#74-53 (early Series Guitar) on ebay

[edwardofhuncote]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F283636318709


I'm pretty sure there's a thread on this guitar here somewhere... not too many of those 6-on-a-side guitars. I may have it confused with another close neighbor.

*found it- http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=5708

#74-55 is an 'almost-twin'. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=5565.0

[jazzyvee]

Sounds really good.

[lbpesq]

Carlos Alomar played one of these with David Bowie.  On this one there are two more unexplained holes below the tailpiece, as if this formerly sported a Bixby type whammy.  And it might be the angle of the photo, but it looks like the bird tailpiece is a little slanted to the right, maybe?

Bill, tgo

[jwright9]

The ebay listing states that the holes are from a Roland synth that was mounted at one point.
I also see a crack in the side of the neck near the headstock in one of the photos.
Funny, the guy in the video refers to the Filters as parametric EQ. UM... not quite.

[rv_bass]

That’s beautiful, I love those walnut and maple (or beech?) necks, they sound so nice!

[lbpesq]

Yes, the description states there was a headstock repair 30 years ago.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

I believe this may be the first Alembic with a 'bird' type tailpiece... FWIW, #74-52 is a short-scale bass with a moustache-type tailpiece. I can't think of or find a lower serial number with a bird, however there is (or was) a bass for sale in the Los Angeles Craigslist reputed to be a '73 with this same early-bird type tailpiece. Anybody's guess how that happened... likely a retrofit.

Sorry for the trivia hijack. I like when these old ones pop up... never know what you'll learn from them. 

[jwright9]

And... SOLD. That was fast!

Did anyone here buy it?

[rv_bass]

74-80 has the same tail piece, and I’ve seen two 74 Basses in the Archives with the same tail piece. John Dawson’s early Series guitar had a tail piece in the shape of a bird like Hieromymous’ double neck bass.  Maybe they switched from mustache to bird tail piece in 1974.

[edwardofhuncote]

I think so Rob, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some overlap. I'm guessing they just used what was readily available at the moment.
Here's the Showcase Thread on #74-52, the instrument listed chronologically just before the subject of the post... moustache > bird.


http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8355.0

[rv_bass]

Greg, yes, and I think some of those early transition bird tail pieces were made of ebony or walnut topped with brass. Very nice!

[edwardofhuncote]

It's back up for sale... (well, auction I guess)


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F264604536117

[rv_bass]

I love those walnut and maple (beech?) necks.  Looks like the logo is on backwards.  I wonder what they mean by “electronics were recently overhauled”, aside from the pickups?  Beautiful guitar.

[jazzyvee]

There is also a nice series guitar in the stand to the right. More clearly seen in the last picture in the sequence.