Author Topic: 1977 Series 1 Long Scale Guitar $4000 or best offer (Read 529 times)

sjhoffma · « **on:** October 26, 2008, 07:18:30 PM »

Alright, so I hate to do this, but In order to finance my next custom guitar, I need to start gathering funds for quite a large down payment, and this is the only way I think I can do so. I got a 1977 Series 1 Long Scale guitar. It is in very good condition. The lacquer has expected checking as a result of its age, but other than that, this guitar has no issues what so ever. Everything is original, and it comes with the Power supply, cable, case, and the paperwork. The build list indicates that both Michael Dolan and Rick Turner worked on this guitar. I am the second owner of this Series 1, the original owner bought it at the Namm show back in 77, and its been in his hands since last year. Im trying to get $4000 for this guitar. Im going to see how many offers I get, and based on that, I'll see how low im willing to go as far as price. I wont let it go for any less than $3000, but the reason Im asking for $4000 is because I need to get enough to make my down payment, otherwise selling this guitar (which is as of now, my most cherished instrument) would be a complete waste, If i was unable to replace it with something that I could love equally. Anyway, I have a week or so to make up my mind about the custom guitar, so In the meantime anyone who is interested feel free to email me with any questions or comments you may have. I want to find someone who will truly appreciate this guitar like I have, I don't want it to go to just anyone, thats why I thought I would try selling it on the forum. Have a grateful day everyone!

(Message edited by davehouck on November 19, 2008)

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2008, 08:00:30 PM »

Sam:

Not to throw a wet blanket on your dream, but I'd strongly suggest you find a way to take a Further or Tribute for a test drive before you let this one go. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Woody, my custom Further. It is definitely number one in my arsenal. However, as sweet as it is (and it is indeed sweet), it still doesn't sound like my '76 Series I medium scale guitar. The simple fact is that nothing sounds like a Series instrument, even another non-Series Alembic. The Further is a lot more comfortable, balances much better, is lighter, etc. But the Series is a Series. I'll always be bringing it out too. Analogizing to automobiles, my Further is a brand new Ferrari, while my Series is a '62 Jaguar XKE - a little clunky and eccentric compared to the modern car, but an icon nevertheless. If there's anyway you can swing keeping the Series, you won't regret it.

Bill, tgo

sjhoffma · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2008, 10:24:10 AM »

Bill, I do really want to keep my series, and I did just play a further and my series blows it completely out of the water. The custom guitar I plan on ordering is not going to be an Alembic however. I love the clean sound I get from my Alembic, and its the most crystal clear sound ive ever heard, but I still dont really have the ability to turn on some overdrive and straight tear it up.

Living in Burlington, and being a huge phish head as well as a deadhead I went over to where Paul Langeudoc builds his guitars, and played his most recent model, which differs slightly from Treys guitar, but felt really nice to play. I played it through a 66 deluxe reverb into a bruno 4x12 with a modified tubescreamer, and it made me realize that I havnt been able to get that sort of tone with my Alembic, because how hot the pickups are. Dont get me wrong, I think Alembics are the most beautiful guitars Ive ever played, and I plan on owning many in my lifetime, but being a kid working a part time job, trying to finish college, I'm not in the financial situation where I can swing owning an Alembic, and being able to still afford another guitar, and I think the best choice for me as a musician is to go with the guitar thats going to suit the type of music I am playing with my band, and although my Alembic is like my best friend, I think the languedoc will fit my needs a little better. Someday in the future I plan on seeking out another 70's series 1, and designing and ordering my own Series guitar. I've already got some great Ideas, but as much as I hate to do this, Im defiantly not in a situation where the acquisition of another guitar will allow me to keep my series.

Thank you for the kind words though Bill. I think every player's dream is to be able to keep buying guitars, without having to sell any of the ones you already know and love, but its hard given the price of good instruments today.

I know you are looking out for me, and I greatly appreciate your advise. I love the Alembic community above any other! There are so many kind and caring people out there.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2008, 10:43:46 AM »

Sam,
I e-mailed a link to your craigslist ad to a friend who lurks around this forum and fawns over my Alembic basses. He and I both live near Albany. Maybe you'll hear from him.

bluplirst · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2008, 02:24:27 PM »

Hi Sam,

Don't sell it! You could get a guitar that plays and sounds as good as the Languedoc, for a fraction of the cost. Any quality hollow/semi-hollow with seymour duncan '59s (Hamer, Gibson, Heritage, etc) could get you the tone you're after.

Another option is getting a less expensive alembic (it is possible) and swapping out the pickups for '59s or similar. This would make for a guitar with the ultimate alembic playability and the conventional overdrive tone. Trust me, it works.

