Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: longhorncat on July 17, 2007, 07:48:43 AM

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: longhorncat on July 17, 2007, 07:48:43 AM

Here's my new to me Series I.
Original ordered directly from Alembic in 1978 by Ed Levine.
The 78 2001 serial number seems to be out of the normal Alembic sequence.
I'll find out more when Mica returns from making little Alembians.  
 

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: FC Bass on July 17, 2007, 07:53:33 AM

Congrats!
Maybe it took a few years to build?  
It's an early 80ies number, my ex 83 Spoiler was 2433.

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: longhorncat on July 17, 2007, 07:56:27 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/42096.jpg)
   
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/42097.jpg)

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: longhorncat on July 17, 2007, 07:58:25 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/42101.jpg)
   
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/42102.jpg)

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: keavin on July 17, 2007, 10:43:02 AM

Welcome to Old alembic side of the club!

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: olieoliver on July 17, 2007, 11:28:46 AM

Is that old as in the owners or the basses. (rim-shot-please)
 
OLD-Olie

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: longhorncat on July 17, 2007, 11:36:55 AM

Well, I've been around 15 years longer than this bass, but I don't feel old.  
(Just a little slower.)

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: olieoliver on July 17, 2007, 11:46:11 AM

Amen to that Bill. I'm a '62 model myself but feel like 70 GTO Judge at Green Valley Race-way, turning heads and running like mad. LOL
 
You need to bring this one to the next Dallas Alembi-fest. Austin ain't dat far!

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: dela217 on July 17, 2007, 01:25:26 PM

This is sure is an odd one.  Not only is the number out of sequence, but it is stamped on the fingerboard.  The 1978 basses I have owned were stamped on the tip of the headstock.  Also I think its a little unusual to see a Series II neck that has the maple and purpleheart laminations reversed.  That is truly a beautiful bass with that zebra top.  Great find!
 
Michael

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: bracheen on July 18, 2007, 06:03:26 AM

Bill, it just occurred to me why you call yourself longhorncat.  I always thought it referenced long horn basses.  Talk about being a little slower.  It is a beautiful bass at any rate.  I am a big time zebra wood fan.  Especially when the grains are at an angle.
 
Sam

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: David Houck on July 18, 2007, 05:54:04 PM

Congrats!
 
I like the back laminate too.

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: longhorncat on July 18, 2007, 07:34:50 PM

Thank you all.
I played the bass all day when it first arrived.
The electronics are quiet and I love the neck.
The red Purpleheart really contrasts more than the pictures show.
I actually like the back of the bass better than the front.
 
I spent the next day polishing the rust-red tarnish off the brass.
It was bad enough that Valentino thought the nut was made of ceramic.
I changed the strings over to flats and am still trying to dial the action back in.
 
I?m hoping Mica can shed some light on this interesting beast when she returns.
 
I?d love to come to the next Dallas Alembi-fest.  
My weekends are full being Mr. Soccer Mom, so the timing has to be right.
 
(Message edited by longhorncat on July 19, 2007)

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: 82daion on July 23, 2007, 10:59:04 PM

That's an awesome wood combination, and that bass is in much better shape than the for-sale thread pics led me to believe.
 
Nice score-play it in good health!

Title: 2001 A Bass Oddity
Post by: longhorncat on August 23, 2007, 10:05:05 PM

I just wanted to add what Mica found:
 
top: Zebrawood  
body: Purpleheart  
back: not recorded on wood card*  
through body neck: 7-piece Purpleheart and Maple, 32 medium scale  
fingerboard: Ebony with abalone inlays and side LEDs  
peghead veneers: matching Zebrawood  
 
*The wood card doesn't specify the back, but the custom order form stated Walnut for the back, then later next to that is writted our choice so you'll have to post a pic of the back to solve this mystery.  
 
I'm pretty sure the original owner of this bass wanted us to time the finishing of the bass to get the 2001 serial number since we were near it when the bass was started.