i posted this in the serial number request thread, it should probably go here as well. i found the original ad from bunnybass while digging through my archives. here is the text:
Builder: Alembic
Model: Series I
Serial Number:76 525
Options: unusual combination of small body in combination with 34 scale, hand cut silver Alembic logo on peghead, hand cut and scalloped bone nut.
Case/Gigbag: black gigbag
Dimensions
Weight:
Scale Length: 34 inches.
Neck Shape:
Width at Nut: 1 3/4 inches.
String Width at Bridge: 2 15/16 inches.
Overall Length: 47 inches.
Widest: 13 1/2 inches.
Construction
Neck: 5 piece maple/amaranth/beech, single truss rod (old version).
Fingerboard: ebony with small sterling silver dots on the side of the fingerboard.
Body: american cherry body with beautiful 1/4 thick birdseye maple top and back.
Finish: antique yellow satin finish.
Hardware
Bridge: Alembic (old version), handmade solid brass construction on 1/2 pound brass sustain block inset into the body, Alenbic tailpiece (old version), handmade solid brass plate on mahogany base.
Tuners: Alembic (chrome).
Strap buttons: Alembic (chrome).
Outputs: 1/4 stereo phone jack, five pin XLR for use with external power supplies.
Electronics
Pickups: 2 Alembic single coil soapbar with monolithic ceramic magnets. 1 Alembic dummy coil pickup (middle position) for humcanceling purposes.
Controls: 1 pickup selector switch (including standby position), 2 volume, 2 variable active lowpass filters, 2 3-position q-filter switches.
Preamp: Alembic 18-volt preamp, military specification components used for a high level of reliability.
Condition
Fingerboard wear: small marks from roundwound strings on fretless ebony board.
Superficial wear: very very light scratches viewable on back side and on brass plates. one small ding next to the bridge pickup.
Deep wear: none.
Hardware wear: light oxidation of brass on bridge and tailpiece.
Pickups wear: none.
Overall Condition: near mint.
Curator's statement:
A wonderful instrument with a bit of a storied history - it was owned by Steve Fossen, founding member and bassist for the group Heart. This old alembic is something special, and has the same feeling of elegance and refinement that you may find in, say, a beautifully made antique cello. We here at bunnybass like Alembic basses a lot, we consider them one of the real legends of the bass world. And those made from the early 70's to around 1978 often seem to have something very, very special about them. They vary in feel a lot, and many of them feel like custom basses with real individual personalities, like they've received a lot of special care during their construction. This bass is definately feels like it received a lot of extra attention, especially in the fine carving in the neck and body - it's so round and soft!
This particular Series I model is unusual in that it has the small body shape combined with a full-scale neck. After having a conversation about this bass with Alembic's very charming Mica Wickersham, we found out that there have been only 8 basses with this unique combination ever built, and with a laugh she told me that because they were so neck heavy, they hated them and that they wouldn't build one now even if someone specially requested it and was willing to pay extra for it. Too funny! But strangely enough, we can't completely share this feeling, as we here at bunnybass played this bass with a well-padded wide strap and didn't find this one dramatically head-heavy. But we _were_ dazzled by the sound and feel of the bass. Maybe we'll think about it and just keep it for ourselves!...
~ harry, curator at the BunnyBass Museum.
