Series 1 1977 32" - thoughts

[darnellbass]

Anyone have any thoughts on this 77'. There's a good crack in the fingerboard near the truss, crazing, etc. What would you pay?
https://reverb.com/item/15753463-alembic-series-1-1977-32-scale-length

[StephenR]

When looking through the photos on Reverb there are a few things visible that I would want to check in person before paying anything for the bass. It may just be the angle the photos were taken at but the strings do not look properly centered on the fingerboard where the neck meets the body, they also look a bit skewed between the tailpiece and bridge with the D-string looking particularly off. In one of the side shots of the neck the action looks really high in the upper registers, that to me is the biggest red flag. Fingerboard obviously has been allowed to dry out and needs cleaning, oiling and repairs made to the cracks in the ebony, but IMO those are easy fixes and not cause for concern. I think the price is a bit ambitious, and have seen other older Series basses in better shape listed for less. Really strikes me as a try-before-you-buy instrument obviously photos can't tell you anything about the conditions of the electronics or function of the truss rods.

[darnellbass]

Yes, I agree with all you said.

[goran]

Yea, I also always suggest that seller do a video of playing the bass, fully through neck so you can hear buzzes, he can show you if preamp is in order, switches, p.u. selector, etc.
Also a video of showing the true condition of the bass, it's easier on video then on photos. We all have in this day of age some kind of wifi camera on phone, or tablet, or computer, then also you'll see how the seller responds to your questions and what kind of person he really is. Just be careful.

[edwardofhuncote]

Yep, that one has a couple issues, most would be easily addressed, but I'd definitely have to have a 24 hour refusal in the deal if I couldn't handle it in person.

From what I can see, I think the a couple of the bridge saddles just got switcheree-doodled sometime. I'm more concerned that they're all cranked all the way back. One wonders how the intonation is. It's a relatively simple thing to drill and tap the sustain block to adjust this out, but then, do you really want to get into that work for that kind of cha-ching?

In addition to the fingerboard crack, the headstock laminates are popping loose. This isn't too hard to fix but it needs to be glued and put under some pretty solid clamp pressure. (I just did it recently on a close neighbor to this bass)

I've got a very soft spot for these... I hope it finds a good home and gets the fixing up it needs. They really are special.

[hammer]

I'd agree with others here...and is that rust on the small back plate.  There would seem to be a lot of work here for the price they are asking.  Playing that neck would drive me crazy.

Over the past several years I've purchased 3 Series I instruments - All for a LOT less then they are asking for this one. Those that were $700-$1,000 lower in price than this one were perfectly playable sans a scratch or two.  This one looks in worse shape than the Series I fretless I purchased which is going back to Alembic for a refurbish eventually.  But I got that one at a price that makes a refurbish doable.  With this one at the price they are asking it wouldn't make sense...at least to me, to go that route.   

[darnellbass]

I agree, not going to even attempt.

[edwardofhuncote]

FWIW, they just lowered the price again... (now $3799) which is closer to reasonable, but the X-factor here is, it's hard to put a dollar amount on the repairs needed to put this one back in good order.

[jazzyvee]

Yea, I also always suggest that seller do a video of playing the bass, fully through neck so you can hear buzzes, he can show you if preamp is in order, switches, p.u. selector, etc.
Also a video of showing the true condition of the bass, it's easier on video then on photos. We all have in this day of age some kind of wifi camera on phone, or tablet, or computer, then also you'll see how the seller responds to your questions and what kind of person he really is. Just be careful.

Yes and also there is always the chance with these older alembics that they will need the noise cancelling update which is a back to factory job and not cheap.

[glocke]

Just my 0.02...Since the O.P. asked for thoughts.

This would be one that would have to priced considerably lower than it's current reduced price for me to consider.  Frankly I think this is a candidate for an overhaul/refin at Alembic, I personally wouldn't be comfortable buying this bass at that price point with all the issues it has.

Been down that road in the past, and it is expensive and not fun. 

[edwardofhuncote]

A couple things I noticed in revisiting this one, and not that it makes any difference, just interesting if you're fascinated by minutiae.

1. Either the (purpleheart?) neck laminates are thinner, or the center laminate of (I'm pretty sure) beech is thicker. Possibly some of both are true.

2. The headstock 'ears' are made of dark wood, that appears to match the neck stringers. Don't see that much.

3. There is at least one extra laminate of veneer on the headstock than #77-621 has... maybe two.

Realizing none of that means anything... just observation of cool little details on another serial number to file away in my rusty old memory banks. Hello there #77-782, nice to meet you!   

[elwoodblue]

3. There is at least one extra laminate of veneer on the headstock than #77-621 has... maybe two.

 It sure seems like someone has topped the zebrawood.

[darnellbass]

Thanks everyone.

[adriaan]

One more special feature on Alembics up until about 1995 is that they had a sacrificial veneer under the fingerboard, ah well this one actually has two ...

[adriaan]

3. There is at least one extra laminate of veneer on the headstock than #77-621 has... maybe two.

 It sure seems like someone has topped the zebrawood.

Not counting Marcky's bass ... http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8475.0

... and note the zebrawood grain messing with your mind there.