(x) 95K8996 Help needed identifying a bass

[basswife]

My husband has a 25th anniversary Alembic Bass. He took it to a pro shop and they told him it is a prototype and they have no information about it.
He has had it since 1993. It is still in its original case and has not been played in years. I am trying to find some information about the bass for him.
He bought the bass at Ross Music Shop in Rhode Island. When he bought it the list price was $4000.
The serial number is 95K8996. The model number is K 1or I SB-4. The date of completion on the wood card is 3-31-95. The model name is essence.
It has side LEDs that light up. He has all the original paper work but we cannot find anything online about this one. It is listed on the tag as Alembic Essence with Pro Pack Bocate’ with LEDs.
Has anyone heard of this?  I have emailed alembic mutliple times with no response.
Thanks!!!

[fivestringdan]

Post some pictures. Maybe we can help.

[basswife]

My husband has a 25th anniversary Alembic Bass. He took it to a pro shop and they told him it is a prototype and they have no information about it.
He has had it since 1993. It is still in its original case and has not been played in years. I am trying to find some information about the bass for him.
He bought the bass at Ross Music Shop in Rhode Island. When he bought it the list price was $4000.
The serial number is 95K8996. The model number is K 1or I SB-4. The date of completion on the wood card is 3-31-95. The model name is essence.
It has side LEDs that light up. He has all the original paper work but we cannot find anything online about this one. It is listed on the tag as Alembic Essence with Pro Pack Bocate’ with LEDs. Can you help us? Is this a prototype like the shop thinks or is it just a really cool bass that no one has heard of?
Thanks!!!

[JimmyJ]

Tammy,

As it seems you know everything about the bass already (and it sounds like a nice one) what additional information are you looking for?  Current value?  One thing I can tell you is that since it was built in '95 he couldn't have owned it since '93.     All Alembics are handmade so I doubt yours is a "prototype".  "Essence" is the model name and I believe "Anniversary" usually refers to the electronics package.

Alembic is a small family-owned company so email responses are not always quick.  But as Dan suggested, post some pics here if you can and we'll try to help.

Jimmy J

[edwardofhuncote]

Hi Tammy, Welcome to our hangout. Pictures would solve this,  especially one of that build card, but I'll take a shot at decoding.


K=Essence
95=1995
SB-4= (probably) short-scale bass, 4-string


25th Anniversary basses are very rare. This doesn't sound like one. It could be that this bass just happened to be made during the 25th anniversary year and that verbiage appears on some in-case literature. More likely, it has Anniversary electronics, a very nice upgrade to an Essence model.


Show us whatcha' got there. Resize the pics first...

[basswife]

Hopefully the pictures are visible!
He owned it since 1996. Sorry for the typo!!!
Thanks for any info! I am hoping to find the value of the bass and if it is a rare bass.
Thank you for any help you can provide!

[garyhead]

There’s quite a bit of corrosion on this bass. The photos are grainy, but is one of the tuner washer's corroded?  Has this bass been underwater?  Photos of the control cavities would be needed. It’s a standard production Essence with an option of side LEDs. Do the LEDs work?
I’ll leave it to others who keep up with price points on 4-stringers. It could be a fixer upper for some…..but LED repairs could be expensive.

[fivestringdan]

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=alembic%20essence%20bass&show_only_sold=true&sort=published_at%7Cdesc

This will give you an idea of the resale value from Reverb. It's similar to ebay and what I see sell on GuitarCenter.com/used

[edwardofhuncote]

There it is!

I believe that model reads KLSB-4.

This looks like a Essence bass, standard electronics to that model with an added Q-switch. (a nice upgrade) Has a Bocate wood top, I think long-scale. (most are).

Don't see anything that indicates 'Anniversary Model' or electronics that are are usually associated with those models there. Essences are nice basses, not especially 'rare', but a step up in the Alembic hierarchy from the entry models.

If you want to sell it, you can list it for sale in the Swap Shop here, just beware, there are a couple folks who troll those threads and will instantly make you a silly lowball offer. If they haven't already. Avail yourself of the internet, check Reverb and Ebay to see what prices are being asked, so you know where the floor is.

*Dan beat me to the link.

It's a nice old bass, will make someone else a great first Alembic.

[fivestringdan]

There it is!
*Dan beat me to the link.

Sorry Greg..lol I was consulting a client about switching from double bass to electric upright and the web browser was open.

[dela217]

That may not be a Q switch, but a switch to turn off the LED's.

[edwardofhuncote]

Ahh - Michael with the sharp eye!    Yessir, LED's would be an upgrade too.

[lembic76450]

Tammy, DM sent,  check your messages.

[mica]

This is an Essence bass made for Ross Music in Rhode Island. It's not a prototype, and it looks to have mostly normal Essence featured for the time except the side LEDs which would have been ordered by the store specially.

I'm guessing the "Pro Pack" on the tag is some sort of bundle the store included with the bass, like a strap, polish, or strings. That may be where the confusion started about prototype but I can't really say for sure.

Also for reference, the Essence product page is located here:
http://alembic.com/prod/essence.html

Ask away if you have any other questions!