Author Topic: Series I with Extra Neck Lam Upgrade (Read 131 times)

otis · « **on:** April 25, 2011, 07:33:21 PM »

Saw this a minute ago, figured someone might be interested. It appears to be a good deal, especially with the Extra Neck Laminate Upgrade.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1980-Alembic-Long-scale-bass-/230611491370?pt=Guitar&hash=item35b1841a2a

bigredbass · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2011, 12:21:18 AM »

The CLASSIC Series One, oil finish, little blue box, etc. IF this is as-advertised, it's gonna make somebody a nice axe. I could sure as hell get another oval inlay and fix that !

J o e y

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2011, 07:33:01 AM »

The seller is 30th Street Guitars. Unless I'm mistaken, that's the guy who lost the lawsuit the Pastorius family filed to recover Jaco's Bass of Doom. Bad karma there, IMO.

jack · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2011, 11:07:21 AM »

Intersting, I hadn't read that about the BOD and all the controversy, suits, or that Trujillo bought it. I guess I'm out of the loop. Amazing that he (Brewster) bought it for 400 bucks in 2006!

Having said that, that seems like a good price for a Manhattan music store. I've never played a series, never held one, might have to go fix that.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2011, 12:44:03 PM »

It was kept fairly quiet, but I happened to look under enough rocks to learn that from someone who seemed like a reliable source of information.

If you've never played a Series bass, you should definitely check it out. Like, today. In an hour, or whenever you get off work.

That price seems average to me. The NYC market is for vintage, especially Fender. Alembic just doesn't seem to capture much interest in that town. Maybe because of the added bulk of the Blue Box and the special cable, which I can say from experience are inconvenient in a venue where an amp is provided and you have a strict 45 minute set with 15 minutes to set up and no soundcheck.

tubeperson · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2011, 12:54:10 PM »

Yo Kungfusheriff, I think the fact that Fodera, and until recently Alleva Coppola being located in NYC, plus Spector and MTD in Woodstock, (along with Veillette and Cintron) makes many in the NYC area more comfortable with those brands. We on the East Coast can't just take a short drive to the mothership, much as we would love to. Of course, I am an Alembic fan and owner, but also note there is no authorized dealer in NYC. That is a problem as I see it. I think if the mothership could find a dealer in NY City (G Guitars in New Haven recently closed its doors), it would raise their visibility and more players could experience what we all love about our axes. For club menbers, you are always welcome to visit my office to see some choice specimens.

jack · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2011, 01:05:58 PM »

KFS- are you implying that I'm sitting at work browsing the internet for basses and posting online?

I would NEVER!

Yeah, might have to go check it out after wo-... I mean, after I, um, finish up whatever it is I'm doing.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2011, 01:55:41 PM »

Jack -- caught you! And I'm so dialing Human Resources right now...

Steve -- you forgot Roger Sadowsky and Stu Spector. I know lots of people who play Sadowsky, but Spector, not so much these days. Trends? Pack mentality? Who knows. Of course, I don't play out all that much anymore, so maybe I'm missing something.

Alembic have been around for 37 years and there are enough of their instruments floating around on the secondhand market for New Yorkers to be familiar with them. Hell, I've lived here my whole life and so far have owned five Alembics.

tubeperson · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2011, 02:08:44 PM »

I also own five Alembics and since I am 54 and I have lives here all my life. LOL seriously we take knowing Alembic for granted but from what I see they are not as well known as you think. Yes Sadowsky is nice even if he is in Staten Island and Stu Spector is also in Woodstock.

This is somewhat similar to the Chapman stick which is also a West Coast firm. I have two of those and wish Emmett would be visible out here more often. Fortunately there are some excellent
Stickists thus way. If Stanley Clarke lived out here instead of Cal, it would also help. Finally we need an authorized dealer to increase Alembic's exposure.

dshade43 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2011, 03:30:20 PM »

Regarding this bass, I've never seen a 1980 alembic with the logo embossed on the pickups. Thought that came later. Am I mistaken?

tubeperson · « **Reply #10 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:24:04 AM »

I don't know what happened with the Pastorious Family, so I cannot comment on that. I did visit this location once, when my Steinberger bass needed a lookover at Peekamouse Guitars, which is on the same block. Peekamouse is an authorized Gibson service center, and well known Steinberger service center. They do excellent work and have a Plek machine which is mucho bucks for the service, (but it's only green stuff. Doesn't the President want us to go green?).

The guitar selection was pretty impressive at 30th Street Guitars, but as a bassist I was very disappointed with the lack of bass selection. This item is unusual for them to have, at least based on my experiences. However, that is an excellent heads up, caveat emptor, if the Pastorius family lawsuit involved them. Thanks for informaing us (another reason why this forum is so excellent IMHO), but be mindful of slander laws, if applicable.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:59:48 AM »

To add to the intrigue, there is (or was) a relationship between 30th Street Guitars and Kevin Borden, formerly of Good Guys Guitars, that allows KeBo to display instruments in the 30th Street storefront. I saw two other Alembics on Borden's site, but not this one, but it could still be one of his.