Alembic Circuit Board

[pauldo]

Wow.
Nice sleuth work Rob.

The body wood on the Reverb site looks absolutely fabulous!  Talk about wood porn.

Maybe that was a fake truss rod cover as the general public wasn’t ready for a dual truss rod system adjusted at the body?   

[JimmyJ]

Wow, instrument spotted and ID'd just like that!  Great looking bass.  Those may even be your original strings.  Ha!

I think that plate up on the headstock in your photo is the original truss rod cover which is now missing.  Gregory spotted on the reverb listing what looks like filled in screw holes where that plate used to be.  Who knows why was it moved there? 

Here's my theory.  A-HEM!  Which is mine...  (Spot the ancient pop culture reference).  On many Alembics the bass pickup can be adjusted in a way that makes the truss rod cover plate no longer fit in its original position.  Maybe that's what happened and instead of throwing the plate away or having it rattle around loose in the case, it was mounted up on the headstock.   You don't remember engaving it with a nice "jellybean" do you?

I think you should make a low-ball offer on it.   

Jimmy J

[lbpesq]

Jimmy’s theory sounds good to me.  As I recall, Alembic started using truss rod covers in 1977.  (My ‘76 Series I MSG has no cover while my ‘77 Series I 12 String LSG does have the brass truss rod cover). 

By the way, Jimmy, your ancient pop culture reference went right over my head, and I usually get these things, being suitably ancient myself!


Bill, tgo

[gtrguy]

In my Alembic records I have this post about electronics:

"From Mica, Adriaan is correct: the Series I and II harnesses and preamp boards all have their own serial numbers that are distinct from each other and from the finished instruments. There are more cards than harnesses, as the cards are more likely to fail.
You can usually find a 4 digit date code somewhere on the electronics formatted YYWW where YY = year and WW = Week.
It's very unlikely the card or harness number would match the bass number. In fact, I'm not even sure the first one had a matching set of numbers."

[elwoodblue]

Curiosity got the best of me, and I popped the hood on my '77 Series I... it's preamp card is numbered (handwritten, exactly as yours) 618, the bass is serially numbered 77-621. I have no idea if those card numbers run along with the instrument serial numbers or if it's just coincidence. An instrument numbered 1101 would be from sometime in 1978. Don't know about the cards. I sure would like to though.

 One more data point for posterity; My 78-1100 guitar has a PF-6 card that's numbered "1104".

[David Houck]

... By the way, Jimmy, your ancient pop culture reference went right over my head, and I usually get these things, being suitably ancient myself! ...

I cheated and looked it up.  It has to do with paleontology.

[adriaan]

[jellybean_red]

rv_bass - just wanted you to know that I contacted the seller of my 1978 Alembic on Reverb.  I think he's selling for a client.  The client said he bought the bass in the US and brought it to Germany.  (I'm still amazed that you found it!!!  Thanks again!)

jimmyj - you said I should throw a lowball offer to the seller.  What do you think I should try?  (Remember I'm a struggling musician who has lost 30 gigs just from March 14 through April!!). Also, Jimmy, I have a story about going to see you with James Taylor that I'd like to tell you.  I'd rather not bother all the Alembic Club folks.  Is there a way I could share that story more privately with you?

[JimmyJ]

Dear Mr. Bean,
(Sorry, maybe you could add just a tad more info to your profile, like name and location?  Not necessary though.)

At the risk of having your wife put out a contract on me, I'd say offer $3000.  But you know, only if you really really feel the need to reconnect with the instrument - in case your shockingly low offer was shockingly accepted.  I can relate to the no work situation as there is literally no live music happening anywhere right now.  Of course, the same holds true for the seller...

To avoid hijacking your own thread, I have my own in here ...Alembic products » Showcase » Artists and Their Alembics  » Jimmy "Flim" Johnson.  This is about the only place I hang out on the 'net so stories are welcome.

Jimmy J

[lbpesq]

  I can relate to the no work situation as there is literally no live music happening anywhere right now.

Jimmy, there’s live music happening in my living room almost everyday!  Me and my Further!  You’re more than welcome to come on over and sit in - then it will be the two of us!  (As you might say, HA!)

Seriously though, I will be performing as part of a Zoom Open Mic tomorrow night.  Gotta get the jams out!


Bill, tgo