Author Topic: Ever see anything like this? "Pan, modified by Alembic" (Read 208 times)

rusty_the_scoob · « **on:** July 12, 2010, 01:02:35 PM »

Ever see anything like this weird P-bass with an oval sticker saying it was modified by Alembic? Is it legit and if so what did they do to it? (other than the really unusual pickup)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pan-Modified-ALEMBIC-Bass-Sunburst-Amazing-/120592678856?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item1c13e23fc8

http://s1016.photobucket.com/albums/af283/Nightlarkxebay/bass/?start=0

rusty_the_scoob · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2010, 01:09:54 PM »

It seems to be connected to the original distributors. From the history page here on Alembic.com:

1973 A small music distribution company in Beaverton, Oregon called L. D. Heater Music Company, read the article in Rolling Stone and it interested them enough to take a little trip to San Francisco. They wanted to discuss the possibility of Alembic making a more standardized form of instrument that they could distribute to their dealers. L. D. Heater Music was owned by Norlin Inc. Norlin was based in Illinois and owned Gibson, Ampeg, Epiphone and other music related companies. We negotiated an exclusive distribution agreement for a limited time. They gave me the purchase order I required, and this was the beginning of the manufacturing of a standard high end instrument for Alembic and the entire music industry.

adriaan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2010, 01:03:13 AM »

Just posted this on another thread, but it bears repeating ...

quote:A few years back, Michael posted in this thread the following:

Pan was a company that was distributed by L.D. Heater. The same folks that distributed Alembic back in 1973 and 74 before Rothchild stepped in. A Pan/Alembic is a Pan instrument that was modified by Alembic on a production line basis. At least that is what the Pan brochure says that I am taking this from. The Pan/Alembic instruments featured Alembic ceramic magnet hot-rod modification and some Alembic shielding. There was also some Alembic low end boost and low end cut switches. So....a Pan was a Pan, and a Pan/Alembic was just a knockoff with some uprated electronics.

terryc · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2010, 01:53:10 AM »

Precursors to the Activators???

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2010, 03:47:16 AM »

The pictures on Photobucket show a Japanese copy of a P-bass, with a m-o-t-s Pan logo on the headstock, and a large sticker on the back (with a vague copy of the Alembic logo). The only unusual thing for a P-bass on the outside is the split pickup with single pole pieces. No switches in sight ...

adriaan · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2010, 03:50:26 AM »

Forgot to post a picture of the pickup:

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2010, 09:17:19 AM »

My first affordable bass that ruled my high school music department (bass wise) was a Pan Fender Jazz copy.

PAN was cheapest, and the best bass I could afford. Even though when my parents saved enough to buy me what I always wanted a Fender, the Pan, became my bass because it was different, and the sounds just grown on me. So, I told my father to forget about the Fender, I was a PAN-MAN!

My peers laughed when they first seen the PAN logo, but they stopped laughing after I started laying down a groove.

Yeah, I still laugh to this day about entering a sea of Fenders, and Gibsons but I was still cool with my PAN.

These days, sound is too serious to look back, or sound back...

Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 14, 2010)