Alembic Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: Nova Constellatio on August 29, 2026, 11:06:20 AM

Title: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 29, 2026, 11:06:20 AM
I bought this a few weeks ago, and have been dealing with getting it from Japan to the U.S.

It seems as though 1978 is fairly early for a  Cocobolo Series I:

(https://i.ibb.co/HLVrjnCx/image0.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/0yRTxkVq/image1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/dsSNqw8J/image2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/wNW55WKb/image6.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/M58t1Qbj/image7.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/QFtsmcCZ/image9.jpg)
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 29, 2026, 11:55:46 AM
(https://i.ibb.co/6S9cMJS/IMG-0196.jpg)
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: edwardofhuncote on August 29, 2026, 11:58:19 AM
Looks a lot like the wood in 78-1100, currently being restored by [elwoodblue].

Pretty stuff.
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 29, 2026, 12:00:40 PM
I'm really looking forward to hearing it in person.
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: adriaan on August 29, 2026, 12:20:03 PM
Noice. No shot of the headstock?
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 29, 2026, 12:21:49 PM
Just found some:

(https://i.ibb.co/gMxFwykz/IMG-9862.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/6RNHL2vq/IMG-9863.jpg)
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: adriaan on August 29, 2026, 12:47:39 PM
Again: noice!
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 29, 2026, 01:34:22 PM
I'm excited, but they changed the rules for importing musical instruments made from CITES woods earlier this year, and now there's a step that requires a customs broker.

Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Barend on August 30, 2026, 02:35:14 AM
Very nice! Really like the dark wood. Hope you can make some sound samples.
You say it's cocobolo, but the papers say the top is rosewood?
Where did you buy it in Japan?
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 30, 2026, 05:19:00 AM
It was at Guitar Traders.

I showed it to Mica when I first saw it, and she and Susan both said Cocobolo, which was my first impression.
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: rv_bass on August 30, 2026, 06:20:48 AM
Beautiful bass!  I believe cocobolo is a type of rosewood.
Title: Re: Eagerly awaiting a 1978 Series I from Japan
Post by: Nova Constellatio on August 30, 2026, 06:21:59 AM
Dalbergia retusa.