I have a 1980 series  I with adjustable nut.

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on June 18, 2026, 06:51:59 AM'79 would be pretty early. My guess (if we're doing guitar CSI) is whoever moved the G-string bridge slot also modified the nut. Perhaps followed with an upgrade when it became available.

FWIW, that does look like an early version adjustable, or possibly a shop-made one. Note sharper corners, not as chamfered. Check out the one on my December 1981 Distillate here... I believe it was one of the first. Maybe Dave's here wins the race?

https://club.alembicguitars.com/distillate-basses-and-guitars/1981-distillate/15/

Sounds like a fun Alembic mystery - this one has a late 1979 birthday - I wonder when in 1980 JazzyVee's bass shipped.

So maybe this was one of the earlyish adjustable nuts, or may be it was refurbished sometime in it's life possibly before Alembic shipped it to Australia in 2001.
I recall from the seller I got mine from that it was refurbished in Oz so may again there was an opportunity to get a new nut.

model name: Series I
model number: SSBI4
top: Maple
body: Mahogany
back: Maple
neck: Maple and Purpleheart
scale: 30.75
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: mother of pearl
peghead veneer: Zebrawood
originally made for: LaVonne Music, MN
birthday: February 27, 1980
 
The original owner was from Minnesota. It was sold to another person in Minnesota in 2000. 
In 2001 there is a note that it was shipped to Australia (I guess we shipped it). It was then registered to another person in 2004 in Australia. 

Just. had a search and found  this picture from the previous owner who refurbed the bass.And it seems the adjustable was originally there.

https://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/411/188519.jpg

The '79 (1373) I sold a couple of years ago has the solid nut

Quote from: jazzyvee on June 18, 2026, 11:28:52 AMI have a 1980 series  I with adjustable nut.

That bass has special place in my heart ❤️. 

My Series bass, #1684 issued September of '80 has the solid, non-adjustable one. So as we know, no hard-and-fast rules on when this spec or that became a standard... it's just interesting when they turn up on the earlier ones. Who's to say David's wasn't the very first ever? I had forgotten about the adjustable nut on Jazzy's bass and I spotted that bass on eBay for him many moons ago. 

I'll be bringing it to Mica sometime in the not-too-distant future to have the top half of the nut replaced with one that's spaced normally, and perhaps we'll learn something then.

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on June 18, 2026, 03:07:41 PMMy Series bass, #1684 issued September of '80 has the solid, non-adjustable one. So as we know, no hard-and-fast rules on when this spec or that became a standard... it's just interesting when they turn up on the earlier ones. Who's to say David's wasn't the very first ever? I had forgotten about the adjustable nut on Jazzy's bass and I spotted that bass on eBay for him many moons ago.

Yes and i'm so grateful for that.