Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Fun Stories => Topic started by: jazzyvee on March 18, 2019, 11:57:32 PM
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Reading the newbie threads this morning, it made me think about how long I have been an alembic owner,
and thought it might be interesting to find out how long our individual connections are with the instruments and who are the seasoned veterans in ownership terms. :-)
Here goes.
First Alembic Acquisition: 2002
Most recent Acquisition: June 2018
Total length of ownership 17yrs.
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There's a small handful of members who must be at 45 at the least.
First acquisition,: 1994. (Do I get a Silver medal?)
Most recent acquisition: 2016.
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24. bought my epic in 1995 in Birmingham (the bass centre).
since then, I custom ordered my Rogue in 2004, received February 2005 Rogue for Graeme (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7050.msg75657#msg75657)
and my Balance k was originally commissioned in 2007 by Mike 'the Ho' but he was wanting more swirly cocobolo so I took it over part way through the build and received it june 2007. Mike's Custom Signature Bass (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7613.msg87570#msg87570)
Graeme
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Coming up on 5 years.
It's not very long in the Grand Scheme, but I can honestly say that they've been the most enlightening. I was just realizing the other night at a gig, at 49 years old, (and staring down 50!) I'm still learning new things, playing patterns and sequences today that I wouldn't have thought of just a few months ago.
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I think it is just over 30 years with the Distillate. Had a zebrawood Exploiter along side the Distillate for about 5 years. Regret selling that... actually I regret selling all of my instruments, except maybe for the Gibson Victory Artist - it just didn’t have a good sound.
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My first and only Alembic (so far!) was purchased new in 2011. But I'd been playing bass for at least 40 years before that! New beginnings...
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I got my first one in 1983. So I'm at 36 years now. Had 5 custom made. Last one built was a Customized King Deluxe in 2013. It even has "Will and Alembic 30 Tears" engraved on Truss Rod Cover Plate.
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25 years
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"Seasoned" is a kind way to say "ancient". Ha!
44 years here. I moved from a Gibson Triumph bass to a long scale Alembic (4-string) series I in 1975. The 5-string happened in 1976 and I never looked back. But I'm not a very good customer because my most recent Series instruments were built in 1989. :D
Jimmy J
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Played my first Alembic back in 1976 - the other guitar played in the band had a Series 1 long scale. Bought my first, an Electrum, in 2004. Currently have my custom Further, a 1976 Series 1 Medium scale guitar, 1977 Series 1 long scale 12 string, Old #10, and several instruments with Alembic electronics.
Bill, tgo
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Started my Alembic relationship with an F-2B around 1980-81. My first Alembic bass was a 1982 Distillate purchased in 1983 which I no longer have. I got my 1978 Series I five-string sometime in late 1984. Recently purchased a second Series 5-string that was built in 2016 so it looks like 36 years total of owning/playing Alembic instruments for me.
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I think it's one and half year ago, my first was Series 1 from 1980... so I have first and last purchase at the same date... ha! beat that :)
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January 22, 1996. Purchased my four string Essence used from a really good bass player in Charlotte. To that point, it was far and away the best bass I had ever played.
I didn't know it at the time, but that turned out to be a life changing event; for which I am very grateful.
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15-years here
2004: 1983 Distillate
2012: 2012 Custom Signature Deluxe
2013: 2008 SC Signature Standard
2014: 2003 Europa 6-String
2015: 1983 Standard Point Series I
2016: 2000 SC Series I
2017: 1980 Standard Point fretless Series I
As you might notice things were pretty much under control until 2012. That's when I had a Further made for my son's college graduation and made the mistake of visiting the mothership and "catchin the fever."
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2 basses in 1977, so (whipping out calculator) 42 years. Wow...
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My first Alembic is a 87 Spoiler that i purchased in 2003, so 16 years now.
Was my only Alembic until i got a Orion in June and a Elan in October last year.
Have a feeling i’m not finished with my collection yet ;D
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Just realizing... In a few months I will get to 10 years of being the caretaker for my beloved Alembic (and also being member of this wonderful club!!!). Hoooray!!!!
