Author Topic: Alembic Series 1 for sale (Read 995 times)

mnewman · « **on:** March 10, 2015, 10:31:17 AM »

Up for sale is my Series 1 small standard 32'' scale bass. Serial number 33 built in 1973. Just recently had the electronics upgrade done. Teak top and back with an oak core.Weight is around the 9 lb. mark. Comes with the original case, power supply and 5-pin cable. 5,000.00 shipped in US only.

(Message edited by mica on March 10, 2015)

tbrannon · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2015, 10:37:06 AM »

holy smokes. Why can't I have $5k in my bank account?!!!

Love this bass- good luck with the sale.

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2015, 10:56:33 AM »

Very Cool . It still looks like old PF-5 electronics from the outside , is that correct ? What is different from the old standard PF-5 circuit electronics on the inside ? I am curious because I have 73-32 awaiting possible upgrade decisions.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2015, 12:42:09 PM »

So cool to see these early models still being played.

(being very much a nerd for the minutiae of vintage guitars) It's interesting to note this bass has the same tailpiece as #73-39, which was on the boards here a couple weeks ago.

moongerm · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2015, 12:44:16 PM »

Very cool!

wayne · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2015, 02:10:33 PM »

Small Standard 32?

Paging Delacerda, Michael Delacerda.....

dela217 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2015, 04:08:19 PM »

Wayne, you know what I like!!

Matt and I spoke about this bass earlier today. Being the nice guy that he is, offered me first refusal on this instrument before he posted it here for sale. You see, I sold it to him over 10 years ago. If anyone here is interested, you have no worries purchasing a bass from Matt. We have been fast friends for a long time.

Some interesting features about this bass is that it has an oak core. I can't imagine that there are too many with this feature. But aside from it being oak, it is SOLID oak. It does not have cavities like the typical small standard. Solid.

It also has the hammered brass back plate that I find particularly cool. That, with the scalloped nut is a real nice vintage touch that was common for Alembic back then.

In case you want to read a little more about this bass, it was featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine. It is in Volume 8, No.11 from August of 1994. This bass can also be seen in Rolling Stone magazine. A feature article was done on Alembic back in the day and it can be seen under construction in the background. It is the Rolling Stone from September 29th, 1973.

I really don't remember if it was a 32 inch scale or not. I thought it was a short scale.

All in all a great bass that will not disappoint. A collectible piece that can be played and enjoyed. Just try to refrain from putting an adjustable nut on it, or moving the strap button. Sorry, just a peeve of mine.

Michael

pasewark · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2015, 04:20:13 PM »

My first Alembic was a '74 similar to this but had a birds eye maple top. Series 1 shortscale. Great bass!

mnewman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2015, 06:30:17 PM »

I measured again and come up with 31.5'' from bridge to nut, not even close to 30''

mnewman · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2015, 06:46:56 PM »

This is the photo from rolling stone 1973. Upper left hanging from the ceiling. Looks like a match to me.

(Message edited by mica on March 10, 2015)

mnewman · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2015, 07:02:36 PM »

Power supply and 5-pin cable

sonicus · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2015, 08:01:58 PM »

(Double post error)

(Message edited by sonicus on March 10, 2015)

sonicus · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2015, 08:04:59 PM »

Matt , Nice Bass !
I am curious; what did an upgrade to the original PF-5 electronics consist of ? You still appear to have the PF-5 trimpots on the top .
In my post 3955 on this thread above I mentioned that I have serial # 32 . Number 32 also appears to have an Oak core but a Maple top & back with PF-5 electronics the same brown pickups.
Best of luck with your sale, these are great little instruments and I am happy to have found mine .

Wolf

mica · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2015, 08:10:29 PM »

Matt - if you measure from the nut to the 12th fret and double it, you will get the scale length used for the frets. It's hard to pick a string on the bridge to average the length.

(I only edited the posts to make the photos on their own line)

mnewman · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2015, 08:15:14 PM »

Sonicus: You would have to talk to Ron for the specifics. He came close to replacing everything but was able to keep the original electronics intact in the end. It was quite a chunk of his time over the space of a little over a year in the shop.