Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: hg30904 on March 10, 2009, 11:51:16 AM

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hg30904 on March 10, 2009, 11:51:16 AM

Another one coming out of the closet of Harrybass. Why are so many coming up lately without the power supply or cable? Was there a big selloff of these parts?
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-series1-short-scale-fretless-bass_W0QQitemZ190292540114QQ (http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-series1-short-scale-fretless-bass_W0QQitemZ190292540114QQ)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/62379.jpg)

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: pas on March 10, 2009, 01:52:44 PM

Look at the headstock, specifically the joint.  Not good, IMHO.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: jack on March 10, 2009, 02:20:17 PM

...but the top is gorgeous.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: bsee on March 10, 2009, 07:51:20 PM

Yeah, that headstock looked a little tweaked.  Even if it blows up, though, Alembic can repair it.  This bass could go at a relative bargain price because of the drop, and someone can end up with a decent deal on a rare and very playable instrument.  Admittedly, with no power supply/cable and the damage, the good deal price is probably not too much higher than the starting bid, but there may not be much interest either.  
 
-bob

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: lbpesq on March 10, 2009, 09:15:40 PM

... and the top IS gorgeous!
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hieronymous on March 10, 2009, 11:18:21 PM

Is Harrybass related to the old Bunny Bass site by any chance? The photos look like that style. I miss that site.
 
Anyway, interesting bass - tempting depending on how much it goes for...
 
(Message edited by hieronymous on March 10, 2009)

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: dadabass2001 on March 11, 2009, 05:46:41 AM

(Internal dialogue)
self-control, self-control  
now is not the time to buy a fourth Alembic
 
There will be another
 
Mike

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: artswork99 on March 11, 2009, 06:04:26 AM

I had purchased a guitar from Harry about 3 years ago (now with member staemius) and he had mentioned to me that he was part of the origins of Bunny Bass.  I too miss the site.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: kungfusheriff on March 11, 2009, 06:21:57 AM

That is the same Harry from Bunnybass. I spoke with him early on during the auction for the refinished '74 he sold last week. Nice chap.
I would not, however, pay $2500 for that bass.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: olieoliver on March 11, 2009, 06:31:59 AM

The split in the maple is what would concern me the most.
 
OO(uch)
 

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hieronymous on March 11, 2009, 09:56:50 AM

Thanks guys! My temptation has been assuaged...

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: gtrguy on March 11, 2009, 10:03:07 AM

Looks like it's neck has been tweaked. However, the mothership can repair cracks for around $150 and glue is often stronger than the wood around it after a good repair. In terms of playability it might be fine.
 
Dave

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hg30904 on March 11, 2009, 11:41:11 AM

Any idea how much the mothership charges to transform a fretless to a fretted?

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: bsee on March 11, 2009, 12:12:51 PM

The transformation is generally frowned upon, but this might be an exception.  It looks like the partial fret line markers allowed/forced them to put the side dots in the fretted position, between fret locations, rather than the typical fretless position of at the spot where the fret should be.  One question would be if the inlay slices are wider than a fret slot by enough to be a problem.  The whole fretboard could be pulled and replaced, but you're going to have to make direct contact to see what the alternatives and prices would be.
 
One advantage is the neck can be repaired and refinished as part of the process and that will ensure you get a 100% functional instrument when it gets back to you.  I do suspect that you're going to end up with a pretty expensive bass if you go this way.  No bargain at all, but maybe worth it if you love the wood enough.
 
-bob

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: effclef on March 11, 2009, 12:18:06 PM

Bob - I think if you search the archives the price used to be $700, and that involved tearing the whole ebony board off to do it, because they refused to fret a board while in place. And yeah, repairing the headstock correctly at the same time would be worth doing. Probably

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hieronymous on March 11, 2009, 12:26:37 PM

I've been hoping for a short scale fretless, a Series I would be so awesome, but I don't think I can afford this one. I still hope this one stays fretless - those short fret markers are great!

