Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: lbpesq on July 10, 2018, 03:52:14 PM

Title: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: lbpesq on July 10, 2018, 03:52:14 PM: Check this out!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Modified-1967-Guild-Starfire-Bass-ll-Restore-Rebuild-Neck-Project-Rare/253740128679?hash=item3b141719a7:g:sEMAAOSwUqBbQ4JR
Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 10, 2018, 04:43:42 PM: Now there's something you don't see much! It'll need some fixin' up, but it's mostly there. 8)
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: David Houck on July 10, 2018, 08:37:46 PM: Would like to see this one restored.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: pauldo on July 11, 2018, 06:15:44 AM: Oooh!
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: moonliner on July 11, 2018, 12:20:18 PM: Oh dear..... I .... I ..... want this......
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 11, 2018, 01:56:57 PM: I'm in. Hope the bidding doesn't get too astronomical.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: lbpesq on July 11, 2018, 03:18:39 PM: Edwin, I've been thinking about it, but if you're bidding, I'll stay on the sidelines. It would be nice to see this go to someone who can really appreciate it. Good luck.

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: moonliner on July 11, 2018, 04:27:15 PM: As stated earlier, in a daze of joy..... I would like this too
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: sonicus on July 11, 2018, 06:55:44 PM: I started two Guild Starfire projects in the 1970s. I sold the one with the translucent trapezoidal pickups in 1978 however I spoke with the current owner recently about the instrument. The work was done by Alembic, George Mundy and Doug Irwin . I still own the mahogany instrument with the Alembic bridge and tailpiece. __I am considering getting the new Alembic replacement pickups and electronics for the mahogany instrument if it can be done without cutting an access panel in the back . I would opt for an external power source as well on that instrument.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 11, 2018, 08:17:10 PM: Wolf, why no back door? Seems like an eminently reasonable way to go, especially in the aid of shielding everything.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: moonliner on July 11, 2018, 08:24:05 PM: Those are beautiful instruments.
It will be interesting to see how this auction goes. I would dearly love it, but it may get too dear
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: sonicus on July 11, 2018, 09:18:44 PM: Edwin , I have owned this bass since I was about 16 . It was a gift from my Mother at the time . I will not cut access panels in this one . At this time it has very early HI-A pickups ( Bartolini) installed . At one time it had the original Guild / Hagstrom Bi Sonics but the previous owner over hot rodded them. I sold those back around 1978 as well when I sold the maple top Starfire , The Potentiometers inside are the very large old Allen Bradley type that were common hi end such units in the 1970s. Those huge units fit through the F-holes .If by chance Alembic Activator electronics can be fitted in through the F- Holes then that would be swell . If not I will settle with just a small buffer preamp circuit that will fit to accommodate the new Alembic Starfire replacement pickups . I will settle with a passive tone circuit / capacitor type. I have an Alembic Super Filter in a rack format anyway . For power to the interior electronics / buffer preamp I would consider a TRS cable with one hot wire for the 9VDC to the buffer preamp , a single mono output from the second positive wire and a common ground wire . I have read about that working in some cases with some active electronics . :) . This is all just my brain storming at this time anyway . I actually have been able to obtain 2 full sets of the Guild Starfire reissue pickups along with the router templates . They are not quite the same as the original Bisonics or the Fred Hammon Dark Stars or even the Curtis Novak units . They might be interesting experimental units for direct attachment of a buffer preamp however. Like Mr.Lesh had on his modified Gibson EB0 :) .
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 12, 2018, 12:20:46 AM: That all sounds great! My first bass was a Gibson EB-2D that I put Bartolinis in along with a Rex Bogue Ballz Deluxe. It was crazy getting it all through the f-holes, along with 2 batteries. When it worked, it sounded great.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 15, 2018, 11:18:58 AM: Well, I've been knocked out of the running. I don't know whether to be dismayed or relieved. $1600 seems like a lot for an instrument that essentially needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. My fantasy was to send it back to Santa Rosa for a completely new neck and fingerboard, bridge, and rebuild of the electronics.

Oh well, it's far more responsible not to spend the money.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: Zut8083 on July 15, 2018, 03:41:52 PM: I'm sorry, Edwin. I was rooting for you to win. There will certainly be another opportunity to snag a different cool bass.

