Author Topic: (x) 89MK5519 (Read 178 times)

sifunk · « **on:** February 06, 2006, 12:29:04 PM »

Serial Number : 89MK5519

Hello every one at Alembic,

I wonder if you could tell me everything you know about this guitars history. I bought it from ebay back in May last year and registered my details with you as the new owner, and would love to know some more. One thing I have found out about it is, that the one I?ve been looking at in a book I?ve owned since I was about 15 is exactly the same one. The book is ?The Ultimate Guitar Book? by Tony Bacon. A few days after getting it, I thought I compare it to the one in the book, and was stunned to see every little grain pattern matches up in the body and the head stock, down to a tiny little knot in the maple of the body laminate. Also the last owner had Sims custom fit Blue side and front Led's.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Thanks,

Simon.

mica · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:37:12 PM »

Hi Simon,

Here's what I found in the file for your bass:

89MK5519 MKLB4 Mark King Delkuxe Bass

top and back: Coco Bolo
accent: Maple laminates
core: Mahogany
neck: Maple and Purpleheart, 34 long scale
fingerboard: Ebony with pearloid ovals
pickups: AXY
controls: volume, pan, filter x2, 2-position Q switch x2
output: mono, face mounted
originally made for: Bass Centre, London
birthday: August 30, 1989

One previous registered owner in England, one history request from another individual, but it is unclear if they owned the bass at the time.

I think Tony Bacon and Barry from the Bass Centre are friends, so I wouldn't be surprised to find that Alembics that findtheir way into Tony's work are sourced from the Bass Centre.

sifunk · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2006, 03:53:55 PM »

Thank you very much Mica, that's nice to know. I was surprised to see that the neck stripes are Purpleheart as they are not very purple, I?d always presumed they were mahogany. I guess Purpleheart is not always purple?

Thanks again,

Simon.

mica · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2006, 04:01:11 PM »

Your bass is over 16 years old now. Like most woods, Purpleheart changes over time, becoming more brownish, and starts out from a variety of shades. Some of it is very dark, other pieces are bright violet, some still is pale by comparison. It's one of the many exciting things about wood.