Author Topic: My 1977 6 string guitar (Read 821 times)

stilts · « **on:** October 12, 2009, 02:09:08 PM »

I purchased this 1977 Alembic used in 1980 and still love it like the day I got it. In 1992 I had the factory upgrade the wiring to a series II so that I could get the master volume knob as well as the continuous Q switches.

Part of the original 1977 set-up included the two Mellow Filters. According to the factory they only put this option on about 7 models all of which were made around 77. You can see the two switches for the filters located above the individual volume knobs.

It has a Koa top, Mahogany center and the neck is rock maple and purple heart. Rosewood fingerboard and mother of pearl inlays. The finish has a lot of spidering as it has the old yellowish finish before Alembic switched to the clear finish in 1979.

The serial number is 77-962. My camera went dead after taking the first pic but I'll get some more pics online after the battery recharges.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2009, 03:29:47 PM »

Very cool!!!

Welcome to the board John!

stilts · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:16:50 PM »

Here's a few more pics. This first shot shows the mellow filter switches as well as some spidering and the "nice" ding it had when I purchased it next to where the Master volume knob now is.

artswork99 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:34:46 PM »

Hi Jon,
Welcome to the forum. What a great looking early Alembic guitar!
Continue Playing it Healthy,
Art

jazzyvee · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:37:42 PM »

What are the mellow filters purpose? I've never heard of them before.

Jazzyvee

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:43:21 PM »

man, that is a beautiful guitar, congradulations(29 years late, but still ;-) )

~Taylor Watterson

stilts · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:49:29 PM »

Funny you should ask. I never knew what they were when I bought it and no one could tell me until I sent the guitar to the factory for the Series II upgrade. At that time they explained they were to change the sound slightly. Pretty subtle and not surprising they didn't put them on every model. Each operates a different pick up. Just one more option in sound control to add to the mix. Sorry I can't explain the sound difference more articulately.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:55:12 PM »

if you happen to read this, Mica, would Alembic ever put these on a custom if a customer really wanted them?

~Taylor Watterson

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:03:09 PM »

According to Mica, mellow filters are specifically for guitars, and produce a less harsh result than the low pass filters alone, especially when the low-pass is tuned to a high frequency. They do this by having a very gentle roll off, about 3db/octave.

Normal filter roll off on Alembic low pass filters is 12db/octave, so it would appear to be a significant difference. And yes, the appear to be fairly rare. Plus the name, mellow filters, just adds to the cool factor!

stilts · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:04:50 PM »

For what it's worth, in 92, when the upgrade was done I had spoken with Dave in the repair department who was incredibly helpful in filling in the blanks on the history of this guitar. He said that the engineer who orginally designed that circuitry for the mellow filters was still working there and stoked to see them still around. Oddly enough one of the other 7 had been in the shop the previous week for some work.

stilts · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:17:00 PM »

Dave,

Thanks for the detailed info. 30 years later and I'm still learning about it. I will say that at the volumes I tend to play at (trying to keep the neighbors at bay) the difference in the sound is slight to my ear. But maybe my ear's not that great anymore. ;-). I agree with you that the name mellow filter definitely has some cool factor. The factory had explained to me that the sound difference was slight, which was what I had sensed, but there IS a difference in sound to be sure.

(Message edited by stilts on October 12, 2009)

sonicus · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:14:31 PM »

Very nice indeed !

mike1762 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2009, 05:16:36 AM »

Is this still available???