Author Topic: BB, Series II , Stanley Clarke (Read 1198 times)

slawie · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2011, 09:44:30 PM »

Here it is.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/13368.html?1165501171

and here

http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/10707.html

from here

http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/alembic/10.htm#75

1975 4 string shorts scale series I bass
Koa top & back
birch body
ebony fretboard
maple/walnut neck
mother of pearl oval inlays

According to the last owner, the bass was retrofitted with blue leds ( not by us)
The tailpiece has been moved further down the body and a string tree has been installed between the tailpiece and the bridge. We think this was done so that regular long scale strings can be used.

The tailpiece and the PF6 card were replaced here at Alembic in 1993.

slawie

(Message edited by slawie on February 20, 2011)

mike1762 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2011, 07:09:12 PM »

Hmmmm... anybody heard from poor_nigel lately? His profile says he last logged in 2/6/11, but I don't recall any recent posts.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2011, 09:27:07 AM »

Tom's always been a sporadic poster.

All three of those basses look very familiar. 75-150 has been in the family for maybe 10 years, passing through several sets of hands in that time. I almost bought it myself on several occasions but could never quite make the deal work on my end. Tom started a thread that included a number of great, high-resolution pictures after he bought it from oggydoggy.

That Stanley is familiar too. IIRC it was a member's eBay purchase and that decoration is a decal, not an inlay.

marc, did the former owner of these instruments pass on? If so, may I ask who they were?

marcp · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2011, 06:04:27 PM »

The former owner was my brother in law James Belanger. He passed on about two years ago and left the basses to my wife. He was very fond of the basses.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2011, 09:29:52 PM »

I actually have the back 'tail piece' for the Series I bass, somewhere in my parts boxes (Buried under who knows what, since I moved). I forgot to include it in the case when I sold it to James. I sold it to him for less than what I was asking, as I could tell he really wanted it. I consider Bob's estimate of worth of this bass spot on, with the variance of $500 for who happens to be looking for one at the time of sale, and of course where it is sold (Here, eBay, Etc.). It plays wonderfully and it sounds huge for the lightest bass I have ever held. It needs a trip to the factory for a refin, but we all know what that would cost. But think about what you would have when it was done?! It has blue SIMS LEDs front and side, and they did a very good job. They are much brighter than in any pictures I took of them. The bass would have been Shawn's, if he had not discovered mold under his carpets and had to do an emergency shift in funds. It is a dandy little bass. It just needs some love and care to get it back up to snuff in the looks department. There are lots of pictures and history known about this bass around this site and the Web. It is still listed on SIMS site on the last page of examples of his work, I believe. I do hope Lil Bass finds a great owner. Think 'as good or better than a modern Stanley Clarke Signature' in ease of playing, with the kick of Series electronics added. I've been sick a lot lately, so I am not doing much of anything these days. Just stopped by for a visit and was pleasantly surprised.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2011, 09:57:24 PM »

Important note: The logo is made of silver and looks like it was hand made from a tarnished beer can. Look in the case. It will have three pins that fit in the three holes in the front of the headstock. It is so cool, as it is truly a piece of Alembic history, so you will definitely want to find it and put it on, especially if you want to sell the bass.

bsee · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2011, 10:17:16 PM »

Great to hear from you, TK - take care of yourself.

Marc, we're all sorry for your loss. Here's hoping you can find fair deals that keep these instruments in the family.

Let us know if you have that blue box and cable for the series bass. It will make a difference when you find an interested buyer.

-bob

poor_nigel · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2011, 12:00:20 AM »

Further note: I gave the blue box to the winner of an eBay auction many years ago for a Bass in Ireland? being sold for a deceased Alembic brother, the proceeds being given to his children. A member here bought the bass and got the blue box and cord. So I am pretty sure Marc will not have either. I currently have two rack mounts, but they go to two basses with S II electronics. If you cannot find a five pin cable, consider it owed on the original sale and I will send you one. I have a few laying around. Blue box, I cannot help you with. I was very sorry to hear of James' passing away two years ago, when his sister contacted me looking for information on the Series I. I thought she was going to keep the bass, but will be glad to offer any help I can. Take care. I'll also scrape up the brass bar that fits between the bridge and tail piece, as you can made it look a little better putting it back with long scale strings on it. I just moved away from the east coast, so I cannot get personal on any of this. Let me know your address, and I will send you what I have for the bass. Thank you. poornigel@comcast.net Oh, there should also be a suede Alembic strap custom made for the Series I, but it might have gotten lost or whatever. FYI.

