The Alembic Logo. What's going on?

[Zut8083]

On eBay there are some Alembics, but they don't have uniformly detailed logos attached.

A Boogieman auction of a $6K Series 1-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-1-bass-guitar-1977-vintage-excellent-condition/332664156859?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52474%26meid%3D0b474d5e6b50420d806f4290d8dfb54e%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D192566597048%26itm%3D332664156859&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

The logo is flat with limited tool marks.  Also it may not be fully mounted in the headstock.  The bass also has a unique "bottom end".  No serial number is provided.    Hmmm.


A $7.1K Japanese auction of a 1975 Omega Cut Series 1-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ALEMBIC-1975-Series-1-Omega-Cut-Vintage-Electric-Bass-RARE-y8246/192575182048?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52474%26meid%3Da92a153fb5cd4004a04b9102eef9f05c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D332664156859%26itm%3D192575182048&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Flat logo, I saw no serial number.

OK.  1977 Series 1 for $6K-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-1-bass-guitar-1977-vintage-excellent-condition/192566597048?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52474%26meid%3D8a5d5c2a82a84043882ba696e11f7c4d%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D332664156859%26itm%3D192566597048&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Detailed logo, Serial #77-840, and a build sheet.

My question is basically did the metal logo begin as a flat logo and change midway through the 70s, or is something funny going on with certain Alembics for sale?  It seems silly to ask about this, but the removal of logos from Alembics has been noted before, and is uncool.  Making a forged logo on a legit bass is worse as the real deal can potentially be put on another bass or sold.  Does anybody have any thoughts?  Thanks.

[edwardofhuncote]

Zut, if you poke around though the Series I Showcase, you'll see all the early variations on the Alembic logo, even a couple that are 100% legit, but completely unique. The first ones I would consider standard were 'flat' surface mounted hand-cut silver logo, appearing somewhat regularly by 1975. They were replaced by sometime in 1977 with a more detailed cast bronze one which looks nearly identical to the current logo. I've never seen any hard and fast numbers on when those changes happened, and I doubt if it exists beyond these pages. Of course these days, you're as likely to see an incredibly detailed inlaid logo as a bronze one.


Come to think of it... we haven't bumped the logo thread in a while. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=3495.0

[Zut8083]

Thanks, Greg!  I appreciate the insight.  The Boogieman Alembic Series 1 auction seemed to show the logo as being a bit loose, making me wonder if the original had been removed or loosened.  Again, thanks for the clarification.

[keith_h]

Boogieman has been trying to sell that bass for some time at what I consider too high of a price but if you don't have to sell I guess go ahead and shoot high as someone might bite. I also believe that is the bass he used to reverse engineer his replacement electronics. Personally I wouldn't do business with him but that is me.