(x) 85S3453 USA

[tx196059]

Hello, just bought this bass. It has some strange electronics, and routing. Love the bass though. Thanks!

[mica]

Hi Joseph,

Here's the details from your instrument file:

serial number: 85S3453
model name: Spoiler
model number: SMB4
top: Bubbly Maple*
accent: none
body: Mahogany
neck: 3-piece Maple
scale: 32" medium
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: Pearloid (plastic) ovals
pickups: Alembic AXY
controls: volume, 4-position pickup selector switch, filter, 2-position Q-switch, mono output
originally made for: not recorded
birthday: January 8, 1985

The bass was registered in New York state in 1997. Share some pictures of what is under the hood and the strange routing you speak of. Inquiring minds want to know.

[tx196059]

Sorry for the late post. Here are pictures of the modifications done by previous owners. I must admit that the Bartolini PU's and preamp do give this Spoiler a nice snap and warm lows. Not sure why the other compartment was routed.


Joe

[edwardofhuncote]

Not sure about the extra routing on the top, or the extra compartment in the back (battery box?) but most recently the electronics were changed out for aftermarket Bartolinis. Found them when I opened the hood on my first Alembic too. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=601 (scroll down for pictures)

Nice bass though... play as-is, or put some Alembic activator circuitry back in there. A little creative/reconstructive woodwork req'd, that's all.

[mica]

My guess is the routing on the front is to make some finger access for slap/pop technique. There's not a lot of room between the bass pickup and the end of the fingerboard on these older basses.

Maybe the current condition is just the latest part of this bass-as-an-experiment, with extra cavities now, but they had a purpose in the past.