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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive: 2007 » Archive through November 26, 2007 » Alembic catalogues « Previous Next »

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fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 631
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 4:14 pm:   Edit Post

I've spend some time with a scanner today and scanned some catalogues I recently got :-)
Click on the pages to see the full size version.

I Think this is the '83 catalogue:



fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 632
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 4:20 pm:   Edit Post

I think this is the '84 catalogue:







fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 633
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 4:34 pm:   Edit Post

90's catalogue:









fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 634
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 4:56 pm:   Edit Post

2000 catalogue:















fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 635
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 5:01 pm:   Edit Post

Activator ad:

the_8_string_king
Senior Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 844
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 5:05 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for sharing, pretty cool seeing those older catalogues! I actually have the next two sitting in my music room... I don't know how to do what you did... but I appreciate your sharing these old catalogues.

They give a glimpse of Alembic times past. Interesting seeing the "subject to availability" next to the Bocate and Coco Bolo...
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 636
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 5:29 pm:   Edit Post

Your welcome!

I wouldn't reccomend trying this at home, It takes some time ...
Make 2 versions of all pictures and upload the big versions on a server, then paste all urls into \newurl {URL, text description} tags
Then upload the smaller versions on the board and paste all \popjpeg {44631,} tags in with the right link... (as the "text description")

Funny to see the change in the Alembic script on the front page of the '83 and '84 catalogue (the L)
and I must say that I like the black '83 Spoiler
Also the first Alembic I've seen with a Maple fretboard (4th page of the '84 catalogue)

(Message edited by fc_spoiler on September 30, 2007)
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1275
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 3:20 am:   Edit Post

Hey that's my bass! Thanks Flip.
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1276
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 3:21 am:   Edit Post

Oops, no it isn't. I didnt' count the strings, sorry
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 124
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 6:07 am:   Edit Post

Sweet... Nice catalogues and scans! Thanks!
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1157
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 6:27 am:   Edit Post

I spent some quality time with that Long Scale Series I in Vermillion from the '83 catalog, back in '82. Wonderful instrument.

John
terryc
Advanced Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 280
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 - 8:08 am:   Edit Post

The comment that Stanley made about rubbing the neck and the sound is hear through your amp, during tacet passages I have to turn the vol almost off or the drummer throws sticks at me!
I cannot recall having to do that with a passive bass.
I own the 90's and 2000's books, has there been a new issue 'cos if there is then I shall have to send for one
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1391
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 4:27 am:   Edit Post

The 2000 is the one I have. There have been some new body styles snce then so maybe an updated catalogue is round the corner (hint).

graeme
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 975
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 5:10 am:   Edit Post

Great stuff. It's always nice seeing how styles, woods, etc change over the years.
spose
Intermediate Member
Username: spose

Post Number: 150
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 6:17 am:   Edit Post

I didn't like those half shots of the series basses back then, change is good :-)
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 690
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 7:40 am:   Edit Post

Dear All,
plse find attached to alternative pages of the 90īcatalog, as there were at least two different versions of the catalog available.
The Europa page was published instead of the Signature Series page; the Essence instead of the Persuader.

Oliver (Spyderman)
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 639
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 7:55 am:   Edit Post

Thanx!
Haven't seen these ever, could that be Jason Newsted's 10 string Europa?
Very cool!
funkyjazzjunky
Junior
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 8:13 am:   Edit Post

I wish I had those. Thank you for sharing
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 976
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

You know, another cool thing about the really old catalogues is seeing basses that today, would look like old soldiers, looking bright and shiny new.
tkotmk42
Member
Username: tkotmk42

Post Number: 58
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 8:38 am:   Edit Post

Great thread!!! Thank you for all the scans!

As a young college student, I drooled over the 90's catalogue for a long time before I finally got my first Alembic (sold my '89 240SX for it).

Since catalogue came up... how about posters?
Nice people at Alembic sent me a poster of Mark King when I was in college, you can see it on background on picture I posted below.
http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/37599.html?1174095411
(in the back, very fuzzy... can you see?)

I know there are 2 versions of posters for both Mark and Stanley. I've seen one with black background/frame, and one with white. Each had different pose by Mark/Stanley, but I only had the black version.

Does anyone have any picture of them??

I would gladly pay money for re-issue of these posters... Unfortunately the copy I had was lost when I was moving back and from Japan.

Man... I'm Alembic-less right now, and it's starting to get a toll on me....


