Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: YamatoJJ on March 22, 2022, 02:18:00 AM
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Thoughts?
https://reverb.com/item/52343350-alembic-series-ii-1978-bubinga?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=52343350
Looks nice and seems at least the pickups swapped…seems HEA-VY! Lol
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The neck pickup are also technically installed incorrectly, however if the owner really wanted them that low down then it is correct.
Hopefully the new pickups are an indication that the noise upgrade has been done.
It is a lovely bass, but optimistically priced and I hope there is some flexibility to make it someone's dream bass.
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And I am glaring at it as often as!
Wish I could hear it on the LowEnd website!
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According to the website the electronics were upgraded by Alembic which means it should be less susceptible to electronic interference. The plastic pointer piece of the pickup selector knob is missing leaving only the insert. This can easily be replaced with the part available in the Alembic Store. All in all the bass looks to be in good condition for its age.
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Good looking bass. But that strap button bothers me. It looks like it pulled out of the original position and then replaced next to it. And the extra one is pretty much useless.
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I'll just say this shop isn't the best when it comes to not being happy with your purchase.
He pushed me to purchase a bass from his website to avoid Reverb and then I paid with Paypal and when I requested a return he acted like I didn't understand bass guitars (I was unhappy with the DS-5 that was provided, since it was hosed and made a high pitched sound when you used it), instead of trying to replace the DS-5 he was like you don't really need it and didn't offer me anything in return for the defective device. He did give me my money back, but he got really upset when you tried to notify Paypal that you were requesting a refund.
I gave Low-end a very low end score on the whole customer satisfaction rating...
YMMV
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Thanks for the input, everyone.
Keith, that was the main thing I wanted to figure out: the electronics being replaced. I hadn’t read the explanation, only looked at the pickups and hoped all the electronics had been replaced: a big savings then, based on what I’ve read here on the site!
dela, the strap button….see, this is why I rely on all of you to tell me what you think, because it reinforces the “can’t buy without playing” adage, huh.
Russ, thanks for the info: used Alembics cost way too much and the condition is questionable when they pop up here in Japan, so I wanted to know what the verdict was on this one.
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Thanks for the input, everyone.
Russ, thanks for the info: used Alembics cost way too much and the condition is questionable when they pop up here in Japan, so I wanted to know what the verdict was on this one.
By this I mean many that are some used here cost a fortune and are in questionable shape: time was they used to look like new.
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The electronics cover doesn't appear right to me. With these photographs, it could be just an illusion similar to the picture of the front body, but it doesn't seem to be the typical brass plate. The screw holes all seem to have a small "crater" around them, as if it was some soft material which bulged when the screws were tightened. I'd also have to see the electronics cavity and underside of cover to check the circuit card before going further, especially given the "as described and photographed" disclaimer by the shop and the experience of Russ...
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The electronics cover doesn't appear right to me. With these photographs, it could be just an illusion similar to the picture of the front body, but it doesn't seem to be the typical brass plate. The screw holes all seem to have a small "crater" around them, as if it was some soft material which bulged when the screws were tightened. I'd also have to see the electronics cavity and underside of cover to check the circuit card before going further, especially given the "as described and photographed" disclaimer by the shop and the experience of Russ...
Looks like protective paper?
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The electronics cover doesn't appear right to me. With these photographs, it could be just an illusion similar to the picture of the front body, but it doesn't seem to be the typical brass plate. The screw holes all seem to have a small "crater" around them, as if it was some soft material which bulged when the screws were tightened. I'd also have to see the electronics cavity and underside of cover to check the circuit card before going further, especially given the "as described and photographed" disclaimer by the shop and the experience of Russ...
Looks like protective paper?
That's what it looks lie to me too. It would not be an uncommon practice to keep it on while machining the plate.
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While I'd agree that the condition of the bass looks okay "in relation to its age" that asking price is far too steep as far as I am concerned.
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Another vote for that being the waxy protective backing paper on the backplate. That stuff is a major PITB to get off if it's been on there long. Perhaps the backplate was replaced along with the electronics work? Given the well-played condition of the rest of the bass, one would expect the backplate to match it.
I think there may be a small headstock repair too... looks well-done.
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Another vote for that being the waxy protective backing paper on the backplate. That stuff is a major PITB to get off if it's been on there long. Perhaps the backplate was replaced along with the electronics work? Given the well-played condition of the rest of the bass, one would expect the backplate to match it.
I think there may be a small headstock repair too... looks well-done.
