| Author | Message | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2012 |
I have this Vintage P-Bass, not sure of the year...... But it was definitely modified by the Alembic crew. I don't know much about it, but I was hoping to find out more. I attached a photo or so. Thanks, Chris, NY  | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2012 |
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| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2012 |
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| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1332 Registered: 6-2002 |
Wow ...even has the gain adjustment access holes. ...and fyi, you can respond to your own thread to add pictures (instead of starting a new thread). Welcome, that is quite a beast of a FenBic, I don't think I've seen a Fender modded to a series before. What do you know about it's history? [moderator's note: as alluded to by Elwood, the first three posts in this thread were originally posted as three separate threads; moderator has combined into one thread] (Message edited by davehouck on January 09, 2012) | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2012 |
I know nothing of its history. I bought it when I first started playing...... maybe 1997 or so...... I bought it from a small music store in Baldwin Long Island(NY) the owner knew nothing of it either.. other then someone traded it to him for another bass. I saw it and thought....... (what the hell is that...) I had to have it. Not sure if it is wired properly, but it sounds..... Under the pick guard there is another type of pickup, maybe an envelope filter?............. I was hoping to get some history here........ Will take note of thread usage, thanks. Chris | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 528 Registered: 5-2002 |
That "other pickup" is the hum canceller - the main pickups are single coils and would buzz on their own, but there's a carefully matched coil with no magnets that cancels the noise. It doesn't need to "see" the strings to remove the noise. It's the best (and most expensive) way to make for beautiful, clear high end response with no hum! David Fung | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 345 Registered: 6-2006 |
That third device is the hum canceling pup, a dummy just for out of phase hum cancelation. The four pots on the back of the bass are for adjusting each string for optimal hum cancelation. That is a cool hybrid. Do you have the power supply/DI that plugs into the 5 pin connector? I type too slow, what he ^ said.............. (Message edited by jbybj on January 09, 2012) | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 1095 Registered: 6-2002 |
Those pickups date from 1974 or 75 I would guess. The 5-Pin connector is an ITT/Cannon and not Switchcraft. That would also indicate to me that is around 1974 or 75. I see that there is a locking mono/stereo switch. To activate it, you actually have to lift it while toggling it. That is a nice feature when using batteries instead of the power supply. I've seen very few Alembics with that. My 1972 has that switch. Very cool indeed! If you get tired of it, I could give it a good home. Michael | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2012 |
interesting. I don't have the power supply. This also splits the signal to stereo? A little more research suggests this is a series 1 set up (PF-6)? How far back does this date? I wonder who the tech was that modified this bass....... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10503 Registered: 5-2002 |
I don't think the work was done at Alembic. Someone probably took the electronics out of an Alembic bass and put them in the Fender. I don't know why someone would do such a thing, but we've seen it a few times before. I even picked up such a bass on Ebay once. As Michael said, this is a fairly early set of electronics, so it's a nice find! And it's good to hear that the hum canceler is in there too. Looks like the neck was fretted at one point and then converted to fretless. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10504 Registered: 5-2002 |
Oh; and welcome to the club Chris! | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2012 |
hey thanks great to be here!! I actually took the frets out when I first got it to add to this collaboration. I think someone attempted to wire this bass, but not sure if they were 100% successful....... all switches seem to work, but i'm not so sure that I know what I am listening for.......... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10505 Registered: 5-2002 |
There's a good explanation of Series I controls here. | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2012 |
  (Message edited by mica on January 10, 2012) | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2012 |
  (Message edited by mica on January 10, 2012) | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2012 |
 | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2253 Registered: 5-2009 |
This Bass looks very familiar. I might have seen it at the old Alembic 60 Brady St. location back around 74 /75. | ||
| liptones
New Username: liptones Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2012 |
