Author Topic: (x) 1988 Spoiler 88S4722 (Read 452 times)

rgasper · « **on:** December 30, 2015, 09:24:58 AM »

Hi Alembic!

I acquired this beauty at the beginning of December. It did come with a full spec sheet, but I was just curious about any additional information or history. This ebony top is stunning.

Thanks for your time!

dtothec · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2015, 12:41:16 AM »

Russell, I purchased that beautiful bass just outside of Cincinnati in a small town called Okeanna, Ohio near the Indiana border in June or July of this year. It is one of the most beautiful basses that I've seen. I ended up selling it because I have 3 other Alembics that are 5 string and it being a 4 string I hardly ever played it. However it has a beautiful sound like a piano and clear as a bell. I sold it to a club member in New York who ended up selling it to a gentleman in Louisville. I then saw it for sale at a store in Chicago not long ago. The gentleman from Louisville had requested info from the mothership and if you go down to December 11 in this forum you will see where Mica responded that the only thing that she had different than the build sheet is that Mary had added Macassar Ebony to the top. That's the history as I've seen it since I owned it.

It is a beautiful looking, playing and sounding bass. May you have years of enjoyment playing her! Happy New year and welcome to the club!

adriaan · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2015, 02:02:07 AM »

Thanks Darrell! That would be this lookup.

dtothec · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2015, 02:14:44 AM »

That's it! Adriaan I don't know if you have seen that bass but it is a real beauty! I have pictures of it but I can't remember how get the file sizes small enough to post here.

rgasper · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2015, 01:42:52 PM »

Hi Darrell and Adriaan,

Thanks so much for all of the extra history! I wish I could have information like that on my other vintage instruments (and kind folks like you to take the time to share it!).

The reactions I've received so far, upon showing this Spoiler to friends and coworkers, has pretty much been a collective, DAMN. That was my reaction, too, when it popped up for sale at Chicago Music Exchange. I, like a handful of guys on here, fell in love with the Spoiler after seeing Jason Newsted use one with Metallica. As a result, in the 13 or so years that I've been playing, I'd occasionally peek at Alembics on the used market. When this '88 popped up (which also happens to be the year I was born), and I saw that Macassar Ebony top, I knew that if I passed it up, I'd forever regret it. I can't even believe how harmonics just jump out of this thing, and the way the body resonates is unreal. The responsiveness of the pickups and that sweet, sweet filter are a real joy.

Anyway, I'll try to take some glamour shots soon when the weather isn't grey and awful here in northwest Indiana. Maybe a YouTube video is in order, as well!

dtothec · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2015, 03:14:07 PM »

That is really a sweet sounding and looking bass. As i said above i have some pictures of it but forgot how to compress the file sizes down to 150kb to post on the site! It be great to see it on YouTube in action!

You'll find that almost any question that you can think of either has been or can be answered on this site.

You'll also find that Alembic basses are addictive (betcha can't have just one!). Many are similar but no two are exactly alike and they make you want to play and explore the many different tones that you can get out of them. You should get years of great sounds out of that Spoiler. Happy New!

Darrell

adriaan · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2016, 01:08:27 PM »

Here's a recent thread with pictures.

dtothec · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2016, 08:31:17 PM »

Thanks Adriaan, actually I took those pictures, that's the couch in my basement and fireplace in my family room. I had sent those pictures to the gentleman that bought it from me and he posted them. Thats a beautiful bass and I'm glad that it finally ended up with someone who will enjoy it!

rgasper · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2016, 06:17:04 PM »

Thanks for the kind welcome to the forum, guys, and Happy New Year to you! Yeah, as I was browsing a lot of different areas, I noticed how supportive everyone was. It's really great to see that. And thanks again for the additional bits of history-- I enjoyed seeing these older posts.

When I was talking to Marc at Chicago Music Exchange, as I was in the process of buying the Spoiler, I had mentioned to him that I was effectively forcing my own hand in selling a few of my other basses to fund it. I told him I'd probably be selling a few newer USA Fenders, and he said, Those are great basses, but I'll tell you something-- newer Fenders come and go, but Alembics... are something special. He was, indeed, correct.