Author Topic: (x) Incredible find SN 1277 004 (Mark Johnson) (Read 1448 times)

speicky · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2008, 09:42:42 AM »

yeah, right ! I wanted to reply much earlier, but when I first saw this bass, it struck me like lightning... feeling much better today

senmen · « **Reply #16 on:** August 18, 2008, 10:17:59 AM »

Christian,
that kind of fingerboard inlay reminds me so much to the inlays of your Peggy.

Oliver (Spyderman

(Message edited by senmen on August 18, 2008)

boogieman145 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 18, 2008, 11:54:26 AM »

OK gang Art has the ball. Hopefully pics more will be revealed about the Mystery Bass today if he has time.
Thanks Art

artswork99 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 18, 2008, 11:58:18 AM »

You're welcome. Here you go!

boogieman145 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 18, 2008, 12:09:02 PM »

Well Gang what's the verdict?
1) is this an Alembic?
2) is Hyak the master craftsman?
3) Who is Johnson ? the signature looks like it's under the shield paint..

keith_h · « **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2008, 12:15:42 PM »

The electronics are passive and not active Alembic electronics. The serial does not look like the standard serial number either. I'm thinking either a shop night bass or maybe built by someone who used to work at Alembic.

Keith

speicky · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:04:07 PM »

wow, there she is ! thanks, Art, great job, and thank you, Rocky, those are great pics of an obviously one-of-a-kind bass.

I tend to go with Keith on the shop night bass or employee project, this beauty also looks quite Hyak-ish to me. But then again, I'm far from an expert, but one thing is for sure:

this beauty rocks !

p.s.: Oliver, you're right on with the inlays, they must be brilliant. The photos are very good, but I'm sure they do not do justice the magnificence of the fretboard.

boogieman145 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:33:17 PM »

Pots say Alembic (I have better macro photos) but it is in deed passive so far as I can tell.
Pickups look like early EMG, again no expert here..

These pics are just as she came out of the case dirty, I mean real dirty, smells like me when I get off the road .. LOL. This sweet old girl has been handled and needs a good cleaning.
Can't wait to see the inlay in all it's glory!
Any Cleaning suggestions?

What tone! She does Rock!!!

artswork99 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:33:59 PM »

I have a 79 Hyak scroll bass where the scrolls compare very much like each other (of course a scroll is a scroll - possibly an influence). Here are several more pictures that Rocky sent along. Check this out...

(Message edited by artswork99 on August 18, 2008)

artswork99 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:44:58 PM »

One more close-up of the controls and the bridge.

speicky · « **Reply #25 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:11:25 PM »

okay, Speicky, calm down, it's okay, say Heu-w?-gel-chen, Heu-w?-gel-chen... time for bed

keith_h · « **Reply #26 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:13:19 PM »

The neck inlay is gorgeous. I was thinking Hyak when I first saw it but the headstock doesn't look like any I have seen. I was also wondering if it might be a Becvar but again I have not seen one with this headstock style. As I recall both were known to buy parts from Alembic. The style of the serial number also looks familiar but I can't remember where I saw it.

Maybe Mike Delacerda will chime in since he's quite familiar with the older Alembic, Hyak and Becvar basses.

Keith

artswork99 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:22:55 PM »

Cavity close-up where a lot of the stamped details are available.

(Message edited by artswork99 on August 18, 2008)

artswork99 · « **Reply #28 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:27:37 PM »

mica · « **Reply #29 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:07:40 PM »

I just confirmed that this instrument was made by a former employee, Mark Johnson. He's going to look up some of his records, but he thinks it was made between 1977-1979. Depending on when it was made, it might have been made as a shop night instrument or after he left our company.