Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: gtrguy on February 08, 2009, 02:29:01 PM

Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: gtrguy on February 08, 2009, 02:29:01 PM: Just picked up this unusual 1977 fretless (77-829). The sellor told me he bought it new in 78 and that it was custom made for a famous 70's bass player who ordered it but never picked it up, and may have passed away. Who knows, I love a good story. The bad, PUPs replaced with Barts and elec card missing. Neck sustained damage years ago, almost sheared off but re-glued and totally stable. Missing battery cover, orig knobs, series output jack, logo, and orig case. No power supply or cable. The good: plays and sounds fantastic, The wood selection is amazing, orig tuners, bridge and tail. Also has dummy pickup. Pretty good finish. strap pins never moved, pickup holes do not appear to be routed. Plus the price was right. I am thinking of getting the missing logo and some orig knobs and just keeping this one as a player until maybe one day returning it to the mother ship for a redo of the neck joint and a refinish. The body wood looks like burl with a purple heart lam and something else in there, and maple and walnut with purple heart in the neck. There is a taper to the top of the body. I am thinking this is a little rare in 1977, plus the body shape is interesting. Bye, Dave
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/60996.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/60997.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/60998.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/60999.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on February 08, 2009)
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: eflat on February 08, 2009, 02:33:31 PM: Rare or not it sure looks fine, good catch! It is nice that someone took the time to put in proper sized pups instead of hacking it up.

Gary
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: room037 on February 08, 2009, 03:20:13 PM: Wow !
It's show on History Pictures. (http://www.alembic.com/family/history_pictures.html)
The bass is one of my favorite !
I wish to be the owner in the future. (Please call me the first !)

Please show me more Pict. pict. pict....!

Eiji

(Message edited by room037 on February 08, 2009)

(Message edited by room037 on February 08, 2009)
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: David Houck on February 08, 2009, 03:36:38 PM: Very interesting!!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: artswork99 on February 08, 2009, 05:57:24 PM: Yes, very... a visit with family and restoration would be incredible (could you imagine). Interesting horns! No template on that shape I'll bet. The artistry is wonderfully recognizable from the era. Thanks for posting Dave and the additional info Eiji. The history is so cool.

(Message edited by artswork99 on February 08, 2009)
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: David Houck on February 08, 2009, 06:18:47 PM: Eiji always has a great memory (and a great data base!). The picture he references gives some nice perspective.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: gtrguy on February 10, 2009, 11:27:32 AM: A couple more photos. Just starting to clean the brass. Anyone have any series one pickups, electronics, switchs, knobs, or a logo they would care to part with? Bye, Dave
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/61082.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/61083.jpg)
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: David Houck on February 10, 2009, 11:33:39 AM: I thought that might be a fan headstock when I saw the fourth picture in the first post. Very cool!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: gtrguy on February 10, 2009, 12:21:14 PM: Yes, I think the fan style is pretty rare for a four string and kinda rare overall.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: dela217 on February 10, 2009, 04:47:41 PM: I have a set of those same Bartolini's that came to me in an Alembic. They sure sound good. BUT, you really need to find the right stuff! That bass is a beaut!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: room037 on February 10, 2009, 06:23:32 PM: Yea ! Fan head !
I was also thinking about the head.
History Picture doesn't show it.
Really COOL !

Hi Dave,
Thank you for the words.
It's my pleasure to seek as well as play with ALEMBIC.
Just like Treasure hunting !

Eiji
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: gtrguy on February 23, 2009, 12:36:07 PM: Couldn't resist transferring some knobs and a logo to it and cleaning it up some more. The back looks like the front. Maybe a walnut burl?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/61678.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/61679.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/61680.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/61681.jpg)
(Message edited by mica on February 23, 2009)
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: artswork99 on February 23, 2009, 12:57:39 PM: Looking real good!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: dela217 on February 23, 2009, 03:57:01 PM: I really like that exagerated lower horn on that body. A couple of those on a small standard would be pretty in my opinion.

The bass looks great!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: dadabass2001 on February 23, 2009, 04:33:58 PM: It's beautiful, whatever the wood is...

