| Author | Message | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2002 |
Hi - just wondering if anyone has any photos of the rarely mentioned Vector or Electrum basses? I've been searching for years to see one of these and have never been lucky. If I didn't know better, I'd swear they were a joint venture between Alembic and the NSA; a hush-hush covert operation which no one is willing to discuss! If anyone (owner or Alembic employee) has any photos, I'd LOVE to see them! Thanks, Dave | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 757 Registered: 6-2000 |
There's this Distillate in the Showcase with a Vector nody shape and here's an Electrum we just shipped off to Switzerland on Friday:  | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 337 Registered: 9-2002 |
Gosh Mica, that wood goes very well on that guitar. like the linings seems to "vibrate" out of the PU's. Cocobolo I guess? Paul | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2002 |
Wow! My first Vector sighting! I've waited years for this! I wonder why that is? There must be more of these out there...somewhere! Now, if someone will post a pic of an Electrum BASS...then my photo collection will be complete! Thanks for the info! | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 762 Registered: 6-2000 |
I don't think we've ever made a bass with the Electrum body shape, so you may have a complete collection now. Here's a couple of old brochure pages that have Vector body shapes:   | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 763 Registered: 6-2000 |
The half-a-bass in the 1991 brochure is a Vector body shape. You're right, Paul -- that's Coco Bolo and I am also very fond of how the grain radiates from between the pickups. | ||
| Jarek Michalski (basstard)
Junior Username: basstard Post Number: 23 Registered: 3-2003 |
(Message edited by Basstard on March 25, 2003) | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 764 Registered: 6-2000 |
If you happen to look at the page in the short time between making the message and posting the picture, you'll only see the placeholder "Your image here" I bet if you refresh the view now, you should be able to see these. (Message edited by mica on March 25, 2003) | ||
| Jarek Michalski (basstard)
Junior Username: basstard Post Number: 24 Registered: 3-2003 |
Oh... I deleted my post when I saw the pictures, and then I saw your reply to the very post I'd just deleted... Anyway, very neat! And I love the double Precision p-up configuration on the white bass! How many basses with that p-up configuration you made? And how do they sound (apart from fantastic, of course! ^.^)? | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2002 |
Thanks, Mica! Great brochure pic of the Vector. I wonder why these weren't more popular? Backlash against Fender-ish designs back then, perhaps? Sooo...no one's ever done an Electrum bass, eh? Hmmmm...... | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 769 Registered: 6-2000 |
I don't know how many, but we did make an awful lot of them back in the day. The Vector hasn't been in the brochure since 1996, so that might explain the recent dry spell. The double P pickups are LOUD. Of course you can turn up the gain on an of the systems we make inside the cavity, but the P are even louder than the rest. mostly they sound they same, since we make the pickups all in a similar fashion. P shape pickups are only for 4-string basses. Again, I don't know how many were made (the files are actually "files" in drawers, not in a computer). I will guess about 100 or so with the double P confiuration, but that's just a guess. | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2002 |
Ok, my curiousity is really piqued now! I wonder why I've never, in 8 years of surfing for Alembics online, seen a Vector for sale? Of the 80's-early 90's regime, Spoilers and Persuaders abound, Elans show up fairly consistently, Distillates are frequent...but no Vectors? Granted if fewer were made, that would explain a low showing....but NEVER??? And I surf religiously (I've even been known to buy 1 or 2.....) | ||
| Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Intermediate Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 102 Registered: 6-2002 |
Dave, I search constantly too. Everyday. Always looking for the elusive piece. Never seen a Vector. Hmm. | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 348 Registered: 9-2002 |
I jumped in my old folder and ... here they are! So ... keep on drooling brothers ;-) Paul  | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2002 |
BeeeeYooooTeeeFul! Thanks, Paul! Which cataog was that from? It looks like the early 90's one but I don't have that sheet. | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2002 |
Very odd indeed, Michael. I remember asking you if you had come across any several years ago and you hadn't then. Whoever has them must be holding on to them. Is it just a coinky dinky that EVERY other model shows up on the used market and no one has ever sold a Vector online? Or is there something about this model that endeared itself to the owners so they never had the desire to sell? It's kind of a cross between an Elan and an Essence, but closer to an Essence albeit with what appears to be a 32" scale from the pic Mica posted. Is it the Fender shape that people loved so much? And how is it that as far as we know, no one in this club owns a Vector???? ARGHH! Where are they hiding???? | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 352 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother Dave, I don't have the copy with me right now but (help) I think it must 91 something. The page Mica showed is also in my folder. I didn't copy the page as a whole. I scanned just the part with the 2 vectors. It was in that folder the last page showing guitars. Why it wasn't popular? Beats me! I guess that buying an Alembic has everything to do with "standing out" and "be different". That involves the sound (of course) and it involves the looks. BTW: remember that Ron was an engineer and Susan an artist. Now given that fact I can understand that a guitar with an "almost Fender P look" wasn't THAT succesful in the general product position of Alembic. It didn't "stands out" on that moment. OTOH: it does now! Just because WE know there are so little of them! Just my ideas. Paul (the bad one)(the one WITH the "but") (Message edited by palembic on March 27, 2003) (Message edited by palembic on March 27, 2003) | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 89 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Guys, Brother Mark Dufresne has a Distillate with the "Fender" body option that looks just like the Vector body shape. Check this link out http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/2684.html?1048614704. Just my 2 cents worth!! Dino (Paul, the fake one) | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 90 Registered: 7-2002 |
Duh, Stupid me!!! I just saw that Mica had linked to that page up above, second message from the top. OOPS | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Advanced Member Username: palembic Post Number: 355 Registered: 9-2002 |
I was going to say the same thing Brother Paul-the fake one! Wake-up man! Stay away from the Duvels! Paul-the bad one | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 91 Registered: 7-2002 |
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually it was Harp last night. What can I say, I was playing an Irish pub. Dino(BPTFO=Brother Paul The Fake One) | ||
| Dave DeMarco (daved)
New Username: daved Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2002 |
Paul - that makes sense. Now, I wonder if we'll ever see one on the used market? |
