(x) Series I Short Scale Bass 801544

[jazzyvee]

Hi Mica, can I request a build record for this bass that is on it's way to me from Australia. I don't think there are exotic woods or any customisation. It looks like Mahogany core and maple top and back.  it reminds me of the bass Stanley was playing during his tour over here in the early 80's Clarke Duke project.
No rush...

[mica]

Here's what was in the file, Vince:
 
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originally made for: LaVonne Music, MN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.  
 
Now you've got it - whew! It's really travelled quite a bit.

[jazzyvee]

Thanks Mica, It certainly has seen some mileage in its 35yrs. Since it's had two owners from Minnesota I wonder if one of them was the Purple One?  :-)

[hammer]

Jazzyvee:
 
I don't know whether the purple one or any of his bassists every played an Alembic SC but since the bass has such a history in Minnesota if you ever tire of it, please consider sending it back to me in Minneapolis, it's first home.  It came SO...Close to returning here. Hope you're enjoying it.

[mica]

No purple previous owners on this one, but Prince had a few of Spoilers. There was a white one that he later had decorated with flowers. I think there was a black and purple Spoiler as well, and at least one of them had a Roland synth pickup. Mark Brown was the bassist playing them. Price removed all the logos from his equipment at that time, including the Alembic basses.

[jazzyvee]

This bass has completed 40 trips around the sun and well into it's 41st trip. It still plays sweetly and could easily do 40 more and I hope I can too.

[edwardofhuncote]

That one is my favorite of all your basses Jazzy... and I'm not one to pick favorites among Alembics, but there is just something about that maple on mahogany that speaks to me. So glad it ended up with someone in the Club who appreciates it. 

[jazzyvee]

Thanks, I have been playing it a lot this week. I. gig almost exclusively 5 string bass but hope after the lockdown to get some gigs where I can just play 4 string basses. Maple on mahogany is a good mix that I have with a few of my alembics and they have somehow becomes the ones I play most. I think the plain grained maple looks best as a matt finish rather than gloss.

[hieronymous]

Ah, I saw you post about this on Facebook, nice to see your post from 5 years ago and the details! At first I thought maybe you had a new Series I on the way! Then I saw the date and the FB post came back to mind.

I've been playing my 5-string SC a lot lately too - been meaning to email you guys, keep an eye on your inbox...

[rv_bass]

That’s a beautiful bass, Jazzyvee!

[jazzyvee]

Ah, I saw you post about this on Facebook, nice to see your post from 5 years ago and the details! At first I thought maybe you had a new Series I on the way! Then I saw the date and the FB post came back to mind.

I've been playing my 5-string SC a lot lately too - been meaning to email you guys, keep an eye on your inbox...

I have been trying to find a way to afford a series II short scale bass with some options that make it personal to me, but the price always ends up way out of reach so I guess that door will have to close again. But I am thankful for the incredible alembic basses I have been able to afford over the years.

[rv_bass]

Ah, I saw you post about this on Facebook, nice to see your post from 5 years ago and the details! At first I thought maybe you had a new Series I on the way! Then I saw the date and the FB post came back to mind.

I've been playing my 5-string SC a lot lately too - been meaning to email you guys, keep an eye on your inbox...

I have been trying to find a way to afford a series II short scale bass with some options that make it personal to me, but the price always ends up way out of reach so I guess that door will have to close again. But I am thankful for the incredible alembic basses I have been able to afford over the years.

Jazzyvee, have you considered modifying your SI short scale with CVQs and the other options you are thinking about?  It might make it more achievable.

[jazzyvee]

Yeah i have thought about that and i vaguely recall reading somewhere on here that the mothership were considering a conversion kit for doing that and also a master volume one too.

[timplog]

good looking bass there Jazzy, a certain understated elegance-kinda black tie and a single malt vibe somehow.
but I should probably return to my knitting too

[StephenR]

Yeah i have thought about that and i vaguely recall reading somewhere on here that the mothership were considering a conversion kit for doing that and also a master volume one too.

I spoke with Mica recently about adding CVQ controls to my Series I.5. She told me they are working on a design for them that will be modular and incorporate a circuit board instead of each one needing to be hand-wired. Since the shop is really backed up she suggested I wait until fall and the parts may be available by then. It sounded like going forward the connections for the Series basses will be modular to allow easy modification.