Well after some deep internet searching. I found the bass. Now the hard part is convincing the owner to part with it. I am sure that won't happen. But the worst thing about it is that it may as well be on Jupiter or something. The bass that was sold in Arlington, Tx now lives in Japan.
I am curious about what happened around that era when they were making these basses. It seems that there were several made just like it that were quite similar. That bass, (which I do not know the serial number of) is almost an exact duplicate of 75-217. Same woods with a zebrawood front and a koa back and maple core. And yes, that bass is what started my search for Alembics and my username to this site! If you look in the showcase at 75-215 you will see that the bass was made again, but the top and back woods were switched. Even the grain pattern is the same on the koa with the two bookmatched dark spots. And Poor Nigel's old bass 75-219 is another one. Although that one has a zebra top with a zebra back with that same grain pattern on the top. It is as though Alembic used consecutive cuts of zebrawood for these basses as all the wood matches.
By the way there are 2 basses made with the serial number of 75-219. And you guessed it, same zebrawood pattern. On the duplicate serial number that I know about, the zebrawood matches the grain pattern of Poor Nigel's old bass but the top and back grains are switched. That one was sold new here in New Orleans and now lives in South Carolina.
So this bass in Japan could be 218? 220? I really would love to know.
I know, silly stuff.
Michael
