Any thoughts on this Spoiler?

[Moose]

Hey guys, I was tooling around on Facebook’s marketplace and stumbled upon a spoiler. I’ve been looking for an alembic since I ran into a beautiful used ‘89 distillate at my local vintage shop in the year I graduated high school. Needless to say the dough wasn’t in place just yet! Problem is, this spoiler i just found is a little funky to say the least... the guy seems to think it’s a ‘94, but i’m quite confident it’s an ‘83. It also looks like the back of the neck has been sanded not just matte but down to bare wood (i hate it when people do that lol), and it’s strung up to be tuned ADGC... not tenor ADGC, but floppy drop ADGC... i’m sure you understand my nut-related and truss-rod-related concerns about that one... and better yet, the serial number is wierd - “734206”... 1973? #4206? No letters? The imaginary spoiler shaped 4206th series 1 from 1973?!? Crazy. The font is wrong, too. I wonder what happened there... i could go on, but all i’ll say is that shes a weird one for sure. I’m curious what everyone else over here thinks about it.

[edwardofhuncote]

Welcome Moose.

Yeah, that's an earlier Spoiler, looks lika a solid koa one, and you're probably close on the year... '82 - '83. The number is wacky, and that's the thing - the font does look right for that time. I swear I've seen it and we've discussed it here, or maybe another one like it, but the short answer is no, there were no '72 Spoilers.

One possibility- it could have been an employee-made bass, and the number was relevant to them in some way. Usually those didn't get logos. It's a mystery but the bass looks legitimate. Check out the electronics cavity pretty close. Get a good deal and rock that thing!

My first Alembic experience was a Distillate too... branded me for life.

[rv_bass]

Here is one reference I found online, notes an interchangeable magnetic fretboard.  So the fretboard and serial number may not be original.

https://www.tundramusic.com/alembic-4-string-koa-spoiler-koa-206-used-vintage/

[rv_bass]

Here is another one with a Novatone magnetic fretboard that talks about an altered/removed serial number

https://reverb.com/item/3428296-1984-alembic-spoiler-electric-bass-w-4-novatone-magnet-fretboards-case-26856

And a discussion of these interchangeable magnetic fretboards on the Alembic club a number of years ago

https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=3407.msg37574#msg37574

[replaced link to the thread on the old Club to the current one]

[edwardofhuncote]

I believe Rob has located your Spoiler, there Moose. The magnetic interchangeable fingerboard would also account for some bonus neck relief.

[Moose]

Haha, thanks guys, I see that’s definitely the one. The interchangeable fretboards really put me off, especially for a guy so obsessive over his neck relief. Plus, for $3000 CAD “firm”, it seems like we’ll just be keeping an eye out elsewhere. It’s cool to hear about it - the story came together!

[edwardofhuncote]

Yessir, at that price point, keep shopping. I bought a mint-condition Distillate fretless from the origial owner for the same money in USD. Hang around here with us if you love these things and keep an eye on the Swap Shop.

[Moose]

Edward, you're killing me with that story! I'll absolutely be hanging out around here. Hopefully i'll be showing one off of my own sometime soon.

[hammer]

Good things come to those who wait. Something will turn up and at a reasonable price. There are many of us here who when we sell would much rather be sending one of our instrument to someone we know will play rather than collectors or flippers.