Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: lbpesq on February 13, 2006, 02:44:47 PM

Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on February 13, 2006, 02:44:47 PM: After 30+ years of lusting, my Series 1 guitar arrived today. When I first saw it on eBay and told my wife I wanted to bid, she asked "why another Alembic?" After explaining it to her (and making a mental note to get her a helluva Valentine's Day present), I thought since this will be my other Alembic, a most appropriate name is suggested. So, without further ado, Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce for your viewing (& listening?) pleasure: THE OTHER ONE
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25116.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25117.jpg)
Walnut top & back, rosewood fingerboard
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25118.jpg)
Koa core
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25119.jpg)
Beech & Walnut neck
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25120.jpg)
The info with the guitar says a bocate veneer, but not where. I think this may be it.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25121.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25122.jpg)
No truss rod cover, no holes either?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25123.jpg)
appears to be brass cap on wood tailpiece.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25124.jpg)
my wife loves the purple lining in the case.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25125.jpg)
Birthday: August 19, 1976 Serial No: 76-476 I'm in love! Bill, tgo
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: speicky on February 13, 2006, 02:50:49 PM: Bill !

Congrats once more ! Now I know why it took a few more minutes ;-) Wonderful photos of a gorgeous guitar ! Play and enjoy in good health,

yours Christian (the faker)
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: tom_z on February 13, 2006, 02:55:48 PM: Wow Bill - she's a real beauty! Considering it's nearly thirty years old - the pictures make it look very well preserved. The walnut and koa are just lovely, and the logo has a very nice hand-cut quality.

How does it sound?

Enjoy

Tom
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: palembic on February 13, 2006, 03:09:46 PM: Bill ...GREAT!
THis is the kind of guitar that could me tempt into higher frequencies. I just LOOOOVE that model!
Playability outstanding I presume???
Sound ...never heard before??

Enjoy the many hours of playing and gigging to come!

Paul the bad one
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: keith_h on February 13, 2006, 03:46:25 PM: Bill,
Congrats. It looks really clean. I think you did well on this one.

Keith
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: jack on February 13, 2006, 04:30:41 PM: A classic! Congrats!
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: David Houck on February 13, 2006, 04:48:32 PM: Beautiful!!!

I don't think truss rod covers started showing up until sometime in '77.
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: jalevinemd on February 13, 2006, 05:26:31 PM: Looks brand new! Congrats Bill.
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: richbass939 on February 13, 2006, 06:07:40 PM: Bill, that is beautiful. Congrats.
Rich
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: rklisme on February 13, 2006, 06:23:36 PM: Bill

What a beauty, once again enjoy and congratulations.

Rory
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: dadabass2001 on February 13, 2006, 07:31:35 PM: Congratulations Bill,

A true beauty. You're gonna have some fun!

Mike
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: adriaan on February 14, 2006, 01:33:46 AM: Definitely one to cherish - and play!

One wonders what the koa would have looked like without the tops - nothing against the walnut, which is just classy, just curious.
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on February 14, 2006, 08:02:09 AM: Thanks to Rory, I got to try her out last night. He met me at my studio with his extra DS-5R (which he has graciously lent to me), I plugged The Other One in and, how do I put this? ... there is nothing like a Series instrument. It's as if the quantum leap from my Strat to my Electrum is roughly equal to the leap from Electrum to Series. I also discovered something: a ric-o-sound box works with a Series 1.

Thanks to everyone for their good thoughts. I can't even begin to describe how ecstatic I am about this guitar. Conditionwise, it's as if it left the factory last week! The neck is thin and fast with just the right string spacing, as opposed to my Electrum's more narrow spacing. And the sound!!!! What can I say? I just tried it straight through my Boogie last night - no pedals, no SF-2, no BBE Sonic Maximizer. (I hadn't been to the studio since we dropped off the equipment after the last gig, so nothing was set up). This axe is going to sound unbelievable through my regular rig. Again, thanks to Rory, everyone here, to Alembic for building this beauty, and to whoever's hands it's been in for the past 30 years for taking EXCELLENT care of this amazing instrument.

