(x) Serial Number Request: 853549 [was: 852349] USA (Series 1 4-string Fretless)

[jhulcher]

Greetings Everyone!

I'm seeking the build history for my Series 1 Fretless, serial# 852349 USA. The serial# is quite faded, but I'm pretty sure I'm close if not exact. Pictures below, which may help. I read Mica's comments and understand these are reviewed in batches.

As some on this forum know, I recently reunited with this bass after selling it ~25 years ago. I'm pretty darn sure it's a 1985. Alas, when I bought it in 1991 I didn't record the serial number or register with Alembic. Thanks in large part to people on this forum, I was able to find and reunite with the bass (pics below are minutes after a tearful reunion). By connecting with former owners during my search, I learned about some of its history after I sold it. Thankfully, it was handled with care by each owner (4 that I know of) and is in great shape--as if it, too, was waiting to reunite with me.

And since it will never leave me again I'm now keen to learn its full history to the extent possible. Cheers to you all!

John

[pauldo]

John,
That is a beautiful bass, great reunion!   

[Spoilers!]

Hi John,

Congratulations on the reunion!  I think you might be off on the serial number though.  I have #2349 (actually 82S2349), which is one of the first year Spoilers.  It is fretless though, and also has the serial number just about worn off!

Ken

[jhulcher]

Hi John,

Congratulations on the reunion!  I think you might be off on the serial number though.  I have #2349 (actually 82S2349), which is one of the first year Spoilers.  It is fretless though, and also has the serial number just about worn off!

Ken

Thank you, Ken! This is helpful info. I will try to get a better look at mine and update the post accordingly.

Cheers!
John

[gearhed289]

Hi John,

Congratulations on the reunion!  I think you might be off on the serial number though.  I have #2349 (actually 82S2349), which is one of the first year Spoilers.  It is fretless though, and also has the serial number just about worn off!

Ken

John's bass is a Series, not a Spoiler. I'm not sure what the letter designation is for Series instruments, or if there even is one.

[keith_h]

Hi John,

Congratulations on the reunion!  I think you might be off on the serial number though.  I have #2349 (actually 82S2349), which is one of the first year Spoilers.  It is fretless though, and also has the serial number just about worn off!

Ken

John's bass is a Series, not a Spoiler. I'm not sure what the letter designation is for Series instruments, or if there even is one.

There is not letter designation for Series instruments it is a two digit date followed by the serial number. The serial numbers themselves are sequential for every instrument constructed so Ken's bass is the 2349th instrument built by Alembic not the 2349th Spoiler.

John, You might try getting a rubbing of the serial number if parts are unreadable.The pots will also have a date code which can be used to narrow down the year the bass was built.

[Spoilers!]

John,

If you're correct about this being an '85, the third digit is most likely a 3 rather than a 2.  I'm pretty sure I've seen a list of high and low Alembic serial numbers by year, but I can't remember if it was here, on Alembic's main site, or somewhere else.  I can say for sure that 3329 was an '84, so 3349 could be an '85.

One of mine is an '84 Distillate.  When I got it I thought something was very off with the serial number, as it appeared to be lower than my Spoiler's.  Then I realized that between wear and accumulated gunk, what I thought was a 2 was actually a 3.  It has to be under bright light and from the right angle for the bottom part of the digit to be clear.  I figured the number out by taking flash photos up close from a couple of angles.

Ken

[FC Bass]

Here's the list: http://www.fcbass.nl/alembic/10.htm

So for 85 it should be between 34** and 38** (at least 3439 and 3842)
Wiping it with a bit Lemon oil might make the number a bit better readable.

Great reunion! Congrats, nice one!

[edwardofhuncote]

Pretty sure this is the same bass... can't make out the serial number, but it was listed for sale as a 1981.


https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=22181.msg223973#msg223973

https://reverb.com/item/2979304-alembic-series-1-bass-fretless-1981-rosewood

FWIW my bass; 81D-1986 was completed on 12/11/1981.

[rv_bass]

With poor_nigel proving some details

I remember that bass, and for a good reason.  It is one of two Alembics I know of that had graphite rods imbedded into its neck.  My ebony bass was one, and Dave's fretless was the other.  It makes the neck stiffer and it adds to the fundaments that result.  Mica loved the way my bass sounded when it went into be refinished.  It was a great sounding bass, and still is, with its new ebony/purpleheart/maple neck.  I highly recommend this bass just on that information.  For the price, I seriously doubt you will find a better tone.  It is a 32" scale, but I would imagine it would be very close to the sound of a 34". 

[pauldo]

Graphite reinforcement on a fretless sounds very intriguing!  I bet she sings. 😎

[jhulcher]

The people on this forum, including you fine folks, are so darn helpful. I owe the reunion to a good lot of you. As Spoilers and FC Bass suggest, it’s not a ‘2’ but will confirm using tips suggested here then update the post for Mica’s review.

I found another Series 1 online that’s almost identical to mine but fretted and with the “bird tail.” Serial number is 853883. 

https://guitarchimp.com/products/1985-alembic-series-1-4-string-bass-guitar

Later this month I’m meeting with Will Gunn, a longtime Alembic dealer who just happens to live close to me. He will help me with some TLC and perhaps help confirm the serial number if I’ve not done so by then.

And yes, my bass sings and its tone is unmatched by any other bass I own. I’m so very pleased to have the bass love of my life back in my life.

Many thanks to you all, and stay tuned…

[edwardofhuncote]

Will Gunn is the closest thing to an Encyclopedia Alembica that there is, short of a visit to the Mothership.


There is a thread here somewhere on the other bass you mentioned. It showed up here a couple years ago. I lost track of it a couple flips later.

*here- https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=23054.msg231638#msg231638

I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if it turns out to be a sister to your fretless.

[jhulcher]

Took a couple pics with better light than I had before (see below). I think the serial# is 853549. The first "8" is all but invisible but I'm using deductive reasoning based on all the info I've gathered from this forum, including the list FC Bass shared in this thread and the fretted "twin" version I found that was made in 85 and, as edwardofhuncote mentioned, is likely its sister bass.

853549 makes sense to me, but keen for your thoughts.

Will Gunn is the closest thing to an Encyclopedia Alembica that there is, short of a visit to the Mothership.

I found out about Will a few weeks ago via Mica's post that he had moved to Portland, OR. Turns out I'm 25 minutes away from him. When I spoke with him he was so nice--offered to help me with TLC in any way and also teach me how to maintain it. After I learned more about his history with Alembic, I thought to myself, "this reunion story can't get any better."

[garyhead]

Were they stamping serial numbers in the control cavity in 1985?