Author Topic: Very Early Alembic Guitar, serial number not found (Read 1787 times)

quinntheeskimo · « **on:** July 22, 2005, 12:19:51 PM »

Here are some pics of my very early 'peanut' guitar. The kind folks at Alembic were very generous with their time when they examined it a couple of weeks ago, and confirmed that it is probably serial number 10,11,13, or 15, but the number is not found on the instrument. They said only 7 or 8 were made with this shape. Unfortunately, someone replaced the original electronics long before I got it. Still, I think its pretty cool!

(Message edited by davehouck on July 22, 2005)

dela217 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:16:36 PM »

I'm speechless.

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:37:44 PM »

Wow!!

dela217 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:46:52 PM »

It is nice to see some real detailed pics of this beast. This is not the first time seeing this guitar. I know the previous owner of this instrument and am familiar with his collection. I suspect that when the instrument was first built that it did not have filters installed. I think that is was a passive setup with 2 onboard pre amps and 2 hum cancelling coils. Aside from that a pickup selector switch and that's it. I have only seen one other Alembic with that logo. It's serial number is 72-17. I would suspect this one is close to it. I have some early Alembic litterature with a picture of what looks like this guitar hanging in the Alembic showroom back in the day. I will try to find the pic and look for more detail to verify if that is it or not.

Michael

lbpesq · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2005, 07:30:13 PM »

Matthew:

Welcome to the club and HOLY S**T!!!!! What an incredible, historical, beautiful guitar. Wanna trade? Wanna sell? Wanna adopt me and put me in your will? You are very lucky indeed to have crossed paths with such a unique axe. Have you considered having it restored to original electronics? It looks like it had other controls that have been plugged up. What a shame. Enjoy and play it in good health.

...... and should you ever consider letting this out of your mitts ......

Bill, the guitar one

dela217 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2005, 07:46:29 PM »

I just went looking through my stack of old Alembic litterature. I found the picture of this guitar I was talking about. It is very small, but that's the one. Aside from the pickups it looks like on the upper horn(?!?) is where the original pickup selector was. It looks like it was the same type knob as the volume and tone controls. The 2 plugged up holes by the volume and tone controls were probably the trim pots for the pre amps. The other 2 holes that are plugged up were for the stereo/mono switch and the 5 pin connector. Wow.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2005, 09:08:35 PM »

Absolutely stunning instrument, Matt! Any chance of some close-ups of that incredible inlay work on the neck?

Jonathan

george_wright · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2005, 06:33:23 AM »

Hey, Matt, welcome! I run into you everywhere! Check this thread to see an old friend.

If Matt does decide to sell this guitar, you can deal with him in complete confidence. He has a sterling rep on eBay, Sax on the Web, and who knows where else.

quinntheeskimo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2005, 11:48:30 AM »

Hi again everyone! Thanks for the nice comments. Here are some pics of the inlay. Hey George-good to see you! Glad to see that sarrusophone found a good home-let me know when you want another one Michael-could you possibly post that picture with this guitar in it? Also, if you have any knowledge of the history of this guitar I'd love to hear it, either publicly or email me privately. I've thought about having the electronics restored, but the folks at Alembic said that they didn't have the electronics that would ahve originally been in there any more. I'm thinking about having new Alembic electronics put in, but I haven't decided.

(Message edited by davehouck on July 25, 2005)

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2005, 02:16:41 PM »

Wow. Very neato indeed.

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2005, 04:52:26 PM »

Personally, I think it would be nice to put Alembic electronics in it just to make it all Alembic.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2005, 06:42:39 PM »

Matt,

Thanks for taking the time to post pics of those incredible fretboard inlays!

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2005, 07:26:34 PM »

Wow, another Smithsonian candidate...thanks for sharing such a special instrument. Fretboard inlays like that were hard to find back in '72...
(come to think of it, they're not so easy to find in '05)
Good luck with her, and keep her under lock & key...

1stbass · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2005, 05:24:33 AM »

Matt,
Welcome to the club. That is by far the coolest Alembic guitar i have ever seen. If you ever wount to part with it there are a bunch of club members with check books i hand.
Best of luck.
Doug

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2005, 10:38:20 AM »

Didn't we have a discussion of the peanut guitars, with a pic of Jerry G playing one, or was I hallucinating (again). I hate it when my memory does that (it's been happening since the early 70s)

Mike

found it...
http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/11103.html

(Message edited by dadabass2001 on July 26, 2005)