Author Topic: New owner - Request for history (Read 317 times)

musikill · « **on:** December 20, 2003, 01:07:12 AM »

I recently bought a used SC Deluxe S/N 91-SC-6877. The bass should arrive next week. I would appreciate any historical infomation that you might have on file. Also, are there any owners manuals available that I can purchase?
Thanks,
greg

valvil · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2003, 04:34:34 PM »

Hello Greg,

here we go:

4 string Stanley Clarke Signature Deluxe short scale.

Quilted maple top & back
Purpleheart accent laminates
mahogany body
Ebony Fretboard
5 piece maple/purpleheart neck
Brass hardware
plastic oval inlays
Alembic gotoh tuners
Signature electronics
Transparent color finish, Amethyst
Completed 11/14/1991

One previously registered owner.

That's it.

At the moment we do not have a manual available; let me know if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
Valentino

(Message edited by valvil on December 22, 2003)

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2003, 06:00:07 PM »

Greg; go here for a basic owner's manual:
http://www.alembic.com/support/care.html

musikill · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2003, 11:11:49 AM »

Thanks for the history, it's nice to know the actual specifics rather than guessing! I'm still waiting for the bass to arrive. Unfortunately the shipper sent it via USPS Priority and did not request tracking service. He did insure it but not for retail replacement value. It was due here yesterday but with no way to track it I am feeling a bit uneasy. The seller has been communicating and I do not believe anything is fishy on his end - I'm more worried that it might have vanished in shipping. Keeping my fingers crossed it shows up today.
Thanks again,
greg

bob · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2003, 01:37:29 PM »

Hang in there, Greg. For some reason, it seems the USPS is a bit backed up right now... I just had a set of strings sent via priority mail, and instead of showing up overnight as usual, it took 3 days.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2003, 03:34:10 PM »

For some reason? Check your calendars...
Patience is a virtue, and an Alembic is a blessing. Hold tight.

musikill · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2003, 04:37:36 PM »

Thanks Bob,
Just as I was leaving for the day - I got a call from the front desk and - It's here! It needs a real good cleaning and new strings but other than that it appears to be in good shape. I paid $1775.00. I think that is a pretty good price can anyone confirm? I bought it off ebay. there was not much action on this bass. I figured bidding would get heavy toward the end but I only had to bid twice to win. It's not like any other Alembic I have seen - it's purple (amethyst tint).

musikill · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2003, 04:43:27 PM »

Is there a graphic anywhere in this forum that has the knob/switch functions for the standard electronics? I can figure it out but thought I would ask anyway.
Happy holidays to all of you.
greg

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2003, 05:48:36 PM »

There is a graphic of the control layout on this page:
http://www.alembic.com/info/FC_robes.html

musikill · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2003, 08:53:34 AM »

Thanks dave, just want I needed. I think I saw a very good description of the Q function on this forum the other day - something I think will help as well. I am amazed at the amout of tone variation available with these controls. A better understanding of how they work is a must.
greg

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2003, 09:12:43 AM »

Greg; there is a good discussion on these controls here:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/7213.html?1072074068

bracheen · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:24:31 AM »

Greg, what a christmas present, eh? I know everyone here would like to see photos when you can stop playing long enough to take them. Understandably that may be a while yet. Congratulations on the new bass. Out of curiousity, what type amp/speakers are you using?

Sam

musikill · « **Reply #12 on:** December 25, 2003, 02:37:40 PM »

Hi Sam,
I have more system than I need - it was neccessary at one time but it is over kill now that I am playing live anymore, but here it is:
2 - crown DC300a
1 - crown DC300a series II
BBE Max Bass preamp (has built in lim/comp and BBE unit)
art studio V3 tube preamp
2 - Trace elliott cabinets each w/1x15 front loaded
1 - custom built folded horn w/4x12 drivers
1 - Alesis microverb (I only use this with my fretless and only rarely)
1 - Peterson digital strobe tuner

Even though this is old stuff (except the preamp) it is real clean so I just can't bring myself to part with it. I am looking for something more reasonable and have been considering the SWR workingman's 12. Also someone in this group pointed me toward the Acme cabinets and I must say they look real good for the price. I will post pics. I have not played it much yet as it was real dirty and way out of adjustment - I have spent the last couple of days tearing it apart to clean and adjust the neck/pickups etc. Someone had managed to pull one of the threaded inserts for the neck pu out of the body so I had to redrill and thread the insert back into the body then find a longer screw with the correct threads - all of this was simple and now I am just waiting for Alembic to send the strings I ordered. Do you know if they are typically slow to deliver? I selected expedited 3 day shipping but have not seen anything or received any email indicating shipment. It's been a week and I live in Los Angeles so it should not take long to get here. The strings that are on the bass are at least a year old and totally dead. I change strings once every month or so when I am playing casually - if it takes a while to get stuff from Alembic I better order a few sets.
thanks.
greg

bracheen · « **Reply #13 on:** December 25, 2003, 03:22:40 PM »

Wow, that's a lot of stuff. I don't play live either at the moment and am using a small Hartke combo. It's not much but it's in a little room. There are jacks for both active and passive basses so I can use my other non-Alembics (Fender...shhh) with it also. Funny story when I first got my Epic. After playing it for a while I switched to my P Bass just for a comparision. The Fender sounded horrible. It was weak and thin and just pathetic. Laying in bed that night it occured to me that it was plugged into the active jack. I changed jacks and all is well. I'm not the techie of this group.
I've ordered the Alembic polish and Flitz brass cleaner from the on line store. It seemed to take a couple of weeks longer than the average delivery, but I'm on the diagonally opposite coast.

Sam

dannobasso · « **Reply #14 on:** December 25, 2003, 07:11:27 PM »

As with all things Alembic, be patient. I like to think that someone got their custom bass a day or two sooner and I got my non essentials later. I'm not sure how the online store works but remember that it is a small company and if someone is sick or needs to take care of an emergency, not everyone is a specialist in every area. BTW it seems like a very good price to me.