More Alembics in Japan

[DistillaMatto]

This is a weird one. The original electronics look like they are in the case. They've replaced the pickups with p-90s?!
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k1102727621

[edwardofhuncote]

Man, would I sure love to find that over here somewhere... an old Series II medium-scale guitar, with its electronics replaced with P-90s. Play it until you fix it. I'm going to be stewing about that one the rest of the day.

[lbpesq]

According to the yen/dollar converter, this one is a little under $1400!   Buyer beware!

Bill, tgo

[gtrguy]

I think it says Auction. This would make a fun project that might turn out pretty OK, assuming you could actually get it. I like the, "If you wish, we could include the original electronics" bit! Duh...

[edwardofhuncote]

Maybe Bill TGO is concerned at that price it may be a scam? I am not familiar enough with Japanese auction sites to know if they are like what we are currently experiencing on Reverb etc, but if I found that guitar around here somewhere, I'd be on it like a duck on a junebug. At twice that.

[adriaan]

As much as I'd like to take a closer look, it would appear the Yahoo auction site for Japan will not show for a Western European or UK audience. "From Wednesday, April 6, 2022, Yahoo! JAPAN is no longer available in the EEA and the United Kingdom"

[edwardofhuncote]

Here is what we are seeing Adriaan... looks to be a stripped-out medium-scale Series II guitar, Padouk top/back, #78-1046.

[adriaan]

Thanks Greg!

[rv_bass]

Cool grain pattern on the headstock

[DistillaMatto]

I live in Japan and have bought a few guitars on Yahoo Auction. I don't think it is a scam. My concern is that it is a Frankenstein from other guitars. The paper work has Rick Turner on the list. These auctions can go up a lot in the last hour. If everyone out there thinks the body and headstock are real I'll try bidding on it. I'm still waiting for a quote and confirmation on getting a custom made so I won't go too far in the bidding. I wrote a question to the seller if the original pickup and electronics are there.

[DistillaMatto]

The story is that it was a nuisance to use a power supply for the active pickups so they had some custom p-90s made.

[rv_bass]

Maybe ask if there is a photo of the serial number stamped at the top edge of the headstock

[DistillaMatto]

Maybe ask if there is a photo of the serial number stamped at the top edge of the headstock

I'll do that. Thank you.

[DistillaMatto]

Headstock photo.

[edwardofhuncote]

Looks 100% legitimate to me. One unusual thing; #78-1116 which I had the pleasure of caretaking a while, was completed May 11th, and this one has a little later 'Birthday' of Aug. 4th. Doesn't really mean anything other than it took longer in production.


*man, this one really tweaks me! 😍