Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series II Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: gotwood on May 11, 2008, 02:28:23 PM

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 11, 2008, 02:28:23 PM

This is my series II 4 string . The body woods are walnut,maple and mahogany.The bass has side and front red LEDs.I don't know who it was made for but it does have some custom touches.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/51781.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/51782.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/51783.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/51784.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/51785.jpg)
  (edited to arrange pictures vertically)  (Message edited by mica on August 24, 2009)

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: keurosix on May 11, 2008, 05:58:12 PM

Hi Jeff!
Welcome to the club!
What a stunning bass!
Can you add a pic with the LED's on?
Luv to see that!
Kris

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 11, 2008, 07:15:26 PM

Hey Kris , thanks for the compliment . I will add some more pics ASAP.

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: dadabass2001 on May 11, 2008, 08:16:16 PM

Hello Jeff,  
You've got a beautiful bass there. I'm a sucker for walnut, and your instrument is stunning. Play it in good health!
Welcome to the club.
Mike

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 11, 2008, 08:35:30 PM

Thanks Mike , I had some trouble getting good pictures . I had to take a lot and sort through them just to get some usable ones . It is hard to get around the flash reflection problems .

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 12, 2008, 02:33:41 PM

Kris , here is one with the lights on .(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/51813.jpg)

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: keurosix on May 12, 2008, 08:04:11 PM

Wow, She's a beauty!
Jeff, what is the scale length?  
It looks to me like a medium scale 32?
Kris

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 12, 2008, 09:55:53 PM

Actually , it is 34 scale length . I think the big body and picture angle make the neck look shorter. The bass has a gigantic tone . One of my bass player friends , who has owned several Alembics said it sounded like the hammer of Thor.

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: David Houck on May 13, 2008, 01:05:47 PM

Cool bass!!  Congrats and welcome!

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 13, 2008, 02:10:00 PM

Thanks , I have been enjoying all the pictures other people have submitted and wanted to join the club for quite awhile.

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: hieronymous on May 13, 2008, 02:56:02 PM

Wow - great looking bass!
 
One thing I picked up about taking pictures is to not use flash, using natural indirect light instead. A tripod and timer help too!

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 13, 2008, 06:13:18 PM

Hey , thanks for the tips ! I have been experimenting with different techniques and I wish I had some of those umbrella diffuser lights. I really admire some of the pictures that people are able to get .

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: keurosix on May 13, 2008, 09:02:02 PM

What a superlative example of boutique craftsmanship! I really love this one!  
LED's all over; The way the walnut blends so well with the maple neck,  
it almost looks like a continuous piece of wood!
The book matched headstock veneer is regal, and the extended upper horn is baadd!  
Walnut burl is so classic Alembic, and so is the omega cutout.
Cherish this one Jeff!
Kris

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 13, 2008, 10:21:57 PM

Thanks Kris , I have been wondering if the extended upper horn is some kind of modification on the trigger grip . The person that originally had this bass made also added a custom neck shape . It is kind of a fat , flattened  D  shape and there is also a ebony truss rod cover that is the same height as the end of the neck .

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: David Houck on May 14, 2008, 07:19:52 AM

I believe that the extended upper horn indicates that this is the later body shape with an Omega cut.  The horn is on all standard Distillate bodies starting around 1985.  Some Series basses from this period have the horn as well; I have one with the flat bottom.  I believe that this shape differs from the Balance Point body shape in the shape of the horn; and I have what I believe is the Balance Point on the fretless (http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/51385.html?1210201718) that I currently have listed in the For Sale section.  However, I could be wrong about all of this; I don't tend to remember stuff accurately.

Title: 1986 Series II
Post by: gotwood on May 14, 2008, 11:02:43 AM

Thanks for the comments. I used to own a distillate back in the late 80's but it had a short horn and I remember it being neck heavy . Right now my only two Alembics are the Series II and the original East meets West Orion. I really want an Excel . I had one about 7 years ago but lost it in the trade for the series .