Snow White Series I on Reverb

[s_wood]

Look at this beautiful Series I on Reverb!
https://reverb.com/item/9982722-alembic-series-i-1978-nice-pearl-bass-guitar-great-motown-bass-guitar

Wonder if it used to belong to Wyzard of Mother’s Finest?

No affiliation with the seller.

[Bob_Ross]

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a white Alembic before. I used to own a white 1980 Veilette-Citron, and I never quite got why that brand was sometimes referred to as "the East Coast Alembic" but now that I see this solid white Series I the visiual similarity is unmistakable.

[mtjam]

Nice, and very unique!

[edwardofhuncote]

Nice!   

There was a polar white EVH Sig. 5-string, but of memory serves, it was refinished in natural.

[s_wood]

I really think it might be Wyzard's bass. 

Here are shots of him with a Series I with a natural top, and a white one.  The Reverb bass is a refin.  Maybe he's the one who had it done?

[David Houck]

I really think it might be Wyzard's bass ... Here are shots of him with a .. white one.

The bass he's holding has a master volume; the one on Reverb does not.


As the listing states, the logo on the Reverb bass is missing.


Also of note, the listing says it's a '78, but the bridge is the old style that they quit making in '77.


I don't recall seeing a battery cover plate that looks like this one.

[edwardofhuncote]

Copied from the Reverb ad description:
"The pearl finish was created as a replica of the jazz great Stanley Clark’s Alembic Series I Bass Guitar."

I don't remember seeing any pics of Stanley with a white Alembic... I wonder if maybe the seller had the two Alembicans mixed up. Clearly, this bass was meant to look like Wyzard's.

You have a sharp eye Dave... I caught the master volume, but missed the channel-type bridge. The bird tailpiece looks like the newer, more angular style, although the black paint may be interfering with perception.

[keith_h]

Looking at the back of the neck the tuners have been replaced at some point as well. I wonder if the owner had the battery compartment modified to make it easier to fit 9V batteries. As I recall this era was setup for a medical battery of some type and while you could fit two 9V it was pretty tight.

Is that black paint or is it an ebony bird? It looks original if you can trust the patina on the screws.

[mica]

The backplate looks like it's made from pickguard material. The earliest instruments used mercury 9V batteries (which besides maybe zinc-carbon were the only batteries available), which are slightly smaller than alkaline batteries. By 1978 we would have been using alkaline batteries. Wonder what it looks like under the battery plate.

I don't think we painted this bass FWIW. I'm guessing black paint. This looks like a lot of parts from different eras. I suppose that means it was played and enjoyed a lot!

[jwright9]

I just wrote this seller to ask if he could back up his claims about the Temptations connection or provide any provenance.
I Will update if and when he responds.
His price is definitely high as well. I think the value of that bass is more in the $2000-$3000 range.

[jwright9]

The seller wrote back...

Here is the response:

"I am in the process of securing the video and an MP4 format. I will attach it when I receive it. Thanks"

He goes on to say that the video shows "musician playing with the Temptation with the pearl bass."

Interesting. We shall see.

[CaseyVancouver]

I suggested to the seller he look under the covers to find the serial number. We may find out more info when he does.

[mica]

This would probably have the serial number at the tippy top of the peghead or possibly in the fingerboard below the 24th fret. We didn't stamp inside the covers until much much later.

[keith_h]

The backplate looks like it's made from pickguard material. The earliest instruments used mercury 9V batteries (which besides maybe zinc-carbon were the only batteries available), which are slightly smaller than alkaline batteries. By 1978 we would have been using alkaline batteries. Wonder what it looks like under the battery plate.

Well that shoots down that theory. Yes it does look like pickguard material. The only other thing I can come up with is they either lost the original battery cover or wanted the battery cover to match the finish.

[Soilandstone]

Thought this might be helpful to anyone interested in this Bass...

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/great-bass-guitar-fernandes-fab-180.1321769/

The Seller on Reverb is the same Individual who started the thread about a month ago.
Seems like the seller acquired it under the impression that it was a Fernandes FAB-180.

Looks like a serial number has been identified though.

-Jen & Chris.