Author Topic: Where to start? (Read 597 times)

ncdude · « **on:** August 14, 2012, 08:56:32 PM »

Hello...I recently acquired this guitar, and haven't found anything about it...I was told it was app 40 years old, and was a proto type...the original pups were removed, the brass plate and these single coils were added, so it seems...the openings in the plate seem to be machined (not cut out with a hack or jewlers saw), So, where do I start? Does it merrit a resto job?

(Message edited by NCDude on August 14, 2012)

tbrannon · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:50:07 PM »

First of all- welcome to the forum. Beautiful guitar- the inlays are awesome.

I'm not a 6 string expert, but as you stated, the pickups have obviously been swapped out and I'm guessing the brass plate retrofitted to cover the original routing. That being said, plenty of early Alembics have brass plates on the front of the instrument. Have you looked underneath? Is there a humcanceller lurking below?

If you could take a picture of the electronics cavity, there will be quite a few on here who will be able to tell you what you have inside (guts wise). Also- there are a number of people on here who will instantly look at your tailpiece, bridge,etc., and be able to build you a time frame for production.

Lastly- check the top of the headstock- on most early Alembics, the serial number was stamped on the top edge of the headstock. See any numbers there?

Either way- I like it!

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2012, 10:03:26 PM »

Hi Dave; welcome to the board!

Check the very top end of the peghead to see if there is a serial number stamped into the wood.

In addition to the pickups and the plate, the controls/electronics also appear to be non-original. A picture of the control cavity might help determine what's left of the originals.

The body is intriguing with the omega cut, Birds-eye Maple, and elbow round over. And the inlays add to the uniqueness of the guitar.

It would be interesting to see how much of the original wood is left under the plate. Hopefully, the plate is sitting on top of the body, and not too much of the wood removed.

As to the question of whether it merits a restoration, that depends on you and your budget. I tend to want to see these instruments restored because, well because they're Alembics; and especially the guitars since there were fewer of them.

From a cost perspective, restoring the electronics to Series I will not be inexpensive. And then there's the work around the pickups, and possibly a refinish.

Oh, and it appears you need a case.

My guess is that if you sent it to Santa Rosa and had them fix the pickup area, put Alembic controls in, and do a refinish, you would end up with an absolutely wonderful guitar.

room037 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2012, 01:25:38 AM »

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the club.
Very interested guitar it is !

1: Serial Number
Look first the top of the head.
If there is no embosed number, next is finger board end (over 24th fret) as Santana's 73 28 USA.
Unfortunately nothing the number, last is under PU. Remove the top brass plate.

2: Body shape
The body shape is typical early standard body with rounded upper horn. (73' to 75')
But I have never seen the contour cutaway for elbow without Santana's 73-28.
Also the pin stripe accent body laminate is very rare at that time.

3: Controls, Parts etc.
The original circuit was PF-6 (with master volume ?). So the guitar was made 74' or 75'.
The Birdtail is just like Hurry's 75' Double neck.

Please show us more the detailed photo.
(Head Logo, Back side of the body, etc.)

Eiji

ncdude · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2012, 09:27:50 PM »

tbrannon, nah, no numbers anywhere..

davehouck, yup, the original pups were not there, but the wireing to the filters( circuit board?) are there...the case weights a TON!!

room037, I think I read where sometimes the pots are dated...

Right, now , I'm only going to have a lot done to it...the binding is loose in a couple of places, the nut was not attached, and some of the inlays on the fret board need attention....for now, Im gonna put in some humbuckers , but nothing major, till I learn more, and can afford Alembic pups...I'll post some better pics when I get my paws back on it!

Could it have been a 'proto' type?

Thanks to all!

room037 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2012, 11:16:06 PM »

Hi Dave,

The pot's and circuit board's numbers are not same as serial number.
But the factory record card can tell us the serial number, if it is recorded.

Your guitar is not Proto, but there are custom specs. (Inlay, body laminates, contour cutaway, tailpiece )

If you have the circuit board (PF-6) and wireling, the best way is send it back to mothership for restore.
The PUs replacement are not so expensive.

Eiji

room037 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2012, 11:16:11 PM »

Sorry, double posted.

Eiji

(Message edited by room037 on August 17, 2012)

edwin · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2012, 10:41:12 AM »

If the circuit board is in there, please do not do any more work that involves routing or otherwise removing wood from the body. If it will fit humbuckers as is, great, but as Eiji says, Alembic pickups are not the expensive part of the rig and using the original electronics with new Series pickups will give you a much better tone than any humbuckers out there. Of course, it's your axe, do with it what you will, but you have a huge opportunity here to have a very unique instrument whose sonics match its aesthetics. I installed a set of Series I electronics and pickups into a Guild Starfire bass and it did require complete restoration of the electronics (as well as a complete rebuild of all the parts not on the circuit card, which included changing over to Series II filters) and it came out great. It's not crazy hard to do and the results far surpass any conventional pickups and electronics.

Just saying! Keep us posted.

sjhoffma · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2012, 02:38:33 PM »

Holy shit, please let me know if you ever intend on selling it! LOL

You got a beauty there, original pickups or not. LOTS of potential here...

sjhoffma · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2012, 02:40:41 PM »

By the way... where did you come across that thing?!

longhorncat · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2012, 03:38:13 PM »

Would the pickups in this auction work with that guitar?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221116951060

mica · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2012, 03:55:21 PM »

Looks a lot like Marmaduke's guitar. It's not, but it's very similar.

ncdude · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2012, 08:50:56 PM »

Longhorncat...thanks for the heads up, but dang it, I missed it, they have been sold

sjhoffa...I found it on Craigslist, here in Charlotte...from a lady, it had been her husband's, who had passed away a while back (as I understand it)...it doen't have the name 'Alembic' on it, just the emblin, so not knowing the brand name, she advertised it as 'handmade custom guitar for sale'...it needed a some 'resto' work, some of the inlay was mssing, the neck binding needed attention,,,as for now, it is getting some Seymore Duncan pups (without having to do anymore routing/wood work)...maybe Ill get it back next week...

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 03, 2012, 07:38:43 PM »

in Charlotte?! why do I always miss these things?!?! Good to see another member from NC here

let me know if you ever want to sell it because I'd love to restore it!!!

~Taylor

PS- I also have guitars for trade if you're not satisfied with the new pickups

(Message edited by tmoney61092 on September 03, 2012)

ncdude · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2012, 06:21:48 PM »

The guys at NC Guitar Works did a great job with the resto...It sounds great...maybe one day I'll have the active pups put in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA4FUupmDvc