Note: If you keep this bass a year, I am sure my memories of it will tend to eat at me and I will offer you $3K for it next Winter/Spring, so please consider that a fall back offer. In that year, if you are a player (I know his sister plays music), you might just learn to love it like a couple of us who owned it a while did, and decide to keep it. There is no hurry to sell any of this stuff, and the market will be going up later, I am pretty sure. So taking your time will probably pay off either way.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:02:58 AM »

Tom! Always good to hear from you. Wish your health was better, but there's something good to wish for, eh?

marc, count me in with the chorus of condolences. At one time I was fortunate enough to have three Alembic basses, so I know how your late brother in law felt. Would loooove to take the old one off your hands, as it's actually light enough for me to play standing up, but it seems I've made the leap to 100% doublebass, so the instrument would not get the care and respect it deserves if it came to live with me.

If time is not a factor, I urge you to take Tom up on his offer to buy it next year. I've always known him to be an honest and big-hearted person.

stoney · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:21:10 AM »

Hi All,
I'm the original owner of the Brown Bass. James and I worked out a trade for his long-scale Orion seen here: http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/37275.html?1298386849

On the Brown Bass I had Alembic install a master volume control and a bass cut/boost switch. It does not have side LEDs, that is a mono/stereo switch. This is one bass I truly wish I had back and have made the family an offer. I think we all have separation anxiety when we sell an Alembic and often talk about rite of first refusal etc when closing the deal. I spent a fair amount of time on the phone with James before and after the trade...lots of bass-talk and life in general discussions. He was a very nice man.

As we are all just learning of his passing, I echo the condolences to the family.

Respectrully,
Stoney

stoney · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:33:19 AM »

Hi All,
I'm the original owner of the Brown Bass. James and I worked out a trade for his long-scale Orion seen here: http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/37275.html?1298386849

On the Brown Bass I had Alembic install a master volume control and a bass cut/boost switch. It does not have side LEDs, that is a mono/stereo switch.

This is one bass I truly wish I had back for many reasons. I have made the family an offer.

I spent a fair amount of time on the phone with James before and after the trade...lots of bass-talk and life in general discussions. He was a very nice man.

As we are all just learning of his passing, I echo the condolences to the family.

Respectrully,
Stoney

marcp · « **Reply #26 on:** February 23, 2011, 01:13:03 PM »

Thank you all for your messages of condolence. This is truly an emotional experience for me as I originally planned to hold onto the basses and give one to each of my children. However, knowing how much my brother enjoyed playing them and reading the posts here on this site I felt that they should be in the hands of those who can bring out their music.
I appreciate the several offers made and would like to take some time to think about the offers and the advice of learning to play before I make the final decision to sell. Sincerely, Jane

dwmark · « **Reply #27 on:** February 24, 2011, 09:27:21 AM »

have been away for a few days myself (at least away from this thread). TK (aka poor nigel) sent ME the blue box AND the suede strap. (i think you suggested the box was miswired, so i never tried it--not even sure which of my boxes it is, as i have a few). The strap is something i use a bunch, but if the balance of the universe requires that i ship it somewhere, i will. you know how i feel about how we are all just taking care of all of this alembic stuff, for each other and those that follow.

my condolences to the family.

and, TK, take care.

dw

poor_nigel · « **Reply #28 on:** February 24, 2011, 07:12:52 PM »

Hey Bob and Shawn - Meant to say hi before, but my meds give me the attention span of a three-year-old sometimes. Hope you guys are doing great. I'll be fine later. It just a case of it sucks to get old, is all.

David, long time no type. They have a DS-5R, so do not worry about the blue box, and they have a five-pin cable. I had two suede straps. You got one, and James got the other. If my memory serves me properly (HA!!!), the little blue box I sent you needs a wire hooked up/soldiered in place at the diode, or something like that. Something that anyone with basic electronical skills could fix in about five minutes, no doubt - So unfixable by me. It is complete, and a collector's item. Plus, it is a very cool thing to have! Fix it/Enjoy it. I am very glad you are using and enjoying the strap. That puts a smile on my face. Take care.

skyboltone · « **Reply #29 on:** February 24, 2011, 09:52:30 PM »

This is quite a thread. I've dropped a line to Jane through Marc. In any case, any one of the three basses would be of interest to me. (anybody looking for a nice vintage MSE E9 pedal steel?) I'm pretty new here, and of course don't know everyone, but without stepping on toes I'd like to back up TK's offer on the Series I. Sooner. Like any time.

The Elan I bought from Bigsmitty is just too big for an old guitar player. I need a short scale and have been converted to Alembic for the balance of this life. I guess we all better get used to it, there'll be plenty of them in heaven. Harleys too.

Dan