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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive through January 07, 2011 » Archive: 2009 » Archive through June 23, 2009 » Is it possible to locate Cliff Burton's Spoiler? « Previous Next »

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blackelan
Member
Username: blackelan

Post Number: 84
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 2:58 pm:   Edit Post

To this day I wonder about Cliff Burton's Spoiler and its whereabouts.

It was stolen out of his car in Castro Valley in late 85. In a interview Cliff states...

CLIFF: The Ricky needs some work. I had an Alembic for a while, which I was very happy with until it was STOLEN!! If anyone out there comes across a black spoiler bass with a fair-sized chip in the back finish, up around the side of the peg head, it very well might be mine, so... just send it to me.

Since this is the Alembic club does anyone have any possible leads? I know the current owner would be totally unaware that the bass is stolen but I am just curious to know if attempting to locate this bass is even possible.

FYI another rumour I heard was Newsted had Cliff's old Aria Black N Gold I and it was stolen from Jason anyone know if this is true?
jaytopp01
Junior
Username: jaytopp01

Post Number: 16
Registered: 1-2009
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 2:32 pm:   Edit Post

yeah, I'm also very interested in this subject. If anyone could shed some light on this, that'd be great.
blackelan
Member
Username: blackelan

Post Number: 86
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

I have read its a 1983 Black Spoiler but I would like to know the source and how they know for sure its a 1983 model?
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 890
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 8:15 am:   Edit Post

I think it's an '83 because of the narrow truss rods cover and the black finish (looks like they did a batch of them)

It could be from '82 (or maybe even '81?) but I think all Spoilers (first +/-100) all had the solid Koa wings, this "batch" was still running in '83. (not sure if they did other woods/finishes in between)


There was a black '83 for sale @ the LowEnd a while ago, it had some headstock finish damage (it had damaged finish all over it)
So it was a possible match I thought...
There was no ownership mentioned so it would be a wild guess.
Just after I decided to buy, it sold for $1500 :-(

She's still on the site: LowEnd 83 Alembic Spoiler 4 Black

Also interesting: New Alembic Player :-) (same bass)

Keep looking for those old Black Spoilers, you'll never know ;-)

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