Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 08:02:25 AM

Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 08:02:25 AM: I have just joined this group and have a 1972 Alembic guitar.
It's serial number is 72-13.

Can anyone help me with information on this model and perhaps the history of the instrument? It seems to be an very early model.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: jazzyvee on November 24, 2009, 08:07:34 AM: Welcome, i think it would help if you could post some photo's. Also put a serial number request in this thread.

Jazzyvee
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 08:14:40 AM: Thanks much.

I put in a serial number request and shall post some photos later today.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: lbpesq on November 24, 2009, 08:31:21 AM: Will:

Welcome to the club! Yes, pictures, pictures, pictures, we want pictures!!!! If you poke around here a bit you'll find that both #12 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8361) (Keavin's bass) and #10 (http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/70709.html?1257010127) (my guitar) are active members. So tell us a little about the history of your instrument. How long have you owned it, etc.?

Bill, the guitar one
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: serialnumber12 on November 24, 2009, 08:46:52 AM: Boy i cant wait for this one!!!....where has this bass been & are you or how long has it been yours?
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: serialnumber12 on November 24, 2009, 08:58:53 AM: As you can see the alembic club is like Harley club We don't Mess around!!!(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/73126.jpg)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: elwoodblue on November 24, 2009, 09:42:44 AM: Welcome to the board,
...can't wait to see pics.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 10:26:51 AM: Wow! What a fine collection.

Here is #72-15. After I got my glasses on, I realized that it was not #13. Sorry about that.(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/73144.jpg)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: artswork99 on November 24, 2009, 10:58:49 AM: Will,
That is a sweet piece of history! Welcome to the forum.
Continue to Play it Healthy!
Art
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: lbpesq on November 24, 2009, 11:32:17 AM: Is it just me, or do the upper horns look familiar? A little wolfy maybe? Do we have DNA evidence 'further' establishing the true origin of Jerry's Wolf guitar?

Will:

I don't know where in California you are located, but if you haven't yet visited the Mothership in Santa Rosa, it is well worth the effort. It would also be great if you brought your baby along to the next Alembic gathering. We usually have one here in the Bay Area in the spring, and there's been some talk about getting one together in Los Angeles. I'd love to check out your guitar in person.

Bill, tgo
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: hydrargyrum on November 24, 2009, 11:54:19 AM: I thought the same thing Bill. I don't think there can be any question of provenance with this example to compare against.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: terryc on November 24, 2009, 02:58:56 PM: welcome handsonsound..nice funky guitar..hope you get the history of you instrument.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: pace on November 24, 2009, 03:13:36 PM: Looks like Neil Young's stage props in the background.... just a guess....

sure is a nice early model, Handsonsound!!!!
welcome to the club!
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: elwoodblue on November 24, 2009, 03:15:16 PM: So this was made for Neil Young according to Valentino's post.
Very intriguing ,
Kris
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: pace on November 24, 2009, 03:26:22 PM: I WANT TO LIVE WITH A CINNAMON GIRL
I COULD BE HAPPY THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH...
A CINNAMON GIRL!!!!
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: crobbins on November 24, 2009, 04:24:31 PM: Welcome to the club. I own this Alembic guitar as well.

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1819.html?1172366081 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8906)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 05:16:29 PM: Good eye, Pace. Yes, those are indeed Neil Young stage props in the background of my photo.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: dela217 on November 24, 2009, 05:45:32 PM: I own 72-16, the next one in line from yours! It's nice to see another one with that electronics package. I am sure that they were being constructed at the same time. Do you have the hammered brass plate on the back of yours? I wonder if mine is the first one with the batteries between the pickups?

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/73155.jpg)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 05:51:00 PM: I already knew that the guitar was made for Neil, but you folks have helped fill in the blanks as far as where it fits in with the history of Alembic (1st year, 15th made...one of a number of guitars that this list was looking for).

Neil doesn't know how it came to him. Given as a gift?
Made to order? Alembic gave it to him? This is unknown.

What I do know is that the guitar has seldom been played since the early 1970's and it has been carefully stored since that time.

Perhaps if there is someone who was with Alembic back in the 70's, they might remember the guitar and it's origins.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: dela217 on November 24, 2009, 05:55:05 PM: I would LOVE to know who mine was made for. I've heard that it was once owned by the bassist for Willie Nelson. But, I don't know if he was the original owner or not.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: serialnumber12 on November 24, 2009, 08:06:06 PM: Blue Oyster Cult's godzilla was recorded with #12.(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/73160.jpg)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: jazzyvee on November 25, 2009, 12:20:12 AM: I really like that alembic logo on the bottom of your bass Keavin. I don't recall seeing that on any other alembics. Its a really nice touch and I guess nowadays it could be mounted into the body and have a smooth to the touch feel.

Jazzyvee.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: pace on November 25, 2009, 03:18:51 AM: Will,
As far as the lineage of Alembic body shapes goes, I'm guessing that what we refer to as the Wolf/Furthur shape AND the standard point (Mark King) shape were derived from #15. Does anyone here know of an earlier standard point?!? I had always guessed that Neil's Alembic was a small-standard shape (like Dela's #16 above), so for me this is quite a surprise!

-Mike
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: dela217 on November 25, 2009, 03:27:47 AM: 72-01 was a point body.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: pace on November 25, 2009, 07:09:35 AM: Yeah Mike, but weren't the horns were equal like Keavins #12, and McVie's first one?
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on November 25, 2009, 07:30:29 AM: So, Keavin, was Joe Bouchard the original owner?
Yes, 72-01 had symetrical upper bouts, but the Evolution of Body Shapes (http://www.alembic.com/family/history_bodyshapes.html) page starts First there was the Standard Point., so I guess 01 & 12 count.

Peter

(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on November 25, 2009)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: serialnumber12 on November 25, 2009, 10:51:03 AM: yep Joe Bouchard was the original owner he used #12 as his studio bass & used his other alembic for gigs.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: pace on November 25, 2009, 01:37:08 PM: I always think of 72-01, 72-12, McVie's, and 78-999 being their own unique shape~ whatever you want to call it.

I'm not trying to split hairs, but just trying to figure out where the offset treble horn w/ either a point or omega came into play. With all the scroll and peanut guitars in the low digits, so far #15 is the earliest example I've seen.
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: dluxe on November 25, 2009, 02:32:48 PM: That is cool to know Bouchard recorded Godzilla with that bass. I've always loved that tasty little solo he does on it. Their Some Enchanted Evening record has a photo of him with what looks like a Series 1 with Omega. (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/73207.jpg)
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: pauldo on November 25, 2009, 03:18:35 PM: I did not know that! (Godzilla recorded with #12)
COOL!
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: jacko on November 26, 2009, 04:32:23 AM: here's (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8219) a thread I started in 2006 with more photo's and links to photos of Joe's stage bass.

Graeme
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: David Houck on November 29, 2009, 06:58:59 PM: Welcome to the board Will! Great guitar!!
Title: My 1972 Alembic
Post by: serialnumber12 on December 01, 2009, 10:47:49 AM: you might wanna post a pic of your alembic here since it is a part of guitar history!http://www.vintageguitar.com/gallery/list.asp?catID=4 (http://www.vintageguitar.com/gallery/list.asp?catID=4)
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/73401.jpg)