Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Custom Basses => Topic started by: mica on June 12, 2002, 06:47:04 PM

Title: 72-14
Post by: mica on June 12, 2002, 06:47:04 PM
Here's a charming bass we made back in 1972, number 72-14:  
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/705.jpg)
 
Right now it's getting fully restored, including sanding down and putting on a fresh oil finish. At all the end grain of the Mahogany body a rough bumpy texture had developed which was not only unattractive, but actually harsh enough to hurt if you scraped even lightly across it. I will post pictures of the after restoration when it's complete.
Title: 72-14
Post by: WIJ (rpnfbywij) on January 30, 2003, 05:08:58 PM
I liek that one... it's rather neat
Title: 72-14
Post by: WIJ (rpnfbywij) on February 01, 2003, 02:25:52 PM
just wondering but how much did that bass sell for originally?
Title: 72-14
Post by: Michael Delacerda (dela217) on February 03, 2003, 05:58:58 AM
WIJ - I am not sure about the bass that is pictured as far as the cost.  I do have an old brochure from 1973 and an Alembic from that time was $1650.00  with a hardshell case and power supply.
Title: 72-14
Post by: fretlessman123 on December 02, 2003, 06:54:58 PM
that bass is awsome. expesally the curly cutaway and those pickups are really neet too.
Title: 72-14
Post by: dela217 on December 02, 2003, 07:31:38 PM
I like that bass a lot too.  I hope that the owner of this bass knows that I could provide it with a good home.  
 
Mica - I hate to be such a pest, but did you get any pics of this bass after the restoration?  Is it finished yet?  I would love to see other pics if there are any. - Michael
Title: 72-14
Post by: blazer on December 08, 2003, 02:16:20 PM
It looks a bit like Rick Turner's pretzel guitar, I take it that he was still with Alembic when it was made.
Title: 72-14
Post by: keavin on March 17, 2004, 11:52:23 AM
the old    brass looks really cool ,and also gives it a old,old look which is a very (vintage) look,also a very seldom seen on any newer alembics,which puts them in a class all by them selfes  
Title: 72-14
Post by: keavin on March 17, 2004, 11:54:41 AM
the old    brass looks really cool ,and also gives it a old,old look which is a very (vintage) look,also a very seldom seen on any newer alembics,which puts them in a class all by them selfes  
Title: 72-14
Post by: keavin on March 17, 2004, 12:11:03 PM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/8789.jpg)
 
 
(Message edited by davehouck on May 19, 2005)
Title: 72-14
Post by: David Houck on May 19, 2005, 01:58:14 PM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/18563.jpg)
Title: 72-14
Post by: fretlessoldguy on March 19, 2004, 12:04:36 AM
Looking at that bass gives one a good image of what early Alembic instruments where like. Many progressive ideas even at that stage of developement.
 
Was the tapered P/U an experiment in varying magnetic arpeture for each string, or were there increasingly large cylinder magnets for each string?
 
I must say, I like the refinement of the newer instruments.
 
ptron
Title: 72-14
Post by: mint_bass on March 19, 2004, 01:11:39 AM
that bass is cool i like it it has something different about it like all alembics you can tell thought time and love went into creating it rather than just copying others
Title: 72-14
Post by: trekster on May 19, 2005, 09:13:19 AM
Revival!  What ever happened to the restoration of this baby??
Title: 72-14
Post by: dela217 on May 19, 2005, 10:22:52 AM
I would love to know too!
Title: 72-14
Post by: exploiterplayer on May 19, 2005, 11:36:52 AM
Will this bass be for sale after the restoration?
Title: 72-14
Post by: mica on May 19, 2005, 12:29:28 PM
It went very well, but I can't seem to locate the photos - I sure hope I took some! If I don't find them soon, I'll ask the owner to swing by sometime (he doesn't live too far away) so I can record it for the file. The bass doesn't look much different, and that was the goal. There wasn't any sanding at all done - the oil alone dissolved the hardened little nubs at the endgrain and we were able to preserve the patina.   Here's some others that seem to be from the before series:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/18554.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/18555.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/18556.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/18557.jpg)
  The pickups did have a tapered magnetic core, but otherwise were constructed the same as we so now.
Title: 72-14
Post by: mica on May 19, 2005, 12:32:01 PM
The tuners were replaced before the finish restoration was done.
Title: 72-14
Post by: 57basstra on September 27, 2006, 06:22:41 PM
The curled upper horn on this bass reminds me of the Kit guitar that was in the Alembic store for a while
Title: 72-14
Post by: dannyj on October 28, 2008, 09:20:21 PM
Here is an updated picture of my baby !
Sorry it took so long to post !
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/57897.jpg)
Title: 72-14
Post by: tbrannon on October 28, 2008, 09:42:22 PM
That is just awesome.  I'd love to see a few more pictures when you have the time.
 
Thanks for checking in- can you share some of the history behind this one?
Title: 72-14
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 29, 2008, 11:52:35 AM
Finally, I have been waiting years to see this beauty
Title: 72-14
Post by: dannyj on October 31, 2008, 12:48:17 AM
And yes I do take it out and play it ! Skinny neck and killer tone !(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/57948.jpg)
Title: 72-14
Post by: dela217 on October 31, 2008, 04:46:23 AM
Dannyj - I know exactly what you mean.  I have the same electronics setup in my 1972 Alembic.  It's the best bass tone there is.
 
Michael
Title: 72-14
Post by: artswork99 on October 31, 2008, 05:50:27 AM
Very, very nice!
Title: 72-14
Post by: kungfusheriff on October 31, 2008, 06:02:16 AM
Man, the looks you must get from other bass players...what the hell is THAT?!?
Title: 72-14
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 31, 2008, 09:54:32 AM
What a rare beauty
Title: 72-14
Post by: new2alembic on October 31, 2008, 11:32:58 AM
Thank you for sharing.  Great bass!
 
Carl
Title: 72-14
Post by: senmen on November 01, 2008, 06:36:52 AM
Dannyj,
 
simply WOW!!!!!
 
Oliver (Spyderman)
Title: 72-14
Post by: elwoodblue on November 01, 2008, 10:21:10 PM
Great Pic...thanks!
Title: 72-14
Post by: elwoodblue on November 01, 2008, 10:34:49 PM
Is that a piece of ebony inlaid to anchor the bridge pickup post?
Title: 72-14
Post by: David Houck on December 23, 2008, 11:46:10 PM
Danny, welcome to the board!  As you can see, we love your wonderful bass!
Title: 72-14
Post by: dannyj on January 04, 2009, 04:22:26 PM
Hi Dave ! Thanks for the Welcome as I have been lurking for sometime as you can see ! Also I will be posting some more pic's of some other alembic's I own and history to follow on this one.
Title: 72-14
Post by: briant on March 21, 2012, 01:47:00 PM
I do have an old brochure from 1973 and an Alembic from that time was $1650.00 with a hardshell case and power supply.
 
I plugged this into several inflation calculators and they all came up with 1973 $1650 USD working out to roughly $8450 USD in 2012.  Current base price of a Series I with standard 25% off list discount is $11,100.  A price increase of $2650 over covering the cost of inflation isn't all that bad all things considered.