1974 Guitar

[edwardofhuncote]

I guess that would explain what I see, at least. Hmmm... okay. Well, that shouldn't be hard to fix. Nothing irreversible there.

*granted, I'm looking at it on a tiny little screen, but I swear it looks like someone tunneled out the wood base for each string. Still can be fixed.

[flavofive]

Gotta say, it's pretty cool that it has the same body as Jerry's "Eagle" by Doug Irwin (1971).  I'm sure it would sound different, given the completely different pickups and electronics, but sure is a cool-looking instrument!



Jerry's Eagle:

[dela217]

I own 73-47.   Very similar.    I also have the same neck wood construction.    Not sure what it is, but I don't think it's maple or oak.

[sonofa_lembic]

Someone, probably at that store (since the owner of the guitar has no clue as to how the guitar works), messed up the tailpiece.  Here are the photos I had from 2015 when the lady first approached me about what to do with the guitar, and how much it was worth.  You can see it was unmolested, and strung correctly.  I told her not to let a non Alembic dealer mess with it. 

[sonofa_lembic]

"What makes it a Rick Turner Alembic?  The lop sided ears on the headstock.  Amazing how uneven the headstock is from side to side. 

[gtrguy]

The older bridge tailpiece screws are also made of brass, which can break off. I recall it was recommended replacing the screws with stainless ones but of course they should match the original ones.

[dela217]

Ah!    My bass 73-47 has the same problem.   The tailpiece is too high as to not allow enough break of the strings going over the bridge.   This was probably done to correct that. 74-49 which I also owned, had that problem taken care of by someone removing the wood part of the tailpiece.   Then routing a channel under the tailpiece so the ball ends of the strings would be under the surface of the instrument.

My bass 72-16 also has this issue, but I am not going to change anything unless Alembic does it.   

As far as the lopsided peghead goes, I get it.   The instruments were hand made, and they were still learning.    The overlay veneers on 72-16 are crooked!   It's ok.

Even though the instruments are hand made today, I would suspect better for sure.

[flavofive]

I was driving through San Rafael last weekend, and had a chance to stop in briefly to see if they had this guitar there on display.  Fortunately, they did indeed - looks amazing even lined up with the other three Alembics that they have for sale!

One of the employees told me that they all came from the same person, a bandmate of another employee.
Really makes me wonder what other Alembics this person may still be holding onto, if these are the ones they "thinned out"!   

[sonofa_lembic]

Just to clarify, the '74 guitar was not part of those other Alembics.  It is on consignment by a woman and her daughter who I have been speaking with since 2015 about selling the guitar.  It belonged to her husband who passed away back then.  I was hoping to take it on consignment, or even to buy it for stock, but I gave them a realistic idea of the value, and apparently, Bananas At Large lured them in with promises of huge money for the guitar.  I could have had it sold already for them at a fair and solid price.  The owner is still in contact with me, and said if I can line up a sale, she will consider it.  Unfortunately, the guitar is now old news, and the excitement is waning, but it is still a nice looking early Alembic. 

[lbpesq]

You have a Bay Area store?

Bill, tgo

[BeenDown139]

was driving through San Rafael last weekend, and had a chance to stop in briefly to see if they had this guitar there on display.  Fortunately, they did indeed - looks amazing even lined up with the other three Alembics that they have for sale!

that one on the left looks like a  long scale unlined fretless anneversary bass of some sort with a dummy pickup in it.  i'm kinda lookin for one of those.  did you say this is for sale somewheres?  if so, where at?  i may have some interest.  :-)

[JimmyJ]

https://www.bananas.com/collections/pre-owned/products/alembic-fretless-4-string-bass-pre-owned-w-bag
Jimmy J

[pauldo]

That guitar has this 4-stringer intrigued.  She looks kinda dusty and tired, but that is what makes her so interesting - I bet she sings.

[BeenDown139]

thanks jimmy!  your teh best!  anybody ever tell ya that?

[flavofive]

Just to clarify, the '74 guitar was not part of those other Alembics.  It is on consignment by a woman and her daughter who I have been speaking with since 2015 about selling the guitar.  It belonged to her husband who passed away back then.

Ah, gotcha.  Thanks!