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Not quite up to JimmyJ, but, this is my 41st year with my Series I.
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Just 0.25 years. But I’m pretty well hooked on my ‘77 S1.
The guys in my group like the sound, twice weekly Pilates helps, and I’m already debating whether I should save for a 5-string Signature or start building a rack mount Alembic system.
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210 days. Counting from my ownership from 8/22/2018.
Alembic Level: Noob
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I bought my first Alembic in 1989, it was a series 1. The second was an Elan 1989 that I bought on the second hand market. The third was a Rouge qlsb4. I’ve just bought another Elan, because I love jazz bass style and Elan is the best jazz bass style on the world, in my opinion.
My aim is buy , near in the future , a series one short scale or a distillate..but is very difficult in Italy.
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I'm just coming up on 5 years with my first and (currently) only Alembic - '86 Distillate long scale. I'd WANTED one since about 1981 though. :D
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All the years combined, they melt into a dream...
:)
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First Alembic Acquisition: 1981 Distillate
Second Alembic: 1989: Elan 6 (Bass)
Most recent Acquisition: February 2011 Series Custom
Total length of ownership 38 yrs.
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I bought (and still own) my Series I in 1981. Let's see.... that's 38 years. Yikes.
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Picure, great response. That is how to OWN an Alembic.
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It has been 41 years for me. I have been having multiple Alembics since I bought my first new Alembic in 1978. It was serial number 78 1058. I wonder where it is now? Purpleheart top and back, mahogany core, zebrawood veneers. Paid $1500.00 for it brand new.
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How's your Katrina damaged Series 1 coming along Michael? They showed me at the shop in 2012 and said there were still salts oozing out of the grain. Haven't seen an update on the FTC thread for a few years.
Graeme
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Graeme,
They still have it and are in holding waiting for the salt to finish oozing out. But last I talked to Mica she said it seemed to be getting better.
Michael
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First Alembic July 2008 MK Signature Deluxe
Second Alembic 2009 fretless Europa signature electronics
Third Alembic 2012 Series one Europa Body style
Fourth Alembic 2014 Series two fretless Europa body style
1&2 spend a lot of time in the Theater and 3&4 spend a lot of time in Church
So, 11 years total..Times flies
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I guess it depends on how you calculate it. I got my first Alembic product (an F-2B from the SF days which I still use all the time) in 1988, followed by an F-1X shortly after, a Series I in 1994, but sold it in 2009, a shorty in 2011, but sold that after Xander's medical emergencies, but have had a Starfire with Alembic guts since 2010. And also F-1Xs and an SF-2 for at least a couple of decades.
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Bought my first Spoiler off the rack in 1983 from Sam Ash on 48th st. I currently own 9 basses and a Skylark guitar as well as 1 Alembic equipped strat.
So that's 3 custom 6 string Spoilers, one custom 7str Spoiler, 4 custom 5str. Excel shape basses and a Custom Vector shaped 5 in white. I've sold or traded: a Spoiler Exploiter 4, Spoiler 4, SC Deluxe 4, Distillate 5, 2 Essence 5's, An Epic 5, Elan 6, and an Elan 5. Also had 2 F1x and 2 SF units along the way. Thank you Mica, Susan, Ron, Mary and all the folks at Alembic for the great service and friendship over the years, 36 and counting! Someday I'll get that Series 2 before I check out completely!
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I bought my first Alembic, an Orion 5 string, in late 2004. That quickly turned into a Brown Bass that was my main bass for years. In 2006 I received my custom 4 string Orion fretless and in 2010 my main bass became a Series 1 short scale small body Series 1. So I guess its about 15 years of ownership. It doesn't feel like it has been that long other than when I was
patiently waiting for a custom to be delivered.
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My first Alembic was in 2009, a custom built Dragon Wing. I had never seen or heard an Alembic in person prior to receiving it. Hooked.
The collection part began after I sent the DW back for a minor repair and the neck was broken in transit. While awaiting its eventual replacement, I bought a Series II from a collector in San Diego (JazzyVee has its Twin) and they kept arriving ever after.