Mike
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: kungfusheriff on February 23, 2009, 06:46:49 PM: Wow!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: FC Bass on May 18, 2009, 09:54:13 AM: Extremely stunning!

You should be lucky with the Bartolini upgrade, be sure to keep her that way. ;-)
If there are more holes than controls, you can use them to build some effects or whatever directly into your bass.
You can use the battery compartment for coins, so you will always have them in reach when you park your car/have to pay toll or whatever you need coins for.

I wonder why there aren't much more old basses with the Bartolini upgrade here...

Anyway, congrats!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: FC Bass on June 06, 2009, 08:24:15 AM: Any news on this one?
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: sonicus on June 06, 2009, 09:47:06 AM: I own 2 Alembics with Alembic pick ups and several other Bass's with Bartolini pick ups. I think the Bartolini's are good BUT personally my opinion is that they are do not compete with Alembic pick ups and electronics. This fretless Alembic is really beautiful! if she were mine I would ask the 'Mother ship to restore her to pedigree status with Alembic pick ups and electronics and wood work as needed. This again is my opinion , just my 2 cents worth. My congrats to you on such an exemplary
acquisition.This is just the kind custom creation that opens eyes
and sparks compliments . AWESOME BASS!!!!!!!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: serialnumber12 on June 07, 2009, 04:06:46 AM: I Love that shine what did clean it with?.......im gonna have to give mine a shine!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: gtrguy on June 10, 2009, 09:01:51 AM: Well, I used 1500 then 2000 grit wet sandpaper and a sanding block to flatten it and then some swirl remover polish and a lot of elbow grease to make it shine up like new again, plus a good carnuba wax on top. The finish on this guitar looks more like a hard clearcoat than the usual finish.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: adriaan on November 17, 2012, 01:32:29 AM: [picture posted on another thread - way to pretty not to show it here!]
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/143059.jpg)
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: hammer on November 08, 2012, 12:35:31 PM: David:

That is gorgeous. What are the woods?
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: sonicus on November 08, 2012, 06:54:38 PM: Awesome fretless ! I like_______
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: charles_holmes on November 08, 2012, 07:01:21 PM: Why the Bartolini pick ups?!!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: bassplayer420 on November 08, 2012, 11:54:29 PM: yeah thats definitely a sweet fretless!! I like the woods that were used and how the wood is much darker on the horns from the rest of the body.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: gtrguy on November 09, 2012, 11:05:53 AM: The Barts are no more (I actually sold them on EBay for quite a good price) and I now have a complete Alembic series electronics setup and two sets of series pickups to try out in it, thanks to some great members of this forum! I hope to find time to get it all back together in the next 9 months.

top and back: Walnut
core: Maple Walnut Purpleheart
neck: Maple, Walnut, Beech, Purpleheart
scale: 34 long
fingerboard: Ebony, unlined fretless
peghead veneers: Walnut
birthday: September 20, 1977
originally made for: Lee Dorman?

Lee Dorman is the bass player for Iron Butterfly.

I have no idea why the original guts were removed. It actually sounded very good with the bartolini setup but I wanted it to be more original. It is featured on Alembics history page.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: hammer on November 15, 2012, 11:17:11 AM: David: That's one of the most incredible walnut tops I've seen on a bass. The distinctness of the upper and lower areas is so great at first I thought that they were from two different sources.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: dejan on November 16, 2012, 01:57:42 AM: Awesome fretless! I like Bartolini pickups for fretless....but I'm sure that Alembic PU are more appropriate,and they sound good too!! Beautiful!!!
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: moonliner on November 23, 2012, 06:07:51 PM: This is a personal favorite. Very unique and gorgeous.
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: sonicus on November 23, 2012, 07:12:51 PM: Classic Alembic Beauty , Simply Irresistible , She makes my head spin ________! YES ! The Alembic replacement electronics were a good decision in my opinion . The Alembic pickups are my first choice if you are going with active electronics. Bartolini's are nice if you are going passive. I own Bass's with both .
Title: Unusual 1977 fretless (77-829)
Post by: klinkepeter on November 25, 2012, 02:50:29 PM: That?s one of the most beautiful basses i?ve ever seen, it has to go with the original pickups. If u ever record with it just share a file with us, i really wonder, how it sounds like...