Author Topic: Series I Short Scale 4-String Fretted Bass Guitar Vintage 1981 [SOLD] (Read 702 times)

musashi · « **on:** February 11, 2015, 06:46:37 PM »

Circumstances are such that I am considering selling my beautiful 1981 short scale Alembic Series I 4-string fretted bass guitar done up in an amazing Flamed Koa. It is fast and slinky. It is in very good condition with no electronic issues. It is also perhaps one-of-a-kind with its custom tailpiece that allows for the use of either short scale or long scale strings (as the strings run through the body). It also has Omega cutouts on the body and the headstock. Not sure if the headstock Omega is original or done by a prior owner. It surely does make the bass one of a kind, though. The instrument has the stellar Alembic neck-through construction of maple and purpleheart with a 24-fret, 2 octave striped Ebony fingerboard with Mother Of Pearl oval inlays. The headstock has Zebrawood veneers and the super-resonant mahogany/maple Hippie Sandwich body features Flame Koa top and back woods. The scale length is 30.75 which is comfortable and fast as they come. The bass comes with a gig bag, Alembic power supply box, Alembic multi-pin cable, and the original Alembic build sheet, if I can find it.

Please email me privately for price.

Enzo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2015, 07:14:07 PM »

Looks familiar, I think this was for sale somewhere else and someone was trying to collect money in a desperate attempt to get it. I could be wrong of course.
Stunning short sale?.hmmm, one day.

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2015, 09:54:29 AM »

That Koa is spectacular

VMG

moongerm · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2015, 01:56:23 PM »

Nice!

bonesrad · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2015, 02:54:08 PM »

The seller is the person who was collecting money to purchase this bass back in late 2014.

Sorry that circumstances aren't allowing you to keep this bass. Best of luck in your sale.

Bones

(Message edited by bonesrad on February 13, 2015)

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2015, 03:36:45 AM »

That Koa is just incredible. If this were a 5-string I'd be in full freak-out mode right now. I concur with Bones - sorry you have to sell it.

I'm thinking Susan W. weighed in on a thread about this one a while back, regarding the headstock omega. IIRC, confirming the headstock was modified. Theories among the board here was it possibly suffered some damage to points of the omega cut, and someone rounded them over. Consensus was, that it could be either left as-is for uniqueness, or fixed properly at the shop.

Either way, it's a stunning bass.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2015, 03:55:47 AM »

Is it just me, or is this an omega cut in a Distillate body? (sometimes pictures look distorted on the mobile device)

Dang - that koa is just indescribable.

(Message edited by edwardofhuncote on February 14, 2015)

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2015, 08:56:32 AM »

What happened to the photos?

keith_h · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2015, 09:27:50 AM »

The picture gremlin ate them. It happens occasionally with the site software. Usually needs for them to be reposted.

Keith

Enzo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2015, 04:45:40 PM »

It's funny like the first picture link says Alembic copy, I wonder why, that looked pretty legit to me.

musashi · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2015, 10:15:40 PM »

Hello All, I will repost photos here:

The one is labeled "copy" because I had to re-size the photo to post it here, and I didn't want to alter the original photo. Yes, Bones and Edward, I really do not want to sell it, but have some medical issues that need to be dealt with. I've owned four Series instruments over the years and an original Rick Turner 2-pickup model (now owned by Eiji). This bass is my favorite. It has a unique look, and I don't have to worry about getting short-scale strings in my guages (.35 - .95) because of the strings-thru-body tail arrangement. And yes, the body does have a Distillate aura about it, which I really, really like. It is my hope that if whoever buys it might give me the opportunity to buy it back should they ever sell it.

musashi · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2015, 10:25:13 PM »

I just found the original paperwork. It refers to the model as Short Scale Bass 3/4 size. I believe this is referring to the body being three-quarters the size of the usual Omega body. And the fingerboard is rosewood, not ebony as was represented to me when I bought it.

musashi · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2015, 09:35:43 AM »

Here's a link to a quick down-and-dirty sonic example I recorded last night:

http://bit.ly/1phlUYs

musashi · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2015, 07:34:55 PM »

I added another sonic example of the bass in a slightly more musical context....

http://bit.ly/1EASyOk

(Message edited by musashi on February 15, 2015)

(Message edited by musashi on February 15, 2015)

musashi · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2015, 11:25:29 AM »

I probably should have mentioned it sooner, but the bass is on ebay and the auction ends today at 2 PM west coast time....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-I-Short-Scale-4-String-Fretted-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-1981-/251838651338?ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123