Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: BrucePhares on December 15, 2016, 01:11:07 PM
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Forgive if this is the wrong thread... I'm hoping to get some background intel on a bass I bought back in the '80s, and I was told it was made by some folk who had branched off of Alembic. Named "Oakland XB100", it's a long scale, with a serial number of 010053. Passive electronics, 6 point tone selector. I suspect the company didn't last long, as I can't find but one reference online. Great sound, beautiful sustain and bottom, I worked it hard for years before the fusion thing kinda changed up in Seattle. I'm primarily an acoustic player, so I loved the long scale. Getting ready to part with it and have NO idea of value.
Pix are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9ZlZgogdAzzNEFid25KVjBoYU0
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KIJdLdTBJuIQjJym0r-XpGtyIsYN1n8oyNNQeqI8jklFd7h9veSYhSLQ5AFD_Pk-joqIuTfDBbJ7tQg=w1352-h923-rw)
Thanks for any feedback!
bp
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Welcome, Bruce. I tried the link, but it requires permission.
Bill, the guitar one
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Except for the headstock shape, it's a dead ringer for a Vantage a friend of mine had in the '70s.
Peter
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My guess would be a Matsumoto factory bass, which were marketed under a number of brands. They made some good instruments back in the day.
But I'd love to see a picture of the back.
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The 3 names I am most familiar with for ex-Alembic builders are:
Becvar
Hyak
Oasis
with other instruments also made by Doug Irwin
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Sorry about the pix needing password. I've got shots of the back as well as the electronics.
I un-blocked the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9ZlZgogdAzzNEFid25KVjBoYU0?usp=sharing
Thanks for the feedback!
I'm guessing the line about any relationship to Alembic was just huffing by the salesman. I paid $450 for it in early '80s... I'm guessing I overpaid and it's not worth even that at this point. It does have great sound, though.
Anyone have a thought on $$? It's time to sell.
Thanks for your time, all!
bp
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Edwin and Cozmik, you guys nailed it!
So, given my model is called XB100 and the model number is only number 53, I wonder if it was an experimental attempt that morphed into Vantage basses... Hmmm.
Matusumoto Oakland:
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/search.php?keywords=oakland&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search
Same style through-body neck and bridge.
Vantage:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282287205291?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
http://www.ebay.com.my/itm/VINTAGE-80S-VANTAGE-BASS-w-CASE-MIJ-MATSUMOTO-ALEMBIC-STYLE-SLAPPER-/191769246719
Same body, bridge, through-body neck.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-80-039-S-VANTAGE-BASS-w-BAG-MATSUMOTO-ALEMBIC-STYLE-ACTIVE-P-J-EMGs-SET-NECK-/191785534945?nma=true&si=mOeG2gP6lm07Vx4D%252BdW5KwbRzsc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Same bridge
https://www.google.com/search?q=Matsumoto+factory&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizyPnvuPnQAhUB3GMKHbNSB00Q_AUICSgC&biw=1745&bih=864#q=Matsumoto+bass&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:Cd24FySiIOgBIjhKonuws7u56J5rYLn6KFHcAZPY1i2oRU-vzG7xFCLETvcAvRhnBQ5jpK7Xve0rg-fgLDIbyvYVIioSCUqie7Czu7noEQM5a7WIRbC9KhIJnmtgufooUdwR0Roee25WjZcqEgkBk9jWLahFTxEhTcktvwNJTCoSCa_1MbvEUIsROEfRsMGa69ZWbKhIJ9wC9GGcFDmMR59_1Q5vCBDZsqEgmkrte97SuD5xFMif1o-SvKvSoSCeAsMhvK9hUiEcVI8Rq3lxPE
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Thanks all... I'm done here. The Alembic connection is a dead end... Indeed, it seems it's a precursor to the Matsumoku Vantage Bass series. Thanks for letting me play through, you guys were great help and saved me a lot of wasted time!
At first I was kinda bummed, some of the Vantages haven't sold for more than $200US, but it looks like there are collectors out there and with a serial number like this, I may end up with a smile on my face after all. The best part, and the part that matters, is that for the 10 or so years that I was a working player, 5-7 days a week, it was a great bass to work on. In the end, it's the playin', that makes for happiness, right?
Cheers!
Bruce Phares
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Right on.
Music brings joy.
Money is just 'stuff'. It usually brings greed into the playing field, then things get ugly.
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It sounds like you got your money's worth. The important thing is that it served you well. And bonus - you can still sell it if you want!
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Forgive if this is the wrong thread... I'm hoping to get some background intel on a bass I bought back in the '80s, and I was told it was made by some folk who had branched off of Alembic. Named "Oakland XB100", it's a long scale, with a serial number of 010053. Passive electronics, 6 point tone selector. I suspect the company didn't last long, as I can't find but one reference online. Great sound, beautiful sustain and bottom, I worked it hard for years before the fusion thing kinda changed up in Seattle. I'm primarily an acoustic player, so I loved the long scale. Getting ready to part with it and have NO idea of value.
Pix are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9ZlZgogdAzzNEFid25KVjBoYU0
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KIJdLdTBJuIQjJym0r-XpGtyIsYN1n8oyNNQeqI8jklFd7h9veSYhSLQ5AFD_Pk-joqIuTfDBbJ7tQg=w1352-h923-rw)
Thanks for any feedback!
bp
Welcome, Bruce. I tried the link, but it requires permission.
Bill, the guitar one