Author Topic: 1982 LSB Stereo Alembic (Read 501 times)

onoffon · « **on:** February 14, 2007, 10:36:08 PM »

Yes - first owner - only owner.

I bought my Alembic after seeing Greg Lake perform at the Mobile Municipal Auditorium in Alabama while I was working special effects in Navarre Beach, Florida, on Jaws II.

Once I heard it, I knew I had to own one. I picked it up at the Hollywood Guitar Center in early 1983 and I've played it ever since. I own six other basses but this one's my baby...

It still sounds as great as the first day I plugged it in. Every recording studio I've ever worked at, the engineer says, Don't touch a thing! The most phenomenal instrument I've ever had the pleasure of playing.

Thanks Alembic for a wonderful bass.

Von Babasin
http://www.onoffon.com/
http://www.jazzinhollywood.com/

jacko · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2007, 04:43:58 AM »

Welcome to the club Von. let's see some pictures of your instrument, I'm intrigued to know what LSB stands for.

Graeme

adriaan · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2007, 06:08:43 AM »

Graeme, sorry to lift the veil of mystery but LSB stands for Long Scale Bass. Doesn't mean the bass is by any means less beautiful!

onoffon · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2007, 08:52:32 AM »

Hi Graeme - hi Adriaan - thanks for the welcome!

It is a Series I - Vermillion top and back, Mahogany core, Maple and Purpleheart neck, Ebony fingerboard, and Vermillion peghead veneer -

Not the greatest pic but you get the idea -

Everyone who hears it seems to like it...

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2007, 08:55:58 AM »

See, I didn't even have to wait for the picture to know that it's a beauty!

onoffon · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2007, 09:03:21 AM »

hehehe....

And she sounds as good as she looks....

Cheers!

bracheen · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2007, 10:36:02 AM »

It is a beauty and seems to be in excellent shape for it's age.
Glad to make your aquaintence and good luck with the project honoring your father.

Sam

onoffon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2007, 11:28:24 AM »

Nice to meet you too, Sam.

Yeah - she's 25 years old and there's not a scratch on the wood. The brass plates on the back have a few scratches. I've put her through quite a lot in our quarter century together.

Thanks for your support toward my father's project. Trust me when I say he innovated jazz in ways that still effect the artform today...

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2007, 05:36:55 PM »

I thought I already said this elsewhere... but I don't see it, and am not sure, so...

welcome to the club!

(Sorry if this is redundant!)

And of course... the bass looks great!

onoffon · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2007, 09:44:29 AM »

Hi 8StringKing -

You did indeed welcome me - over on my introduction thread. Thanks for doing so....

The funniest thing about this bass, I went into Guitar Center and played it. Get this - the salesman told me it was a 'factory-second'. It made me leary so he gave me the phone number to Alembic so I could ask a few questions. I couldn't see any problem at all with it and it played and sounded like a dream. So, when I called and asked why it was a factory second they told me, because the mahogany was too grey. Because the mahogany was too grey?!?!!?!?!??!??!

Hahahahahahahaha.....

I went back the next day and bought it - immediately. I actually liked the contrast of the colors in the woods - it was what originally attracted me to it in the first place.

One man's ceiling is another man's floor...

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2007, 12:05:21 PM »

Von:

I suspect there was some miscommunication or hazy memory involved here. My understanding is that a factory second never leaves Alembic. They will cut up a second rather than putting out anything with the Alembic name that doesn't meet their high standards. Perhaps your instrument was initially ordered by someone who didn't like the color, which made it available for you.

Bill, the guitar one

onoffon · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2007, 10:37:40 PM »

Hi Bill -

Interestingly enough, the letters FS are in the serial number.

But you could be right - it might have been made for someone and rejected.

His loss - my gain...

onoffon · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2007, 10:39:21 PM »

BTW - hazy memory my *ss...

onoffon · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2007, 01:04:30 PM »

Thanks Bill for pointing this out to me.

On further exploration, I discovered on the Alembic support reference page, that the letters FS aren't even listed in their chart.

I have a VERY rare instrument indeed...

lbpesq · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2007, 01:29:45 PM »

Von:

The FS marking is very curious. You might want to give Mica a call. I wouldn't be surprised if she can shed some light on this mystery. I know I'm curious.

Bill, tgo