Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => For Sale & Trade => Topic started by: welovecats on April 23, 2022, 04:43:51 PM

Title: Series I Bass 76-214 discussion moved from unrelated thread
Post by: welovecats on April 23, 2022, 04:43:51 PM
Also, I just bought 76 214. Can’t decide whether or not to refinish. Had a chat with Mica the other day, she was incredible. We think the top and back are purple heart. She’s going to look for info.
Title: Re: [SOLD] Series I Bass 76-270
Post by: rv_bass on April 23, 2022, 05:47:25 PM
That’s a nice bass you have.  I’d say Purple Heart for the top in your photo.  Not sure about the body core wood, looks a little light with a dark grain, so maybe something other than mahogany.  You might want to start a post in the showcase section under Series I.    Congrats on your new to you bass! 

Title: Re: [SOLD] Series I Bass 76-270
Post by: gtrguy on April 24, 2022, 11:04:38 AM
I believe purple heart if refinished turns back into a beautiful more red color.
Title: Re: [SOLD] Series I Bass 76-270
Post by: welovecats on April 24, 2022, 12:25:42 PM
I believe purple heart if refinished turns back into a beautiful more red color.

One concern is that after sanding off the finish, it is possible that some of the crazing marks may
still show on the underlying wood, due to air getting through the cracks. The bass plays and sounds amazing.
I’ll spend some time with it before deciding anything. They are backed up at Alembic with refinish requests from Covid era anyway!

Title: Re: Series I Bass 76-214 discussion moved from unrelated thread
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 28, 2022, 11:22:49 AM
That’s a nice bass you have.  I’d say Purple Heart for the top in your photo.  Not sure about the body core wood, looks a little light with a dark grain, so maybe something other than mahogany.  You might want to start a post in the showcase section under Series I.    Congrats on your new to you bass! 


It looks lighter than mahogany to me, too; maybe oak?  Cherry?  Poplar?

As to the refin, that's a tough call.  If it were from "relicing" or other abuse, I'd say go for it - especially as things like that don't seem to hurt value on Alembics like it does on other "vintage" instruments - but that looks honest playing wear, which (while subopitmal) is a whole 'nother smoke.

But congrats on the score, welove; beautiful fiddle!

Peter (who also loves cats - especially barbecued......)
Title: Re: [SOLD] Series I Bass 76-270
Post by: Bob_Ross on April 28, 2022, 07:15:42 PM
I believe purple heart if refinished turns back into a beautiful more red color.

Not sure what happens to purpleheart "if refinished" -- wouldn't that depend entirely on how it was "refinished"? -- but I do know that purpleheart if not refinished will eventually turn from its original purple/violet to a rather pedestrian brown.
Title: Re: Series I Bass 76-214 discussion moved from unrelated thread
Post by: hammer on April 29, 2022, 04:28:51 AM
From I remember, awhile back (several years ago) Alembic refinished a club members purpleheart Hyak. The result was stunning.
Title: Re: Series I Bass 76-214 discussion moved from unrelated thread
Post by: welovecats on April 29, 2022, 10:18:16 AM
Hi everybody, I started a new thread on this over in Showcase the other day, as it’s not for sale.
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=26988.0 (https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=26988.0)
On that thread, I found an old post with the info card: