(x) 94W8171 '94 Epic Lefthand 5-String

[fivebass52]

Interesting bass... unusual electronics with a 2-way switch instead of a pot. Headstock started out looking like a typical headstock, but one of the previous owners came to their senses, and had it put back to a traditional Alembic look...

Electronics are unusual, haven't seen anything like this setup on any other basses - the 2-way switch has something to do with cutting the lower frequencies...

A very nice bass, sounds great, looks great, and, bought this for $700! Shipping was only $75 to Hawaii, and the previous owner works at Hipshot, and added the de-tuner on the B-string, which is insane, because going down to Bb, or A, just becomes a rumble... but it's still cool!

Going to add pics...

[fivebass52]

Would appreciate any info as to original build specs, and also as to the unique electronics setup - thanks!

[FC Bass]

Welcome here! :-)

Wow, was that headstock broken and modified? (Before returning to the usual cone shape)

Electronics look like Essence + Q switch (Volume, Pan, Filter + Q) or Elan with a single preamp (gain is set with the trimpot) http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=234.0

[edwardofhuncote]

That's a pretty solid fix. Did one like that on a banjo once. 

[fivebass52]

FC Bass - thanks for the welcome! No head wasn't broken... click on the first picture, and expand it; it was given to me by the last owner, who got it from the person he bought it from. Apparently, when it was first built (I'm assuming here), the buyer wanted a more "traditional" looking headstock. Somewhere along the line it was decided, by one of the owners in the chain, to go back to the the Alembic headstock look. If you look closely at the back of the headstock, you'll see how nice of a job was done to add the fill pieces, so the front of the headstock could be restored to "stock".

This is why I'd like to see what Mica can uncover, and to see if the records show if/when the bass was returned for the headstock mod...

Thanks for the info on the electronics, that 2nd  pic is just like mine....

[fivebass52]

That's a pretty solid fix. Did one like that on a banjo once. 

Click on the first pic, then click again to expand it; you'll see the original headstock with the Alembic symbol down by the bridge. I'm thinking someone wanted the traditional Alembic headstock, and had it redone. There's still a lot of the original wood, so I feel that the headstock wasn't cracked, it was just modified back to the "spear" shaped Alembic is known for...Whoever did it, they did a superb job!

[mica]

From the file this is a normal everyday Epic bass.

top: Flame Maple
accent: Purpleheart pinstripe
body: Mahogany
neck: 5-piece Maple, lefthanded
scale: 34" long
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: none
body shape: Epic
peghead shape: Cone
pickups: Alembic MXY56
controls: "Epic" volume, pan, bass, treble, mono output
originally made for: Music Unlimited, CA
birthday: not recorded, but late Feb, 1994

There's nothing about repairs or modifications. There's no previous registered owners.
The electronics look like they've swapped out the bass and treble controls for a filter/Q-switch option (note the large dress washer). Looks like they were really worried about the filter rotating inside the cavity, is that a glop of silicone in there? Also the pickup screws are not original.

Looks happy in its new home!

[fivebass52]

Mica, thank you so Much for answering my request! What you think is silicon, is actually a piece of plastic sheeting, that someone decided to install under the electronics... interesting about the pickup screws, thanks for the sharp eye on that one!

I wonder if it would be worth it to contact Music Unlimited, and see if they have a build record/more info on it... worth a shot!

By the way, graduated from Analy in Sebastopol in 1970, lived in Santa Rosa for 7 years until I moved to Oahu in 1978. My sister still lives there; her two daughters are there, with their kids etc., so I go back at least once a year to see family and friends... I should set up a tour one day, and meet y'all! Thanks again for the info Mica!