Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => For Sale & Trade => Topic started by: paexplorer on December 30, 2013, 07:03:33 PM

Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on December 30, 2013, 07:03:33 PM
Hi all. Bought this on Ebay a little while ago with the intention to do some electronics upgrades and other stuff. Decided to focus on another project so selling for what I paid. Link to original Ebay listing below. If no sale here in a week, I'll list back on Ebay.  
 
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=261324120663 (http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=261324120663)
Title: California special
Post by: jalevinemd on December 31, 2013, 09:41:07 AM
Nice guitar.  
 
(Message edited by jalevinemd on December 31, 2013)
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on December 31, 2013, 11:06:50 AM
Thanks. I like it a lot, but took the stash of Alembic electronincs I had set aside for this project and decided to use them on another project. This guitar looks and sounds great, but I'm not a big fan of the thinner, single coil sound. I was hoping to convert to a fat sounding monster, but like I said, i had another project pop up that I thought was a better fit for the electroninc I wanted to use. Just looking to recoup my money. I bought at a great price too.
Title: California special
Post by: jalevinemd on January 01, 2014, 10:29:38 AM
Based on the electronics, I think this guitar is actually en Electrum with a CS body. Check the serial number. Does it have an E or CS?
Title: California special
Post by: jalevinemd on January 01, 2014, 10:33:52 AM
The Steve Miller guitar has the CS in the SN.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/186442.png)
Title: California special
Post by: jalevinemd on January 01, 2014, 10:39:01 AM
But, then, there's this CS in Europe. So who knows?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/186445.png)
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on January 01, 2014, 11:51:39 AM
no CS In The Serial Number. There Is An E Though.
Title: California special
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 01, 2014, 12:12:47 PM
Well the only difference is the Electrum uses the 5 way switch and the CS uses 3 on/off
 
~Taylor
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on January 01, 2014, 12:29:49 PM
All the Electrums I've seen definitely have a different body style from the CS.
Title: California special
Post by: tmoney61092 on January 01, 2014, 12:33:52 PM
I meant as far as electronics, Electrums are shaped like the Spoiler bass, this is simply a custom Electrum with a CS body
 
~Taylor
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on January 01, 2014, 02:55:46 PM
Got It. Good Info. Thanks.
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on January 12, 2014, 08:41:48 AM
Looks Closer To The Vector Body Than The CS body.
Title: California special
Post by: bsee on January 12, 2014, 11:44:47 AM
Alembic, based on the serial number they gave it, considered your guitar to be an Electrum when it left the factory. I don't know the guitars as well as the basses, so I couldn't tell you what the differences are. If it's just the switching, that's pretty minor.
 
Also, as of right now, the California Special isn't listed on Alembic's serial number chart in the reference pages.  
 
In any case, those of us with familiarity with the brand know that the name applied to the instrument doesn't always tell you what the features will be or determine the value.
Title: California special
Post by: tncaveman on January 12, 2014, 04:04:36 PM
Just Curious - How Much???
 
This of course doesn't count to the cost of a divorce.  LOL (sort of)
 
Stephen
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on January 13, 2014, 06:23:44 AM
Just Sold On ebay.
Title: California special
Post by: JuancarlinBass on January 13, 2014, 07:46:49 AM
So the only difference between Electrum and CS is the 5-way switch Vs. the three toggle switches?. Then my much dreamed CD must be also a combination of both, since I?d rather go with the 5-way (maybe some push/pull knobs if needed be) than the 3 toggles (had a guitar like that once, and quite frequently found myself in Off/No sound mode after hitting them the wrong way... in the middle of a song.  
 
Although not double locking (which would be my choice, Floyd-Rose double locking style), those Kahlers used to be quite good. I have a black one, the same exact model, on a Jackson Fusion EX (which was modded before I got it) and it was a matter of time before I got accustomed to it, and its setup, but it behaves nicely!
Title: California special
Post by: paexplorer on January 19, 2014, 12:00:58 PM
The research I've done and the information provided by other forum members on this guitar make it a custom electrum. The body is similar to a CS but it's not quite the same. This body is most similar to a Vector bass body. However, it has the electrum electronics package.