Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: johnboy on October 19, 2011, 01:54:55 PM

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: johnboy on October 19, 2011, 01:54:55 PM

Can anyone help me solve this mystery?  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115141.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115142.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115143.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115144.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115145.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115146.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115147.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115148.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115149.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/115150.jpg)

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: artswork99 on October 19, 2011, 02:16:00 PM

What a beautiful mystery that is!

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: johnboy on October 19, 2011, 05:15:15 PM

Here's another picture for you guys.
 

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: edwin on October 19, 2011, 07:01:11 PM

How many frets on that? Any hint of a serial number?
 
Cool guitar, the wood is beautiful!

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 19, 2011, 07:11:34 PM

pant lust drool want
 
Peter

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: johnboy on October 20, 2011, 05:46:35 AM

27 frets / No trace of a serial number anywhere

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: mica on October 20, 2011, 11:54:08 AM

Did you look under the pickup or bridgeblock? The original pickup may have had a number cast in the bottom. Do you have the original pickup?
 
From the pictures, the only thing I can tell you about the woods is that the front of the peghead looks like Flame Birch, the back of the peghead and the core look like Zebrawood.  
 
I'll take a guess on the neck as Mahogany, Purpleheart and Maple, but the top and back are really hard to tell with the little pictures - they could be lots of things, Walnut, Koa, even Purpleheart or Vermilion (yes - they do brown out that much, especially with oil finish).  
 
Have you measured the scale length (nut to 12th fret, then doubled)?
 
Nice scalloped nut.

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: 811952 on October 20, 2011, 12:05:26 PM

Pretty!
 
At first glance, it sure reminds me of Rick Turner's work post-Alembic.
 
What a neat instrument!
 
John

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: lbpesq on October 20, 2011, 12:58:09 PM

Old #10 also has 27 frets, but the logo on this peanut guitar looks newer.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: pace on October 26, 2011, 02:09:48 PM

1) Accent laminates between the top/back and the body core~ Are there any other examples of this practice in 1-20 serial # range?
 
2) Pinstripe laminates in the neck~ Dittos.... ?!?!?  
 
3) Single pickup, passive electronics..... Mica's comment suggests that the pup is not original, perhaps the rout isn't either...Did Rick ever wind a single coil hot enough for this application, trapazoidial or otherwise? Also, what is the need for the cavities leading into the neck?

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: dela217 on October 26, 2011, 04:42:58 PM

I have serial number 16 and mine has pinstripe maple laminates in the neck.  Just sayin'.
 
I love the core on that one.  Zebrawood perhaps?

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: edwin on October 26, 2011, 05:01:15 PM

Anymore pix of #16? There's only one in the showcase thread and it doesn't show the neck pinstripes, etc.
 
To get back to this (and other peanut guitars), how are the ergonomics? How is the balance? If it were a bass, I'd imagine some serious neck dive.
 
I'm also wondering what the tone might be like. If this wasn't the original pickup (and I would kind of be surprised if it was), I wonder if the original was active. Ah, to be a fly on the wall back in the day.

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: johnboy on October 30, 2011, 06:30:41 PM

I have no doubt about this being the original pickup. It has a piece of stiff insulation glued to the back of it and I would'nt  want to rip it off to look for a number. Both of the holes in the pickup base are drilled off center leading me to believe that it was'nt replaced. It does'nt look like anything has been altered in any way. The body is mostly chambered, perhaps to keep the weight down. Ohmite pots. Is that what they used back then?

Title: Alembic Prototype/ No Serial Number/ Peanut Shape Body
Post by: gtrguy on November 09, 2011, 09:58:34 AM

That pickup kinda has that DiMarzio humbucker look, like on an old BC Rich. What a cool guitar!