Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => For Sale & Trade => Topic started by: gerarddem on May 26, 2010, 08:55:34 AM
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Hi all:
I am selling a unique instrument (for all you collectors out there). Unless someone knows better, I believe it to be the only 4-string bass/6-string guitar double neck every created by Alembic. The instrument was built in 1980. It was nicknamed Kuon Orthros by my bandmates back then (2-headed mythical monster).
I only used the instrument for two performances back in 1980 in New York City and then placed it in its original custom road-case (supplied by Alembic) where it has remained in secure storage for the last 30 years.
If you are wondering why I'm deciding to sell it now, after 30 years - I've been fighting a battle with cancer and the effects of the radiation, loss of my job and trying to keep my home, for the sake of my wife and 4 kids. No sob story - I am and will continue to win my battles, but I can no longer afford the luxury of owning this unique instrument.
It's in excellent condition - some scratches on the back plate. The bass headstock has my initials beautifully engraved in it G de M (the guitar headstock has the circa 1980 Alembic emblem). I no longer own the black box or the Alembic preamp that I used with K-O. I do think I can throw in the 5-pin cable though.
I'm waiting for the build sheet/history and to verify if it indeed is the only bass/guitar Alembic double neck in existence.
I have attached some photos below.
Please contact me if you are interested at: gerard@demarigny.us (http://mailto:gerard@demarigny.us).
Thank you!
Peace,
g
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/80576.jpg)
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Kuon Orthros - Only 4-string bass/6-string guitar double neck ever created by Alembic - circa 1980 (back)(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/80579.jpg)
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Kuon Orthros - Only 4-string bass/6-string guitar double neck ever created by Alembic - circa 1980 (headstocks with my initials on bass headstock & Alembic emblem on guitar headstock)(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/80582.jpg)
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Dibs!
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My boys saw your comment Dan and said, we love Dibs! They mean the ice cream treats. haha!
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Are they both Series electronics (with the dummy pickup in the body)?
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Not sure David - the instrument is still in storage (expect to pull it out by this weekend) and haven't received the build sheet from Alembic yet. I b0ught it 30 years ago and only played it a handful of times, so I don't recall. Will let you know on this thread as soon as I do. Thanks!
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Interesting question. It looks like a single set of Series electronics. That means there has to be some switch that activates one pair of pickups or the other. They'd need to have a dummy somewhere for that to work, and it seems unlikely that they could use one of the pickups on the inactive neck in that role. Even then, Ron's job balancing this instrument must have been interesting if he had to balance one set of electronics for two separate sets of pickups.
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Thanks for weighing in Bob, much appreciated!
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A closeup of K-O's body. (http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/80649.jpg)
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Here's a photo that Eiji found in the History section of the site. Apparently K-O used to be considered the Missing Link at Alembic ...the Prodigal Son that has come home! Photo must have been taken at Alembic right after K-O was born in 1980!(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/80652.jpg)
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I'm still waiting for the build sheet.
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Hello Gerard,
My guess looking at the back side picture of your instrument is that you have one PF-6 card in the back which essentially means that the guitar and bass share the same set of Series 1 electronics. There seem to be some additional balancing trim adjusters toward the neck end of the backplate, but I don't think there is enough room for another PF-6 card there.
Either way this is a beautiful and historically significant instrument - I wish I could justify buying it from you and wish you the best of luck with the sale. This needs to go to a serious rock star.
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Garth! I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to take a close look at K-O. I think you are exactly correct about the electronics.
Thank you also for your very kind words about K-O's significance. I agree with you. Being the only one of its kind makes it extra special but being that and an Alembic makes K-O and extraordinary instrument.
I'm melancholy about the prospect of selling beastie.
Peace,
g
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http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/msg/1779931414.html
Gerard, Good luck with your sale of this beauty!
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Thank you Art! K-O is up for auction... Peace!
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Keep on winning those battles Gerard! Thoughts and prayers are with you my man! Art
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Ah yes, I see that auction now too...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Vintage-Alembic-Double-neck-Bass-Guitar-/160442854459?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item255b23ac3b (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Vintage-Alembic-Double-neck-Bass-Guitar-/160442854459?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item255b23ac3b)
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It is mine now. Thanks Gerard for your honest and fair dealings. It has found a good home.
We've found that the original electronics have been altered. So it is on it's way back to Alembic to have the electronics restored to original.
Does anyone have an older non-rack mount power supply they may be willing to part with?
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Congrats Earl!
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Alembic has been planning a run of the old-style non-rack power supplies; you may want to check with Mica on that.
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Congrats Earl,
What was the electronics alteration?
....looking forward to see pics of K-O in its new home after some nurturing at the mothership.
cheers,
Kris
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don't look if you are squeamish or scare easy.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/81446.jpg)
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Why?
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Oh dear... Maybe this guitar ate another guitar and it just hasn't digested all the parts yet. So what does the blue and pink indicate?
(Message edited by mike1762 on June 13, 2010)
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I resized it several times. The pink says something about engineering electrical tape that is not our handiwork. Can't make out the text for the blue at all, but looks to me like the hum canceler has been taken out of the circuit.
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- Blue shows no hum canceler connected
-Pink shows some concerning electrical tap that is not Alembic work.
-Green marks things that are not original to the instrument.
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When was the picture made?
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Gerard made this pic for Mica last week, I think those are her comments. I reduced the size of the pic so it would upload.
It's on it way up to Alembic, and my hope is we can restore it to stock.
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Let us know how it goes.
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i'm curious to know what the green stuff does
~Taylor
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Were the hum canceler(s) hard wired in series to the pups w/ that electrical tape? Where were they supposed to be anyways, if not on the body or in the cavity?!?
I noticed that the knob furthest north on the instrument was changed in the two sets of photos..... other than that, I'd have never suspected that the instrument was modded this much..... Especially w/ one owner, I'd expect that this amount of work would've been disclosed long before trying to solidify a deal.
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I see 2 circuit boards surrounded by green,
does that mean they weren't original?
If so that's some pretty complex modding going on.
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Hi Guys,
I have no idea what it is/was, nor do I care at this point. It was disclosed that the modification had been made. My goal is to get it restored to pure Alembic.
I'll post pics in the showcase section when it's fixed.
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Hi Folks,
Here is what we know so far. Yes, all the stuff in green was unoriginal and it has been removed. Don?t know what it was, don?t care.
It does not have the hum canceling trim pot because these are not single coil pickups. It does have Series I electronics, but the pickups are self hum canceling AXY?s. You select between neck, bridge, or both just like normal, then your neck selection selects guitar or bass, and the controls share and move with the same state they have/had. The two chrome colored switches are not original and they actually drilled into the body (ouch). But we?re seeing if maybe they could use them as ?mellow filters? like some of the guitars had in that era. But the electronics can be restored. The frets and necks are in good shape and should just need a basic set up.
So in a week or so I should have it in hand. I?ll post some pics in it?s new home on the showcase page.
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Right on! Dont forget to boogie..