Author Topic: First (and second!) Alembics (Read 254 times)

bungalowbill · « **on:** August 31, 2009, 01:41:28 PM »

Hi all,

I'm in Vancouver, Canada, and after playing the same Elias bass for over twenty years, I figured it was time to upgrade. So I had been looking for an Essence for about 18 months, combing the Alembic forum, Craigslist, eBay, etc. I was looking for a five-string, but was ok with a four-string if it was the right one.

I found a lovely four-string koa Essence in Florida, about as far away as it could be and still be in North America. I bought it, had it shipped up, and within two weeks of receiving it at the end of July, its five-string koa sister popped up on Craigslist, not a half-hour drive from my house.

It was listed as a 1992, but when I went to check it out, I found that it was a 1993, and in fact, the serial number (93K7699) was only 31 away from my four string! It's identical in every way that I can see, except for the gold hardware on the four-string.

Turns out that they were born one day apart! April 7 and April 8, 1993. I'm guessing they're from the same tree... even if they're not, it's a good story :-)

So I started out looking for one, and now have two... I guess the obvious question is:

Does anyone have a six-string koa Essence made in the first week of April 1993 for sale? Or maybe a three-string? :-)

Anyway, these are beautiful instruments; they're everything I had hoped they would be, and I'm looking forward to playing them for decades to come.

Brian

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:54:16 PM »

Congrats again! Cool story, and very nice twin Alembics!

bungalowbill · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:00:55 PM »

Thank you! Sorry for the duplication... I thought I should post an intro in the appropriate place, rather than leaving it as part of the Serial Number requests discussion.

(Message edited by bungalowbill on August 31, 2009)

pauldo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:15:39 PM »

That's really cool that they are a day apart.
I can see where a 3 string and a 6 string would really complete the family. :-D

peoplechipper · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:53:08 PM »

Hello from Vancouver!

Koa is so pretty, what a lovely pair of basses...

Enjoy and welcome to the club! Tony

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2009, 04:41:24 AM »

Nice couple, love this body shape...

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:12:12 AM »

You are very lucky to have a 5-string and a 4-string together and from the same era and wood too?

Man, that is wonderful, and what are the odds of this happening?

No doubt, that is a great thing for you to look back on, when life has it's moments of difficulties.

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:06:11 AM »

Koa is king

I love them both