Author Topic: A strange one - AJ-II HB (Read 365 times)

mavnet · « **on:** August 22, 2015, 05:17:48 PM »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980s-ALEMBIC-Japan-AJ-II-HB-Used-w-Gigbag-Worldwide-Shipping-/171902754924?hash=item280633e06c

What the heck is this thing?

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2015, 05:20:17 PM »

Japanese market that Alembic supplied the pickups and electronics for.

~Taylor

mica · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2015, 06:51:20 PM »

This was made by Rokkomann, Inc., our distributor in Japan for many years. At the time these were made the exchange rate was terrible and there was no market for very expensive products that wound up costing twice as much. I believe there are about 50 of them. We supplied the pickups and electronics, they made the instruments. These are the only Alembic branded instruments that were not made in our shop.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2015, 07:20:55 PM »

For curiosity's sake, what electronics were these equipped with? Volume/Pan/Filter?

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2015, 08:07:37 PM »

Strange looking indeed. Have not MIca said that, I would have certainly thought Fake as a 12,35 bill. I think it's a shame this one is not a neck-thru, or at least a set neck. The neck joint seems very frail to me...

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2015, 08:32:09 PM »

I agree regarding the neck joint . I would prefer a four or more screw design on a bolt on neck .

Wolf

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2015, 09:15:34 PM »

I'm thinking these were 2 volume 1 filter sets. These are pretty cool and mom and I been toying with the idea of making a set neck version with a regular hardware set sometime.

sonicus · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2015, 09:47:45 PM »

Mica , I think that would be a winner !

Wolf

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2015, 05:48:06 PM »

Here's a discussion about them from 2008, with great closeup pics (the bass isn't as nice as this one, though).

http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/58239.html?1226277523

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2015, 10:33:31 PM »

Oops. It appears I posted this in the other thread about this bass, when I meant to post it here. Sorry. Here it is again.

Danny Gatton replaced the neck screws on his guitars with heli-coils and machine screws. It made a huge difference in tone.

Now they make neck joint locking systems that work better, are much cheaper and are way easier to install.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WBS-Guitar-Bass-Neck-Joint-System-Kit-Project-DIY-L-K-FREE-FREIGHT-/170305952745?hash=item27a7069be9

Anybody who is reasonably handy with a cordless drill can replace the neck screws in a couple of minutes and lock that sucker down.