Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: Songdog on October 21, 2025, 03:28:17 PM
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https://reverb.com/item/92697412-1977-alembic-series-1-natural
Small body, looks like short scale but that's not specified. Definitely has seen some gig time! "Missing its Alembic emblem on the headstock and inlay on the third fret.... Other signs of wear include craquelure on the finish and a little delamination on the neck and headstock, looks like some light repair was done where neck meets headstock; third pickup missing two tiny screws; small gouge in the finish next to the second pickup." Actually, the screws are wrong on the neck pickup, could be right on the bridge pickup. The delamination at the headstock seems a little concerning, especially in the context of the condition of the finish near there.
After seeing some of the amazing rescues/restorations various people have posted, I thought maybe someone would be interested.
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That hurts to see it in such (not) good condition.
Hopefully someone will restore it.
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A few things spring to mind.
The nut looks thicker than normal, the bridge saddle spacing looks off possibly saddles replaced in the wrong places. Other than that i like the natural road worn appearance. Shame about the missing badge and inlay.
👍🏾🫣
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It is in my hometown, so I went to take a look. I brought a power supply with me, and tried it out. I was pleasantly surprised that the electronics worked, although a little noisy. I did not try to dial out the hum. The bass could use a fret dress, but played ok.
The de-lamination on the headstock seemed to be just that, and not a break. I tried flexing it, and seemed pretty solid there. But there are other spots along the edge of the headstock that were de-laminating as well. There was an additonal screw hole for a strap button that someone added. It was located in the upper cutaway in the core of the bass. An odd spot for sure!
I passed on it, it was just a little too rough. It would need to go back to Alembic for the logo. While it's there you may as well get the missing inlay replaced, refinished, etc. There was so much wear in the wood between the 2 pickups I do not believe that it could be successfully repaired. I think to fix it, the top would need to be replaced.
The screws on the pickups were just as described. Speaking of screws, one of the screws for the battery compartment was broken off. It would have to be drilled and tapped out.
I think that the bass could be used as is, but I couldn't. That finish was just too rough. I already have a bass in similar condition that hopefully I will send back to Alembic for a refurb in 2026.
Michael
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I already have a bass in similar condition that hopefully I will send back to Alembic for a refurb in 2026.
Michael
Speaking of you sending basses back for repair, Michael, what ever happened with the Katrina-damaged one you sent?
Peter
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Later on the ad seems to say 'Persuader" with a pic of a Persuader for sale? Interesting bass, needs some overall TLC. I wonder how the frets are.
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It is in my hometown, so I went to take a look. I brought a power supply with me, and tried it out. I was pleasantly surprised that the electronics worked, although a little noisy. I did not try to dial out the hum. The bass could use a fret dress, but played ok.
The de-lamination on the headstock seemed to be just that, and not a break. I tried flexing it, and seemed pretty solid there. But there are other spots along the edge of the headstock that were de-laminating as well. There was an additonal screw hole for a strap button that someone added. It was located in the upper cutaway in the core of the bass. An odd spot for sure!
I passed on it, it was just a little too rough. It would need to go back to Alembic for the logo. While it's there you may as well get the missing inlay replaced, refinished, etc. There was so much wear in the wood between the 2 pickups I do not believe that it could be successfully repaired. I think to fix it, the top would need to be replaced.
The screws on the pickups were just as described. Speaking of screws, one of the screws for the battery compartment was broken off. It would have to be drilled and tapped out.
I think that the bass could be used as is, but I couldn't. That finish was just too rough. I already have a bass in similar condition that hopefully I will send back to Alembic for a refurb in 2026.
Michael
Thanks for the info! Very helpful. I submitted an offer that I thought was fair based on all the known issues.
Refinish - ~$1500+
New Emblem/logo $$ (I'll make an educated guess of at least $250 for that, probably wrong)
Inlay replaced - $$ ??
Possible neck repair - $$ ??
Electronics upgrade - ?
Shipping back and forth - ~$300
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Peter,
I have not checked on it a while. I may have to give them a call.
Michael
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I guess I'm not as upset about some honest play wear on an instrument that's nearly a half century old and has obviously not spent that time in a case under the bed. Decades of playing in Nawlins, if only that bass could tell some stories!....
I'd be most concerned about the delamination around the headstock. The logo and inlay can be replaced, the frets can be leveled, if the electronics are all working I'd play it happily and make up stories to go with the wear. (I'm sure ChatGPT could hallucinate some for me.)
But the repairs are beyond my tools and skills, and I have too many projects anyway. And no LEDs. I'm holding out for LEDs....