Series I 75-251S

[slawie]

I am getting details from the serial number request forum and found that I should have posted my pics here a little too late. Here is the text from the serial number request post.  Well I finally got my hands on a digital camera and took some snaps of my bass.  I have played all types of music and found this beauty gives me such a varied bag of sounds that I do not play any other instrument. I do have a 77 Jazz bass with active Alembic pickups.  The logo is not the original I had replaced it because I thought the sterling silver hand-cut logo (original) would go missing if I wasn't looking.  The cliplock on the bottom horn does not mean I am a southpaw but this location provides better balance with the long scale and does not head dive.(Physics)  There are a few dings here and there the wounds of usage. There is also some crazing of the lacquer on the back of the headstock at the neck join although there are no signs of any weakness in the join.  The bridge is somewahat unique and of all the examples of Alembic instruments I have seen this is the only one of its type that I know of. Also the position of the switch is something I have not come across.  All in all this is one instrument that is rare and beautiful. Not only to look at, but it plays like a dream.   I love this bass it is more than an innate object, it is a functional work of art that offers me the chance to produce unthinkable tones with depth and timbre that is truly only available from an Alembic! Thanks Ron.  

 

 

 

  (Message edited by slawie on June 29, 2006)  (Message edited by davehouck on July 02, 2006)

[lysosome]

Very nice! I haven't seen many fretless series I's come across the board since I've been around. Thanks for sharing the photos!
 
(Message edited by lysosome on June 29, 2006)

[slawie]

By the way Thanks Ron is reference to Ron Wickersham the boss. People thank God - the creator; so therefore I thank Ron - the creator
My name is Slawie

[lysosome]

Ah, I got it. Sorry about the mix up.

[olieoliver]

How 'bout we thank God for Ron.

[georgie_boy]

Am I missing something? I don't seem to see any battery compartment??

[David Houck]

George; there also appears to be no 1/4 jack.  So this bass probably only works with the power supply and 5-pin cable.

[georgie_boy]

Thanks Dave
Never even thought that they built something that only worked with the power supply. Must confess that I never noticed the lack of the 1/4 jack, but yes, that would seem to be the case. The only question remaining is--why build it like that without any sort of back-up??

[David Houck]

The series electronics run through batteries fairly quickly, so most players always use the power supply.  And on this particular bass, a small body, by eliminating the 1/4 jack, it was possible to move the pickup selector switch from the lower horn, where many folks find it a bit in the way, to the 1/4 jack's location, which for some folks is a very good location for the switch, out of the way.  I think it's a nice layout.  Also, eliminating the batteries, brass cover, and jack does reduce the weight a little bit.  And the appearance on both the top and back looks cleaner.

[georgie_boy]

Have to agree on that Dave. It does look neater.
One big question---How long do the batteries last on a Series 1??
I've heard everything from 6 hours to 40 hours, but it would be nice to have a rough ball park figure.
thanks yet again for the education
 
G

[David Houck]

My personal experience is not really helpful.  I recently plugged my Maple bass into my practice amp with a 1/4 cable and the batteries died within maybe 15 minutes or so.  But they had been sitting in the bass for a very long time.
 
edit/ I just ran a search, and Mica has stated that they expect to get about 40 hours out of the 2 9V batteries, and David Fung stated that he typically only got about 20-30 operational hours per set.
 
(Message edited by davehouck on July 23, 2006)

[slawie]

I have never had any problems using the power supply only except for the fact that I need to carry a double adaptor with my rig kit.  
Another strange thing is that I have used the power supply configured with a 240V transformer (I installed this myself) in the US 120V and Australia 240V, go figure!
The layout of the switches and pots is really neat, as Dave mentioned, and looking at the other basses on this site showed me that this configuration is rare, if not unique.
I had this bass running through a Fender RB 400W bass amp with dual inputs and a 10 100W aluminium cone high response speaker (30Hz - 20,00Hz) cab that I designed and built myself. I would run the top signals through the 10 and have a 15 300W speaker cab for the bottom end.
From the power supply the bottoms would pass through input 1 and out to the 15. Input 2 and the 10 would handle the top end frequencies.
The mix through the bi-amp function meant I could configure the sound with an infinately variable tone dynamic.

[blazer]

Judging from the spot where you got the strap button located, I would say that the overall balance of that bass leaves a lot to be desired.
 
But cool bass none the less.

[slawie]

If you look at the picture of the back of the bass some experimentation of the best balance point was done prior to my owning it (hacker)
With the strap button where it is the balance is well suited and quite comfortable. I do use seymour duncan clip-locks to keep it all together and in place the strap the comes slightly up behind the neck but does not get in the way at all.

[slawie]

Just wanted to move it up the page.
I am considering selling it at the moment due to the global financial crisis and my daughters wedding.
Offers?