Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: Mark VL on August 31, 2021, 11:23:28 AM

Title: (x) 2013 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: Mark VL on August 31, 2021, 11:23:28 AM
I just bought a MKD 5 string. She's a beauty in 5A Quilted Maple, continuous wood back plates, neck LEDs, gold plated hardware and inlayed Alembic logo with mother of pearl and abalone set into headstock. I bought it from a real standup guy and I have the history of the 2 previous owners.

I have the build sheet which lists the Date Completed as 7-29-13, however the serial number indicated it's a 2014 model. It's not that big of a deal, but I'm just curious about the serial number not starting with 14 and not 13. Thanks!
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: adriaan on August 31, 2021, 12:15:30 PM
First of all congrats! Sounds like a marvellous bass, looking forward to some pictures!


Sounds like the serial number is without a year in front of the model initials - I have a bass like that too. As long as the buildsheet matches the instrument details, the Date Completed should be correct.
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: adriaan on August 31, 2021, 12:19:24 PM
Ah, this one! (https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=25273.msg253065#msg253065)
Suggests it's a 2015 build
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: Mark VL on August 31, 2021, 12:39:40 PM
Quote from: adriaan on August 31, 2021, 12:15:30 PM
First of all congrats! Sounds like a marvellous bass, looking forward to some pictures!


Sounds like the serial number is without a year in front of the model initials - I have a bass like that too. As long as the buildsheet matches the instrument details, the Date Completed should be correct.

Thanks adriaan,

It is an awesome bass. I'm getting some proper pictures of it this weekend. The build sheet does match the instrument details.
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: Mark VL on August 31, 2021, 12:44:07 PM
Quote from: adriaan on August 31, 2021, 12:19:24 PM
Ah, this one! (https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=25273.msg253065#msg253065)
Suggests it's a 2015 build

Yes, I bought it from Paul. Great guy. He was mistaken. He told me he thought it was a 14 or 15 but when he found the build sheet it confirmed a 13 build date. To me, it doesn't really matter if it's a 13, 14 or 15...I was just curious about the date completed being different than the serial number date. 
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: jazzyvee on August 31, 2021, 04:09:33 PM
Hi Mark, good to see you here, we spoke about this bass on Facebook. 👍🏾
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: Mark VL on August 31, 2021, 04:18:51 PM
Hi jazzyvee,

Thanks for the welcome as well as your insight on FB. It's good to be back in the Alembic family again!
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: rv_bass on August 31, 2021, 04:25:24 PM
Beautiful bass, congratulations! :)
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: garyhead on August 31, 2021, 04:32:52 PM
That truly IS a sight to behold!  congrats.....
Title: Re: 2013 or 2014 Mark King Deluxe 5 string MK14335
Post by: mica on January 21, 2022, 04:11:23 PM
You've got all the details from the build sheet, but it was modified in 2016 to add these features:

Paul is a great guy - I'm sure he took excellent care of this bass until it found its way to you.