Author Topic: (?) need correct serial number 73 28 USA (Read 1550 times)

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #30 on:** October 29, 2010, 08:35:36 PM »

I don't think that's all that low, Tracey; $3500-4500 seems to be roughly the going rate for a used Series instrument. This has had the electronics removed; to upgrade another Alembic to Series I is $6000, and the routing would also lower it, I would think. On the other hand, it is a really early example, and has some pretty spiffy inlays, so the lower end of that offer might be in the ballpark. Of course when I say this, keep in mind that celebrity ownership adds no value to me; there are those who feel differently, & if you connect with one of them you may get a premium if you can find a way to document the Sanatana connection. Good luck with the sale.

Peter

hellotrae · « **Reply #31 on:** October 31, 2010, 07:36:23 PM »

Thanks Peter = ) Can you please explain what Upgrade another Alembic to Series I means? I dont understand how it factors into the est. value of this guitar? I truly appreciate your help & value your input. Trae

edwin · « **Reply #32 on:** October 31, 2010, 10:29:44 PM »

I think this guitar would have significant value with documentation of Santana's ownership. If there were pictures of him playing it and/or documentation of the sale to him, you'd probably get quite a bit more than a run of the mill ex-Series guitar would fetch. OTOH, the nature of the market is that the value is what someone will actually pay. So, it might be better to hang on to it for a while if you don't get what you want for it now. Once you let it go, it's gone.

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #33 on:** November 01, 2010, 06:59:33 AM »

If you go on the Custom Quote Generator, select, say, a Eupora, and change it to Series I electronics, that raises the price by $6000. Thus Series I is a $6000 upgrade. So you've got a $3500-$4500 instrument that, basically, has been degraded by $6000. Of course that's not taking into account the cost of the Europa package over non-Alembic guts.

Peter

lbpesq · « **Reply #34 on:** November 01, 2010, 09:14:41 AM »

I've never seen an older Series I guitar (NOT bass) go for much over $3K on eBay. I bought my 1976 Series I medium scale guitar in 2006 and my 1977 Series I long scale 12 string in 2007. Both came off of eBay, both were in excellent condition with cases. The '76 didn't have a power supply and sold in the $2-2.5 range. The 12 string had a blue box power supply and sold in the $2.5-3K range.

The most recent Series guitar that sold on eBay was 74-53, a beautiful long scale guitar with a Fenderish six-in-line peghead that sold about three weeks ago. It had some holes drilled into it from a previous Roland Synth pickup, a headstock repair and a DIY power supply and case. It went for $2730. As previously noted the Santana guitar is probably not #28 and, more likely, closer to #53's vintage. I agree that if the guitar came with some provenance of the Santana connection it would increase the value, but without validation it's just a cool story - like the one that I received when I bought #10 that it was made for Jerry Garcia. If anyone wants to pay $4,500 for an older Series I guitar, I'd sell mine.

Bill, tgo

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #35 on:** November 01, 2010, 02:24:50 PM »

I was going by what I've seen here, which are, indeed, mostly basses; Bill would have a much better idea of the numbers than I.

Peter

hellotrae · « **Reply #36 on:** November 08, 2010, 05:53:57 PM »

I am waiting to hear back from Mica and if the Guitar was ordered by Santana she should be able to validate the Sanatna Connection. There is a pic in this thread of the guitar before the mods were done, factory pic? dont know for sure if it was taken at the factory or not but the wood grain is a perfect match. I truly appreciate all the feedback & help...you guys rock! Trae

mica · « **Reply #37 on:** November 08, 2010, 06:54:34 PM »

I know the guitar was ordered by Santana, but I don't think the serial number is right. I have all the original inlay drawings, but they don't reference the serial number since the number is just about the last thing to go on the instrument.

The file i have for #28 is for a short scale bass in Koa, so there's either a duplicate, or it was stamped incorrectly on the base of the fingerboard.

Look on the edge of the peghead for even a faint stamp of the original serial number. The location the number is your pictures is more like for a post 1977 instrument.

hellotrae · « **Reply #38 on:** November 08, 2010, 07:15:36 PM »

Thank You Mica! This is like putting together a puzzle = ) I will look at it closer and see what I can find.

David Houck · « **Reply #39 on:** November 08, 2010, 08:11:39 PM »

Tracey; look on the very end of the headstock like the one in this picture. There should be a serial number stamped there.

lbpesq · « **Reply #40 on:** November 08, 2010, 10:52:12 PM »

This is really cool. I love a good mystery. Can't wait to see how this one turns out. Regardless, a beautiful & unique instrument.

Bill, tgo

hellotrae · « **Reply #41 on:** November 09, 2010, 08:39:37 AM »

I received this message this morning from Saiichi Sugiyama he is a very well respected guitar authoritarian & musician. YaY he has located a pic of Santana with the guitar! It is gonna be a long week waiting for the complete report w/photo = ( I am hoping he can fill in some of the blanks & help solve the mystery!

Thanks Bill! I totally agree & am really enjoying the process of putting this puzzle together! In regards to the serial number what does USA that is stamped after the serial number? Their was in fact an alembic logo on the headstock but according to my dad it was not inlayed & over time it came off the instrument. He said it is around & will locate it. Should we have the mother ship reapply it?

Dear Trae
I am so sorry that I am taking longer than I hoped to come back to you. I have been distracted by Eric Clapton's 3rd Crossroads Auction as we are now going to show some of his guitars and amps to go on sale at the Guitar Nation show in London Olympia this weekend. I had to do some urgent last minute research for it over last week. But I now have at hand all the material I need to write your Santana Alembic report and it is a case of setting aside some time putting the pen to the paper (or creating a Word document nowadays). I have a charity gig tomorrow that I am putting together and I am doing Crossroads presentations this weekend at Guitar Nation but I expect to be able to send you the report during the course of next week. I am so sorry about the delay, Trae. And, yes, I have a photo;-) Will be on touch soon. Thank you for your patience.
Best
Saiichi

mica · « **Reply #42 on:** August 29, 2011, 04:13:40 PM »

Ever had any luck finding the correct serial number?