Author Topic: 1974 Series One Question (Read 293 times)

echo008 · « **on:** October 17, 2005, 02:01:19 PM »

Hello,
Its been awhile since I last posted... right before selling my beloved Brown Bass.... anyway I am looking to maybe buy my next Alembic and I wanted to ask for opinions and /or advice ... the Bass in question is a 1974 Series One serial #59
http://www.basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3833
and what I want to know is if anyone knows of any Issues regarding the earlier basses meaning Neck/electronics problems that might be inherent in these models?

I am hopefully going to go and see and play this bass this coming weekend, if it doesint sell before then...
thanks for any advice
- Tom

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2005, 02:11:14 PM »

Someone more informed will surely chime in shortly, but from my limited experience I can relate that if the electronics do have the hum problem inherent in some of the older basses, then the upgrade is rumoured to be rather expensive (and Alembic has quite the wait on bench time, as you are probably aware).

echo008 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2005, 02:17:38 PM »

Do you know how bad the hum usually is?
if its something that could wait until I had the funds to upgrade(meaning as long as the Hum was somewhat controllable without losing tone), It would not be a deal breaker for me...

bucky · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2005, 03:38:35 PM »

Tom:

Hi . . Bucky here. I happen to own a Series I! SN 74-52 which looks as if it may be a close brother to the one you're talking about if the SN is 59. That'd make it 7 basses away. .

I'm posting a current picture of my Baby and I can tell you a thing or two you might want to know. Mine was in the care of it's only other owner for two decades in the Pacific NW (In Seattle to be precise) and I noticed after I got it back from him there were a couple of neck problems I had to have worked on before I could play and record with it. The neck had a bit of a forward bow in it (even with the truss rod unloosened) and there still is a very slight turning of the neck downward when held against my body in playing position. It's not enough to really bother me or put it seriously out of tune BUT I had a local luthier friend adjust the neck and the way he did it was by adding a very slender fitted brass shim under the scalloped brass nut. That raised the strings just enough to adjust for close accurate playing with slight truss rod adjustments.

Also because these earlier basses were almost entirely hand made there are occasional imperfections - such as the holes for the pickups and the screw adjustments were done by hand and therefore are not exactly the same. Small little things like that which in my opinion, only add to the uniqueness of these Original Golden Oldies. You will find that if you buy this one - and I recommend you do - you will be joining a fiercely loyal subset of Alembic Series I Bass owner(-; I think they are the best basses Alembic ever made. . but then I'm prejudice.

I had Ron at Alembic go through the electronics on mine too. There were a couple of little problems caused by its other owner (he had tried to solder a broken jack and gotten solder bits on some of the circuit board apparently. That shorted out some FETS I understand. I didn't want the offered upgrade to the Series II electronics. . I prefer the sound possibilities of the Original Series I electronics (including the ability to feedback with the resonance control when the toggle switch is in the complete-forward position!)

Jeff aka Bucky

Feel free to ask any questions of me you might have. Is this the Series I that Michael Delacerda once owned? They do have a bit more noise associated with their signal (as mentioned above) but I haven't found that to be enough of a reason not to use this bass almost exclusively. The tone of this seasoned wood - and I'm assuming yours will be similar - is truly remarkable. When we recorded the basic tracks for our new CD the recording studio owner himself, Bob Lang came in and remarked that is the BEST sounding bass guitar I have ever heard in this studio when they were doing track playbacks! And his studio has been in business since the 1975.

echo008 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2005, 04:27:41 PM »

Hi Bucky ... your post brings up some good points, thank you for posting.
... I do not know how many owners the bass in question may have had nor do I know if there exists any issue with the neck/truss rod, although Bob at the bass palace normally finds any obvious problems right away ...

