Author Topic: Early Series Guitar and bass (Read 914 times)

room037 · « **on:** March 06, 2007, 06:09:17 AM »

I got (probable) the first brochure in Japan. There are 3 Guitars and 1 Bass with serial No. AE013 to 016. AE015 was made at 1975.

By the way, how many build Serial No. "AE-"and "AC-" products ? I found "AC-418" at "Stolen Instruments" section. It has regular products No.418 with "AC-". But other AC and AE instruments have own lower No. (for ex. AE-015 was made 1975, but No.15 was made 1972) I am curious about these confusion. Eiji (Message edited by room037 on March 06, 2007) (Message edited by room037 on March 06, 2007)

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2007, 06:56:07 AM »

Check the Serial Number Guide.

Looks like the AE numbers were specially built for the Japanese distributor, and perhaps they had a private serial number, starting at 1. Or perhaps these were model numbers?

The AC numbers seem to have been part of the main serial number system.

room037 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2007, 08:10:00 AM »

Of course, I know the serial number guide.
AE numbers were prepared for export.
But I know only 4 instruments (for Japan) that I posted.
How about the products for Europe ?

I found these AC numbers in archives.
75' AC-025, 75' AC-033,
(Serial No.33 (SSB) was made 1973.)

And more, Smithsonian Bass has serial No. 74' o13, and Dela217 has 74' A013.

Eiji

hieronymous · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2007, 08:40:53 AM »

Hi Eiji - first, let me say that your collection of Alembics is SUGOI! (In other words, AMAZING!)

That catalog is very cool too! I like the way they spell Alembic with a chisai mu.

room037 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2007, 09:05:15 AM »

Hi hieronymous,

Thank you for the comment.
I heard about you from my friend to 81 0190.
Your double neck AC-025 is SAIKOU ! and one of my favorite !

70's serial No. is very curious.
Does your bass has another serial No. ?
75's Main serial No. range are 130+ (74' 130, 75' 139) to 250+ (75' 251, 76' 256).
If your bass has another No. on this range, It meens main No. and AC No. are parallel.

Eiji

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2007, 09:12:55 AM »

Sorry Eiji, but we haven't taken a survey of how many of each type of serial number we issued. AE and AC are different series of number for sure, there will be the same number in each each series and in the main series.

It's a project I plan to do at some point, to carefully review the early serial numbers, but I haven't had the time to do it yet.

hieronymous · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:10:13 AM »

Hi Eiji san - the serial numbers on the doubleneck are actually a little bit more complicated than just AC-025 - there are slightly different numbers on each headstock!

Unfortunately, I don't think I have time to look until next week, but I will let you know!

room037 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2007, 02:44:53 PM »

Hi Mica,

Thank you for your reply.
OK, I understand the products are main series (about 600 before 76') + AE, AC.
Latest AC is AC-070 that I know, becouse there were over 700 products before 76'.

Hi Hieronymous,
I am very interested each headstock have different numbers!

Eiji

dela217 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2007, 04:10:44 PM »

That bass with the cream pickups looks really cool. It almost looks like this one. Could be from the same slice of wood.

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/13368.html?1165501171

I have also owned 75 Ao49 and 76 Ao62. That numbers thing always intrigued me.

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2007, 08:25:48 PM »

Hi Mica,
Number AE-016 is very unique and, as Alembic body styles go, quite unorthodox, save for the knobby headstock & heart omega. Was this a custom order, or just a random idea for a body style? Was/is there a name for this body style?
(You know how inquisitive we board members are when something really different comes along)
Thanks for the pics, eiji....

Bradley Young · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2007, 08:57:38 PM »

If they don't have a name for it, maybe the small standard acid trip would work.

valvil · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2007, 09:25:39 PM »

There's a copy of that framed at Alembic in the hallway.
I tried convincing Susan to re-make AE-16, what I called the Flying V with the pointy bits & heart omega (not with the inlay though), but she said no way. Not unless someone asks for it, which of course makes perfect sense, that's not a cheap instrument to make. Also I don't know if there's a template for it. I think this may have been a one-of-a-kind; Susan or Mica would likely know.

Valentino

georgie_boy · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2007, 03:14:52 AM »

I have AE76 069
It's a Series 1 bass completed on 31st March 1976.
You can see it in my profile.

George

lbpesq · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2007, 07:17:19 AM »

I don't think the info above about 600 Series instruments manufactured before 1976 is accurate. I have Serial Number 76-476,a Series I guitar. Another member recently sold a 1976 Series Bass numbered 76-275. So there must have been less than 300 built prior to '76. I wonder if '76 was the first year of more expanded production as Alembic was shifting from a sonic jack-of-all-trades to primarily an instrument builder.?

Bill, tgo

room037 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2007, 01:51:28 AM »

Hi Bill,
Sorry for your confusion.
I was talking about S/N included 1976.
I found these numbers in my archives 76-581 and 77-621.
Because main series number was around 600 at the end of 76'.

By the way, I heard from the owner of AE-15.
The serial number AE was cut by hand, not embossed.

Eiji