Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: pered on November 30, 2006, 05:20:34 AM
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Hi, you guys. I purchased my Europa 6 93U7775 the summer of '94, and I just wonder if it was indeed made for Europe? Also interested in knowing the specs.
Thanks, Per Elias
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Hi Per,
Here's what I found in the file for your bass:
93U7775 ULB6 Europa 6-string bass
top: Wuilted Maple
accent: Walnut and Maple veneers
body: Mahogany
neck: 11-piece Maple and Purpleheart laminates, 34 long scale
fingerboard: Ebony with pearloid oval inlays
pickups: MXY56
controls: volume, pan, filter, Q switch, bass cut/flat/boost switch, treble cut/flat/boost switch, mono side output
originally made for: Guitar Workshop, Oslo
birthday: June 10, 1993
We haven't heard from this bass since it was made.
Europas are named after my dad's favorite car: Lotus Europa. He used to have a 1969 one, but when my mom was pregnant with me, she couldn't get in and out of it!
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Wow, thanks for that great little nugget of history, Mica!
I still vividly remember this time when I was a kid, still years away from being old enough for a license (so we must be talking at least 35 years now). I was walking out of a parking garage somewhere in Chicago with my family, and they had parked someone's Lotus in a prime spot right at the entrance. My guess is it might have been an Esprit rather than a Europa, but I'm not really up on the models or when they were introduced (it was definitely a mid-engine, if that helps).
Anyway, my eyes turned to saucers, and apparently the parking attendant noticed this. So he says something like, hey, I think this would look good on you, want to give it a try?
Here I am, this somewhat shy little kid about 13, and I'm politely protesting, but he eventually convinces me (right :-) to get into the driver's seat and see how it fits.
It fit just fine (I was tall for my age), and I will never forget it. It was orange.
Nowadays, even if I had that much truly disposable income, I would not be able to justify spending it on an automobile. But still, I'm almost tempted to organize a fund drive to buy Ron a Tesla, in the spirit of Old and New Dreams (slipping in a Charlie Haden reference for your dad's sake).
Yet another insight into the spirit and passion that goes into these instruments and related gear. Thanks.
-Bob
(sorry for going off topic, couldn't resist - congratulations on your Europa, Per Elias)
(Message edited by bob on December 13, 2006)
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I'm guessing Mica meant Quilted Maple rather than Wuilted Maple; however I'm no expert on wood, so there does exist the possibility that this is something I've never heard of.
Is Ron a Charlie Haden fan? I love that bit in Ken Burns' Jazz where Haden talks about playing with Ornette for the first time. It's one of my favorite descriptions of playing music.
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Well, Wuilted Maple is a very common find here in Norway, so the bass feels really at home! Cococolo is also easy to spot here - but mostly in the south, though!
Per Elias
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Bob:
My son and I saw the Tesla at the S.F. autoshow last month. WOW. Gorgeous, sexy, and non-polluting to boot! When you hit the lottery, after you buy one for Ron, think about me. I'll be your best friend. LOL By the way, I believe that initially Alembic named all their instruments beginning with the letter E as an homage to Lotus.
Bill, tgo
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The Tesla is a fascinating concept!
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Yeah, apparently the company hq is just a few miles from where I live. Haven't seen one in person, but love the concept... keep wondering if they might have any job openings :-)
An article in the San Jose Mercury last week said they plan at least two more models over the next few years, coming a little closer to the consumer level, if all goes well. I'm wishing them luck.
(and I still think the Old and New Dreams reference was unusually clever for me)
(Message edited by bob on December 19, 2006)