybe 600 - 800 additional Alembics that had duplicate serial numbers, so the total count could be around 15,000. Still a very elite owner's group when you consider that lots of people own more than one Alembic, so the total number of owners is much smaller than the total number of Alembics.
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: rustyg61 on March 22, 2011, 01:58:53 AM: I just checked out your list FC, VERY impressive! Where did you get all the data?
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: serialnumber12 on March 22, 2011, 04:17:13 AM: #12(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/100087.jpg)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: serialnumber12 on March 22, 2011, 04:20:24 AM: #33(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/100091.jpg)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: serialnumber12 on March 22, 2011, 04:22:53 AM: the Gang!(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/100095.jpg)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: tncaveman on March 22, 2011, 05:04:46 AM: 39 years and 14,200 -------> average of 364 per year - that's one a day! But I would assume that the efficiency and number per year somewhat increased over the years.

And, Barnes (ser#12) that is one heck of a photo - are they all yours or from a gathering?
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: jacko on March 22, 2011, 05:34:44 AM: Jazzyvee..Hopefully some of the UK owners will post some gigs nearer to where I live so I can get a chance to hear

You'll need to move to Scotland ;-)

graeme
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: serialnumber12 on March 22, 2011, 07:01:39 AM: they all belong to various members from the chicago gathering two yrs ago
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: dadabass2001 on March 22, 2011, 07:06:03 AM: tncaveman,
The group instrument shot is from the Chicago Alembic gathering in May 2009. It was a fabulous day at Bag End.
Mike
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: terryc on March 22, 2011, 07:31:53 AM: I love nostalgie and looking at the catalogues is really interesting.
Mine is proudly in the list
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: FC Bass on March 22, 2011, 11:02:26 AM: @ Rusty: Got most of the info (about 99%) right here from the club, so thanx Ya'll!
It gives a pretty good idea of production per year (see summary @ the bottom), huge peak in the 90s (Newsted influence?)

Extremely fun project, though in desperate need of an update...

Pretty close family, with +/-15000 Alembics and some of us that are actually insane enough to own more than one. :-)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: serialnumber12 on March 22, 2011, 11:29:38 AM: Here's a summary/log of quite a few so far. http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/alembic/10.htm (http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/alembic/10.htm)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: rustyg61 on March 22, 2011, 11:43:46 AM: Awesome pictures Barnes!

FC, thanks for taking the time to compile the list! I wouldn't say you are insane for owning more than one Alembic, I would say you are blessed!
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: jon_jackson on March 22, 2011, 07:44:01 PM: Flip, do you still want new information / pictures for the data base?
-Jon
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on March 23, 2011, 07:45:33 AM: Hey, Keavin, looking back through Flip's list, I think you've confused Michael's basses. That's 72-16, not 73-33.

Here's 33:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/100188.jpg)

Peter
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: FC Bass on March 23, 2011, 08:52:46 AM: Info and pictures are more than welcome, bring 'em on! (see profile for email address)

and Rusty: Blessed indeed! :-)

(Message edited by fc_spoiler on March 23, 2011)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: malthumb on March 24, 2011, 07:32:21 PM: FC,

You could add 74 80 to the list. That was Stanley Clarke's Brown Bass, now owned by Victor Wooten.
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: mario_farufyno on March 25, 2011, 10:07:43 AM: Incredible job, Flip.
We all thank you!
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: peanutsfan1995 on March 25, 2011, 11:33:18 PM: FC,

Jason Newsted owns an Alembic Europa, Elan, and Spoiler, all in 5 string.
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: FC Bass on March 26, 2011, 05:37:33 AM: I've updated the list with the latest info I got, thanx!

Hey Michael, welcome here :-)

Check out the dedicated to Jason/Alembic page on my site: Click here (http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/jason.htm target=_blank)
There are more ;-)
So far I have:

4 string Spoiler Exploiter
4 string JJ Persuader *
4 string Spoiler Series II with Distillate bottom
5 String JPJ Elan - later converted to Series II
5 string Europa Series II
6 string Europa Series II
10 string Europa Series II

And I think Mica said he bought an Anniversary bass at the mothership.

I've also heard that he gave away or sold the Elan (not confirmed, have not seen pics and/or serial #)

I?d love to have the serial numbers of those.

* I think the Persuader was also converted to Series II and refinished in Black. (see Jason/Alembic page)

Cliff Burton used a Spoiler in '85 (maybe from late '84) until it was stolen after practice (he left it standing against his car)

Be sure to check out my tribute to Jason's JPJ Elan: here (http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/91413.html target=_blank)

And my Jasonized Spoiler: Here (http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/29842.html target=_blank)

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/100426.jpg)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: rustyg61 on March 31, 2011, 01:25:04 PM: Hey Flip, I noticed you have an engraved truss rod cover on your Elan 5, I have emailed Mica about getting one for my SC Signature Deluxe, but so far have not gotten a reply. Do you know how much they charge for the engraved cover?
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: jacko on April 01, 2011, 01:10:24 AM: Rusty. 6 years ago I got a quote of $85 for a replacement brass trussrod cover - no engravings. I'd have thought it would be cheaper to take your existing cover to a local jeweller to get them to engrave anything you want on it.

Graeme
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: rustyg61 on April 01, 2011, 08:20:17 AM: Thanks Graeme! I had thought about that too, but didn't know how that would work out with the clearcoat finish on the plate.
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: FC Bass on April 01, 2011, 09:04:27 AM: I think it was about $75 in 2009, certainly worth it. (looks amazing)

And you're right about the cover, it has a thin layer of clear coating that would have to be removed if you want it done by a local.

Blurry pic:

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/100897.jpg)
Title: How many Alembic basses are out there?
Post by: rustyg61 on April 01, 2011, 11:21:40 AM: Thanks Flip! Money well spent, it looks awesome! The script font on the serial number is a nice touch!