Really....... please tell more....... | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2254 Registered: 5-2009 |
It is also quite possible that this work could have also been done by STARS GUITARS . Stars Guitars was at 60 Brady St. after Alembic made a move a little further north across the Golden Gate. I remember quite well by name some of the folks that were there , including Mr. Ron Armstrong . | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 739 Registered: 6-2006 |
Christopher, That is a great find! I wish music stores in Milwaukee would 'cast-off' beauties like that. Welcome to the club, hopefully you will get all of the answers you need here. | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 531 Registered: 5-2002 |
Cool bass! Maybe it's an employee bass? It's not like there would have been a lot of full sets of electronics floating around and it sure looks like everything is here, down to the Raytheon hat knobs. Whoever did the work made a big time commitment - even the old P-bass rout is plugged, there was extensive new routing, and it's all shielded too. I don't know about this being Stars work though - they wouldn't have done this much work without changing to a Stars bridge! David Fung | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2258 Registered: 5-2009 |
David , I think that there have my have been some drama regarding the brass bridge and tail piece. Look at the pics of the back side. I see a brass block and a brass plate for strings through the body configuration. I really think I remember this Bass from 60 Brady St. Look also at what looks like wood replacement (walnut) in the area where the Alembic bridge or Stars Guitars type ( I remember variations ) would have been . Suspect traces perhaps of an experiment ? Or perhaps a mistake covered up? This is triggering my memory back over 3 decades ! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10507 Registered: 5-2002 |
So, what does the peghead look like? Would Stars have swapped out the nut? | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hey guys greetings from NY. I have to say this is awesome all this info and excitement... I am sure learning a whole bunch..... Thank you guys!! I agree with Sonicus... There was at some point strings through body style. In its travels someone modified that option. Also I must note that the nut was brass and scalloped. It seems to have disappeared, I sure hope I can find that piece. the walnut fill was definitely a sloppy fill of sorts. It also has the schaller tuners. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7578 Registered: 6-2000 |
I have a vague memory that there were about a half dozen of these basses modded back on Brady Street. Certainly not more than that. I've seen 2 others in person. BUT, this was not done on Brady Street. The date codes on the volume pots are from 1975, which puts us in the Sebastopol/Cotati years. One of the filter pots was replaced with a 1995 date code pot from an Activator (which works fine BTW). The other filter pot looks like an original Alan Bradley type. The wiring around the 5-pin reveals that my dad didn't do the work, but that doesn't mean that someone here at Alembic didn't do it. There are no records of repairs and modifications, so all I can tell you for sure is that the guts are Series I Alembic issue with at least one replaced pot. The silver shielding suggests that either we or someone that worked with us at one time did the work. I'm sorta leaning toward Alembic guts that Stars guitars installed. But that's just an educated guess. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10508 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks Mica! Looks like it's had an interesting life. | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 12 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hey Mica, Wow!! I have a piece of history here!! I know for sure that the wiring had been tampered with by the guy who I bought it from and who knows who else. He said he couldn't get it to work right(the five pin that is.) Not sure that it is the original wires from the modification or not... What was the reason for modifying the p-basses back then? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2259 Registered: 5-2009 |
Mica , Therefore , since Stars Guitars moved into 60 Brady Street during during the Alembic Sebastopol/Cotati years as per the time period of your post then Stars Guitars may have installed " the" Alembic Guts" @ 60 Brady St after Alembic moved. That make sense . I still think I remember this Bass when Stars Guitars was at 60 Brady! I think I remember someone showing it to me there. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2260 Registered: 5-2009 |
liptones , The time period in which these mods were likely done was an exiting period of experimentation and an effort to improve the all over sonic capabilities of the Bass Guitar . Alembic was the pioneer in this effort and many others followed and copied what Alembic was doing. Someone may have wanted a bolt on Fender Bass with the best pickups and electronics in existence, and hence the mods on your Bass. Although they are not Series Alembic electronics, Activators latter made it possible to have Alembic pickups in a "Run Of The Mill" non-Alembic production line instrument. | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 13 Registered: 1-2012 |
