Nice ‘82 Series I on Reverb

[rv_bass]

https://reverb.com/item/37502940-alembic-series-1-4-string-bass-1982-with-case-and-original-bill-of-sale


...although sounds like there are issues with the bridge pickup.

[garyhead]

$9K for a Series 1 that doesn't work properly seems a bit ambitious.

[StephenR]

I had never heard of Ovangkol wood but it looks really nice and bass seems in excellent shape overall. I wonder if they tested it with the five pin cable and DS5? Corner Music is a reputable store and it looks like they are flexible on the price. They would probably provide photos of the electronics cavity if asked.

[jazzyvee]

Your point is exactly what i thought, they may have tried it just with a mono jack so only getting the neck out. A great looking bass, but i think they will struggle to get $9k

[edwardofhuncote]

Ovangkol is/was a sustainable experimental rosewood replacement in the acoustic guitar world. It's tropical, African, and hard as a rock. Taylor, C.F. Martin & Co. etc. tried it for a while. Opinions on its tonal properties vary widely among guitar players, but I played a Martin OM Custom once with sides and back made of Ovangkol I thought was fantastic. I can't say it was that attractive though...

That's a pretty cut of it. I don't recall seeing another Alembic made of it. I wonder if the customer supplied the wood for the build, or if Alembic was ahead of the curve in trying Ovangkol? (it was later on in the 90's that stuff hit a peak in popular use, as I recall)

*Interesting: The Wood Database classes Ovangkol with Schedua. https://www.wood-database.com/ovangkol/

[hammer]

Am I just not seeing it or has the seller now tested with the five pin and found there is no problem with the bridge PU.

[rv_bass]

They must have tested it and changed the listing...

“The preamp seems to be stereo output only through quarter-inch and 5 pin connector “