Hey there -
Not sure where to post this so...
I've taken on project, S-1 serial 77-852 for a friend.
Unfortunately, because of some work issues, It appears he will need to sell after it is done.
There is a chance I will buy it ( wife will not be happy...), but I prefer medium scale to long scale (that said my 76-412 lsb) is pretty amazing.
I kinda talked him into the purchase with my glowing recommendation of Alembic basses, and I feel kinda bad that he reached beyond a comfort area to get it.
I purchased the DS-5 that came with it from him already, as mine will need some work.
With the bass, I just started on it, and I expect it will take few months before its available.
It has been around for a bit, had some damage to the headstock, been refretted, pickups replaced...but all seems to be in very good shape and repairs are well done and stable.
Will update as we go.
Eye of the tiger!
This will be fun to watch. BTW, only the bridge pickup was replaced. Neck is OG.
Just curious, what type of finish are you going to apply?
I have a very distressed series bass. I would love to try this some day.
Looks great already! 😊
Looking good, Ed. 8)
I gotta say, Ed - not often a word sends me to the dictionary, so thanks for "chatoyancy"; love learning a new one!
Peter (who will watching this one, for sure)
I'll confess to looking it up myself. I kinda' got what it meant but the use-of, but a word like that deserves a look-up.
LOL.
I had to look it up as well. Discovered it when looking for techniques for finishing Shedua wood.
My cheeky header seemed appropriate.
dela217, I am going back to natural danish oil and poly, I think...
Still doing some research.
Edwardofhuncote, have you used the Bright Tone poly product?
So far 77-852 is cleaning up well. Cannot say it enough...Alembics are so well put together.
Thankfully, it has been treated pretty well for its 50 yrs(rounded up).
Fivestringdan, thanks for the correction of the pickups.
I had Scotty plug it in when it first arrived, sounded great, unfortunately the five pin cable was missing a rubber bushing at coupling and causing a nasty pop / grounding sound, he looked concerned...
Thankfully, a quick temp repair with electrical tape totally solved issue, but ordered a Neutrik 5 pin connector to rehab the 30FT cable.
Not sure I'll get too much time with it for the next few weeks...Work is in the way.
In light of this bass' particular journey and future, I'm not complaining.
When I really want to boost light return/life on stuff like this, I've been using a violin ground varnish — I think it's boiled linseed and larch. Works better than anything I've found.
Re: Bright Tone, I haven't had any firsthand, but one of the other repair guys I swap work with swears by it.
I've used a product called Deft for years. I keep a quart can in the shop for bigger jobs that require spraying with the airbrush. In that case, I cut it about 50/50 with lacquer thinner to make it flow better. For a job like refinishing a neck or a touch-up job, I buy just a rattle-can. (except Deft ProLuxe doesn't have a stir ball, so no rattle...) It works great. Not sure why they changed the name, same stuff.
https://deftlacquer.com/
Quote from: Nova Constellatio on June 25, 2026, 10:39:33 PMWhen I really want to boost light return/life on stuff like this, I've been using a violin ground varnish — I think it's boiled linseed and larch. Works better than anything I've found.
I will look up the violin ground polish and the Deft (thanks for the link!).
After some sanding and cleaning with acetone, I can see how the grain is going to really stand out.
I was thinking of stripping mine, and applying several coats of some sort of urethane clear. Buff it out between coats. I just don't know what type yet.
Quote from: Artgeckko on June 27, 2026, 10:36:41 AMQuote from: Nova Constellatio on June 25, 2026, 10:39:33 PMWhen I really want to boost light return/life on stuff like this, I've been using a violin ground varnish — I think it's boiled linseed and larch. Works better than anything I've found.
I will look up the violin ground polish and the Deft (thanks for the link!).
After some sanding and cleaning with acetone, I can see how the grain is going to really stand out.
I've been getting mine from a guy named Jordan Hess in Salt Lake City — his stuff is the best that I've been able to find.
Hello Alembic club,
I'm updating this in progress picture of 77-852
My friend had to liquidate his equipment, as he and his family is relocating.
Been a bit of a messy thing this arrangement we had, so I bought the bass off him.
With my real gig schedule, there was no way I would be able to get it cleaned up and ready to sell for him any time soon, and being he was growing impatient due to his work 'downsizing' it seemed the right path.
Hopefully, this will help alleviate some stress that had been developing.
It's coming along well, just takes the time it takes...
Did notice that the hum canceller pickup had an odd bubble in the top, delaminating?
its covered for now, thats a problem for future me!
That's looking great, Ed. 8)
Looking good!
Quote from: Artgeckko on July 24, 2026, 01:04:14 AMDid notice that the hum canceller pickup had an odd bubble in the top, delaminating?
its covered for now, thats a problem for future me!
The coils are cast suspended in a silicone mold with the plates as close to the finished top of the pickup without poking through. Sanding the tops of any molded pickup is dicey - you will hit the plate pretty fast, especially on plain castings (without the engraving). We pop out the humcanceller when refinishing, but I realize this probably wasn't an option for you. Even if you sand thru a little it will likely still work. May not be pretty, but will probably be functional.
In the end, if it all works when you're done - great! If there is a cosmetic issue to address then, the collection of Alembic minds here will surely be able to help with that.
Nice work 😊
Thanks folks, and thank you Mica for the great info -
The hum canceller did look like maybe it had been possibly hit with a sander ( or strings, or an attempt at removal, not sure...?) in past, but it was working great, prior to being taken apart. There was some reasonable space between the hum canceller and body so I placed clear thin plastic recycled from a plier package on all sides and folded it over the top of pickup to protect it, then frog tape for another day. Thats when I noticed the lifting piece. I did pop out the Hum canceller on 76-412, but this one didn't seem to budge, and I didn't want to cause damage to a working part of bass. Is there a process for doing just that (that isn't proprietary info) ?
I have some miles to go before I unmask the frogtape, but fingers crossed for good results!
In the past with broken axy / mxy pickup ears ( from over tightening / wrong adj ) I have used the 2 part claylike epoxy to fix the broken ears. It bonds to existing PU, shape it ( dremel) to match original shape and align holes, then carefully colored them with sharpie marker to match existing black. Its not perfect, but it works pretty well.
Thankfully, this one didn't need that work!
Thanks again for any and all help!
Usually you can just whack the hum canceller with a rubber mallet and break the brittle super glue bond. However, sometimes, especially in the early-mid 70's, 5-minute epoxy was used. To get those out, destruction is pretty much the only way.
Ok! well that confirms any such action will NOT be taken!
Thank you for that info!
tried to reply to five string dan, but my post got rejected?
Gonna try to update here, as I'm getting close with 77-852, not that you can tell from this photo!
Your project looks fantastic Ed!
Well, not in that photo! that was some fine sanding slurry all over it!
It's getting there! will have some challenges with the hum canceller PU, after the finish is completed.
Quote from: Artgeckko on Yesterday at 09:05:20 PMWell, not in that photo! that was some fine sanding slurry all over it!
It's getting there! will have some challenges with the hum canceller PU, after the finish is completed.
I scrolled back a page and peeked. 😁
Yeah, I guess if that humcanceller is sitting proud a little it makes wet-sanding around it tricky. 🤔