Why Is This Man Crying?

[s_wood]

Well, I know nothing about woodworking, but I'll tell you this:  when I heard the crash, turned around and saw my bass on the floor in two pieces, my first words were not oh, thank God my scarf joint gave way and prevented more drastic damage.        I think my initial utterance was significantly more, well, colorful.

[mica]

Just had a little chat with Bob and Chip and James about the neck repair on your bass. Moving the scarf joint down is doable. Here's a picture of another instrument to show about where the new joint would wind up:  

  Each end of the red line is at the nut (it's a little hard to see the nut from this angle). It won't be like it was when it was first made, but it can be salvaged.   I was also a little relieved when I actually saw the bass in person. My first reaction to seeing the pictures was along the lines of Steve's reaction, only I thought there was a faulty glue joint (the Ebony and Maple parts looks so clean and smooth). Of course, if I had used my mind instead of having my emotional reaction, I would have realized there isn't a joint where the break occured. But the straight-on angle made it appear like a smooth surface. Here's what I'm talking about:  

  In person, it was clear that the wood sheared.   Mom is working up the quotes for vairous avenues of repair, there are several options. It will be up to you and your insurer to decide which way makes you whole.

[s_wood]

Mica & all
 
Thanks for your compassion, advice and help.  I gotta tell you: that close-up is ugly!

[terryc]

The pics on the Spyder repair are unbelievable!! but if these guys cannot repair your bass then no one on this earth can. I am sure your bass will come back like new..they are great craftsman and I would not trust my Alembic to anyone else, if it ever needs attention I will have to ship it to the USA to them(I live in the UK).
I heard once that Stan Clarke gave a local luthier one of his Almebics to re fret or something..no way..it goes back to the creators of the bass.
Do Alembic ever do copies of Fenders ie in there exotic woods etc or does it break the copright law??
I would love(if I could afford it) a Jazz style bass with there build quality and electronics

[kmh364]

They do and they have. The can't/won't copy the headstock design, which is copyrighted. Do a search...they did a couple of J-bass-bodied basses that they shipped to Britain within the last couple of years that were very nice.

[bassfingers]

Further to Terry's mention of Alembic Jazz style basses,this one was up for sale at Bassworld in Kent,England.  

 

  Rather gorgeous IMHO.  Best Wishes,Simon.

[daveo]

WOW Bassfingers; if I played Bass, I think that is what I'd want.  An Alembic Jazz Bass would sound, feel and play softly as a morning sunrise.

[bassfingers]

I tried to find the link to the site featuring the bass above but Bassworld,as you may know,is a bass forum site.However,after some brief Google-age I found it.It's well worth a look,they've got some beautiful Alembics and the bass above is still advertised.
 
  www.psst.co.uk/americanguitars/bass.htm
 
Best Wishes,Simon.

[kmh364]

That's the store that got 'em. There was a 4-str. as well...it must have sold. The pix of that one, as well as that of the bass above, are buried somewhere here on the site.

[terryc]

That F Jazz style bass is the biz, bet it sounds great as well looking good(as if it wouldn't!!)
Well guess I shall start saving my pennies then.

[bassfingers]

Hi Terry,
I hope you've got a big piggy-bank mate,did you get a look at the website?.I'm not sure I understand why the shop price is ?1200.00 more than the net price.
 
Still,you're right,that bass looks the business,at any price.Yet another piece of Alembic exotica that has me thinking How can I go about financing this one??.
 
D'you think my brother would mind if I sold his car?.
 
All the best mate,
Simon.

[terryc]

hi bassfingers
The trouble is can you justify it..I mean if I won the lottery I would no problem, they all look so damn good..even to hang on the wall in the home they would be such a talking point but overall these basses are meant to be played as they are built not just for looks but for tone as well. Still I can dream...
Yes the website is a choice menu of bass food

[kmh364]

Ahhh, the Pound Sterling...there's a definite reason why Britain is not on the Euro, LOL! Yes Bass World UK's prices are high, especially for one like me who has $USD, LOL! They do have an excellent selection, though...better than most US Dealers...and you do get what you pay for with an Alembic.  
 
Further, unless you have one custom-made, they got the only two J-bass bodied Alembics currently available (only one left now) anywhere, to my knowledge. IMHO, Alembic seems to prefer to leave the Fender-clone business to Sadowksky and Lakland, so you probably won't see too many more like these, LOL!.

[kmh364]

FINALLY...I found pix of BOTH of the Bass World UK Jazz basses....scroll down to Mica's post half-way down the page.
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/7704.html
 
Enjoy!
 
FWIW, Mica mentions that this was to be the FIRST of more shipments of J-Bass Alembics...not sure if they ever made any more.  
 
Val? Mica? Dave? Anyone know?

[bassfingers]

Hi Terry,
I'm sure I could justify the cost of any bass if it was to become part of my working 'A' team.The basses I use most have,or will at some point,pay for themselves.This was always my 'Ace up the sleeve spousal placation vote-winner'.
 
If I could assemble an ultimate 'Noah's Ark' collection-(Two of that,Two of those)-I'd struggle to justify that,but it would take a lottery win to finance it.(I'd need a lottery win just to finance all the Alembic's I'd like.Then there's those several sets of Mk1 Taurus pedals to think about!).
 
Kevin,it must have taken ages to find that thread.It generated a fair amount of interest at the time,so who knows?.Thank you for posting it.I (we)appreciate your time and research.
 
Best wishes,
Simon.