Bill, thgo (the happy guitar one)
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: rklisme on February 14, 2006, 08:43:21 AM: Hey Guys

What a pleasure it was to hang with Bill last night. It is hard to discribe what he was feeling as he was putting his new Alembic through its paces. It was like Christmas for me just watching him and listening to this sweet guitar. I had never heard a Series I guitar before and I must tell you this has to be the most amazing guitar I have ever heard! Anyway I was glad to be able to help a fellow Alembician out in his time of need and I hope you get many years of enjoyment out of THE OTHER ONE!

Rory
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: adriaan on February 14, 2006, 08:43:27 AM: Not to take anything away from the glories of Series electronics, but you may be surprised how good your Electrum may sound going straight into the Boogie, compared to going through all the processing units.
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: staemius on February 14, 2006, 08:49:42 AM: Fanastic Bill! Congrats.
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on February 14, 2006, 09:22:32 AM: Adriaan:

I've had the Electrum through the Boogie by itself many times. In fact, I brought the Electrum down to the studio last night and A/B'd the two instruments. Don't get me wrong, the Electrum is a great guitar, sounds fantastic. When I got the Electrum a couple of years ago, it wound up replacing a '61 Strat and a PRS as No. 1. Even so, it pales in comparison to the Series. In addition, the Series electronics offers far more flexibility than the Electrum. My pedal board isn't that complex. Compressor, analog delay, tube screamer, chorus, wah, volume pedal. Usually I don't use any of it, and when I do it's usually one pedal at a time. The SF-2 and the BBE are in the effects loop. I've never noticed the SF-2 taking anything away from the sound. It's the opposite. Essentially an SF-2 is sort of like having Series 2 controls on your rack. The BBE is a neat subtle unit that basically puts back in any tone sucked out by the old style stomp boxes.

Bill, tgo
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: flaxattack on February 14, 2006, 01:58:53 PM: bill
i think you could retire from collecting now.....
it wont get better than this....
absolutely stunning.....
guess this means a trip to oakland for me to hang out and play with ya again....
lol
mazel tov- play it in good health
what kind of car are you buying the wife?
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on February 14, 2006, 02:04:00 PM: An iMac, but don't tell her..

Bill, tgo
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: the_8_string_king on February 14, 2006, 06:09:41 PM: Schuh-weet!!!

Nice score, Bill!!!

The koa core is my favorite part!
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: adriaan on February 15, 2006, 03:08:32 AM: Bill,

Whatever gets you where you want to go ...

Adriaan
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: 811952 on February 15, 2006, 10:24:07 AM: Nice. I would love to hear it.
John
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: flaxattack on February 15, 2006, 07:23:41 PM: what kind of car is an imac?> lol
will see ya when the tribute is ready....
or the mets hit frisco- oops san francisco.....

got my steinbrenner bass today.. man it sounds good

the big question? will bill start downsizing his collection now?
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on February 15, 2006, 08:09:32 PM: Hey Flax, you been talkin' to my wife?

Bill, tgo
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: jlpicard on February 16, 2006, 03:59:51 PM: Bill, About the exposed truss rod; The factory didn't use truss rod covers on alot of early Alembics. Kinda' cool 70's vibe.
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: flaxattack on February 16, 2006, 04:00:40 PM: nah.......
but i took out the garbage and let the cat out earlier today for ya......
lmao.......
my tribute order was taken out to the shop moments ago.....
and i bought a rick turner bass... see post
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: jazzyvee on May 02, 2012, 08:50:51 AM: BUMP.
I had the pleasure of seeing that guitar in the flesh recently. It is superb. I had previously shied away from the older series guitars but that one made me change my perspective.

However I'm not looking to buy anymore instruments for the foreseeable future.

Thanks Bill

Jazzyvee
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on May 05, 2012, 08:45:39 AM: Jazzyvee:

It was a pleasure having you stay with us for the week of the Northern Cali gathering. And the bass you picked up is spectacular!

In the words of the prototypical Jewish mother: what, so you didn't like my '77 Series 1 12 string?

(The above is a variation of the old joke about the Jewish mother who gives her son two ties for his birthday, a red tie and a blue tie. The son runs upstairs and comes down a few minutes later wearing the red tie. The mother takes one look and says, so you don't like the blue tie?)

Bill, tjgo
Title: Bill's 1976 Series 1 Guitar
Post by: sonicus on May 05, 2012, 09:20:52 AM: I think I have heard that one for real Bill _____ LOL ___