Well I would love to have someone here in NY have a look to make sure the wiring is right and all is sounding properly. Can anyone recommend anyone that is familiar with Alembic electronics? Thanks, Chris | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 532 Registered: 5-2002 |
sonicus - Yes, clearly a lot of experimentation here. The mystery plate on the back is sort of off-center, otherwise I would suspect that it was a sustain block and somebody tried to go "full series" with a sustain block and separate tailpiece. I don't think a Fender body has enough length to really do that like a point body. Moving the tailpiece up would reduce the scale length, but then you'd have to refret (or defret) the neck. The next fall back was that through-body block which looks pretty cool. A lot of work to inlay that piece. I wonder why they didn't go with that? It's like the prehistoric ancestor of the 2Tek bridge! They even "corrected" this area with that walnut inlay in the top. Liptone, have you unscrewed that off-center plate on the back? I'm curious what it looks like down there! David Fung | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 14 Registered: 1-2012 |
Yeah it houses the two 9 volt batteries. I will post a photo or so.   | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2262 Registered: 5-2009 |
David , Thanks for confirming my observations . The more I think about this instrument and combined with your confirmations is bringing back clarity of my encounter with this instrument at "Stars Guitars". I used to visit there often . Bridge Experiment! 2Tek" like" perhaps ! I am remembering even more now . Liptone , I am also curious what it looks like under that brass block ! Wolf | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2263 Registered: 5-2009 |
Ok , A battery cover . You mentioned that there is output from the 1/4" jack , right? Keep both batteries fresh since you do not have the power supply and the 5 pin cable. I can not tell from the pic how the 1/4" jack is wired , is there output from both pickups ? How about HUM or BUZZ , there is an adjustment on the bass for that with instructions on this site. Gains also can be adjusted. | ||
| xlrogue6
Intermediate Member Username: xlrogue6 Post Number: 199 Registered: 8-2002 |
My friend Evan Palmerston (Cold Blood, Elvin Bishop, Shadowfax) has a similarly modded J-bass, which he told me was done at Alembic, I think in the East Cotati Ave. days. I'll ask him about it next time he drops by. | ||
| xlrogue6
Intermediate Member Username: xlrogue6 Post Number: 200 Registered: 8-2002 |
Also, I suspect the bridge mod was originally a string through body to an Alembic bridge (probably set in a sustain block)to get something functionally similar to a separate bridge and tailpiece on a body that couldn't actually accommodate a tailpiece. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2113 Registered: 10-2003 |
Man, the '70s were some heady times for the instrument industry! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2264 Registered: 5-2009 |
Here is a fine example of a modified Jazz with Series I electronics. Take note of the swell bridge and tail piece ! I LOVE the tail piece in this scenario. It works as it should. I was told that this bass was a legitimate employee project at the time.  | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1333 Registered: 6-2002 |
Your right Wolf, That tailpiece is an inspired creation.Solid contact with the endgrain too...very nice. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 812 Registered: 4-2004 |
There was a black p-bass w/ alembic guts that popped up on the forum a couple of years ago..... I actually thought this was the same one w/ a stripped finish until I read a couple of posts further. So far no maple necks....  | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1334 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here's that Black P-Bass. | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 15 Registered: 1-2012 |
Wow check that out... The story unfolds.... Awesome.. I wonder if the same employee did all of these fenders.......... | ||
| room037
Senior Member Username: room037 Post Number: 428 Registered: 9-2003 |
Hi Chris, I think something about circuit wiring. 1: Locking SW is power SW. 1/4" phone jack is simple, not a switch jack. It's wiring to LED with registor. The LED will work as power indicator. 2: 1/4" phone jack wiring The jack is mono type, because the wiring is working as mono. The wiring to signal point of the jack with one registor. I think, the miss wiring is here. Each PU signals need each registors for mono wiring. I recommend to rewiring with 1/4" SW jack. I am very interested modified Jazz-B. If the tailpiece of Chris's bass was modified as this Jazz, it was needed the woodblock to current state. Eiji (Message edited by room037 on January 11, 2012) | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2012 |
