Author Topic: Interesting Guitar on Ebay - Alembic? (Read 241 times)

lbpesq · « **on:** March 12, 2007, 09:07:53 PM »

Here's an interesting one. Probably not Alembic, but could easily be an employee project.

guitar

Bill, tgo

tom_z · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:31:00 PM »

Oh my - I can't imagine that shape coming out of anyone at Alembic. It looks a little more like a garage project. Interesting fretboard - ovals and dots.

Peace
Tom

jacko · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2007, 06:28:20 AM »

to paraphrase mica and Susan, we've never made a bolt on neck.

graeme

88persuader · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2007, 09:12:29 PM »

NEVER MADE a bolt on neck in California but DID license their name to a manufacturer in Japan making bolt on neck guitars. So in reality ALEMBIC DID make a bolt on neck bass. May not have been California Alembic but it was a legally licenced guitar with the Alembic name and electronics sooo it WAS a bolt on honest to god Alembic.

jacko · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:40:22 AM »

Sorry raymond but to me it's not an Alembic if it's not made by the Alembic Elves;-)

graeme

georgie_boy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2007, 07:17:59 AM »

Maybe it's an aRembic?

88persuader · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2007, 07:52:21 PM »

aRembic!! I like that! And I agree Jacko ... it's not a real Alembic made by Alembic but it IS a legal Alembic with a bolt on. So even though Alembic in California never MADE a bolt on neck legally Alembic did make a bolt on. Just a LEGAL point ... in COURT an Alembic bolt on would be on record. It's not a fake, it's an Alembic, Just splitting LEGAL hairs! :-)

jay · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2007, 10:27:50 PM »

I guess I might as well put in my two cents here.My name is Jay Rosen and I am the owner of this guitar.I am only giving my opinion here, not really trying to push my concept.
This guitar was not made in Japan in my opinion. Everything about is would indicate it being made here in the Bay Area.All of the parts are made in the US and are older High end parts except the tuners which have been replaced.The neck is modified vintage Fender for sure, either from a Jaguar or Mustang.The Body looks like Alembic to me but in an perhaps an employee or after hours way. The control cavity and cover look very much like other examples I have seen .I purchased this guitar in San Rafael years ago .
I did many years ago own Johnny Winter's Alembic and it was also
Atypical and totally custom made.
I am not sure who made this(or why) but I doubt that it was made outside the Bay Area.I feel there is an Alembic connection here but I never worked or visited there so I don't know. My impressions are based only on experience handling vintage guitars as a full time day gig. I hope this is not taken in the wrong way. I am posting here because I know this is a hobby for fun and I enjoy learning and sharing.
Jay Rosen

88persuader · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2007, 10:48:01 PM »

I see nothing wrong with your posting Jay ... welcome to the forum! As you can tell from the thread the crux of the conversation is the fact that statments have been made by people at Alembic that they never made a bolt on neck Alembic and the fact is this bass was licenced by Alembic ... so in fact they did make a bolt on at one time, even if it wasn't made in the US. Tell me ... how does the bass sound and feel? Was it expensive like all other Alembics? Do you think it was was hand made or a mass production instrument? That would be interesting because Alembics are not mass produced. The plot grows thicker! :-) As I stated in an earlier post, I consider this ODD Alembic with a bolt on neck to be a collector's item because it's something they've never done, will probably never do again and it's legitimate. I think you should hold on to it ... someday to a collector it may be worth a lot? In a land of all custom Alembic basses and guitars you may have the most rare type of Alembic ever made. One with a bolt on neck that may have been mass produced. Like finding the missing link! :-)

[moderator edit: strike through text that mistakenly and unintentionally refers to a discussion in a similar but different thread]

(Message edited by davehouck on March 16, 2007)

88persuader · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2007, 10:49:52 PM »

CORRECTION ...... I POSTED THIS MESSAGE ON THE WRONG THREAD!!!! SORRY ... I WISH I COULD DELETE IT!!!

jay · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2007, 12:41:34 AM »

This one appears to be hand made not production due to the fact that it has a very modified Fender neck.I doubt that it is in any way an official model of Alembic. I would imagine it to be an employee guitar or early guitar.I doubt any guitar company would plan a model or line of guitars using the neck from another leading brand.
The screws that hold the control cavity are threaded and countersunk brass.,not wood screws.There is a lot of attention to detail here.
It is fun seeing this type of instrument.There is a unique history of guitar and amp production here in the Bay Area. I also have some early Boogie stuff that is non standard.Looking at these non catalog guitars and amps is like archeology .
I just have impressions based upon what I have seen and read and
try to figure out what I can.I have had this guitar for years because I thought it was interesting.It does seem well built and
unusual.I am not sure what the wood is on the body,any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jay

jay · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2007, 12:57:55 AM »

I did find something else interesting.There is a website dedicated to Jerry Garcia's guitars.If you have a look there is a guitar described as an Alembic or Alembic project with a Gibson Les Paul neck and a picture of that guitar being played onstage by Jerry with the Dead ,Circa 1971.This seems like the same type of one off to me, non production guitar.
Jay