| Author | Message | ||
| scott
Junior Username: scott Post Number: 19 Registered: 10-2002 |
What are the standard electronics on the six-string Electrum guitars, are they active, and how long were they produced for, and how much are they worth on the used market? One last question, how do they compare to a Series 1 or 2 six string guitars? Thanks for any help. | ||
| lbpesq
Intermediate Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 132 Registered: 7-2004 |
Scott: According to the reference page, Electrums were made from '78 -'85: http://alembic.com/support/reference.html#sernum I have spoken with the folks at Alembic and my understanding is that they have made some custom order Electrums since then, and can still do so if a customer wants. I have seen Electrums set up both with two humbucker shaped pickups - see for example, mine: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/12743.html?1095369307 Others had three single-coil shaped pick ups, such as this one: http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:kgKctUNu1scJ:www.forestsong.ne.jp/naoki/intro/inst.html+alembic+electrum&hl=en (By the way, as I understand it, except for the series instruments, all Alembic pickups are humbucker type, even the strat shaped ones - they don't make single-coil. Someone set me straight on this if I am wrong).) You might also notice that they came with at least two diffferent pegheads. Also, while most are neck-thrus, there are the occasional set-necks (like the current e-bay one). I might be wrong, but I believe that the set-necks were either special orders or for the japanese market, I forget which. As for price, Susan told me, if I remember correctly, that a new one today would go for about $5000-5500, depending on the electronics. I picked mine up at the World Guitar Show in San Rafael, California this past summer for $1200. I don't think the seller really knew what he had. He certainly didn't have a clue about the controls. They turn up maybe a couple of times a year on e-bay, (not including the one that is going around again right now with the gutted electronics (Seymour Duncans on an Alembic! Sacrilege!)). I would offer a guess that current market value is probably in the $1400-2000 range, well worth it, IMHO. As for standard electronics, I can't help you. Mica tells me that the electronics on mine were upgraded in '93. Mine has a pan for the pickups, volume, low pass filter, Q switch, and a standby switch. As any regular on this site knows, I LOVE THIS GUITAR and highly recommend it. Any other questions? don't hesitate to ask. (And if you're thinking about the e-bay one, I'd say pass). Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on November 06, 2004) |
