Author Topic: Bass Identification (Read 187 times)

apo · « **on:** April 22, 2005, 08:07:28 PM »

Hi,
I work at a guitar shop in Flagstaff, Arizona. Recently we aquired an Epic on consignment, and got a long and shady story on its history (he bought it from this guy who bought it from this guy who traded it for some illicit materials, etc.)
We've had it on our floor for about a month, and we're going to try to sell it on eBay. However, I'm having a hell of a time figuring out exactly what is up with this bass.
The serial number reads 93W8094 USA. According to Alembics identification page, this would make it a '93 bass, but they also go on to say that Epics weren't made until '94. And the 5-piece neck is just five pieces of maple, no walnut. Also, it has a rosewood fingerboard.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this bass? Is it some kind of pre-production model? I emailed Alembic about a week ago, but have still not received a response.

you can see photos of it here: http://photobucket.com/albums/y137/customsoundinstruments/

Thanks for all your help

dnburgess · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2005, 09:00:28 PM »

The Epic was Alembic's first set neck instrument and was introduced in 1993. Early maple necks did not incorporate veneers between the maple pieces.

David B.

sfnic · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2005, 10:40:00 PM »

The earliest Epic serial number I've seen was 93W7806, which was born probably in early July, 1993.

I don't have access to the actual records, though, so there may well have been earlier specimens.

valvil · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2005, 01:25:07 AM »

I'll check the file on this bass when I'm back at the office on Monday.

Likely an early Epic, top looks like Bubinga.

Valentino

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2005, 05:23:33 AM »

I lived in Flagstaff for a few months back in 1979. It was a great town back then, in a very beautiful part of the country!

valvil · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2005, 05:35:04 PM »

Here we go:
1993 5 string long scale Epic bass
Bubinga top
maple pinstripe
mahogany body
Ebony Fretboard
maple neck
Alembic gold tuners
brass hardware
epic electronics
Completed 12/27/93

Sold through Guitar Center

That's it.

The first Epic I have been able to find in our files was 93W7851 which was completed at the end of August 1993.
My guess on the fingerboard is that it's probably a striped piece of ebony and maybe that's why it looks like rosewood to you.

Valentino

(Message edited by valvil on April 25, 2005)

sfnic · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2005, 10:46:42 AM »

Val - you got a request a few weeks ago on 93W7806; the wood card for it seems to be missing.

(message from Malfalfa in Hawaii)

:-)

nic

sfnic · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2005, 10:50:07 AM »

And BTW., thank you very much for taking the time to dig these records up. You and Mica both. It's a great service and one which, in its own small way, has made this forum what it is. It may only be a list of wood, features and a birthday, but it gives people a direct connection back to the crew that built the instrument. It's a great welcome to the family.

apo · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2005, 04:49:43 PM »

Well Valvil, thanks for the information! I really appreciate you looking that up for me.

Frankly, I'm amazed that the fingerboard is ebony. As my luthier put it, its the reddest piece of ebony I've ever seen. There is virtually no black spots, which is what threw me off. But I do much rather prefer ebony over rosewood anyways, so really thats for the best.

Thank you so much, for all your help.