hey guys thanks so much for all of your knowledge and sharing your info with me!!! It seems most of you guys grew up and around all this history. I have to say I admire you guys in a great way. Wish I could have been there during all those days. Sounds like a blast! On another note, I plan to get this bass looking and sounding as sweet as possible! One day I will own a full on Alembic.. but for now I have some awesome vintage series 1 electronics that I plan to thoroughly enjoy. Liptones I imagine I'll go to 48th street in NYC to check wiring.. If anyone can recommend someone here in NY please do let me know.  | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 233 Registered: 5-2005 |
Rudy's Music and their repair shop entry is 723 Seventh Avenue. Ask for Jeremy. Rudy's was an Alembic dealer many many years ago. Jeremy works on all my Alembics, unless they need to visit the mothership. The repair location is right around the corner of 48th and 7th Avenue. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1753 Registered: 11-2004 |
I got my MK Signature at Rudy's in 1998, top place!!! | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 17 Registered: 1-2012 |
awesome, thanks tubeperson. Will be heading there soon. I'm gonna remake the pickguard. Same shape as is there. Curious about materials to use....... Looks like a 3 piece laminate. Mahogany, Maple, Mahogany. Will this really effect tone or not? I wonder. It seems to me to be just an aesthetic. But one never knows. I may put the string through option back. But I am not sure yet if that will work........ | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 935 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hows bout some Lembic brass..  | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 18 Registered: 1-2012 |
When is that bass from? And how does it sound? Looks like an early prototype of sorts.. Brass for the pickguard....... Could be a possibility, not something I considered yet... But hmmm. How does it effect tone if it does at all? I was leaning towards laminating a piece of plastic with a special piece of veneer for the pickguard. Hey I can always make a few different versions. Know you have me thinking....... | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5040 Registered: 7-2004 |
That's Keavin's "Old #12", from 1972 - the 12th instrument Alembic ever made. I have "Old #10", also from 1972, a guitar, that you can see here. Bill, the guitar one | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 1096 Registered: 6-2002 |
For what it's worth, I have serial number 16 also from 1972. I had to remove my brass electrionics cover because it added noise to the electronics. I guess it was acting like an antenna. Once I removed the brass, it became dead quiet. I used clear plastic for my cover. My cover is not on the face of the instrument, but on the rear. In the compartment is 2 hum cancelling coils, one for each pickup. The plastic cover over the compartment made a VERY big difference. Keavin - do you notice any noise with your bass? Just curious, I know that they are all different. Michael | ||
| liptones
Junior Username: liptones Post Number: 20 Registered: 1-2012 |
Wow those are awesome!! these instruments have come along way yet the initial shapes and concepts remain more or less. How do they sound? | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1616 Registered: 6-2002 |
Kevin brought #12 to the Alembic gathering in Chicago in 2009. It sounded fantastic and played like a dream! Mike | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2123 Registered: 10-2003 |
And the first thing Keavin did when we pulled it out of the case was pass it around. He let EVERYBODY play it. That was a day to remember! John | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 747 Registered: 6-2006 |
Right on! #12 was quite, didn't notice any noise. Paul TDO | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 748 Registered: 6-2006 |
 | ||
| herbbone
Junior Username: herbbone Post Number: 25 Registered: 5-2011 |
love the old ones   | ||
| count
Junior Username: count Post Number: 41 Registered: 10-2003 |
I so regret not bidding on this when it was up for grabs on ebay.... | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1835 Registered: 9-2002 |
So I've seen those pictures of that girl holding 'that' bass before, so while we're in History Class, A) Who's the girl, and B) Which bass is she holding? And, BTW Liptones, brother, you're 'IN' this little fraternity. BIG time. What an axe ! If it could only tell us where it's been . . . J o e y | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1180 Registered: 10-2006 |
A) Susan Frates Wickersham (I'm pretty sure) B) Lesh's Mission Control (I know) Did I get an A, Professor Joey? Peter | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1837 Registered: 9-2002 |
Peter, I s'pose: I was asking as I honestly didn't know who she was, and which axe she was holding, just knew I'd seen these pics before. J o e y | ||
| count
Junior Username: count Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2003 |
herbbone, does your bass have an oil finish? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10610 Registered: 5-2002 |
According to Thomas Lieber, the woman in the pictures is his wife. |
