Hi,

I am looking for a Jimmy Johnson Signature 5-string (a Series II is probably out of my league) and/or 1989 20th Anniversary Bass and/or a Brown Bass. I do realize that these are not easy to find (except for a Brown Bass) but if someone would be willing to sell I am happy to proceed. As I already do own 2 Brown Basses my preference is to acquire a Jimmy Johnson Signature or Anniversary bass.

Many thanks for considering!!

Maybe this one might be as close as you can get soundwise? If you can afford it. https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/93382100-alembic-series-i-5-string-custom-order-cocobolo-2004

There is also a 5 string MK signature on Reverb.

Quote from: Barend on Today at 04:07:58 AMMaybe this one might be as close as you can get soundwise? If you can afford it. https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/93382100-alembic-series-i-5-string-custom-order-cocobolo-2004

There is also a 5 string MK signature on Reverb.

Hi Barend,

Many thanks!

I prefer the tight string spacing and body shape of the Jimmy Johnson 5-string as well as the body shape of the Anniversary basses.
There is a stunning MK for sale on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/86217940-2021-alembic-mark-king-signature-standard-walnut-4-string-bass-guitar) which I would like to add to my collection but the seller doesn't respond, nor on Reverb nor to my requests using the contact form on the homepage of his shop. So I'm hoping someone is willing to consider selling his/her bass. The Jimmy Johnson basses are extremely rare. In my 20/25 years of collecting basses I have come across exactly 3. I used to have all the good stuff (Series I + Series II) but sold 10 years ago and of course now regret this.

Quote from: bassbuddy on Today at 04:54:06 AM

Quote from: Barend on Today at 04:07:58 AMMaybe this one might be as close as you can get soundwise? If you can afford it. https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/93382100-alembic-series-i-5-string-custom-order-cocobolo-2004

There is also a 5 string MK signature on Reverb.

There is a stunning MK for sale on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/86217940-2021-alembic-mark-king-signature-standard-walnut-4-string-bass-guitar) which I would like to add to my collection but the seller doesn't respond, nor on Reverb nor to my requests using the contact form on the homepage of his shop. So I'm hoping someone is willing to consider selling his/her bass.

I thought you were looking for a 5 string specifically?
What is it that you miss in your Brown basses that this MK doesn't have? Just curious.
The top on that one looks great. Personally not a big fan of that small shape MK model, but it's growing on me.
Maybe you can make him an offer or call him?

I prefer tight spacing myself. I have two 6-string basses with 14mm spacing and I love it, makes a six string less clumsy. I only play 4 and 6 strings myself.
This 5 string MK has tight spacing: https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/97549422-alembic-mark-king-signature-5-string

Quote from: Barend on Today at 05:28:49 AM

Quote from: bassbuddy on Today at 04:54:06 AM

Quote from: Barend on Today at 04:07:58 AMMaybe this one might be as close as you can get soundwise? If you can afford it. https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/93382100-alembic-series-i-5-string-custom-order-cocobolo-2004

There is also a 5 string MK signature on Reverb.

There is a stunning MK for sale on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/86217940-2021-alembic-mark-king-signature-standard-walnut-4-string-bass-guitar) which I would like to add to my collection but the seller doesn't respond, nor on Reverb nor to my requests using the contact form on the homepage of his shop. So I'm hoping someone is willing to consider selling his/her bass.

I thought you were looking for a 5 string specifically?
What is it that you miss in your Brown basses that this MK doesn't have? Just curious.
The top on that one looks great. Personally not a big fan of that small shape MK model, but it's growing on me.
Maybe you can make him an offer or call him?To me, Alembis basses 

Quote from: Barend on Today at 05:28:49 AM

Quote from: bassbuddy on Today at 04:54:06 AM

Quote from: Barend on Today at 04:07:58 AMMaybe this one might be as close as you can get soundwise? If you can afford it. https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/93382100-alembic-series-i-5-string-custom-order-cocobolo-2004
There is also a 5 string MK signature on Reverb.

There is a stunning MK for sale on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/86217940-2021-alembic-mark-king-signature-standard-walnut-4-string-bass-guitar) which I would like to add to my collection but the seller doesn't respond, nor on Reverb nor to my requests using the contact form on the homepage of his shop. So I'm hoping someone is willing to consider selling his/her bass.

I thought you were looking for a 5 string specifically?
What is it that you miss in your Brown basses that this MK doesn't have? Just curious.
The top on that one looks great. Personally not a big fan of that small shape MK model, but it's growing on me.
Maybe you can make him an offer or call him?
I prefer tight spacing myself. I have two 6-string basses with 14mm spacing and I love it, makes a six string less clumsy. I only play 4 and 6 strings myself.
This 5 string MK has tight spacing: https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/97549422-alembic-mark-king-signature-5-stringTo me, 

Quote from: Barend on Today at 05:28:49 AM

Quote from: bassbuddy on Today at 04:54:06 AM

Quote from: Barend on Today at 04:07:58 AMMaybe this one might be as close as you can get soundwise? If you can afford it. https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/93382100-alembic-series-i-5-string-custom-order-cocobolo-2004
There is also a 5 string MK signature on Reverb.

