Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: fordhornsby on July 24, 2015, 08:36:08 AM
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Gruhn Guitars did a shoot with my Alembic yesterday All photos:William Ritter Any more info on this guitar is appreciated!!!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211378.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211379.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211380.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211381.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211382.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211383.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211384.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211385.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211386.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211387.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211388.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211389.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211390.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211391.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/211392.jpg)
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Swell !
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How nice! That missing battery plate cover would be pretty easy to re-create with some sheet brass from ACE hardware!
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Cool looking instrument. I'd be willing to guess that only the pickup selector toggle switch and skull knob are operational. Is there still a preamp card lurking under the back plate?
Do you like how it feels?
Jimmy J
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It's all operational. But the original electronics have been robbed. New setup to come. It's at Gruhn having neck work done
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Hello Jason . Congratulations on your nice new acquisition !
Since you are having work done there on your beautiful instrument
there are many inquiring minds here also wondering about this , also at Gruhn ;
( I saw it many decades ago on a work bench being wired in San Francisco)
We would all love to know more about what is going on with this Famous Bass , as well as updates on your beauty as well .
Best regards ,
Wolf
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That's actually me in that picture. Mr Gruhn just said it was being worked on and something will come
Of it soon. Slim on details. I held it for a while. It was very light. The inlays were beautifully worn in. And the hand notched work along the edges were an amazing thing to see. A lot of love and work went in to that bass. And you can feel it and see it.
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Thanks for the update !
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Recently got this guitar back from Gruhn. Updated pics to come of new electronics (non original)
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Lollars Low Winds (w/coil taps)
Lolla Special (middle) (w/ blend knob *brass)
Master volume (silver skulls knob)
Wald Buffer
amazing tone
very resonant
Still wonder if theres any info on this? After seeing it side by side with Lesh's bass, the neck markings are almost identical.
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That is a fascinating guitar... and as you've pointed out, the inlays are eerily similar to those of Phil's old Mission Control Omega-cut. If only these things could talk.
Congratulations & Compliments on your find!
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Just a quick update.....since the original electronics were not in the Alembic, I installed a new setup of Lollars Low Winds (with coil taps), a Lollar single SD1 in the middle....and a Wald buffer. Amazing Unique Alembic.
Still wish I know more about the inlays and maker(s)/owners.
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/944653_10208081940462656_8055967644897863423_n.jpg?oh=d424433ab1a0daf29607196a40ad34c0&oe=58253152)
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Beautiful guitar.... is there a serial number stamped into the top of the headstock?
Also, of you're looking for more info on the guitar, create a new thread in the serial number request section (owning an Alembic). I'm not sure Mica will check the showcase section looking for serial number lookups and build info.
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I think there may not be a serial number on this guitar if I remember correctly. The inlays do look like the work of Rick Turner, who also did the inlays on Phil Lesh's Osage Orange bass.
The shape is really similar to Marmaduke's guitar, and there were a number of instruments (largely guitars) at that time that seem to have escaped without a serial number.
Glad to see it making some music!
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There is not a serial number. Someone else mentioned Marmaduke's guitar, as well. Which is really cool!
IF it's necessary, I will totally start a new thread if it seems it would help. This has made the rounds a few times. so...No new answers as of yet.
Thanks for the info, Mica! Id love to bring it over to you guys sometime !
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Ford, if you hadn't already seen it, here's a link with some information and a picture of the Marmaduke Guitar:
https://www.bromptons.co/reference/articles/details/sanctus-seraphin-2.html
Your guitar certainly has a lot in common with it, most obviously the control layout is similar, tailed bird tailpiece, and body contours. I'm thinking the omega cut on his was a little different shape, and it had the 6-inline headstock.
Possibly another clue; there's been a guy trying to sell another mystery guitar with some possible, dare I say probable, Alembic DNA on ebay. While he's a little ambitious in pricing it, the people he's trying to gain some provenance from might also be familiar with your guitar. (read in the item description). http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=282095058442&alt=web
The various players in that thread pretty much echo that in those days, not all work was necessarily sanctioned and/or authorized.
Good luck in your search... you certainly have a fascinating guitar there. Wish I'd gone to see it while it was just a few miles away from here. :-[