I am posting this to see if I can find out any info about my 79 series 1 bass 791426. thanks

Here's what I found out about your bass:
 
serial number: 79-1426
model name: Series I
model number: MBI4
top: Walnut
body: Mahogany
back: Walnut
neck: Maple and Purpleheart  
scale: 32 medium
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: Mother of pearl
peghead veneers: Vermilion
pickups: SC-1
controls: Series I
originally made for: not recorded
birthday: September 13, 1979

This one's mine now.

 

Congratulations, any chance we could see a photo of this bass?

I'll take a few tomorrow — it's got a nice figured walnut top.

Quote from: jazzyvee on June 02, 2026, 10:29:35 PMCongratulations, any chance we could see a photo of this bass?

Ooooh. Nice back shot. 
The walnut on the front is fancy but that marking on the back is savage!  

Thanks for sharing.

Nice one! Congrats. I saw it too and was interested and had contact with the seller. But I wasn't sure about the condition and the laqcuer cracks so I didn't dare to take the risk to buy it unseen and unplayed.

How does it play and how does it sound? No issues?

Quote from: Barend on June 17, 2026, 10:01:16 AMNice one! Congrats. I saw it too and was interested and had contact with the seller. But I wasn't sure about the condition and the laqcuer cracks so I didn't dare to take the risk to buy it unseen and unplayed.

How does it play and how does it sound? No issues?

The finish checking is fairly intense at the bottom, but it's something I can live with.

I love how it plays and sounds. The only weird issue is the spacing at the nut is off: the G string is much closer to the D string than it should be, but that's an easy fix. I'm surprised at how little I notice it when I'm using it.

It's been my favorite bass to play since it arrived.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on June 17, 2026, 10:44:45 AMI love how it plays and sounds. The only weird issue is the spacing at the nut is off: the G string is much closer to the D string than it should be, but that's an easy fix. I'm surprised at how little I notice it when I'm using it.

It's been my favorite bass to play since it arrived.

Ok that's weird with the string spacing. Is it the original brass nut? But glad you like the bass. Have fun with it!

Quote from: Barend on June 17, 2026, 04:45:40 PMOk that's weird with the string spacing. Is it the original brass nut? But glad you like the bass. Have fun with it!

It's an original nut — it might be intentional, as the saddle has two slots, one where you'd normally expect it, and one much closer to the D string. I wonder whether a former owner wanted the strings close together for some reason.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on June 17, 2026, 04:55:14 PM

Quote from: Barend on June 17, 2026, 04:45:40 PMOk that's weird with the string spacing. Is it the original brass nut? But glad you like the bass. Have fun with it!

It's an original nut — it might be intentional, as the saddle has two slots, one where you'd normally expect it, and one much closer to the D string. I wonder whether a former owner wanted the strings close together for some reason.

Probably so. Because of the small neck of Alembics the G string is fairly close to the edge of the neck so the G string can slide of the neck easily. For example when doing vibrato. I guess that must be the reason to move it closer to the D string.

Are you sure? That would be the earliest example of the adjustable nut, wich IIrc became standard somewhere in '82.

'79 would be pretty early. My guess (if we're doing guitar CSI) is whoever moved the G-string bridge slot also modified the nut. Perhaps followed with an upgrade when it became available. 

FWIW, that does look like an early version adjustable, or possibly a shop-made one. Note sharper corners, not as chamfered. Check out the one on my December 1981 Distillate here... I believe it was one of the first. Maybe Dave's here wins the race? 

https://club.alembicguitars.com/distillate-basses-and-guitars/1981-distillate/15/

Maybe it was an option early on, or just for the higher end models? There are ('82) decal Spoilers out there with the old style (not adjustable) nut.