...I certainly do not want to have to invest alot more into the bass right after buying it so Im really thinking hard about this one, Ill know more if in fact I do get over there to play it. I am a bit worried about the elecrtronics, if I do swing this one I will have to give up a couple of other basses including my current number one... so I need to be sure this one is ready to record and perform well.
I will definitely let you know if I have more specific questions, again thank you!
- Tom

bucky · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2005, 04:38:51 PM »

Tom:

I notice you HAVE owned a Brown Bass so I needn't have even mentioned how special they are. Honestly, it cost me less than $300 to have Ron Wickersham himself go through and replace the burnt-out FETS. That's a deal in anyones book. And you probably won't have to have anything that exstensive done to it. It was worth it to me just for the fact that the man that had soldered that PC board originally back in 1974 was going back in. Thats customer care! Let us know how it turns out.

echo008 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2005, 04:50:10 PM »

I will definitely let you know how this works out, I would think if I do end up with the bass that I would want to have this gone over by the good folks at Alembic anyway, definitely would be the right thing to do.

Do you know if the older series basses can use the newer rackmount DR5's?

- TOm

edwin · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2005, 05:35:05 PM »

The rackmount power supply will be fine. I have one that I found used that I use with my '78 Series I all the time.

Edwin

echo008 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2005, 06:14:40 PM »

gotcha ... thanks Edwin.

How do you guys find recording with these vintage Alembics... do you notice any noise from the PuPs at all? As well I know Alembics vary a bit from the different wood types used on a particular bass but for the most part Im looking for something that will be out front more in a live setting but is also able to sit in a mix without cutting through too much.
Bucky: Can I ask you what preamps you use in the studio? or do you run direct?
- Tom

bucky · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2005, 07:54:06 PM »

Tom & Edwin:

I use the vintage PreAmp that is the iteration of preamps (I think) before Alembic started the rack-mount series. It's called the DS 5. It's in a little blue box. Has the five pin DIN jack in (which I use) and two line-level outputs one for each pickup and the Bass pickup output can also be used as a Mono signal out. As far as recording with it there *is* a little bit of noise but it's really not much. I actually prefer a little noise with my signal - being an Old Analog Guy - maybe my ears are just accustomed to it. My band Glass still uses several old '70's vintage analog synths and a Mellotron which is as analog and noise laden as it gets! AND it's MONO! SO thats where I'm coming from. Ron asked me if I wanted to shell out the $s for the upgrade to the Series II electronics and I just couldn't see spending $1200 or something like that when I LOVE my Alembics original sound so much.

Anyway that's my two-bits worth. If it will help, I will email you an MP3 file of part of my Alembic Bass solo from our new album. It's pretty revealing as far as what the '70s Series I electronics sound like. My email is relentls@ix.netcom.com. All you need do is ask Bro.

bucky · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2005, 08:01:45 PM »

oh. . and to answer your question: I take the line outs directly into the board and mic the bass cab (in a baffled corner) as well - I use an Ampeg SVT I think it's called. Then we mix all the signals for the sound I'm going for. I have recorded also with just the line inputs into the board and that also sounds very sweet. . listening back with stereo headphones it's amazing! I used my Alembic for the entire CD (though I own a 52 Fender Reissue P bass and a new 2003 4001 C64 Rick (Which is also VERY nice).

echo008 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2005, 06:34:33 AM »

hi, The series Im looking at comes with an original Blue Box (DS5), I was just wondering if it would also be compatible with the newer rackmount one as well....

was that 1200.00 for series 2 upgrade before the price increase? ughhh!!!

So, you take the bass direct as well as Mic'ing a cab I gotcha... I am still a little concerened about noise, ultimately I am just going to have to go and play the bass ....but you have been much help. Im going to drop you an email about that MP3

and finally one more annoying question ... will the bass operate using both pickups only when using the stereo cable ..
meaning can I still hear both pickups using the 1/4 inch jack?

thanks
- Tom

bucky · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2005, 07:59:32 AM »

Tom:

Yes. The 1/4 phone out is stereo. Remember though that when you use this jack you're in battery mode. And the bass is using the battery. I'll get those mp3s to you as soon as my DSL is back up!

Playing it should always be the deciding factor(-'

Glad to be of help to an Alembic Brother.

Jeff

p.s. The Bass you're looking at is are using the same Power Supply that I have. The DS 5.

echo008 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 18, 2005, 08:46:39 AM »

Hi, I just dropped you an email ...

No rush on the Mp3's please send whenever you have a chance ... much appreciated...
- Tom