I agree with your assessment of the brass back plate. Something about the ‘ridden hard, put away wet’ look of that is appealing.
Paul
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Hello, All:
Yes, I’m inclined to think this is the protective film as well: not a dealbreaker in my eyes at all.
My concerns would be the DS-5 power supply and cable, given Russ’ experience, and the neck and strap pins being stable. I will ask the shop owner about all of this.
There was another Series SS in Jazzyvee’s neck of the woods that had a strap pin placed on the horn that I was interested in too…but it got snapped up.
I am mainly excited about it having updated electronics: I only see that as a huge bargain, as long as the power supply’s OK….
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I’m with Hammer on this one. The noise upgrade is a good thing to have on the older vintage basses as it’s one less thing to worry about, plus it can be costly. If i were interested and got it down to a price i was comfortable with, it would be a jeeper and i would get it refinished.
I hope you are able to come to a good decision about it. :D
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Thanks Jazzy: I am thinking real hard on this: if it came down to it and I decide on it, I’d want to ask Alembic to refinish but I can only imagine it’d cost quite a bit…
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Yes, that's a nice looking, well played axe. YamatoJJ, we all understand and are enjoying your dreamy pursuit of the ultimate Alembic. But the price of this one and the idea of shipping it from Tennessee to Japan (if that's even possible) might put this into the "unobtainium" category. Up to you of course but it seems you'd be better served to find a bass over there that you could try out and fall in love with.
Observations: that's the original preamp board with the "flat-pack" opamps mounted on the underside. Those are great but because they are no longer made and they are soldered in place they are not "serviceable" like the socketed components in newer boards. Although I should note I've never had an opamp fail in all my years so that's kind of a moot point.
Further evidence of the factory service is that the pickups are NEW and using adaptors to get into the old board. On the board itself you can see one JFET has been replaced (silver can vs the two blacktopped components) and there are the telltale extra components attached during Ron's circuit tuning. I'm quite sure the brass plate was replaced during that factory tuning because that is unlikely to be the original protective paper from 1978. That likely would peeled right off.
The DS-5 is also newer than 1978 because it has a mono switch.
Regarding the finish, extra strap buttons, etc., I am strictly a function guy and not so much about looks. I bet this bass plays and sounds great just as it is. I'd certainly replace the pickup selector knob and maybe just remove whichever strap button I didn't need. But I think I'd leave the finish in its historic state and just play the heck out of this bass.
Carry on now.
Jimmy J
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THANK YOU JIMMY!
Since meeting my first Alembic, who’d think it’d be such an insane ride?! Lol I have been in contact with the owners of several Alembics, and some said flat out they’re not shipping to Osaka, and the others have asked for prices actually more than for this one, that are not Series electronics. In truth, a new Standard is going for this price; the used Standard I could try, the owner wants to charge the price of a new one for it! That is a dealbreaker, with no excuses. The Japanese market is often the epitome of VERY HIGH demand and VERY SHORT supply. The ones I saw for lower price just weren’t the look for me.
Reverb has this bass able to be shipped here: thing is of course, the tax, which will be high. A Series II with new components at that price in Japan would never happen; I’m almost of the mindset that risk could become a reward, given what it would cost new (completely unobtainable), and the sheer amount of sound possibilities at my disposal: better than going through more instruments that wind up costing as much as just getting this one would have, I think. “Settling” is the worst thing that could happen.
The shop owner has also been very cooperative: we’d talked a while back on another bass and he knows the dealers and Alembic distributor here and has a lot of experience shipping to Japan.
I’d love to see it refinished, but that would also be unrealistic IMO with logistics and costs.
You all must think I’m insane by now: yep, I have gone Alembic crazy but what fun it is!
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Remain calm and thunder on, the right one will come along. :)
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Hi, rv: THANK YOU!
And thanks to everyone for enduring this nut’s OCD! Lol
Wait and thunder on is all I can do: getting something unplayed and no idea of what will come is just too costly.
No sooner had I answered JimmyJ and gone to my bass lesson, had the music shop I often frequent here in Osaka tell me about a 2014 signature and a 2008 Series I that I would be able to try out that an upright jazz bassist and a collector respectively were possibly looking to sell!
Wow, guys, all of you are sending some great mojo this way. Thank you for being so supportive.l: I am truly blessed to have found this forum.
Soooo, if I encounter these basses please be ready with the opinions when I post! lol
A great Sunday to everyone!