My 1974 Alembic Small Standard SN 74-52

[bucky]

Hey Guys:  I know I have been promising to post some professionally done pictures of my Baby but I still haven't had time to do it yet. So I just couldn't resist posting these older ones again. Most of you here know my wonderful "Cinderella Story" of how I got this bass back in near mint shape after 24-some years. And of course I have to mention the kind contributions of several fellow Alembic Clubbers, brothers-in-arms all, who helped me get her "back to spec". That would be 1974 Spec(-; Michael Delacerda (Dela 217) you are my HERO for sending me the circa '74 Gold Schallers. I love ya Man!

[dgcarbu]

Nice vintage...

[bucky]

Thanks dgcarbu. . you know the thing that is fascinating to me as I look through the showcases here of all the many models is that there is never one *exactly* the same as an other. Even when it was a production line model like Small Standard that I have. When I sent it to Alembic for repairs Susan W said upon seeing it I remember this bass. . it was my first Mustache Bridge! Now, THAT is cool. . and set me wondering how many other Small Standards had the Mustache Bridge, how many there were and when they started doing other variations and designs. . perhaps someone reading this better versed in Alembic lore could tell us?
 
Thanks for looking. . I'll get new pictures up soon. . promise!

[kungfusheriff]

You'd better, Prog-boy (grin). Your bass is the only one I enjoy staring at more than my own, I think...

[bucky]

Wow Kungfusheriff! THANKS! I do think it is one of the nicest Vintage Series I basses I've seen - do to the fact that in it's 25 year existence it's only seen about 5 years of actual constant playing - those with ME. It's other owner, one of my dearest old friends, did exactly 3 gigs with it in the 20 years he had it. The rest of the time he occasionally just played it around his house or stored it in his closet. When I got it back it was literally like reaching inside a Time Machine and pulled it through to 2004 and started playing it again. The guardian angels must have truly smiled down on me. .  

[serialnumber12]

Bucky you know your in the ELITE vintage alembic club it's good to see a peice of  history again,like mica says dont be shy share those pics!

[bucky]

Serialnumber12:  I most defintely will get them done and posted. I really need some *professional* to do it - with the perfect lighting to highlight the beautiful grain of the woods and the that nice mellow dark aging that's very subtle but there.  .I remember well when I got her back in 1974 - she was much lighter colored. And as an owner of an even older Alembic YOU can truly appreciate how the brass ages. . .it gets that beautiful almost swirled stained look in it. . .I almost don't want to use the Flitz on it sometimes just to see what it would look like more aged. . but then I'm such a clean freak when it comes to keeping this Sweetheart nice. . .  Yes. . we "older Alembic owners" are a small and elite group. I've gotten quite the education from all of you about both Alembic AND about basses and guitars in general. Michael (Dela217) has been my "mentor" as far as the Small Standards are concerned going as far as sending me original Alembic promotional materials circa 1974 (as well a the vintage gold Schaller Tuning Gear I couldn't find ANYWHERE that I needed). He owns two Small Standards made right before mine was. Mine was 74 -52 and I believe he said he owns 74 - 47 and 74 - 49. It's interesting to look at the pictures of those and notice tiny differences between the three basses. Alembic truly made ONLY custom guitars then. Custom in that I don't believe ANY guitar was exactly the same as another. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough - you can tell how lonely it gets not having anyone around here I can talk Alembic too! I've just finished mixing my band Glass' new Studio CD with my brother Greg who is the original keyboardist. I used the Alembic for the whole album and the Engineers at BOTH studios we worked at were just *blown away* by how it sounded plugged straight into the board. I'm re-posting a picture of me in the studio with her this past August working on basic tracks. It is her Millenium Recording Debut. The last time she was in the studio being used to record was in 1975. In fact I'll post a picture from that session too. . TO the Way-Back Machine Sherman -----> Set the dial for February 1975. . WHhhoooooossshhhh here we go. .    

[serialnumber12]

one important thing to note is that all new comers to the club get a chance to see the old basses, because chanes are they'll never, ever see one on stage or in person,all of the old alembics are in retirement & havn't seen action in yrs,but i take #12 to every gig,these things sound too good to leave @ home!  