Don't fret. :)
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 15, 2018, 03:48:13 PM: Looks like a money pit to me.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: rv_bass on July 15, 2018, 04:44:13 PM: I wonder if it was a victim of hurricane Katrina
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 15, 2018, 05:32:27 PM: Quote from: rv_bass on July 15, 2018, 04:44:13 PM
I wonder if it was a victim of hurricane Katrina

That is a very good guess, Rob... I wouldn't be a bit surprised. The way that poor thing is coming apart, there's definitely been some moisture and heat.

Realistically, I guess somebody is just buying a serviceable body and some electronics. Mica's quote in the description seems a little encouraging that at least they'll work.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 15, 2018, 10:38:33 PM: No fretting. I actually have a really cool Starfire with Alembicness that sounds wonderful. It makes more sense for me to get a medium scale 5 string solid body.

Thanks for the thoughts!
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: Zut8083 on July 16, 2018, 09:56:27 AM: Edwin, I am glad there is no lost sleep about this. So, to avoid any further fretting, are you a fretless fan, or will this medium 5 solid body, be "dressed" to kill? Ok, no more awful fret puns.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 16, 2018, 11:13:33 AM: Quote from: Zut8083 on July 16, 2018, 09:56:27 AM
Edwin... or will this medium 5 solid body, be "dressed" to kill? Ok, no more awful fret puns.

Zut, I think Edwin is referring to the Persuader/Distillate I am selling.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183323587872
(https://www.ebay.com/itm/183323587872)
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: Zut8083 on July 16, 2018, 11:55:10 AM: It's surely a strong possibility.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 16, 2018, 03:24:19 PM: Quote from: jwright9 on July 16, 2018, 11:13:33 AM
Quote from: Zut8083 on July 16, 2018, 09:56:27 AM
Edwin... or will this medium 5 solid body, be "dressed" to kill? Ok, no more awful fret puns.

Zut, I think Edwin is referring to the Persuader/Distillate I am selling.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183323587872
(https://www.ebay.com/itm/183323587872)

:-)

Not necessarily. In a perfect world, it would have a cocobolo top and SII electronics, or at least MXY pickups. But, the world is almost never perfect.

We shall see...
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 16, 2018, 07:53:51 PM: And it's gone. I wonder if someone here got it.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 17, 2018, 09:24:19 AM: This got me to thinking...

Maybe if I pulled out the electronics of my 5 string and roughed it up, it would sell for more.

:o
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: edwin on July 17, 2018, 09:59:37 PM: Hah!
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 18, 2018, 07:45:50 AM: .
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 18, 2018, 08:37:22 AM: Quote from: edwin on July 16, 2018, 07:53:51 PM
And it's gone. I wonder if someone here got it.

YEs, I bought it. I am going to light it on fire. I will be sure to take video.
I may team up with Zut on this one and get the meat thermometer involved somehow.

After it is set ablaze, I will post it again for sale where it will probably sell for even more.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: Zut8083 on July 18, 2018, 08:49:43 AM: Jon,

I bet you're kidding, but check this instructables page; it's better than the meat thermometer. And it is cheap, simple, and actually works, apparently with a little bit of silicone caulk and something to secure it to the wood, even to mike burning wood. You can grab a TRS jack/XLR mount for a couple of bucks on eBay. But I figure you are joking, so this is mostly just for confirmation that your joke has been verified as a performance art piece.

So, that's like twice the "winning", right?

https://www.instructables.com/id/Balanced-piezo-contact-microphones/
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 18, 2018, 09:02:55 AM: I am not worried about the audio quality.
The visual will be sufficient.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: Zut8083 on July 18, 2018, 11:06:25 AM: That's true, you could dub the whole thing.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 18, 2018, 11:23:20 AM: The soundtrack will be this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCdUfAE5Rz8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCdUfAE5Rz8)

I have never done a live stream/webcast before but I think I will try it of this occasion.
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: Zut8083 on July 18, 2018, 03:29:48 PM: Are you going to hide your face to keep your identity protected while you destroy this modded guild?
Title: Re: Here's Something Cool From the Early Days
Post by: jwright9 on July 19, 2018, 09:55:13 AM: No need to hide what is already known.