Sweet '74 Series 1 Bass at Sweetwarter

[lbpesq]

This came up in my Sweetwater feed.  The bird does look bit off, though. 

Bill, tgo
https://www.sweetwater.com/used/listings/417402-used-alembic-series-i-lsb-4-string-bass-1974-stunning-vermillion-the-ultimate-s1-061-featherweight-wa-set-of-caramel-pickup-covers?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=2187553398656&lid=92700080518145343&ds_s_kwgid=58700008750995430&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000041860162&dsproductgroupid=2187553398656&product_id=GX-417402&prodctry=ZZ&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9032587&creative=706697184393&targetid=pla-2187553398656&campaignid=21493289649&awsearchcpc=1&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21493289649&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj7uzq-vAkwMVGCZECB3NVxPEEAQYBCABEgJ_6fD_BwE

[garyhead]

It’s been up on Reverb for quite some time. 

[rv_bass]

I’ve been looking at that one for awhile.  Not sure if the Q switches are original, they look round instead of flat, and there is some routing around the battery cover.  Nice looking bass though

[David Houck]

Maybe I'm imagining things, but the peghead looks crooked.  Look at the neck lams in the picture of the serial number compared to the crown point, and then other pics of the neck and peghead.  I could be wrong as I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet.

[tkotmk42]

Maybe I'm imagining things, but the peghead looks crooked.  Look at the neck lams in the picture of the serial number compared to the crown point, and then other pics of the neck and peghead.  I could be wrong as I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet.

I saw that too, and was super puzzled.  I guess it could be possible if they didn't align the scarf jointed piece to the neck when they glued on.....

Very cool looking bass, and 2 digit serial number makes it super cool.  Just with it was short scale with small body

Takeo

[mkazaria]

and there is some routing around the battery cover.

Good eye rv. I was also looking at this one but missed that detail.

[keith_h]

The routing around the battery cover might have been to allow for easier installation of 9V batteries. As I recall the original batteries were specialized ones from the medical industry and were slightly smaller than your typical 9V battery. While you could work 9V in the cutout it was a tight fit. 

[rv_bass]

Having owned and still own several older Alembics I can attest to the difficulty of installing and removing the 9v batteries.

Keith, can you expand on the medical batteries? Why were they chosen, what were the advantages, and why were they abandoned?

Thanks,
Rob

[mica]

The original 9V batteries were not really specialized, they were just the batteries at the time, made with mercury and a little smaller than alkaline 9V batteries.

[edwardofhuncote]

Maybe I'm imagining things, but the peghead looks crooked.  Look at the neck lams in the picture of the serial number compared to the crown point, and then other pics of the neck and peghead.  I could be wrong as I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet.

This is actually pretty funny... I don't think I've ever seen this, but I'm sure there must be at least a couple. The only thing I can think of to explain it is the glue joint slid sideways a couple degrees while under pressure at the time of original build. Adding to this, the D-string drill is a bit off, adding to the frontal asymmetry. Or possibly they just didn't catch the 'drift' until the moment the peghead template was placed. Putting myself in that spot... ruined neck blank or shift the headstock angle a couple degrees?


*looking at it from standoff, I think it's actually simpler. They laid the template on the new headstock 'paddle' crooked... lined the point at the end up with the wrong center. That would be easy to do, and once done, pretty much irreversible.


It's kind of endearing after all this time.

[flavofive]

Oh wow.  I think you may be right.  That's crazy.  I didn't even notice the offset headstock point - good eyes.

Never seen anything like that before!
Agreed, it certainly makes the bass unique, and I guess functionally it probably isn't a detriment.  I wonder how long it took the original owner to even notice it?     (Joking aside, I'm sure Alembic would have notified the future owner themselves)

[sonofa_lembic]

Maybe I'm imagining things, but the peghead looks crooked.  Look at the neck lams in the picture of the serial number compared to the crown point, and then other pics of the neck and peghead.  I could be wrong as I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet.

Bass #61. So early.....likely crooked on the headstock.  The tailpiece is even worse.  Just Alembic working the kinks out and getting employees up to speed (or off hallucinogens). 

[jon_jackson]

The bridge seems made to be offset similar to the tailpiece. I wonder if this was an early design experiment.

[edwardofhuncote]

Oh wow.  I think you may be right.  That's crazy.  I didn't even notice the offset headstock point - good eyes.

Never seen anything like that before!
Agreed, it certainly makes the bass unique, and I guess functionally it probably isn't a detriment.  I wonder how long it took the original owner to even notice it?     (Joking aside, I'm sure Alembic would have notified the future owner themselves)

Because it's right where it should be if the center laminate of the neck were the lighter one. But the dark (walnut?) laminate is the true center... Woops! It's probably easier to do than it seems.  And only a couple ways to un-do that. I think we are seeing an early Alembic 'aww-💩' shop moment played forward 50+ years. And it still works just fine! My friend and mentor keeps a box of old burnt-out light bulbs in the shop for throwing in peak moments of frustration like this kind of goof generates. Very satisfying, and harmless. 🤣


Dave actually caught this one, reportedly in a fit of caffeine deficit. It didn't sink in on me for a while.

[garyhead]

Maybe #61 should be named “Helter Skelter!”