Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: goran on September 11, 2021, 07:58:25 AM
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Hey everyone, I'm just trying to find any info of Alembic Anniversary 5 string, one just showed up and I want to buy it, just I don't see any alembics that are Anniversary with 5 string, how many were made?
I had K-balance 5 string but that body shape just doesn't fit me well, I mean my old Series 1 suits me better
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I think there are two. One quilted maple here in the U.S. #89AM-008 https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=9210.0 and a couple years ago a walnut Anniversary 5-string surfaced in the U.K. I didn't think there was but the one. Mica may know of more.
*here was the thread on AM#107- https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=25499.msg257388#msg257388
Good to hear from you again, Goran. :)
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that's the one, Walnut Anniversary 5-string. Same one that was on EvilBAY.
Wow only two, both were a custom order?
Yea maybe Mica can chip in :)
Hope you are doing good Edward :)
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Custom order, maybe... I mean, we're already into a pretty special Alembic with a 20th Anniversary Model, then it becomes a 5-string, which previously we only knew about one that existed, now it turns out there is another built in the opposite wood recipe'. Brings a poetic balance to things. I'm guessing this bass is around 1990 build (can't quite read the year, but should be) so that would make it #90AM-107.
Couple things about Anniversary Model basses Goran, the Omega-cut body is proportionally a bit smaller than a regular Series I, but in this case being a slightly wider 5-string, it may be about the same size as your bass, or just a bit bigger. My Custom fretless 5-string was patterned after the 20th Anniversary Omega, with some tweaks here and there. It's not a huge difference from my Series I, but it is heavier. Being less hollow, and having a more massive neck beam accounts for the extra weight.
No idea on how many, but some of the AM basses were made in medium-scale (32"). I know for certain #89AM-008 was long-scale. Note that the pickup placement is different on the two. Could be incidental, or could indicate a different scale length... or maybe this was simply the standard location on later models. The woods for AM were: maple top/back/core with purpleheart accents, or walnut top/back/core with vermilion accents. I notice both of the 5-strings have what looks to be 3 purpleheart neck laminates.
I think it's so cool how this one turned up, and it's almost the polar opposite of the other. There can't be too many more. Maybe one of the Mods might move the thread up to Alembic-related posts where it'll catch Mica's eye?
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Here are the pics and small vid that the guy send me, looks really nice.
Wow you have a good eye about pickup spacing, I also notice that logo is on different spot on the headstock.
Hope this link will work:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n5ahng51ifvi9sv/AADw7zbjdDoI9jIaupoRZeuma?dl=0
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That’s a beautiful bass!
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I just got a video, sounds great... waiting to see how we gonna arrange pickup and shipping, since the guy is in London, Brexit and all that.
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Sorry! While this is a rare case where I can tell you we made 200 Anniversary model basses, we didn't track how many in the two wood combinations or how many were 5-strings. I don't think there were any 6-strings, but I can't be 100% sure, brain is old now :)
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Got your email, thanks a lot!
Mica you rule!
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Hey I'm still in a buying mode for this bass, Mica do you maybe have file on this serial number #90AM-107
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So, I'm thinking to pull the plug on this one... I'm gonna leave the Dropbox link here so you can check it all... please let me know if you see any anomalies.. try convince me not to buy it. :)
I will buy it without trying so your eye speciality is really important.
All vids and pic are in this link...
Thank you all
here is a link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n5ahng51ifvi9sv/AADw7zbjdDoI9jIaupoRZeuma?dl=0
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I can't open the Dropbox link, but last I saw, that bass was legitimate, Goran. I hope it works out that you can acquire it.
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Thanks a lot, hope so too... maybe link works now...
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I looked at all the photos and videos. Nice bass. You don’t get a good look at the back of the head where it meets the neck, you might ask for a photo of that, as well as a photo of the inside of the electronics cavity. The placement of the logo seems a little odd for the head shape and in the last video the rose “inlay” at the top of the head is missing. Also, the dark spots on the back are a little odd, but might just be part of the wood grain. Beautiful bass! That’s what I observed. :)
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I hope my Custom 5 with anniversary electronics sounds that good.
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Thanks all, there is a vid that he shows a back of the headstock.... looks pretty slick on that vid.