Author Topic: Identifying an Alembic Bass (Read 1321 times)

fred_h · « **on:** April 17, 2015, 11:41:28 AM »

Hi, all! I bought a used Alembic bass back in the 1980s. I'm trying to pin down the specific model. I looked where I thought a serial number might be (on the neck near the highest fret) and didn't find one. Here are links to pics:

https://flic.kr/p/saXC31

https://flic.kr/p/sb41Na

hammer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:49:55 AM »

Beautiful looking series bass that appears to have Birdseye maple body laminations. Have you checked on the top edge of the headstock? On older models the serial numbers are often found there

flpete1uw · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:50:14 AM »

Fred,
It looks to be a Series 1. The serial numbers will either be like you said on the edge of the last fret at the truss rods or if an older model on top of the head stock.
Nice Bass, nicer with a little TLC.
Welcome to the Club!
Best Wishes
Pete

nnek · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:54:09 AM »

From the style of the bridge it looks to be pre-77? The number should be at the top edge of the headstock with the year on one side and number on the other.
Nice looking series bass!

slawie · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2015, 04:35:57 PM »

Hey Fred nice bass. You could have a look inside the control cavity for date stamps on the pots. There may be a serial number somewhere inside the cavity. There may be a serial number at the top of the headstock. Single truss rod looks as if post 1975 pre 1977.
This is just a guess
slawie

FC Bass · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2015, 05:07:49 AM »

Yeah, most likely '75/'76

Very nice!

fred_h · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2015, 02:13:27 PM »

Okay, guys -- I have some info. I tracked the serial number down. It's at the top of the peg head. On one side, it says AE. My understanding is that refers to Alembic Export General. Can anyone tell me what that means?

On the other side, it says, 76 428. I gather that means it was made in 1976? Any info on what the 428 means?

FC Bass · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2015, 02:28:38 PM »

According to this it should be the 428st instrument with the AE prefix:

But 428 looks more inline with the normal sequence, maybe they had abandoned this system (but kept the AE) before this instrument was made?
Or they made a lot of them in '76, looks like there were 1244 AE/AC's made...

fred_h · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2015, 04:19:17 PM »

Wow - that's astonishingly-helpful! Thank you.

Now I'm assuming that the AE doesn't speak to the specific model? Rather, it's probably a Series 1 (?) that was made for export?

lembic76450 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2015, 04:42:26 PM »

Fred, that early on, they only made Series instruments...

fred_h · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2015, 05:15:01 PM »

Ah, okay lembic. Didn't know that.

Let me ask a really crass question of all of you at this point. With what we know about the bass I'm asking you all about, is anyone willing to hazard a guess about its value?

I should say that the reason I'm asking is this thing has been stored in an Anvil case since I got it. I'm moving into a one-bedroom apartment in New York City and it's simply too massive to take with me. (I have other instruments that are more space-friendly.) I'd like to sell it -- don't want to try so high that I make that difficult but I don't want to give it away either.

Any thoughts?

FC Bass · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2015, 05:57:05 PM »

I think this will end somewhere near $3500 on Ebay, I'm almost sure it will sell between $3000 and $4000.

Also depends on how you present it, take good detailed pictures of the bass and goodies (case, powersupply and cable)

fred_h · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:06:07 PM »

Thanks, fc. People might be interested in this. I don't know how reliable it is: http://www.vintageguitar.com/special-features/25-most-valuable-basses/

FC Bass · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:33:41 PM »

From what I've seen on Ebay etc:

Signature: Between $2200 - $3000
Series: Between $3000 - $4000
Series II: Between $4000 - $5500

Those are very rough estimates :-)

Many factors have an impact on the price: Premium woods, age, electronics upgrade (for pre '99 Series basses) repairs etc.

The Series basses on that site both have a graphite neck, those would most likely sell near the $10K mark

hammer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2015, 07:04:05 PM »

I'd have to agree with Flip as to approximate pricing. The Vintage guitar site primarily provides prices on what I'd consider both unusual and in perfect condition guitars. Yours looks to be fairly standard (if one can refer to an Alembic as standard) for a Series bass of that age as it doesn't have premier/special wood combinations, is a 4 stringer, no special inlays, and offers a typical Series body shape.

Have you plugged her in and given her some exercise recently so you can attest to her worthiness. From what I understand at least some older Series without an electronics upgrade have a tendency to hum.

One thing I would definitely suggest doing is seeing if you can replace the missing truss rod cover (call Alembic) and polish up the brass. Alembic recommends Flitz polish which you can get at just about any hardware store. A little Flitz and a lot of rubbing will make the bridge, tailpiece and nut shine like new.