1977 small standard body / LONG (?) scale Series 1

[flavofive]

https://reverb.com/item/69851739-alembic-series-1-1977-natural-mahogany

I saw this bass come up on Reverb yesterday, originally posted as a 1979.  I messaged the seller to suggest double-checking the headstock date stamp, since the body style matches the earlier shape that Alembic used from ~1974 to late 1977.  He replied that the date stamp was initially hard to read, but with a magnifying glass he was able to confirm that it actually was a 1977.

What's more interesting - he mentioned in his message that it's a long scale, which he was aware is very unusual with small standard bodies. 

I can't verify this myself from the photos, and I'm surprised this isn't mentioned in the listing itself.  If I were a buyer, I think I'd want to know...
But if anyone's interested in (potentially) a very rare configuration, this might be a good chance.

I'd suggest asking the seller to double-check that it's really 34".  But assuming it is - according to this thread here on the Club, there were only 8 of these ever made!  https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=1157.msg11671#msg11671

[hammer]

Boy, I’ve got a Signature SC and a Series I SC both of which are short scale and I needed to learn how to play them higher and short of tucked under my right arm to minimize neck drop. I can’t imagine what it would be like with a long scale version. Sometimes when only a few products of a certain type are made, it’s not just that they are rare but that they don’t work as well as the manufacturer wants them to.


 I guess by pre amp not required they really mean DS5 not required (as long as one has LOTS of batteries on hand).

[BeenDown139]

i owned a '76 small body long scale fretless series I back in the early '00's (the steve fossen bass to be precise). 

didn't balance that great.  had truss rod problems.  sang like 10,000 songbirds.  light as a feather, very easy to play.  if it came up for sale it's one of the few of my former basses that i'd probably buy back.

[dela217]

It might be a medium, but it does not look like a long scale to me.    The long scale basses with the small standard has their bridge and tailpiece moved more rearward.   

I guess the only way to know is to measure it.

I have had a couple of the long scale small bodied basses.   They are not as bad as you might think.   I find them comfortable.

Michael

[edwardofhuncote]

Paging Bob Ross!

[Bob_Ross]

Yikes, of all the places you could re-locate a strap button to, why there?!?!

But thanks for the tip, the timing is semi-sorta-kinda right ...-ish.

[BeenDown139]

Yikes, of all the places you could re-locate a strap button to, why there?!?!

indeed.  sure hope they didn't use a deck screw on it like i've seen done before.  not sure i'd wanna buy this bass with that done to it.  i mean... how ya gonna play the upper registers?  cantcha weaken the neck by jsut popping holes (let's hope they at least drilled the hole out before threading a screw into it) in it willy-nilly like that?

i dunno.  i don't like it.  it don't look right.  my back hurts.  it's time for bed.  where's the tylenol?

[mavnet]

I've got two of the small body + long scale basses - one fretted, one fretless, both customs, from the same time ('77). Amazing instruments (as they all are). I was tempted a few times early on to move the strap button to compensate for neck dive, but over time just got used to it.