Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: RPM1964 on July 19, 2019, 05:37:35 AM

Title: (x) Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 19, 2019, 05:37:35 AM
Hi, Getting this pretty thing ready to go. Got on Ebay from a shop in Colorado who got it from someone in Hawaii. His (Hawaii guy) original post said he was second owner so any info or build specs would be awesome!

Thanks!
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W700GUSA
Post by: lembic76450 on July 19, 2019, 07:48:10 AM
I believe that this might be your bass.  The stamped serial numbers sometimes are not as
clear as they could be. 
I also have a '93 Epic, though the official release date was 1994.

http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/17100.html?1110445434
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W700GUSA
Post by: jwright9 on July 19, 2019, 08:25:17 AM
The last digit is a 6, not a G.

Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W700GUSA
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 19, 2019, 11:09:41 AM
I'm not aware of an earlier Epic number listed here. Cool W code!
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W700GUSA
Post by: lembic76450 on July 19, 2019, 11:25:40 AM
I'm thinking that the first zero might be an eight.  7006 would be an early '92 serial number.
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W700GUSA
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 19, 2019, 11:42:07 AM
I'm thinking that the first zero might be an eight.  7006 would be an early '92 serial number.

I agree, and add that 93W7806 would still be the lowest Epic number around here. There are a handful of 93W79XX numbers that I sort of assumed were first-run, but clearly there is a Hawaiian ancestor!

I'll wait anxiously to see what this one really is. :D
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7806 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 20, 2019, 04:35:03 AM
HI, I hope this loads, had to resize. Pic of the SN on my Epic
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7806 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 20, 2019, 04:36:04 AM
Thanks for the above info and interest! My parts are on the way and I'm chomping at the bit! Kind of neat there was a request possibly back in 05!
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7806 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 20, 2019, 05:29:07 AM
Boy, somebody in the shop ate their Wheaties the morning before they stamped the serial number in that one... or like my Dad says, "used a bigger hammer".  ;D


I vote 93W7906. Still a very, very early Epic. Very, very cool.  8)
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7806 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 20, 2019, 06:36:49 AM
Hey edwardofhuncote! I think you may be on to something. Dark and cloudy today so I turned off the lights and went with a shallow angle flashlight and can see this. So it looks indeed like a 9 with the extra contrast!
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 20, 2019, 07:37:06 AM
I'll hush up and let Mica do the real detective work now, Rich.  ;D 

Alembic loves all their instruments equally, and didn't necessarily track these things, but I'm just fascinated with minutiae. I always wonder; which one was the first? Another may show up with a lower number, but (as far as I know) there isn't one listed here.

You get to be Alpha-Epic for now.  :)
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: lembic76450 on July 20, 2019, 12:18:52 PM
Greg,  if you check here, you will see that there are a few '93 Epics.  It would seem a few early ones
wound up in Hawaii.

http://members.ziggo.nl/alembicserialnumbers/alembic/10.htm#93

Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 20, 2019, 01:41:53 PM
Greg,  if you check here, you will see that there are a few '93 Epics.  It would seem a few early ones
wound up in Hawaii.

http://members.ziggo.nl/alembicserialnumbers/alembic/10.htm#93

I wonder if the 7806 was the same since the SN is so hard to read. I wonder if both come back with a birds eye top?

Still, cool list!
Thanks!
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 21, 2019, 02:57:27 AM
Greg,  if you check here, you will see that there are a few '93 Epics.  It would seem a few early ones
wound up in Hawaii.

http://members.ziggo.nl/alembicserialnumbers/alembic/10.htm#93 (http://members.ziggo.nl/alembicserialnumbers/alembic/10.htm#93)

I wonder if the 7806 was the same since the SN is so hard to read. I wonder if both come back with a birds eye top?

Still, cool list!
Thanks!


Ida-know... it's sometimes fascinating what Mica turns up in these searches. It does say 7806 is the first in that list... could be someone misread it long ago. Or just another coincidence. :D

I keep forgetting to bookmark that list! So there are at least some 78xx W codes. Good to remember. ;)
Title: Re: Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: AlexP on July 22, 2019, 02:28:18 PM
Hi Rich,

Here's what I found in the instrument file for your bass:

serial number: 93W7906
model number: WLB4
top: Flame Koa
accent: Maple pinstripe
body: Mahogany
neck: 3-piece Maple
scale: 34" long
fingerboard: Ebony
pickups: MXY4
controls: volume, pan, bass, treble, mono output
finish: satin natural polyurethane (oil-look)
originally made for: Hame's Music
birthday: September 21, 1993

This is everything.
Title: Re: (x) Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 23, 2019, 12:39:21 PM
Thanks Alex!

I think we may reading the SN wrong if that came up flame Koa. The SN is marred on the one digit that I posted earlier on this thread, I'd bet on birdseye before anything else though. Everything else looks like it would be right but I think the topwood is wrong. At least according to any Koa I've seen! :)

Thank you again for the help!
Title: Re: (x) Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: David Houck on July 23, 2019, 07:43:08 PM
Rich; can you post a picture of the top?
Title: Re: (x) Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: mica on July 23, 2019, 07:57:35 PM
I saw the top wood you posted on the other thread (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24875.0), and I'm certain this bass is actually Koa.

I think the serial number was originally stamped incorrectly - hence the heavy handed stamp in lieu of white-out.
Title: Re: (x) Request for Epic 4 #93W7906 USA [was: 93W700GUSA]
Post by: RPM1964 on July 24, 2019, 05:21:56 AM
Hi Mica,

Thanks for the followup! Funky grain compared to my old Carvin Koa! Still cleaning it up and hoping to hear back from my emails to service soon. Can't wait to break it out with the guys!

You have all been awesome!

Rich