Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: SubDubba Bubba on July 19, 2010, 12:26:49 PM

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: SubDubba Bubba on July 19, 2010, 12:26:49 PM

I've recently acquired this 1981 Series 1 bass. What can you tell me about this beauty?

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: adriaan on July 19, 2010, 01:53:00 PM

We were having some fun with puns (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=11608) when it was up on eBay last December. The link to eBay no longer shows any info, but the thread says it is a 32 (medium) scale, large body Series I in zebrawood.

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: SubDubba Bubba on August 12, 2010, 08:28:08 AM

Adriaan, the fun with puns post is a riot.  Thanks for sharing.  JW.

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: mica on December 28, 2010, 08:51:49 PM

Here's the details from the file, JW:
 
MSBI-4 Series I 4-string bass
top: Zebrawood
back: Zebrawood
body core: Mahogany
neck: 5-piece Maple and Purpleheart
scale: 32 medium
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: mother of pearl
controls: volume x2, filter x2, Q-switch x2, pickup selector switch, stereo 1/4 and 5-pin outputs
originally made for: Guitar Center, San Francisco, CA
birthday: March 26, 1981
 
The original owner lived in California and registered the bass in October of 1981.
 
In September of 1981 the bass was sent here for a repair for rack burn and we refinished the peghead. I guess it was taken on and off the display rack quite a bit in the 6 months it was in the store. Ouch!

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: SubDubba Bubba on December 29, 2010, 10:36:32 AM

Thank you Mica. I never noticed any remnants of the rack burn until now. Here's a recent photo. Thanks again.

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: SubDubba Bubba on December 29, 2010, 11:01:49 AM

Here's the repaired area....                

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: SubDubba Bubba on December 29, 2010, 11:31:43 AM

Here's the repaired area....               (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/92762.jpg)

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: David Houck on December 29, 2010, 02:35:07 PM

Great shot of a beautiful bass!

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: SubDubba Bubba on January 05, 2011, 07:32:24 PM

Thank you Dave. I do get compliments whenever I take her out to play.

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: mica on January 05, 2011, 08:01:17 PM

That seam is normal - it's the joint where the ears are glued on to the peghead so the machine heads have a place to live. I actually can't see any evidence of the finish repair in your photo.

Title: (x) 81 1802
Post by: lembic76450 on January 05, 2011, 08:09:20 PM

I guess that the shot of the repaired area raises the question of when the adjustible nuts were first installed.  I had thought it was before 1981.