There is a stunning MK for sale on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/86217940-2021-alembic-mark-king-signature-standard-walnut-4-string-bass-guitar) which I would like to add to my collection but the seller doesn't respond, nor on Reverb nor to my requests using the contact form on the homepage of his shop. So I'm hoping someone is willing to consider selling his/her bass.

I thought you were looking for a 5 string specifically?
What is it that you miss in your Brown basses that this MK doesn't have? Just curious.
The top on that one looks great. Personally not a big fan of that small shape MK model, but it's growing on me.
Maybe you can make him an offer or call him?
I prefer tight spacing myself. I have two 6-string basses with 14mm spacing and I love it, makes a six string less clumsy. I only play 4 and 6 strings myself.
This 5 string MK has tight spacing: https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/97549422-alembic-mark-king-signature-5-string

To me, Alembic basses are like art. I very much enjoy looking at these as if it were paintings. I still play all of my basses every now and then and still have most of my gear but I don't do gigs anymore. I'm not looking for 5 strings specifically, I just happen to like the Jimmy Johnson bass, its string spacing, body shape and I like the body shape of the Anniversary basses. I very much like both the looks and sound of the Brown Basses. To me it's one of the most beautiful basses on the planet and they sound (to my ears at least) more mellow and less harsh compared to other Alembics I used to own. My preferred wood for tops and backs is walnut, especially highly figured/crotch. So it's a combination of aesthetics, playability and sound (and weight). 6 strings are too much for me. I play 4 strings exclusively as I like smaller necks. As the Jimmy Johnson has 13-15 mm string spacing I'd like to give 5 strings a try. I settle for anniversary electronics which offer me more than enough possibilities to shape sounds.

No reason to start more than one thread with the same subject. 

The reason they're rare is because they didn't make very many.  I don't think I was a very good a salesman!  I also have the feeling that several ended up in Japan so we don't see them reappear very often.

If you're patient you'll find just the right thing to add to your collection of Fine Art instruments.  They're all mighty pretty!

Jimmy J

Quote from: JimmyJ on Today at 07:49:17 AMNo reason to start more than one thread with the same subject. 

The reason they're rare is because they didn't make very many.  I don't think I was a very good a salesman!  I also have the feeling that several ended up in Japan so we don't see them reappear very often.

If you're patient you'll find just the right thing to add to your collection of Fine Art instruments.  They're all mighty pretty!

Jimmy J

Many thanks Jimmy! I was using 'For Sale & Trade' before I realized there's also 'Wanted & Wishing'. I am of the opinion that the 'Jimmy Johnson' model and the Brown Bass for that matter are the most beautiful Alembic basses ever created. You're right: they're all pretty and I'm guessing it comes down to personal preferences. I have been collecting basses for a long time and only came across 2 or 3 JJ Alembics. I wouldn't mind buying one of yours. In that case you wouldn't have to use your sale skills at all! 😉

Got you in the right sub-forum now.

Don't give me credit for the lovely looking design, I kind of landed on it by accident.  I don't even think I chose the wood for my initial 5-string build way back in '76.  But the Alembic shop always turns out beautiful looking pieces and I have stuck with the original design of that initial instrument - because I was so happy with the sound.  As I said, for me it's function over form.  But it doesn't hurt to have a great looking axe!

I'm not done with any of mine yet, sorry.  

Jimmy J

I think this might be as close as you can get to what you're looking for:

https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/alembic-mark-king-deluxe-5-koa-34-trade-for-a-4.1656859/

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on Today at 09:43:27 AMI think this might be as close as you can get to what you're looking for:

https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/alembic-mark-king-deluxe-5-koa-34-trade-for-a-4.1656859/

Many thanks!! Unfortunately the Omega point was re-attached. I prefer a minty bass and have to be more patient I guess. Thanks again though!

Quote from: bassbuddy on Today at 10:03:42 AM

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on Today at 09:43:27 AMI think this might be as close as you can get to what you're looking for:

https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/alembic-mark-king-deluxe-5-koa-34-trade-for-a-4.1656859/

Many thanks!! Unfortunately the Omega point was re-attached. I prefer a minty bass and have to be more patient I guess. Thanks again though!

You might consider buying this one, which gets mighty close to the dream specs, to see if the ergonomical parts of those dream specs will work for you in real life.

Think Adriaan's suggestion is one to consider. The basic specs you are looking for are pretty easy to find. Where it is going to get  tricky is finding an actual JJ Signature bass or a long-scale Series bass or any model made after the 70s with tight string spacing. I have a 70s medium-scale Series Five-string and while it is a great sounding old bass with a much mellower tonal profile than my 2026 Series II five I have never really liked the tight string spacing. It is especially hard to play finger-style. So if you have not played an Alembic five-string with the tight spacing there is a degree of risk involved as to whether you will like playing it. If you do find a Jimmy Johnson signature bass I believe it will also be much pricier than this MK. It certainly wouldn't hurt to approach the guy with the MK and see if he is flexible on price. IMO his price is a bit high if you are not sure about keeping the bass once you get it but it is nowhere near as overpriced as 98% of the listings on Reverb. Good luck with your search!

I'd actually wondered whether it was a JJ Signature spec'd with koa rather than walnut. The repair looks solid/aesthetically pleasing, and at that price you could hardly do better in terms of specs.

Many thanks for your suggestions and feedback! Truly appreciated.