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: altgrendel on March 12, 2009, 04:57:00 AM

I seriously think you'd be better off waiting and getting a fretted one. Once you get all the costs of purchase, repair, and the new fretboard out of the way, including the cost of a new power supply, you'd probably be close to a new one anyway (depending on the dealer, of course).
 
(Message edited by AltGrendel on March 12, 2009)

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: bsee on March 12, 2009, 07:41:10 AM

No way would it approach the price of a new one.  A new Series I is at least $10K at the most aggressive dealer discount levels.  $500-600 will usually get you a power supply and cable, less if you find a good used deal or construct it yourself.  That leaves an awful lot of budget for repairs or tweaking the bass itself before you get to the cost of new.  
 
One definite with Alembic instruments, though, is that there are a lot of unique pieces out there.  The top on this one is a bit unusual and I can't say I've seen another like it.  If you love it, this is the only one.  Alembic might find you another piece of wood that is close, maybe better, maybe worse, but this one is unique.  For some artists, that's enough to go after it, even if it's a bit more overall cost than a typical instrument of the same type.
 
-bob

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: toddharris on March 12, 2009, 10:03:10 AM

I had the good pleasure to play this bass at the same time I played (and ultimately purchased) the '74 fretted series one that Harry previously listed.  It plays great, the fret markers (not original) are wonderful.  Todd

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hieronymous on March 12, 2009, 10:45:05 AM

Thanks for the comments Todd - I'm starting to think that I might go for this one - been fantasizing about a short scale small body fretless for a while...
 
Oh, and nice score on the '74!!!

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: toddharris on March 12, 2009, 11:12:06 AM

Harry is Great!  Best thing aboout the '74 I bought was I got a new cord (5 pin), blue series I case and a silver colored original (I'm pretty certain) Alembic power pack.  Anyone know when and if Alembic made the power packs with the metal casing (silver) and when they moved to the more familiar DS-R5?  Todd

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hieronymous on March 12, 2009, 03:53:20 PM

I have a '75 and it has the blue box.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: georgie_boy on March 13, 2009, 12:17:57 PM

I have a 76, and still with the Blue box.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: David Houck on March 13, 2009, 02:31:37 PM

Has anyone noticed the really nice top?
 
I don't know what to think of those fret markers.  Bob noticed that the side position markers are in the fretted positions; and he guessed that they were there because of the size of the fret markers.  However, Todd reports that the fret markers are not original, and I don't recall seeing any like these before.  So, if the fret markers aren't original, then the side position markers are in the fretted positions for some other reason.  In fact, the more I look at it, I'm thinking the side position markers may not be original either.
 
The back looks very nice too, as do the headstock laminates.  And yes, the headstock joint does look to be a concern.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: toddharris on March 13, 2009, 03:38:53 PM

My remark above, that the fret markers on the fretboard (not the side markers) are not original and were added later, was based solely on my recollection of what Harry said to me when I had the instrument in hand when I was at his place.  I will say that the lines were about perfect in terms of intonation when when I played the bass - I flew all over without issues of tonality.  Todd

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: kungfusheriff on March 13, 2009, 07:28:46 PM

Harry told me that he believes the bass was originally fretted.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: bsee on March 13, 2009, 11:16:42 PM

That makes sense if Alembic didn't put in the partial markers and the side dots are in the fretted bass locations.  I suppose it could have been custom ordered with those side markers, or Alembic may have done it that way in the past before evolving to the current model.

Title: Series1 Short and Fretless
Post by: hieronymous on March 19, 2009, 04:01:11 PM

Wondering if someone here got this? I decided to pass when I found out it wasn't originally fretless (or at least that was part of my rationalization not to spend money I shouldn't be spending), went for an early '70s Guild fretless instead for about a third the price.
 
I happened to catch the auction for this one right at the end - it was fun to watch the bidding war in the last few seconds! Price go pushed up to close to $3000!