Dan

lbpesq · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2008, 02:55:26 PM »

Sam:

If an overdrive tone is what you're after, have you checked out the Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic? A GREAT pedal - replaced an AnalogMan silver-modded Tubescreamer on my pedal board. If that's not enough dirt for you, they also recently came out with the Twin Tube Mayhem. Here's a review of the Classic on youtube. As for the Alembic pickups being too hot, have you tried turning down the gain on the internal trim pots? (This is starting to sound like an Alembic intervention ... lol!) If you do go ahead with the plan, please come back for a visit and post picks of the Languedoc.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2008, 09:07:29 PM »

Sam:

As far as OD/Distortion pedals an Alembics go, it's doable, just a bit of a pain in the ass if you're starting without any fingers pointing you in the right direction. Here are the ones I settled on after MUCH experimentation:

1. Nice tube overdrive: Fulltone OCD, Duncan Twin Tube. From my experience, the lead channel on the Twin Tube will not give balls to the wall distortion with Alembics, but I've gotten great lead tone playing some Black Crowes, Phish and Little Feat.

2. Cranked Marshall Distortion: Keeley Modded DS-1. Very Alembic friendly. Tried the Radial Hot British, Plexitube and Trimode. They sound great with my PAF and Dimarzio equipped guitars. Sound like shit with Alembics.

3. Fuzz: Frantone Sweet is quite Alembic friendly.

Also, the Bixonic Expandora is a very versatile, Alembic friendly pedal that can go from subtle tube overdrive to full fuzz.

I almost forgot...and don't laugh...but the nicest 70's rock lead tone I've found for my Alembics is from tweaking the EH Metal Muff.

(Message edited by jalevinemd on October 27, 2008)

sjhoffma · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2008, 07:25:52 PM »

I thank everyone for their input! It is truly what I love about this forum! Im going to try out some of the pedals that you guy recomended and see how that goes. I got a feeling though, that the hotness I get from my overdrive pedal is because the age of the guitars electronics. I emailed Alembic and asked what It would cost to put in up to date electronics, and they gave me a price estimate that was a little beyond what I could afford. I've played some newer alembics, and they dont seem to have as much fuzz/breaking up when you turn on the overdrive than the older models i've played. Im still thinking about the languedoc, only because Im starting to get into my phish phase again, seeing how the march shows are approaching. Im going to wait a while until I make a final decision. I would love to make my series 1, my main guitar, but I have a feeling that would involve a lot of work/ dedication to making it sound just right. Untill then, I am still taking offers, and exploring my possibilities.

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2008, 07:19:44 AM »

Sam:

Doesn't turning down the gain trimpots resolve the hotness issue?

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2008, 12:59:48 PM »

I was thinking the same thing.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2008, 02:08:56 PM »

I owned a Skylark, and simply put, adjusting the gain trimpots did nothing for my Zvex fuzz pedals, octavias, etc. I don't think it was simply a gain issue, but rather a difference in the impedance between a regular guitar signal, and an active buffered ciruit. This probably explains why tube based effects seem to do so well, since they rely on pushing a tube hard for their sound.

drjenney · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2008, 02:52:47 PM »

Hmmm...

I'd encourage you to consider swapping heads, not guitars. Get one [a tube!] with two channels and trim pots on each channel. The latter will help with any impedance matching problems you may be having.

I'd go directly from the guitar to Channel 1. Use Chanel 2 as [or with] an effects loop. That works especially well especially if your head gives you the ability to blend the output from both channels.

You'll keep that sweet, clear Alembic sound on Channel 1 and can muddy up the tone [sorry, my bias is showing] anyway you want on channel two.

Good Luck!
Dr. J

lbpesq · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2008, 03:17:20 PM »

The Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic I discussed above basically does that - without all the extra connections and mickey mouse wiring. It essentially turns a single channel amp into a 3 channel amp. You set the amp for your desired clean tone. Then set the rhythm channel (gain and volume) for your distorted/muddy/metal/whatever-you-want-to-call-it tone, and the lead channel (separate gain and volume) for your lead tone. The only booger I'd pick with the pedal is that the rhythm and lead channels share the same bass/treble controls.

Bill, tgo

sjhoffma · « **Reply #13 on:** October 29, 2008, 05:26:59 PM »

What do you guys recommend for a good amp head? as of now, ive been playing a 66 deluxe reverb into a bruno 4x12. I love the sound i get from it, but I was thinking of adding a preamp or something that might make my sound a little tighter. Any suggestions? How do Alembic preamps work for guitar rigs?

sjhoffma · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2008, 05:34:45 PM »

Adjusting the gain pots on my series did help a little, but as hydrargyrum said, I dont think its simply a gain issue. However, I think the idea of having an amp with trim pots on each channel, or even a preamp, will help me adjust my sound to my liking. I just would like some feedback on how I should build my rig from some of you guys who have a little more experience with the alembic sound.