Just saw this one on Reverb. Really nice one, but unfortunately it has this strange backplate attached. It's not mentioned in the add. So no idea what it is for? Maybe for adding leds or something or maybe just for protection? Seems to have a blue led on it. I guess it's hard to sale for that money with that extra attachment if they carved in it.

https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/102391770-1978-alembic-series-i-4-string-bass-excellent-condition

Is it just me, or does that look like a long scale?    

Michael

Looks like black pickguard material to me. The lack of screws suggests adhesive-backed. I think the blue LED you see is a reflection in the shiny surface. My guess is it's covering something, like buckle rash. It would take all of 5 minutes with a hair dryer to get it off. What's underneath is the $15,000 question.

I guess you could message them and ask, but unless there are a couple ounces of silver or some other precious metal of intrinsic value under that mysterious plate, I would move on to another.

*agree with Dela, looks longer than short-scale.

Quote from: dela217 on Yesterday at 02:50:42 AMIs it just me, or does that look like a long scale?   

Michael

Didn't think about it, but indeed looks longer than short scale. I would be surprised if it was long scale. Never saw a long scale small body. Would be really serious neck dive problems. I heard even the short scale small body ones have that? I guess this one is medium scale.

Quote from: Barend on Yesterday at 04:47:53 AM

Quote from: dela217 on Yesterday at 02:50:42 AMIs it just me, or does that look like a long scale?   

Michael

Didn't think about it, but indeed looks longer than short scale. I would be surprised if it was long scale. Never saw a long scale short body. Would be really serious neck dive problems. I heard even the short scale small body ones have that? I guess this one is medium scale.

There are a small number of long-scale Series basses in this small body from the 70's. It's rare, but they turn up. Michael has an affinity for them, and a very sharp eye for spotting them when they do. 👀

No, the design doesn't balance well, hence the small number produced, but there are ways where there is desire. 

QuoteThere are a small number of long-scale Series basses in this small body from the 70's. It's rare, but they turn up. Michael has an affinity for them, and a very sharp eye for spotting them when they do. 👀

looks long scale to me but i'd measure it first.  i owned a long scale small body fretless series I for a while in the 00's (the steve fossen bass).  strapped up ok for me but i never gigged it IIRC.

thaat backplate thingy looks like the wrong spot for belt buckle rash to me.  id sure like to see hwat's under it and all the other cavities on it before i dropped $14623 USD (ot hereabouts) on it.  nice bAss!

good luck to all!

I thought about the buckle rash protection idea, but reading the description, I'm wondering if there's a bunch of batteries under there? It does look longer than short scale. Hard to tell if it's just the angle of the camera.

I got curious on coffee-break and messaged the seller. It is in fact, one of the long-scale Small Standards. Michael Delacerda doesn't miss. 

The black piece on the back is there to protect the back from scratches from a strap. It is removable. Seller responded very quickly. 

I don't think it's a reflection as it's not there on the other shot of the rear.  I don't think it's batteries as the two 9 volt batteries should be under the square brass plate.  I don't think it's buckle rash since there doesn't appear to be much anywhere else.  Maybe that's where they put their Columbian .. coffee, from back when everyone was smo drinking fine Columbian.  I'm wondering if the strap button is all that's holding it on .. if they routed an edge within which it's sitting; though it does appear to be sitting on top of the body, so probably glued.  Mostly I think it's just a mystery; one that definitely needs further investigating.

Edit:  Ah!  I see Greg has solved the mystery!

Well David, you may have just solved a lyric I didn't understand from a Steely Dan track "Hey 19".
"The Cuervo gold, the fine Columbian, makes tonight a wonderful thing". I guess its some kind of recreational drug?

Quote from: jazzyvee on Yesterday at 11:14:27 AMI guess its some kind of recreational drug?

"Medicines kids, we're talking about medicines of course" (Keith Moon and Ringo Star) 

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on Yesterday at 10:20:35 AMI got curious on coffee-break and messaged the seller. It is in fact, one of the long-scale Small Standards. Michael Delacerda doesn't miss.

ok thanks. I would never buy a long scale small body though. Neck dive all over. I like the body wood though...But only short scale for this type small body for me.

Quote from: jazzyvee on Yesterday at 11:14:27 AMWell David, you may have just solved a lyric I didn't understand from a Steely Dan track "Hey 19".
"The Cuervo gold, the fine Columbian, makes tonight a wonderful thing". I guess its some kind of recreational drug?

Hey Nineteen - great song!

Yep - short answer, it almost certainly refers (or rather, referred) to weed.

Some interesting trivia, according to contributors on Hey Nineteen's page on Genius Lyrics (https://genius.com/Steely-dan-hey-nineteen-lyrics):  These days, most people would probably associate any drug references to "Columbia" with cocaine, but apparently this only really became an association after the movie Scarface from 1983.  Back when Steely Dan recorded this song in 1980 (and throughout the 70s before that), Columbia was actually far more associated with marijuana.  Apparently Donald Fagen even more-or-less confirmed it refers to weed during a live performance of the song.

I've had a couple of the long scale small bodied basses.     It is not so much of a neck dive issue for me, as I balance the bass with my right arm.    It is a different mindset when playing a bass with this body style.    If you are expecting it to balance like a P bass, it ain't gonna happen.    But if you play it for the instrument it is, it balances just fine to me!    My problem with it was the overall weight of the instrument.

There is a guy in town here that bought a small body long scale Alembic new in 1978.  Zebrawood topped Series II.  He still has it and gigs with it constantly.   In fact, that's all he does for a living.    Plays bass.    He gets it.

Michael

Quote from: dela217 on Yesterday at 03:35:38 PMBut if you play it for the instrument it is, it balances just fine to me!   

Can you elaborate on that?
What do mean by 'play it for the instrument it is' exactly?

And does that work if you play it seated without a strap?