(x) History request 89C5532

[chitownmatt]

I purchased this used from the Danbury Music Mall in Connecticut a few days before my 18th birthday in June of 1995. I've played it at hundreds (probably  thousands) of shows, first in Boston and then in and around Chicago, carrying it around in an old gig bag on my shoulder, sometimes right into the bathroom at the seedier joints. lol. Anyway, its been my main fretted player for almost 25 years. - Working from home the past few weeks has inspired me to give it a good cleaning, dress the frets and put on some new strings.


All I know about it, is that it is an 89C, a 32" scale, with Elan electronics; flame Maple top with mahogany back. There are some numbers in pencil under the TR cover and I think there is a nordic sounding name under the pickup, if I remember correctly. - Please let me know if there is any further info available.


Anyway, here's a link to something recorded on it circa 2002, if you're interested: 

Thanks, and I hope everyone reading this is healthy and safe.

[edwardofhuncote]

Welcome Matt. Well, that is an interesting bass, and it sounds like it has served you well. 

The 32" scale length and Elan electronics I think would probably qualify it as a Custom, which would explain the C notation. It'll be interesting what Mica turns up when she gets back to these lookups. I am particularly glad to see one so close to my own bass 89P 5559, which couldn't have been built too far from yours.

[gearhed289]

Very cool bass. I hope to have a 32'' some day. I currently have a 34'' Distillate.

Who do you play with in Chicago?

[chitownmatt]

I haven’t played out regularly since my daughter was born about 5 years ago. But before that, I played in two bands “Your Little Ponies” and “Playback”. Both bands played at Elbo room pretty regularly and other places, but Elbo was kinda our home base.

[gearhed289]

Cool, I've played Elbo with a number of acts, but it was kind of home base to a band I was in called Ivory Wire (former Dovetail Joint). Not sure if you heard, but they closed down back in December. 

[mica]

Hi Matthew,

Interesting bass! The record indicates it was built as a short scale. So Id ask you to measure from the nut to the 12th fret and then double that figure to discover the scale length. The bridge doesn't look typical, but I can' tell anything from the photo. Can you post a close up of the bridge?

Here's what was in the file:

serial number: 89SC5532
top: Bird's-eye Maple
accent: none
body: Mahogany
body shape: Small Standard
neck: 3-piece Maple
scale: short 30.75" (awaiting confirmation)
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: Pearloid (plastic) ovals
pickups: Alembic AXY
controls: volume, volume, filter, mono output
birthday: not recorded, but around September 1989
originally made for: Maple Leaf Music

There's nothing about the bridge in the file, so I'm thinking that changed after it was made. And let me know what you find on the scale length so we can resolve that mystery.

[chitownmatt]

Mica,Thank you so much for the info.

It is 30.75", I just confirmed with a tape. (25 years and I always thought it was a 32"- lol)

Here is a pic of the bridge.
It is Alembic standard as far as I can tell.

Thanks again, hope you and everyone at Alembic are all well and safe during this difficult time.

[mica]

Mystery solved! Also yes, the bridge does look correct in this photo. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.

[mica]

Also can now see all those juicy Bird's-eyes! My favorite wood.

[claus]

Hello Matt!

May I ask one question?
Is the Serial Nr. still on the fingerboard or already on the truss rod cover?
Can´t see it on the pic ...

Best regards from Germany!

Claus

[chitownmatt]

The serial number is on the brass TR cover.


I think it is also stamped into the wood under the back electronics cover.

[claus]

Hello chitownmatt,

thanks for the reply. I´ll try just to fix it with which serial number Alembic was changing from the fingerboard to the truss rod cover and if they did for all models at the same time...

Yours is somehow near that "borderline" so I want to know.

Best regards!

Claus