Guild/Alembic

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

This is my Guild that was modified by Alembic in the early 70's.  It has a superfilter for each pickup.  
 

[Charles David Tichenor (alembic76407)]

Do all the knobs do something?, It would take me two week to find a sound with all those knobs!!!

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

David -  Yep all those knobs do DRASTIC things to the sound of this bass. It really is amazing that this bass will produce low frequencies that cannot be heard.  If you look at the bass the top row of knobs closest to the bridge are for the neck pickup.  The bottom set closer to the edge of the bass are for the bridge pickup.  They sort of go like this: Volume knob, Hi,Low and band pass knob, tone knob, filter blend knob, and ammount of rolloff knob.  That is the easiest way to explain it without playing around with it.  The filters in this bass will produce lows that will actually make you nauseated.  I love it!

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

Oops, I forgot to mention the two knobs on the horn.  One is a pickup selector, and the other is a master volume.  There is also front mounted trim pots on the bass for preamp gain as well as a stereo/mono switch.

[Charles David Tichenor (alembic76407)]

That makes my brain hurt

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Talking about tweeking ....jeeeez!
Maybe you should plug this bass direct in a power amp with just a volume knob? You would not possibly put trough an equalizer?
Paul

[Nick Oslander (nikkij)]

Uh, hi there Mr. Delacerda....
 
I am a fellow Guild Starfire Bass II owner.  What year is yours?  Was it custom made or standard issue?  What pickups do you have on yours?
 
In 1968, Guild made Jack Casady's Yggsdrasil.  Not too many know this, but a second one like Yggsdrasil was made by Guild.  I am the owner of that one, since 1970!!  I have spoken to Ron Wickersham a while back about mine.  I just haven't had the money to Alembicise it, which will be done eventually.  I have done some custom work to it, however.

 
 
I can tell you the story of how it came into being and my ownership another time.  You may see more at the band site, www.alia.com, and my page at www.alia.com/nikki.htm
 
Have a great day!

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

Nick,
I like these old basses.  I would love to see some better pics of yours.  You know, detail shots and such.  Anyway, the bass I own was purchased by a friend of mine new in 1971 or 1972 as a brand new Guild Starfire.  He purchased it so that Alembic could do their magic on it.  As soon as he got it, he brought it to Alembic. A real Jack fan.  He never even got the chance to really play it as a stock Starfire.  He had them completely redo the electronics where they changed out the pickups from the original Guild ones to the Alembic trapezoidal type.  They also installed two onboard pre-amps to boost the signal.  With this, 2 superfilters were installed.  One for each pickup.  It was set up so that it all could be powered by the external power supply that Alembic made at the time.  It is wired as stereo, but a stero/mono switch is installed in case it needs to be used with a regualr 1/4 in cord and using the onboard 8.6 volt batteries. Which are quite hard to find by the way.  I think their only real use these days is that those batteries are still used in portable telemetry machines for hospitals.
 
The bass still plays beautifully, and I sometimes think about upgrading some of the hardware some day.  Bridge, tailpiece, etc.. My gut instinct tells me to leave it alone.  I bought it from him about 5 or so years ago.  

[Nick Oslander (nikkij)]

Hi, Mike...
 
Thanks for the info on your Guild.
 
Bummer on the batteries!  Time to upgrade on them.  I'm surprised 9v batteries weren't used.  When mine had the pre-amp setup that was installed by Matt Kastner of The Morning (and who still has and plays his original Guild Thunderbird six-string).  I replaced the pre-amp about 20 years ago when it started screwing up.  I haven't been able to raise the required funds to have Alembic properly do it over, but I'm working on that.  I really don't want just anyone working on it, as I'm admittedly not electronics savvy.  I also replaced one of the original Guild/Hagstrom pickups with a Gibson Humbucker, which makes for some very interesting sounds.  The Guild/Hagstrom died.  I'd like to find another one of those to replace it.  I machined out my own tailpiece, but it doesn't look nice.  I replaced the wimpy Schaller tuning pegs with the biggest ones Schaller makes.  Waited eight months for them to come from Germany...they are gold plated.
 
As soon as I set up my scanner, I'll send more pics, as I have to scan some pics for web pages that I am in the process of writing.  I also own a limited edition Rickenbacker, of which I like the sound.  You can see it on our page www.alia.com, my page at www.alia.com/nikki.htm
 
Also, I did enjoy the stereo feature, but when I had the quickie re-wire done, I eliminated that, as I had built a rack mount component amp and speaker system.  I still have my rack, but when I eventually play live again, I'll buil a new speaker system.  I was running four 15 inchers and two 18 inchers, which I think I crossed over at 60hz.  Right now, I'm just running through an Ampeg B100R, which has one 15 incher, and will do for now.
 
The Guild is a part of my soul.  I'll never let it go!
 
I'll catch you soon.  Have a great day!
 
Nick

[nikkij]

Uh, hi all.....
 
Sorry, been away, busy, and had my right ear operated on December 5th of 2005, and am still recovering from it.  Am now trying to catch up.
 
OK....am looking for a Guild/Hagstrom pickup lick the original one on mine, as I want to now replace the Humbucker that I replaced my original Guild one with.  Also, am considering putting Rickenbacker electronics in it, as I think the resulting sounds would be quite amazing.  Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
As always, have a great day!!
 
Nick

[edwin]

I would suggest a Dark Star pickup. It's the modern equivalent of the Guild/Hagstrom. Check out http://www.basspickup.com/
 
 
As far as electronics go, are you referring to active or passive? As far as I know, Ricks are passive and excepting the stereo circuit, aren't really that different from standard circuits. I like Bartolini, if you aren't going to spring for Alembic (which would be my first choice in this scenario). Maybe passive stereo outs with to a Superfilter?
 
HTH
Edwin

[nikkij]

Uh, hi there, Edwin...
 
I want to thank you for the info you relayed to me regarding my pickup situation.  Putting Ricky pickups in would be interesting, but would mean cutting open space for them, and I don't want anymore holes put in my darling!  I want my Guild sound INTACT, but with BEEF! (Uh, where's the beef??)  Strings make a difference in sound, also.  I think I threw out the old pickup when I replaced it with the Humbucker.  I'll have to look to see if I still have it.  It will probably be a good idea to replace my other original Hagstrom p/u with a pair of Dark Star ones, as I like what I see.  The only reason I haven't Alembicised my Guild yet is lack of $$$$, of course.  Also, I must personally deliver it and pick it up, which I also can't afford right now.  It needs to be done desperately.  I'm working on it still, and won't give up.
 
I'll have to post new pics soon of it, and my Rick, since I finally bought a digital camera.
 
Thanks, and have a great day, catch you again soon!
 
Nick

[57basstra]

Has there every been a hollowbody (or semihollowbody) alembic? Thanks..

[edwin]

Most series basses (or maybe every one of them) are semi hollow. The body wings are hollow and attached to the solid neck.
 
So, I guess the answer is yes!
 
Edwin

[jseitang]

my series II is a solidbody!