| Author | Message | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2015 |
Hi, all! I bought a used Alembic bass back in the 1980s. I'm trying to pin down the specific model. I looked where I thought a serial number might be (on the neck near the highest fret) and didn't find one. Here are links to pics: https://flic.kr/p/saXC31 https://flic.kr/p/sb41Na | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 689 Registered: 9-2009 |
Beautiful looking series bass that appears to have Birdseye maple body laminations. Have you checked on the top edge of the headstock? On older models the serial numbers are often found there | ||
| flpete1uw
Senior Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 478 Registered: 11-2011 |
Fred, It looks to be a Series 1. The serial numbers will either be like you said on the edge of the last fret at the truss rods or if an older model on top of the head stock. Nice Bass, nicer with a little TLC. Welcome to the Club! Best Wishes Pete | ||
| nnek
Intermediate Member Username: nnek Post Number: 116 Registered: 8-2009 |
From the style of the bridge it looks to be pre-77? The number should be at the top edge of the headstock with the year on one side and number on the other. Nice looking series bass! | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 770 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hey Fred nice bass. You could have a look inside the control cavity for date stamps on the pots. There may be a serial number somewhere inside the cavity. There may be a serial number at the top of the headstock. Single truss rod looks as if post 1975 pre 1977. This is just a guess slawie | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1670 Registered: 5-2006 |
Yeah, most likely '75/'76 Very nice! | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2015 |
Okay, guys -- I have some info. I tracked the serial number down. It's at the top of the peg head. On one side, it says "AE." My understanding is that refers to "Alembic Export General." Can anyone tell me what that means? On the other side, it says, "76 428." I gather that means it was made in 1976? Any info on what the 428 means? | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1671 Registered: 5-2006 |
According to this it should be the 428st instrument with the AE prefix:  But 428 looks more inline with the "normal" sequence, maybe they had abandoned this system (but kept the AE) before this instrument was made? Or they made a lot of them in '76, looks like there were 1244 AE/AC's made... | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2015 |
Wow - that's astonishingly-helpful! Thank you. Now I'm assuming that the AE doesn't speak to the specific model? Rather, it's probably a Series 1 (?) that was made for export? | ||
| lembic76450
Advanced Member Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 395 Registered: 5-2002 |
Fred, that early on, they only made Series instruments... | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2015 |
Ah, okay lembic. Didn't know that. Let me ask a really crass question of all of you at this point. With what we know about the bass I'm asking you all about, is anyone willing to hazard a guess about its value? I should say that the reason I'm asking is this thing has been stored in an Anvil case since I got it. I'm moving into a one-bedroom apartment in New York City and it's simply too massive to take with me. (I have other instruments that are more space-friendly.) I'd like to sell it -- don't want to try so high that I make that difficult but I don't want to give it away either. Any thoughts? | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1673 Registered: 5-2006 |
I think this will end somewhere near $3500 on Ebay, I'm almost sure it will sell between $3000 and $4000. Also depends on how you present it, take good detailed pictures of the bass and goodies (case, powersupply and cable) | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2015 |
Thanks, fc. People might be interested in this. I don't know how reliable it is: http://www.vintageguitar.com/special-features/25-most-valuable-basses/ | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1674 Registered: 5-2006 |
From what I've seen on Ebay etc: Signature: Between $2200 - $3000 Series: Between $3000 - $4000 Series II: Between $4000 - $5500 Those are very rough estimates :-) Many factors have an impact on the price: Premium woods, age, electronics upgrade (for pre '99 Series basses) repairs etc. The Series basses on that site both have a graphite neck, those would most likely sell near the $10K mark | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 692 Registered: 9-2009 |
I'd have to agree with Flip as to approximate pricing. The Vintage guitar site primarily provides prices on what I'd consider both unusual and in perfect condition guitars. Yours looks to be fairly standard (if one can refer to an Alembic as standard) for a Series bass of that age as it doesn't have premier/special wood combinations, is a 4 stringer, no special inlays, and offers a typical Series body shape. Have you plugged her in and given her some exercise recently so you can attest to her worthiness. From what I understand at least some older Series without an electronics upgrade have a tendency to hum. One thing I would definitely suggest doing is seeing if you can replace the missing truss rod cover (call Alembic) and polish up the brass. Alembic recommends Flitz polish which you can get at just about any hardware store. A little Flitz and a lot of rubbing will make the bridge, tailpiece and nut shine like new. | ||
| nnek
Intermediate Member Username: nnek Post Number: 117 Registered: 8-2009 |
Just a note on truss rod covers, The early production basses and guitars have no truss rod covers.... | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2209 Registered: 2-2005 |
This bass is from the period they did not have truss rod covers. Keith | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6042 Registered: 7-2004 |
Interesting. The numbers in the "Top 25" article don't match the numbers in their 2015 Price Guide: Series I: $3600-4500 Series II:$4200-5200 S. Clarke: $4600-5800 My favorite part is this description from the article: "The original Alembic bass, with the “omega” pointed lower body designed to force the player to use a proper stand! Offered in three scale lengths and different wood combinations, this is still the classic ’70s Alembic of many player’s dreams." Love that Omegal Point! Much better than that pointed Omega that looks like someone took a bite out of the bottom! lol Bill, tgo | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4117 Registered: 5-2009 |
Bill. you present a valid , "point". | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1675 Registered: 5-2006 |
 I prefer the triple point body (like Jerry Only) I resized the pics from the op:   | ||
| moongerm
Intermediate Member Username: moongerm Post Number: 182 Registered: 8-2013 |
Love Birdseye! Beautiful! | ||
| mtjam
Advanced Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 296 Registered: 11-2011 |
Very nice! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8499 Registered: 6-2000 |
Lovely Bird's-eye Maple! I like the gentle quilted figure too. Are there two truss rods or is the one just off center? | ||
| hankster
Senior Member Username: hankster Post Number: 405 Registered: 6-2004 |
And if anyone is curious about "jason Mercer"(see provenance letter above): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Mercer | ||
| hankster
Senior Member Username: hankster Post Number: 407 Registered: 6-2004 |
I see that the address info in the letter to Jason Mercer has now been redacted. it wasn't my intention to draw attention to that info - now 25 years old, and i expect no longer accurate - but to give members a chance to see, once again, how Alembic basses - or their users at least - are so well represented in the industry. Jason is a great musician, and his work with Ron Sexsmith is as solid as a rock. Anyway, this was a bit of hijack, for which I apologize. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1680 Registered: 5-2006 |
Thanx! And sorry for that...  | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2015 |
Hi, guys - first of all, thanks for the very valuable help. Secondly - how do I know if this is Series 1 or Series 2? | ||
| tubeperson
Senior Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 507 Registered: 5-2005 |
It looks to be a Series One, due to the switches that allow you to choose preset points for filtering. If it was a Series 2, there would be chicken heads instead of switches, which would allow you to vary the points of reference. Series One instruments are great, Series Two gives that "11" factor as stated by Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap fame. Enjoy the bass, Alembic reigns supreme. | ||
| fred_h
New Username: fred_h Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2015 |
Thanks, TP! You guys have been awesome. And I would never dare question the expertise of Nigel T. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1683 Registered: 5-2006 |
Jim Marshall did... And Tufnel agreed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwuZePiQHLI :-) (Message edited by fc_spoiler on April 29, 2015) |
