"Series 1" on Reverb

[Rondog]

Just saw this on Reverb:
https://reverb.com/item/90330253-1994-alembic-series-series-1-custom-inlay?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=90330253


Being sold as a Series 1, but it has no 5-pin socket on the front and no preamp adjustment holes on the back. Seller says it's a custom ordered Series 1.
Any thoughts?

[FC Bass]

Prepared for Series, this one has activator electronics. (see pic of controls cavity)

[Rondog]

I just found this previous thread, which seems to be about this bass:


https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=2596.0

[Rondog]

Prepared for Series, this one has activator electronics. (see pic of controls cavity)

Thanks for identifying the electronics, i wasn't sure what they were (although clearly not Series 1)

[BeenDown139]

my $0.02 USD:

nice bass but you can poke around and find a real SI without someone else's initials on it that's gonna cost ya an arm and a leg to remove (unless ya put a sticker over it) for a whole lot less.  in whatever scale ya like. with a 5-pin, MOP 5-pin hole cover plate not withstanding.  i dunno.  maybe their shop's in need of a pretty window hanging 'cause it's gonna be  there awhile at that price.  imho.  ymmv.  and all that rot.

been a tuff day.  where's the tylenol?  and why does the phone keep ringing?

[edwardofhuncote]

I would love to own that bass. I'd simply have my own initials, or something else inlaid in the medallion. Probably do it myself or have Ward do it.


Negotiating a reasonable price for it would be the trick. It's beautiful. It's cocobolo. It appears to be in fine condition. I just think $10k plus is a tough sell for a non-Series instrument realistically. I'm not sure they even know the difference.

[jazzyvee]

Sure is a beauty. I've seen a number of these prepped for series electronics basses over the years and can't help wondering why a plate is put on it rather than an actual 5 pin socket. Even though the socket would be inactive I think it would improve the aesthetic.

[edwardofhuncote]

Other than the additional expense, (and I don't imagine it's an unexpensive thing...) I can't see a downside to adding a 5-pin. If I could do just one thing differently with my Custom, it would have been to have a 5-pin jack installed at original construction. It'd probably be a big ol' pain in the butt to do now, but relatively easy during the build. If for whatever reason I had to send that pbass back the Mothership for work, I'd ask for it to be fitted with one if at all possible.

[jazzyvee]

I agree Greg. I like the idea of having the 5 pin on my non series basses. As you say it would be a pain to do post production. I don't know enough about electronics to know if the existing non series circuits could stand. +/-18v or would it be +/- 9v or just 18v.

[jon_jackson]

I had a 5-pin socket included in the build of my Dragonwing with Anniversary electronics. I don't know about how the circuitry works, but it is used / powered (leds & pickups) interchangeably with my Series basses from the DS-5R or the DS-5.

[BeenDown139]

i own 2 series and 3 non-series basses that get played thru an bi-amped stereo rig (the SII is the one that rules them all). since it looks like they're all gonna accompany me on stage in one combination or another this summer, i've often connsidered having them all made 5-pins just so i don't have 3 different cord ends and cable conversions to deal with when i change basses on stage.   dealing with the +9-volt vs. the +/-15-volt systems is an electronic engineering issue that sounds simple on the face of it but getting a solid solution to live in a cramped control cavity  is not something that i wanna deal with since i don't have an electronics shop at my disposal any more.
plus there's the woodwork aspect to deal with.  i'd definitely farm that out to a compentent luthier.  after much design and paper-doll work up front.

i did make a set of adapters that's the subject of another thread around here somewheres.  probably gonna save myself a buncha grief and go with that route.

good luck to all!!!