Author Topic: Early series II (Read 512 times)

endryq · « **on:** October 25, 2004, 06:50:49 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3757460699&rd=1

Note the bridge. Is this normal?
Haven't seen something like this yet.

811952 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:13:42 AM »

Other than it being a Series I, it looks correct to me..
John

palembic · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:24:27 AM »

Very nice instrument with a weird bridge indeed.
Do I read correct that it is number 33 from the year 75. It is a Series I indeed (Not 2) and it has the same bdoy design as Brother Funky Keavin's #12: the upper and lower horn are of the same length. Although this bass has a Omega cutout. One can see also the thicker and more rounded body also normal for the older Alembics.
Nice ...really ...cool inlays too!

PTBO

bsee · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:25:13 AM »

Umm, It's a Series I as far as I can tell. I do agree that the bridge looks twisted, but the bridge block is straight and it sort of looks like it's supposed to be that way on this instrument. I also like the intriguing inlays. Being #33, it would have been subject to a lot of experimentation, as if they ever really stopped trying new things. In fact, I am always surprised at how close those early instruments were to what remains the current state of the art.

Do you think that's really 'burl rosewood' on the top? It looks more like flame koa to me, but it is 30ish years old. The neck laminates also look like they could be walnut, wasn't that common in the early days?

I traded email with the seller last night and he agreed that it didn't have CVQs and was editing the listing, but he doesn't appear to have done so. He does, however, maintain that it's a SII because of the Omega cut. Also, there is no power supply or cable.

The bass was initially listed at $2995 with no reserve, so I would guess the reserve is in that vicinity. That would make this an interesting instrument to a collector, but a bit on the expensive side for a player.

Good luck to any and all that are interested.

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:41:42 AM »

I'll check the records, but that looks like 75AE033 - made in 1975 for export. Top and back also look like a modestly Bird's-eyed Zebrawood, which is very rare, we haven't run across another board in almost 30 years.

I'm guessing the neck is a standard Maple/Purpleheart arrangement. The purple looks a bit brown under the yellow finish, Walnut usually doesn't look that dark.

Omega cut doesn't make it a Series II, and a Point doesn't make it a Series I. We usually rely on the electronics to determine model name on an older bass like this. Back then, the names Series I and Series II did not exist.

Off to work and check those records!

jalevinemd · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:48:28 AM »

Mica,

What about the fretboard inlays? Were those done by Alembic as a custom original or was that something offered as an option back in the day. They're quite interesting. Those aren't the 'birds of prey' that are listed on the custom quote generator...are they?

Jonathan

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2004, 09:53:40 AM »

There was no 33 AE, and upon closer inpection of the picture, it must be 75AC033. It can't be 73 33 - that was in dela's collection and is Teak.

Here's what the file card says:
top&back: Zebrawood
core: Koa
peghead veneers: Vermilion
fingerboard: Ebony - FRETLESS
birthday: not recorded
sold: directly to original owner

So if this is the right bass, I think the frets and inlays must have been added later, a nice job too if the LEDs still work. LEDs were not listed on the card, but neither was the neck, and it certainly has one of those!

To confirm if it's 75AC033, have the seller check for handwritten numbers on the card or one of the pots. I can reference these to recorded serial numbers for the electronics.

bsee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2004, 10:40:26 AM »

Mica-

It does appear that the headstock marking is 75AC on one side and 033 on the other, so I think you probably identified the right instrument. Do you remember ever building basses with a canted bridge like this one?

bracheen · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2004, 11:13:41 AM »

The ad states Series I. Am I missing something or has it been edited?

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2004, 11:30:04 AM »

Edited. It originally described the bass as a '74 or '75 Series II with CVQ pots. The info has been corrected, apparently due to this club's efforts. Another one for the good guys!

Bill, tgo

bsee · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2004, 11:31:00 AM »

It's been heavily edited. I traded email with the seller last night and pointed him at this site and the boards to verify his info, maybe he stopped by.

Now I am curious about the whole serial number thing, though. I thought the serial numbers ran in a continuous upward line and weren't reused. It sounds like there was a separate series of numbers applied to export instruments, thus two #33 basses. Are the details of this documented somewhere?

bob · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2004, 11:28:22 PM »

Sorry to digress - dela's got one of these things in teak? Do we have any pictures?

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2004, 05:05:21 AM »

Bob; there is a picture of 73 33 here:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1908.html?1033755887

apdavis · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2004, 12:50:23 PM »

It looks as if the instrument may have lost the headstock at on time. You can see in one of the detail shots, the telltale line running from the headstock along the top of the neck back to front(side anyway).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3757460699&indexURL=9&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

bsee · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2004, 01:15:39 PM »

Nice catch. If it didn't lose the headstock, it does appear at least to have cracked some.

Buyer beware, as always, I guess.