Author Topic: My 1974 Alembic Small Standard SN 74-52 (Read 3006 times)

bucky · « **Reply #30 on:** February 15, 2005, 11:40:18 AM »

Forgive my ingnorance. . but DID YOU?!?!? You actually WORKED AT ALEMBIC?!?!?

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #31 on:** February 15, 2005, 11:50:29 AM »

No i wish, but i was referring to all those employee projects floating around that are so beautiful to look at,(the things they learned while employed @ the mothership)

bucky · « **Reply #32 on:** February 15, 2005, 05:44:12 PM »

Oh yes. I totally agree. I'd love for one of them to write a book - the inside stories of Alembic and it's employees past and present. It's all fascinating to me. . .I had a chance to move to the SF area when I was 17 - that would have been around the Heyday of Alembic in their early years making those first guitars for Jack Casady and Jerry Garcia. . the infamous 'Summer of Love. . but of course my parents wouldn't let me. I've regretted it ever since. I talked to Susan W. one afternoon at length about those days. . .Man, it would have been the greatest to be there. History in the making. . .to actually have BEEN at the Avalon Ballroom and seen this. .

Jeff

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 16, 2005, 04:03:21 AM »

san francisco is my hometown im from the haight/ashbury district i was there with the hippies & the pot and all that stuff.(born&raised),,but you that very bass (serial#1)belongs to a club member but he wishes to remain a mystery!

David Houck · « **Reply #34 on:** February 16, 2005, 06:51:27 AM »

Keavin; we are all a mystery.

marcm · « **Reply #35 on:** February 16, 2005, 07:20:01 AM »

i've seen this photo many times over the years, on the club and elsewhere. can anyone describe what the bottom-carving looks like, or maybe show us another view of the same bass? i can't really tell what's going on down there from the angle of the shot. the sandwich looks unique too

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 16, 2005, 09:31:44 AM »

heres a link more pics: http://www.hottuna.com/index.htm

dela217 · « **Reply #37 on:** February 16, 2005, 12:26:58 PM »

It is hard to see from this pic, but the bass has a point on the bottom. A picture of the rear of the bass can be seen on the Alembic History page. The bass has a zebra wood body, with a removable top. The top has been replaced though. The bass does not have the filters and electronics that it had when it was new. It is now fitted with PF6 electronics.

bucky · « **Reply #38 on:** February 16, 2005, 12:56:57 PM »

Ahh Michael. . with more knowledge! Cool. . I'm going to check out the link above. Damn . . that thing looks heavy! Or maybe Jack was just slight-of-build? I can't imaqine carrying that through an entire gig. . .anyone know what the original electronics did? How heavy it was originally? I'll bet you do Dela. .

re: Growing up in SF. . I'm sure it wasn't as 'mystified' in real life as it has always seemed to this Pacific NW native son. . .but to a small town Washington kid like myself. . SF . . and the wide-open mindset that seemed to take hold there (the abundant drugs not-withstanding) was always calling me like a Mecca. .and when you go back and listen to bands playing there then The Airplane, Moby Grape, H.P Lovecraft. . The Dead. . it's like *where* these days to you find that kind of eclectic talent pooled in one small geographic area. . in this country?

Jeff

David Houck · « **Reply #39 on:** February 17, 2005, 07:30:20 AM »

The picture Michael refers to is here. The history page states that the pickups were movable, traveling on brass tubing installed in the front of the bass. The active electronics were later enhanced by the addition of a superfiltering system.

bucky · « **Reply #40 on:** February 17, 2005, 08:29:58 AM »

DaveH:

THANKS !!!!! Any idea what that baby weighed in at?

bucky · « **Reply #41 on:** February 17, 2005, 08:30:11 AM »

DaveH:

THANKS !!!!! Any idea what that baby weighed in at?

moonliner · « **Reply #42 on:** April 09, 2013, 01:22:17 PM »

That is a gorgeous bass!

bucky · « **Reply #43 on:** April 09, 2013, 01:47:21 PM »

Thanks Moonliner! It is the one instrument I've kept throughout . . bought is new in 1974. I still remember the first time I saw it on the wall of the Music store in Tacoma where I bought it. I was stunned. . it looked more like a handmade piece of art that just an instrument. I knew I had to own it. Traded in my electric piano for a downpayment. It was $1500. Which at that time was considered a LOT of money for an instrument. . .I've kept it in as near mint shape as I could. .

moonliner · « **Reply #44 on:** April 09, 2013, 02:33:54 PM »

Those old ones are very special. That's great you've had it from the beginning. So you are in Tacoma Wa? I'm in Seattle. Let me know if you do a show sometime, I'd love to hear you play that bass!