[bucky]

Serialnumber12:
 
Your post here is helping me with a big decision I need to make this year about playing live with my Alembic. I think you're right about the fact that many Alembic and music fans in general don't get to see the old Alembics up close. And I think it is VERY cool that you still bring yours to gigs. MY worry is this: After all I've been through to get this Alembic back in my possession and the sheer LUCK involved in doing so and the fact that I in NO WAY could EVER replace this piece of my history - do I really want to take the risk that something might happen to her? I DO of course have another bass - a GREAT good one made for me to order by a close friend and incredible luthier Ron Thorn. He has a website at http://www.thorninlay.com and he is probably one of the greatest inlay artists in the world today. I say that with no prejudice for him either . .he just is. Anyway, years ago as a present to me to to express his friendship he built me an exact duplicate of another bass I loved from my past but lost - a re-issue '51 Fender Precision. The kind that Sting has made so popular these days. It is totally different than playing an Alembic of course. . more like playing an ironing board actually, but it is long scale and has an incredible sound when plugged directly into a recording console. I had the Progressive bass Legend (and one of my biggest bass heroes) Hugh Hopper sign it for me when I was fortunate enough to play the Progman Cometh Festival with him in 2003. I'll post a picture of me playing it at BajaProg 2994 this year - the Alembic wasn't quite done being adjusted. My plan was to use THIS bass live. It travels well, is built like brick s!#*house if you catch my meaning and if I lost it to some nefarious Customs Official or it was stolen somehow I could get over it. .  
   

[bucky]

If ONLY I look that good in 2994!! God, I can't type with any accuracy anymore. . .must be the 3.75 Reading Glasses I have to wear. And those would be to FIND my 6.26s to read(-;

[serialnumber12]

atleast you still got your hair,im sportin a sunroof!

[bucky]

LOL! Yeah. . .I guess that's somethin'. Fortunately I don't get depressed about the lack of female attention at Progressive gigs.  .there are only about 12 female Progressive Music fans in the world and I think they're all in Europe (or so rumor has it!) Hey. . but we got the GREATEST basses in the world though!

[dgcarbu]

Hi Jeffrey,
 
You are definately the real thing!,  You'd be a great example of then and now at the Alembic Owner's Convention I'm trying to put together.  I dig the pictures you posted.  What you should do is have those pictures blown up and taken to a prints plus to have them mounted and we coud set them up on either side of your Alembic legend for display.  30 years of ownership is incredible.  Alembic should make you a 30th Anniversary Bass for being a loyal owner.
 
Peace,
Darrell
 

[bucky]

Darrell:  What a *wonderful* post. . thank you so much . .  It's funny you should mention a convention. . I was just wondering to myself last night if anyone in The Club would be up for going to an Alembic Owners Convention!! I'm sure you could get Susan, Mica and Valentino's help/cooperation (and maybe even a little Sponsorship?) to some degree and I *PLEDGE* I will be involved - FULLY. . I would LOVE to meet all "the guys". And of course I would have enlargements made of the my pics and bring #74 - 52 along for any display place provided. I'm sure you could get other members in on this (if you haven't already). There seems to be a true bond of brotherhood amongst us all. And considering how special the Alembic family of instruments is and it's mark left on Rock History, I guess that's not surprising.  You know it's funny, I've never been much of a "joiner" most of my life. . except my bandmates past and present. Never felt the drive to. But with you guys and the family at Alembic. . well I do. . .I find it absolutely INCREDIBLE that Ron Wickersham did the recent work himself on my basses electronics!! I mean what a trip that must have been for HIM to crack-open the brass plate on the back of my Small Standard and view times stamp on his handiwork of 30 years ago!   I develop and host websites for a living and I'll go on record right now as saying that I'll put up a webpage for any Alembic Reunion that is  being planned.  Yours in Alembic Brotherhood,  Jeff aka Bucky   P.S. And Uh. . if MICA AND/OR SUSAN happen to catch this thread - I'LL ALSO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING I SURELY WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO HAVING THEM MAKE ME A 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Small Standard - The Brown Bucky we can call it(-;   O.k. I'm gettin misty here. . I'll  post another couple "Then and Nows" from my archives as a thank you. .

[serialnumber12]

hey buck shoot me a link to your web-site,i'm in the process of putting  my web together.:alembic_bassplayer@comcast.net