Author Topic: 74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass  (Read 1197 times)

toddharris

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« on: March 20, 2009, 04:45:01 PM »
Here are some pictures of my recently acquired Series I bass - it plays and sounds amazing and is extremely lightweight.  I believe the composition is Flamed Maple over mahogany or possibly walnut core and maple and walnut neck with gorgeous inlays of Walnut holding the frets at the edges.  Hoping to get an exact year as the serial number has rubbed off during a wonderful refinish by Pat Wilkins.  I'm posting some identifying pictures and numbers on the page to get production information. Thanks for looking. Body with Brown pickups  

 Back

 Flamed Mahogany Headstock with brass scalloped nut

 Old DS5 (?) and Blue series 1 case

 Headstock back


elwoodblue

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2009, 08:22:27 PM »
Great looking pictures of that masterpiece of an instrument...congrats and thanks for sharing.
Wow

serialnumber12

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2009, 07:21:04 AM »
I love these old lembics
keavin barnes @ facebook.com

kungfusheriff

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2009, 05:14:08 PM »
Sublime. How's she play?

toddharris

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2009, 06:02:07 PM »
The bass plays without effort - just put a set of new Alembic strings on it and the sound and feel is incredible and wonderful.  Low action, fast neck - the short scale is new to me and I'm getting used to it fast.  I've been in love with BC Rich late 70s Koa Eagles (I have 3) with their super fast necks and live feel - the ebony board on this is so rich - the sound surrounds my bandmates and they can't stop telling me how great it sounds.  I've been reviewing every 73 - 75 series 1 picture on this board and am thinking this may be very early 75 as it seems most of the 75s I see are black pickups.  Still hoping to be able to date it based on the scalloped nut, brown pickups and electronics.  Todd

kungfusheriff

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2009, 08:46:37 PM »
The sound and feel of the short-scale Series basses are really something special. The Stanley Clarke association aside, I believe those factors are behind the constant demand for that configuration.
I have a graphite-neck short-scale Series 2 from '82 that I should bring for you to check out if I ever play NYC again. That bass has its' own little following. Best instrument I've ever touched.
Yours, as far as features in common with other basses, has a lot in common with Bucky's bass, 74-52, and a later Series One, 75-150, which I almost bought a few years ago but which ended up with another member here due to a mold problem I had and the very sudden move that followed it.
Both of those basses have walnut necks with what looks like maple stringers (accents) and the lovely caramel-colored pickups. You'll notice that 74-52 shares the scalloped nut, but has a brass plate between the pickups. That's not the humcanceller, as occupies that position on your bass; rather, the humcanceller is hidden inside the body and underneath that compartment are the batteries. I gather that is an earlier design that was abandoned shortly after 74-52 was built.
On the other hand, 75-150 has an un-scalloped nut and a humcanceller in the center position. I wasn't there, but my guess is that 75-150 was built during the early part of that year. Going on the assumption that Alembic's production probably wasn't more than a few dozen instruments per year at that point, I'd venture a guess that yours is a '74, not a '75.
Very curious to see what Mica can tell us. I'm warming the oil for the popcorn right now. ;)

peoplechipper

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2009, 11:34:54 PM »
Todd, funny to see that BC rich bass, as I sold my Eagle to help pay for my Distillate...my Eagle was maple bodt w/walnut...great bass, but I prefer 32 scale and my Alembic CRUSHED it tonally...Tony.

white_cloud

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2009, 07:43:25 AM »
Hey Todd, very nice BC Rich. They really did make some great basses back in the day.
 
Very beautiful series too - I bet that bass has a story or two to tell.
 
John.

toddharris

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2009, 09:01:46 AM »
Dear KungFuSheriff - your observations are much appreciated. We may never get to an exact serial number but I'm thinking late 74 early 75 are pretty safe bets.  Haven't seen this color combination very much in terms of the face and rear of the bass - they really standout and are bringing inquiries when I play out.  Tony, I have had 5 pre-takover Rich Eagles starting with one I bought a age 16 ('76)  and each one had unique sonic qualities.  Love them, but haven't played them much since gettting this incredible playing/sounding series I.  Thanks, Todd

toddharris

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2009, 12:18:25 PM »
More pix

toddharris

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2009, 12:19:20 PM »

serialnumber12

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2009, 06:25:30 AM »
Good Photo todd!
keavin barnes @ facebook.com

georgie_boy

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2009, 06:39:45 AM »
Killer bass!!!

eflat

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2009, 07:57:42 PM »
Historic and beautiful, play it in good health.
 
Someday I will have a Series 1....

bigyouth

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74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2009, 04:34:34 AM »
it's my dream