Takeo
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2641
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 9:52 am:   Edit Post

Takeo:

Is that you and your twin sister? The resemblance is uncanny! hehehehe

Bill, tgo
edmouk
Junior
Username: edmouk

Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 10:59 am:   Edit Post

I've recently found again some catalaogues of the followings :
- Epic
- Classico
- F-2B, F-1X & SF-2 rackmount systems

I'll do the scans and attach them here very soon.
apdavis
Member
Username: apdavis

Post Number: 83
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 12:34 pm:   Edit Post

I am under the impression that the 10 string custom series II on the Europa page was/is Jason Newstead's
the_8_string_king
Senior Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 854
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 9:35 pm:   Edit Post

It's true. Mica herself told me so -along with the interesting trivia that he had/has extremely acidic sweat which wreaked havoc with electronics! It was almost comical when she said it... she almost couldn't phrase it as a complete sentence... it was some thing like "you can't believe what his sweat does to the electronics"... or some such thing!
terryc
Advanced Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 287
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 5:33 am:   Edit Post

Looking at the 83 & 84 catalogues, did the variable Q control appear on Alembics in 84 as it is absent on the 83 catalogue.
And from a historical point, why was the variable Q developed, was it requested by someone or was it a evolutionary development by Ron W?
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 644
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 7:53 am:   Edit Post

On the History page of the main Alembic site it says the series I & II were first produced in '71.
Keavin's number 12 also has the series II package I think...

(Message edited by fc_spoiler on October 08, 2007)
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 378
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 8:02 am:   Edit Post

Actually the CVQ appeard in the very beginning of alembic, mine's (#12) has CVQ's on it as well as many of the early 70's old alembics, i beleive ron developed the 3 position Q as an option to the CVQ thus creating a seriesI/II & adding more tonal flexability & adding custom additions such as 5 peice neck & LED's standard.
terryc
Advanced Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 288
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 8:12 am:   Edit Post

But the vari-Q isn't on the old PF-5 circuit boards, it must have been a developmental addition in the 80's..can Mica or others can clarify this?
Maybe the difference in Series I & II was the construction??
terryc
Advanced Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 289
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 8:14 am:   Edit Post

oops..serialnumber12..you got there before me
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 686
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 11:17 am:   Edit Post

I'm 99% sure that the birdseye maple Series I shortscale in the 1983 catalogue is my bass: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/10532.html?1193334745

Wilfred
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4884
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 2:08 pm:   Edit Post

The CVQ appeared among the earliest instruments, we'd been installing them on other maker's instruments for at least a year before producing our own instruments.

The first Series I and II basses and guitars weren't called anything - we didn't have any model names. They were "Standard" basses and guitars. The model names weren't around until the mid 70's. But we talk about controls with CVQs as Series II even if they were made before the name distinction.
glocke
Advanced Member
Username: glocke

Post Number: 262
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 2:59 am:   Edit Post

thanks for the post. I vaguely remember being in high school in the 80's and drooling over Alembic catalogs. At that time I never thought Id be able to own one....
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1667
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:25 am:   Edit Post

Glocke, not sure what the going price was for an Alembic




catalogue back in those days. Wouldn't they have been free hand-outs?
glocke
Advanced Member
Username: glocke

Post Number: 264
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:57 am:   Edit Post

Dont know if they were freebies or not, as I was not the original owner. I had been a fan of alembic thanks to the Grateful Dead, and obtained the catalog from an older musician friend who shared similar musical interests....
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 653
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 7:30 am:   Edit Post

I've also got the (European) price lists. The prices are roughly todays second hand prices.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1669
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 8:09 am:   Edit Post

I bought my Epic in 1994, when the exchange rate was good at about $1.50 for DFL 1. The importer managed to keep the price just below the "psychological border" of DFL 3000, plus I got a 10% discount from the shop (no case, no tools, no buildsheet) so I paid DFL 2700.

We went to euros in 2002, so that price would now be about EUR 1100 - not counting (1) the everchanging exchange rate to the USD, (2) 13 years of 2 to 4% inflation, and (3) the 10% that we lost when our guilders were converted into euros (as Gerrit Zalm acknowledged after his retirement).

You can probably find a used Epic for EUR 1100 around here. But a new one will cost the same amount in EUR as the MSRP in USD - prices starting at about 3500 - or DFL 7700 in old money. In short, an Epic now costs nearly three times as much as 13 years ago.

(Message edited by adriaan on October 31, 2007)

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