Author Topic: Alleged 1969 Alembic on eBay (Read 1113 times)

kungfusheriff · « **on:** April 20, 2009, 11:37:19 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=310136981356

Any reactions, other than man, that bass could use a bath?

bsee · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2009, 12:40:52 PM »

I think it looks really cool and might represent some pre-Alembic work. I will be interested to hear what Mica has to say as this could either be a laugher, or an oh my god I haven't seen that thing in almost 40 years moment.

-bob

mica · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2009, 12:48:05 PM »

There are no 1969 Alembic basses. Number 1 is a 1972.

Some parts of this in passing look like Alembic parts, but then, upon closer inspection, they don't really: 3-pin instead of 5-pin, peghead shape (there IS a logo(not Alembic)), hacked up brass plate, trapezoid pickups (still don't look quite right to me).
There's just alot of things that make me think this is someone's personal project, and not necessarily someone related to or involved with us.

A picture of the electronics would be revealing, I can pretty much tell my father's handiwork.

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2009, 01:08:26 PM »

late 60's employee project???

jfiles · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2009, 01:28:24 PM »

Talk about weird - I just had this in my shop in Austin, Texas recently. I had the control plate off of it to determine what it was. I had let the owner know that this was not an Alembic (he agreed and said that someone made it). There is no preamp in this bass - passive pickups vol/vol/tone/tone and two jacks wired in parallel (no lo-z transformer even). The neck was pitched at the wrong angle - the bridge is adjusted all the way down and the action is still way too high. I remember looking at the pots, but I don't remember the pot codes being from 1969, though. I don't think that the current seller is the same person that brought it into the store as he was local.

rodneyat · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2009, 02:08:13 PM »

Read through the sellers feedback ratings..not exactly stellar or anything close to it.

zezozeceglutz · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2009, 02:27:59 PM »

I love that the pickup wires just run right along the surface. Is that a (cabinet?) door hinge for a bridge?

At least the pickups are worth $0.35-0.55 each!

olieoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2009, 02:37:35 PM »

Had to look for myself Ken but you're dead on. Still laughing my butt off!

Cabinet hinge, on my my,
OO

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2009, 03:37:55 PM »

Golly gee, I was all set to bid on this one until I noticed the tuners aren't original. Love the coins in the pickup castings. Probably makes it easier to change tone during a song! lol

Bill, tgo

dela217 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2009, 04:31:26 PM »

Could it be that it is some sort of Stars Guitars creation using Alembic pickups from the era? But then again, the stuff Stars was doing was waaayy better than that. The woodworking on that looks like it was done with a hot spoon.

jedisan · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:52:25 PM »

Hey John,

Thanks for posting up here with additional info on this instrument. Although I think most of us would have been cautious on this one, it's good to have info like you can provide. But I've got to say... the hinge for the string anchor was pure genius. Sometimes, you just gotta' go with what you have.

bsee · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:53:39 PM »

Sounds like Mica and the eBay police should be shutting this thing down shortly if it hasn't been killed already. Based upon her statement, it would seem this is clearly advertised inappropriately.

57basstra · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:36:36 PM »

I have been bidding on this one and until a second or two ago I was high bidder.

I emailed the seller asking how he knew it was authentic Alembic and he replied:
Hello,
I am sure it is an Alembic. I did a lot of research and I showed it to several dealers this weekend at the Dallas guitar. The pot codes date it to 1969. This was at the very beginning of the Alembic company.
Thanks,
Rod

I actually kinda like the old bass. I do not plan to bid any more, however.

mica · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:45:46 PM »

I wrote to the seller to explain that while I didn't know who made the bass, I knew that it wasn't us. My dad said, no 3-pin outputs ever.

olieoliver · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:28:51 PM »

I was at the Dallas guitar show this passed weekend. I would've loved to run into this guy. I did see one Alembic, an Epic in fair to poor conditon priced at $1400.00.