Series 1 short scale in Europe

[chrisalembic]

Bassmatters in Holland has a 1979 Series short scale for sale. Looks like a nice bass and if everything functions well its reasonably priced. I did notice though that the oval inlay at the 5th fret seems to be missing. Could easily be fixed.

https://bassmatters.nl/en/2364/Alembic-Series-1-1979

[jazzyvee]

Nice bass and about right pricewise for this side of the pond.

[Yarr]

They don't accept trades for this one if someone else was wondering.

[senmen]

Seems that this shop is not interested in selling anything. 
Asked him several times for a few more photos, no replies
to my mails. Lateron he told me that he has no time for that.
No replies from them; you have to ask and push.
Well really not recommendable..

[JimmyJ]

It's pretty clear from the description that the seller is not a fan of Alembic.  He doesn't understand.  Hopefully somebody who does can relieve him of the burden of selling one. 

Jimmy J

[FC Bass]

I don't think they ever had an Alembic for sale there, pretty sure the owner is  a hardcore Fender person. (though I've never met him/been there)
Corrected some misinfo in the comment section :-)

[FC Bass]

Apparently he does visit the Alembic club: https://bassmatters.nl/en/2404/Fender-Custom-Shop-53-P-bass-JRN-ANBL

Just like it's shortscale friend we have in the shop, this is a bass that according to Jimmy Johnson and me we don't get. So please come and relieve us of the burden of selling it.


 

[JimmyJ]

OK, that's funny.  I apologize.

So Paul if you're following this thread, all I meant was that your original description of this bass mostly expressed how insanely expensive Alembic products are.  That's how I read it anyway.  But as I'm sure you know there's a reason they cost what they do.  Esoteric woods, many hours of work into each individual build, and an uncompromising choice of every component down to the internal wire gauges.  They're built like tanks to be reliable touring machines. 

We know Alembic instruments are not everybody's cup of tea (or perhaps your legendary coffee) and that's all fine.  But those of us who do play them tend to really like them. 

Again, I meant no insult.  I thought I was addressing the members of this forum who are all rather gung-ho on Alembics.  I hope your new short description gets some laughs.  Maybe in the end I can help you sell it!

Cheers!
Jimmy J

[tkotmk42]

Yeah, I sent him an email and he responded with courtesy and understanding of my request.

I am curious about the white sticker-looking thingy on the back of the headstock... for a second, I thought it was the Fernandes sticker-logo, but that's on the front, not on the back.  So I suspect it is some sort of marking from prveious owner... donno.

Also, the control cavity shot... that PF6 circuit board looks different from my '79.
Mine is serial number 134x and their bass is 145x so maybe it has different version? (some of the connector is modular type, so maybe it is revised version??)

SHOP PHOTO
https://bassmatters.nl/site/content/upload/webshop/product_fotos/zoom/IMG_3330.jpeg

My SI

I lived in Belgium for 4 years and during that time, I became a huge fan of Netherland and Dutch people, they are the nicest people in Europa, but then again, my experiance with French and Germans had something to do with forming of that particular opinion..... lol

And Merry Christmas to you all !!!!

[FC Bass]

Both look ok to me, I think yours has the old style opamps on the back? First picture is of the board in my ex (79 1373) second picture is the modern style.

[JimmyJ]

Takeo,

Your preamp board is the original design with the in-line mini-coax pickup connectors and the "flat-pack" opamp chips (on the underside).  That shop pic shows the newer version of the card with Molex pickup connectors and opamp chip sockets.  I'm not sure exactly when that change happened but I suppose it could have been between these two instruments. 

I also know some very nice folks in the Netherlands so I trust that Paul from Bassmatters was responding to my original post with a sense of humor.

Jimmy J

[tkotmk42]

FC-san, Jimmy-san,

Thank you for the input.  So much to learn!! 



Paul told me he's on vacation till 7th next month, I'll have time to think till then to see if I 'need' that bass...

Takeo

[gtrguy]

I seem to remember Mica saying the the original hard wired military spec opamps became non-avail sometime back in the day.