Author Topic: Series II 8-String Graphite Neck on eBay (Read 1590 times)

mica · « **Reply #30 on:** September 02, 2004, 11:59:48 AM »

Yeah - that's a creative set of strings on there.

I also think this nut is bone - it's just not recorded and the default is brass, so I'm not able to confirm if it was originally fitted with brass or bone. It also looks like there's something like Ebony at the top edge of the nut.

I've moved a few threads, but so far I've only deleted duplicate threads. I don't see any reason that this thread shouldn't just get archived naturally, but you're welcome to email me and let me know if you think otherwise.

There is no ownership or registration information in the instrument file. It's wise to check with with individuals before posting personal information.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #31 on:** September 02, 2004, 12:15:40 PM »

God, I want this bass.
By the by, my '82 graphite S2 also has a phenolic board and the serial number was also not struck cleanly. It's not as fudged as this bass, but it seems pretty obvious that it's harder to make an impression in phenolic than in ebony.

dela217 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 02, 2004, 12:37:42 PM »

I have an 81 with the graphite neck. My serial number is very faint. I suspect too that it must be a harder material to dent than wood.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #33 on:** September 02, 2004, 01:37:01 PM »

Yo, I am pretty sure the bass came with the bone nut. The seller would have been mentioned if anything was replaced, I'm sure. He seems very honest and straight forward. Besides, logically, there would have been no reason to replace a brass nut with a bone one. That happens in reverse . . . Actually, when I consider it, the bone would probably be closer to the phenolic material in sound than brass for open notes. That would make sense. Obviously, I simply don't know.

The phenolic board being extremely hard seems like the most likely reason for the 'sloppy' SN strikes. I have one on my Steinberger and it is tough stuff!

I would never post personal info about someone without their expressed permission. Maybe we'll find out who he is, and maybe we won't. It does not make the bass any better or worse. Now if it were one of Stanley's, I imagine the reserve would have been popped by now.

As far as deleting this thread, I was just considering hard disc space. If a member ends up with it, this is a piece of the history of how they got it. If one does not, it is an archive of this bass' existance. So . . . Request is forgotten. The more I ponder this bass, the more I want it. Must . . have . . a . . Prozac . . . . . . . . want . . bass . . . . .

poor_nigel · « **Reply #34 on:** September 02, 2004, 02:07:45 PM »

Love these high-res photos sent me. You can better see what Mica was talking about. I have no idea if this is ebony, phenolic material, or graphite. You can clearly see the V notches for the strings and how thin the logo is (I did not know old ones were so thin).

bob · « **Reply #35 on:** September 02, 2004, 10:20:38 PM »

Thanks, 'Trevor', there is just so much character in this last shot I'm going to keep looking at it a bit longer.

Glad to see you worked out why bone (or something else, perhaps?) would be better than brass for a fretless :-)

poor_nigel · « **Reply #36 on:** September 04, 2004, 10:43:23 PM »

I didn't get the jacket, so I have to give up the name Trevor. Bummer!

I have been known to circle the barn many, many times before finally finding my way in. So, the bone/brass puzzle was of course just a matter of time and aspirin, before I finally stumbled and fell through the door.

Over 1,200 hits on this auction and only two bids have been made, and those for less than the 86 Distillate is currently going for. I believe Mica made a valid point about eight-string fretless basses only sounding good in one's imagination. Sting has a few bucks saved up. Maybe he will buy this bass.

morgandog · « **Reply #37 on:** September 05, 2004, 04:44:32 AM »

1200 hits, because it is a cool bass, two bids becaue no one is ready to pay $7k for a bass. Why would anyone bid unless they are willing to pay out $7k? I never understood the use of a reserve price, seems like it wastes everyones time - if you have a reserve price, why not start the bidding at that price! The psychology of this concept is lost on me. The Distillate will never sell for that much anyway, and this one certainly won't sell for the current bid price...

poor_nigel · « **Reply #38 on:** September 05, 2004, 08:45:56 AM »

Hey Jason. I generally agree with you. I believe eBay charges more if you start the bidding higher. The reason to continue bidding is the seller may sell the item to the highest bidder, or negotiate a deal at the end of the auction. I have had sellers e-mail me accepting my highest bid on high-end items that needed to sell off.

The last eight-string Series II bass I saw go was not a graphite neck, but earlier than this one. It was on the old Bunny Bass site. I am thinking the above bass went for about $4,500. If anyone remembers what it went for, let me know. Thanks.

room037 · « **Reply #39 on:** September 05, 2004, 09:12:47 AM »

Hi,

I know the bass.
It was born as Series 1 with 5 strings short scale !
It was converted once 4 strings then to 8 strings.
It doesn't have battery plate, only use with Power supply.
This bass is so cute.
I hoped to get it, but it was gone...
The price was $3200.

Now, I own graphite 5 strings with Ebony top.
I feel Graphite sound day by day.
And I am very interested 8 strings Graphite neck !
But reserve price is $7000 !!!

poor_nigel · « **Reply #40 on:** September 05, 2004, 09:27:47 AM »

Thanks Eiji. It was gone before I had a chance at it, too.

David Houck · « **Reply #41 on:** September 05, 2004, 10:11:43 AM »

That's a very nice bass, Nigel. The grain of the top wood looks great with the omega cut. I'm guessing the top wood is Macassar Ebony. And it looks like it has an Ebony Accent between the top and the Mahogany body.

room037 · « **Reply #42 on:** September 05, 2004, 10:25:42 AM »

Hi,
It has no accent wood.
Macassar Ebony top and back with mahogany core.

room037 · « **Reply #43 on:** September 05, 2004, 10:38:05 AM »

Hi Dave,
I add more info. about ebony 8.
It was built by famous inlay artist Larry Robinson who working at Alembic.
There are the sign. in the cavity.

geepee · « **Reply #44 on:** February 19, 2025, 04:31:28 AM »

Hi Alembicians,

Firstly, I now own this bass! Secondly, I know this thread is YEARS old but my dad was browsing and sent me this! This was a VERY interesting thread and nice to see some photos of the bass I've not seen. It's a wonderful bass, seriously just amazing in both sound and image. I bought it from Pete Skjold, a bass luthier in the US. He got in touch with me asking if I was interested in it as he knows I'm a bit of an Alembic nut...

The whole bass is insane but the graphite neck just shimmers - I can confirm the logo is not an inlay.

He didn't really want to let it go - but it's fairly heavy and I assume he spends most of his time building is own basses and he basically wanted to move it onto someone who'd play it and look after it. I imagine he contacted some others players as it wasn't certain I'd actually get it. Well anyway, fast forward a but and yeah, managed to get it sent which was NERVE jangling. It's in really great nick. He replaced the bone nut (assuming it was) and he's probably cleaned it up, electronics and all. It's all legit and original aside from the nut I think. I have it somewhere I think. He may have tidied up any soldering or something, I tend not to mess much with those things. I just play.

I gig it and have recorded some stuff with it. I recently posted it on instagram and for some reason it went semi viral with 1/4 million views. I don't imagine this thread will be read much was it is 20 years old but for those curious - the bass is well looked after and used how it should be! Thanks for reading, George