Jason Newsted Alembic

[alembic83]

FC, you  might like this one.  On tcgakki.com, I saw an Alembic that is apparently (according to the mishmash of a translation I got from Google) a kind of limited edition Jason Newsted model. Looks nice! It looks black at first glance but it is transparent. Flame maple top with mahogony and maple comprising the rest of the body (kind of hard to tell from translation). They are asking 252,000Yen for it. Anyone have anymore info on this bass, or if indeed there was a run of these?  
Here is the link:
http://www.tcgakki.com/items01/tc014231.html  
and a pic:  

[tmoney61092]

Alembic has never done a run of instruments, they are all custom made so someone would have had that made, i can never recall Jason using a bass with those electronics with an Elan body shape,  have out seen anymore like it?
 
~Taylor Watterson

[FC Bass]

Hi Jason, great to see you here again :-)
 
Alembic did runs I think, the early Spoilers were all (?) with solid Koa bodywings and I guess the Distillate was also some sort of production model.
If I'm not mistaken, they made lots more Instruments per year in the eighties than they do now.  
I looked at some serialnumbers and think they did about 300/400 instruments in '87 or '88 against less than 150 in the last few years...
 
The bass above looks like a Europa bodyshape + headstock and Essence electronics.
Model name: JNLSB (Jason Newsted long scale bass)
The back of the neck is finished black (not clear like Jason's basses) and I doubt if it has the transparent black color option (on my quote it says Sheer Black finish clear satin back of neck Jason Newsted style)  
I'm going to have the same finish as on Jason's basses and o boy, that's a serious investment ($$$!)  
I can easily have my house painted for that amount and it was a real shocker, but I'm sure it's going to more than worth it  
(and will be done with a lot more care than my house)
 
Also there seems to be no PH neck lams, looks like walnut veneers to me.
 
If this is a Jason Newsted model it would be in the same line as the signatures: an affordable look-alike of the real thing.
 
Is there a serial number mentioned?
 
 
I'm eager to see what Mica has to say...

[FC Bass]

Come to think of it....
 
Spyders, the Flamed Maple Epics, The 20th Anniversary, the 25th Anniversary...  
 
Also I remember a run of Elans with the Elan plus package, looks like lots of runs :-)
 
Edit: I think I can see 96 JN in the movie (click the link in the first message and click on the picture of the bass, there's a short movie between the pics  
 
Also: you can see the neck lams and it appears to have a Flame Maple top, looks it has the Sheer Black finish (and not the time consuming clear finish on the back of the neck)
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on April 22, 2009)

[tmoney61092]

Wow, I'm an idiot, I wasn't thinking when I posted that(trying to pay attention at school is not a good idea) so sorry about my post earlier, still an interesting bass, I also wait for Mica's input
 
~Taylor Watterson

[olieoliver]

Flip knows his Metallica. (Unforgiven II playing in the background at work)
 
OO
PS. Taylor, the name of your band happens to be my favorite Aerosmith song. Simple but booming bass line, slight funk feel to it and great groove.

[tmoney61092]

I know my Metallica also(most talented metal band ever), just not that much in the morning,I actually play the bass in my band, not exactly sure how we got the name, my bro and our guitarist just said it and everyone liked it and agreed with it. What do you think of our music? We are actually going to start being heavier so we can have a Metallica feel to our sound.
 
~Taylor Watterson

[FC Bass]

Good song Olie!
 
@ Taylor: going heavier is always good :-)
 
I think the serial number is 96JN10288
 
Jason did play Sadowsky onstage in '96 and had a JN model by Spector in '95 I think.
So I guess this bass was made in the post Alembic era of Jason's career.

[David Houck]

Nice bass!

[tmoney61092]

Heavier is always better, ever since the band started I wanted to go heavier, one year later they finally listen to me :-). People seem to get more involved with heavy music, which I love. I have to ask, do you like the 80's era or 90's era of Metallica more?
 
~Taylor Watterson

[blackelan]

Intresting. Susan told me over the years they have made exact replicas of the Jason Newsted basses of the past.
 
I also beleive my Elan 5 string will be the only era correct replica of Jason Newsted's 89 Elan not the upgraded 91 version.
 
Maybe Mica or Susan can confirm this?
 
 I hope I get a JN serial number with my Elan but either way it does not matter to me.
 
(Message edited by BlackElan on April 22, 2009)
 
(Message edited by BlackElan on April 22, 2009)

[tmoney61092]

I've wanted that bass ever since I saw the bass solo in Seattle in '89, very mice choice, not that it's my place to ask, but what was their estimated price for building your bass?
 
~Taylor Watterson

[tmoney61092]

I've wanted that bass ever since I saw the bass solo in Seattle in '89, very mice choice, not that it's my place to ask, but what was their estimated price for building your bass?
 
~Taylor Watterson

[FC Bass]

For prices you can call/mail Alembic ;-)
 
I will also have a replica, but with different electronics:
JPJ pickups, 3 x filter + Q, pan for the J style pickups and an on/off switch for the P pickup and master volume.
Woodwise and colorwise it will be the same.
 
So there will be two of these beauties in the FTC section soon :-)
 
Also one of my favourite Alembics. (Together with the Series II Spoilers)
 
Btw, I see Jason already commented on the transparent finish in the first message, I guess I was too excited to read well ;-)
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on April 23, 2009)

[tmoney61092]

I would definetly get the 3x filters, would 3x Q switches be a good idea also? I like your idea for the pickup selection, did you consider just having one on/off switch for each pickup?