Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 08:12:34 AM

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 08:12:34 AM

Have had this guitar for a long time, tucked away.
Am now interesting in finding out more about it and it's history.

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 10:18:59 AM

I was mistaken.  This is #15.....not #13(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/73140.jpg)

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on November 24, 2009, 10:32:37 AM

Welcome, Will.  What a gorgeous guitar!  According to a previous post by Valentino (http://alembic.com/cgi-bin/alembic-club/discus.cgi?pg=next&topic=394&page=62834), who worked at the shop at the time, 15 was originally built for Neal Young.
 
Peter
 
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on November 24, 2009)

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 10:52:39 AM

Thanks for the research on this.  
I guess the next obvious question is....what do you folks think this instrument could be valued at?

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: hydrargyrum on November 24, 2009, 11:47:48 AM

Wow, this is a real treat to see.  The treble horn and logo really have a vintage Alembic vibe.  It probably would benefit sonically from the series electronics upgrade, but I doubt that would really have an effect the value of something so rare as this.  Are you valuing the guitar for sale, or for insurance purposes?

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 24, 2009, 11:58:21 AM

I'd like to know for both reasons.

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on November 24, 2009, 12:21:43 PM

Your best source for current value would probably be Bill (lpbesq), as he recently purchased 72-10, and would thus have the best frame of reference.
 
Peter

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: toma_hawk01 on November 24, 2009, 12:34:43 PM

Now, will you look at the curves on that one.

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: pauldo on November 24, 2009, 06:18:25 PM

the back . . .  
 
What does the back look like?

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 25, 2009, 09:50:00 AM

Here is the back of this beauty and some other snaps.  Enjoy.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/73190.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/73191.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/73192.jpg)

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: pauldo on November 25, 2009, 03:24:48 PM

Very Nice - Thanks Will.
The blend on the headstock to the neck is gourgeous and the back of the body looks really clean.
 
Nobody ever wore a beltbuckle when they played it?

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 27, 2009, 12:21:28 PM

Belt buckle?
 
Well, there are some wear/rubbing marks, but no belt buckle-like scratches or gouges.
 
I really don't think that this guitar has ever really seen much action.

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: artswork99 on November 27, 2009, 01:44:47 PM

Will, I've read that you've done some production work for Neil.  Do you happen to have any pictures of Neil with the guitar? Thanks, Art

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: toddharris on November 27, 2009, 05:56:05 PM

Hi Will,
 Loving hearing about the guitar - huge Neil fan and Alembic collection is growing - thanks for sharing. Todd

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: handsonsound on November 29, 2009, 03:16:23 PM

Hey Art,
 
Yes, that's right. I'm an engineer and producer.
 
I believe that only one or two photos of Neil and the guitar exist.
They are currently unprinted and from circa 1973.
 
To the best of my knowledge this instrument hasn't really been been played much since those times.
 
I gave it a real good cleaning and polishing the other day (left the brass alone) and put in some fresh batteries.  Great tone and easy playing.  Love how it has an over two octave neck.

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: artswork99 on November 29, 2009, 06:53:23 PM

Thanks Will.  If they can ever be published I'm sure many here would love to see them (and if not totally understood too).  Personally I think that the Alembic instruments are some of the finest ever made and deserve to be played.  So one of a kind between the great woodwork and specialized electronics.  Glad to hear that you've cleaned it up and have started to pluck those strings.  All the best, Art

Title: (x) 1972 guitar #72-13 72-15
Post by: mica on February 09, 2010, 06:44:43 PM

Not much in the file:
 
15-72       Neil Young       LSG
 
So the pictures tell more of the story than the records, but that's the nature of the early files.