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Oh, man, now I realized that is already a 21 year's union... surpassed my own (broken) marriage.
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I purchased my (used) '77 Series I long scale in 1981. My only Alembic, still have it. It's a beast.
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First one in 2003 (a medium scale Zebrawood Exploiter). I’ve owned a Dragon’s Wing, a Europa, an Epic, a Spyder limited edition, and still have my ‘92 Essence, ‘06 SC Sig Standard, and my custom Series II Entwistle replica.
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Hi Alan; nice to see you again!
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Bought my first Alembic on eBay which was a 1982 Distillate, almost 6 years ago in 2013. Been hooked ever since.
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Distillate, in Bubinga, 1984; Serieis I, 5-string, in Coco Bolo, 1992.
Sold the Distillate shortly after I got the Series I, since I no longer used it...
so 35 years, total.
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I bought my '85 Exploiter from Steve's Music in Toronto in May of 1987 (it had been hanging in the store for quite some time!). That puts me at 32 years and counting.
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January 22, 1996. Purchased my four string Essence used from a really good bass player in Charlotte. To that point, it was far and away the best bass I had ever played.
I didn't know it at the time, but that turned out to be a life changing event; for which I am very grateful.
Oh. Absolutely .In 94' I was in search of a preamp and was shown an SF-2 Superfilter. While the salesperson was fetching the SF-2 out of storage I pulled a new Epic of the wall and within a minute of playing it I new it was going home with me as well. From that moment on my bass playing life was never the same and for the better.
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I bought my first Alembic in 1995. I've had one ever since.
Bones
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I bought my Further in 2006, so about 14 years. Still going strong - still seems like it is new!
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Bought my first (used) Alembic just 5 years ago. Since then have acquired three more, culminating with a Series 1 medium scale (thanks, John-John) which joined the family about 2.5 years ago. Now looking for an affordable 5 string Series bass (is there such a thing?).
So I'm a noob.
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I bought my Distillate 82D2091 as a used instrument from a Guitar Center store in Santa Ana, CA in late 1982.
Not sure how it was used since it was the year it was made, but because it was used I got it for about the price of a new Spoiler at that time. It is a much nicer instrument than a spoiler.
Bird's eye maple. A couple gig photos from my younger and rowdier days. I still own it. It is the last bass I've needed to buy. So I've had this bass for 38 years now.
I'm looking forward to getting the electronics back, getting a re-fret and putting a lot more time on it...
eso
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Yessir... that's a fashion statement right there... birdseye maple and black leather britches. ;D
Welcome to the Club here, eso, great story and pics. Please post us some more in the Showcase when you get your refretted Distillate back.
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“... the last bass I needed to buy...”
I understand that statement. ;)
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First Alembic was a custom Rogue that I took delivery of in January of 2004. Then I "had to have" a backup so I ordered a custom Excel that I took delivery of in December of 2004. Then the itch to experience a Series HI took hold, so I ordered one that I took delivery of in March of 2006. So, It's 16 years of Alembic ownership for me, and I still have them all!
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First Alembic in 1993... still have it! A Series I 4 string. The gateway drug...
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2015: Spyder - No. 26 out of 50. So I become an Alembic club member then.
Once „Alembicised“ that way I couldn’t resist reaching out for a five-string on the same level and so it came to
2017: Five string Essence in Moonburst with Orion electronic
Both beauties are starring as Sun (Spyder) and Moon (Essence) in my video clip „Sun - Moon - One!“ on YouTube:
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Only 11 so far, but have been 11 wonderful years! :)
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27. Got my first one used in 1993. Just ordered my next one and am waiting with a watery mouth for the first wood pictures...
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Love the video, Martin! 🌞🌛😊🎶
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Coming up on 6 years I think... yep, June 14th, 2014. Life ain't been the same since.
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Back in July 2008, I started my Alembic journey - "What a Long Strange Trip It's Been"!
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8562.msg100210#msg100210 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8562.msg100210#msg100210)