Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: sonofa_lembic on September 18, 2016, 01:44:36 PM
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After starting to use my 1997 Series I more often on gigs and rediscovering the incredible tone only a Series bass can deliver at full stage volume, I became obsessed with finding a mid 70s that was clean, light weight, and sounded perfectly balanced. It took a while, and I had to pay more than the market value, but the result is a bass that not only fit all my criteria, but that will likely become my main axe for years to come. This long scale Standard Point has a beautiful Macassar ebony fingerboard with the original frets in virtually unworn condition. The top and back are nice birdseye maple. The core is myrtle, and is resonant as can be. The bass is really alive, and rings out as clear and crisp as any Alembic I have ever owned. Neck is maple and what appears to be walnut with headstock veneers of walnut. This wood recipe is miles off of my normal cocobolo/mahogany/purpleheart go to combination, but it just doesn't matter. The tone is all there...and more. What this wood combo offers is also light weight. The bass is one of the most reasonable weighing Alembics I have ever owned, and will be a welcome relief from my other Series which in the 11 lb range. What became apparent immediately was this bass had had very little play time in 40 years, and nobody had ever opened the electronics cavity! The bass has an unusually shaped battery cover plate. I had my concerns about it until I saw the 40 year old impression and staining it made in the bottom of the original hardshell case. No question it is original. The finish has a few checks in it, but overall, it is in superb condition. The truss rod works amazingly well, and the action is ultra low with no buzzing. This is a truly outstanding bass, and a wonderful survivor after 40 years.
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Gorgeous bass, congratulations!
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Gotta love that battery cover!
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The battery cover makes sense when you realize the placement of the battery compartment. Apparently the person who routed the compartment placed the jig too close to the point, and if it had a square plate, it would have hung out over the edge of the body. The result of this misstep was the need to modify a cover that would do the job, and not protrude over the edge. Someone at Alembic got creative with this almost fleur de lily shape. No mistaking this bass as it is truly unique.
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Did you get this from a guy in Vermont, by any chance?
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Congratulations & Compliments Trevor... that's truly a time-capsule piece you have there. And just look at that birds-eye maple! :o
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This bass came out of Nashville.
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Congratulations! Definitely can relate to your observation about the Series sound when playing at stage volume.
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Yes, the Series basses really come into their own when turned up in a live situation. Most of the time I am more than pleased with any Alembic circuit like the Signature or Anniversary, but when you A/B them at full 3000 watts of power in a big venue, you really can hear the purity of tone from the Series circuit. It is thumpier, punchier, and more in your face. When you think about it, this is the exact environment Ron designed the circuit to work in...and boy does it!
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Congratulations! That's a real nice piece. I like the battery cover, too!