Author Topic: 78-1172 Brazilian Rosewood 5-string (Read 2160 times)

StephenR · « **on:** December 15, 2014, 01:19:27 PM »

Wanted to share a couple of pictures of my 1978 Brazilian Rosewood five-string Series I bass. I have owned this instrument since 1985. It was my second Alembic bass and my first five-string bass.
I mentioned this bass to Mica a couple of years ago during a phone conversation and she told me they have no records in-house about this particular instrument. I also do not have the build sheet.

32 scale
Brazilian Rosewood top and back over Mahogany core
Maple neck with Purpleheart laminates
Ebony fingerboard
Mother of Pearl inlays
Walnut laminates on front and rear of peghead

Still have the original case. The bass has Schaller tuning keys, the original tuning keys appear to have been replaced at some point prior to my acquisition.

musashi · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2014, 04:52:06 PM »

Supercool.

room037 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2014, 02:35:55 AM »

Wow ! Nice bass !
Very interested unusual tail piece.
Incredible top and back wood !

I also own small body MSB 5 strings.
My bass set up with Hi-C strings.
Now it is my main bass.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2014, 05:39:38 AM »

Wow, now that's one I'd love to try! What a beauty! And even better, that must be one of the earliest 5-strings too.

I'm with Eiji on the unusual tailpiece... it reminds me of the one on this employee-made Europa:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/202968.html?1418031491

artswork99 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2014, 06:19:28 AM »

Great bass, beautiful!

StephenR · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2014, 06:15:50 PM »

The picture gremlins seem to have it out for me. Second time I have posted pictures on the forums here and had them disappear. Going to repost and add external links just in case...

http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/full%20shot%20front.jpg

http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20front.jpg

http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20back.jpg

http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/case.jpg

charles_holmes · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2015, 11:37:09 AM »

Awww Man!!!! That is such an amazing looking instrument there! I know that it sounds superb! Congratulations! If there is a 5 string that I'd like to have, it would be that one!

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2015, 05:42:30 PM »

The rosewood has such depth and beauty. Great looking bass.

edwin · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2015, 09:37:36 PM »

Looks like an old Bag End cab back there. I have one of a similar vintage.

StephenR · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2015, 10:17:07 AM »

Yes, it is a early-mid 80s Bag End D10M with JBL E-110 speakers. I used to use it with two single 15 JBL Cabaret series cabinets. It is pretty heavy considering the small size and actually makes for a better guitar cab than bass.

The bass is really nice and holds a lot of sentimental value to me. Wish I could say that it was getting a lot of use but after 25 years of playing 35 scale basses with wider necks I find it really challenging to play a 32 scale bass with a narrow neck. I love the sound of the series electronics, though, and have been reluctant to let it go unless I can replace it with another series bass.

charles_holmes · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2015, 12:13:56 PM »

Well If you ever consider selling it please contact me!!! (just sayin') Sometimes I'll bring out my 2 Bag End D10BX-D's to gig with, but since I had a couple of custom 2x10's made in which I can lift both at the same time (& they sound just as good as the Bag Ends) I usually keep em' in the basement and make some noise there.

edwin · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2015, 02:12:17 PM »

I haven't really figured out what to do with my Bag End cab. It's a double 12 and is really massive. It came with Gauss speakers and doesn't really have the deep sound you might think with such a large cabinet. It's unmovable by myself. But, it was given to me as payment for some mixing and production work I did 20 years ago.

I thought about seeing if I could adapt it to 15s, but it's just slightly too small to enlarge the speaker cutouts.

So, did you play this bass with the Zen Tricksters?

StephenR · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2015, 05:29:04 PM »

Some of the older Bag End cabinets are really heavy and unwieldy. The one I have was designed as a mid-range cab so it also has little bass response. I think all the early BE cabinets were designed to be modular, as far as I know none were intended to be full range cabinets. I have considered selling mine but probably won't get much more for it than the value of the speakers themselves so I have kept it.

I did play this Alembic when I was in the Zen Tricksters. I joined the Jeff Mattson Band in September of 1987 and a short time later the bass spot in the Volunteers opened up. When the Volunteers came to an end Jeff, Tom, Jen and I formed the Tricksters. I left in late 1991 prior to moving to CA in 1992.

Charles... I will keep you in mind if I ever decide to sell the bass.

edwin · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2015, 07:33:53 PM »

Interesting. I remember hearing about you guys and this bass (I was a freak for Alembics, which I didn't get to see that often onstage) when my band, Shockra, came down to NYC to play gigs at the Wetlands, etc.

room037 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2015, 10:10:28 PM »

Wow, I'm second in line, if Charles won't buy your bass.

The narrow neck 5 strings is unique and unusual.
I think the narrow 5 is not familiar for all, but I feel it better.

Eiji