| Author | Message | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi all. I've owned this bass for well over 20 years. It's an old stanley model, short scale, and has a couple of extra switches on it and no LED's. Will send a pic soon. It's beautiful to look at and to play. Serial number is short so it may be an early one. Any information regarding it's history would be much appreciated. Cheers, marcus | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2007 |
Waaah...any word on 1078? | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2007 |
Will post photo soon...have been living and playing in singapore / india / china / vietnam / japan...hell...asia... for the last five years...using the TRB-5,,,yes, I know...poor substitute but ' the wife " will be joining me very soon and will then post pix! Am having serious alembic withdrawals!!! | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi, a little more information regarding #1078. Series 1 short scale. I think it's a maple top and back with mahogany body. Only modification I have made to the bass is to get rid of the pickup selector switch and convert the two pickup volume controls to master volume and balance. Much more sensible IMHO. Also, as a result of over enthusiastic slapping, sometimes I would contact the pickup selector switch ( damn painful ) or hit it into the OFF position! Not too desirable. The bass also has 2 extra toggle switches sited above and between what were originally the pickup volume controls. Can you please give me some information about these as I have never seen them on any other Alembic. The bass is in pristine condition...aged but perfect!!! The 'wife' will be with me shortly and I will post pix as soon as poss. Cheers marcus | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2007 |
Also, an interesting quote from one of my favourite books and authors...'Tunc' by Laurence Durrell. As follows..." I became alembicated and began to exflunctify "! Dunno what it means but it sure as hell sounds good!!! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1240 Registered: 6-2002 |
Google exflunctify, and you get exactly ONE match - anybody still into googlewhacking? "Exfluncticate, meaning to overcome, with variants exflunct and exflunctify, dates back to the early 183os [...]" Google links to a 1948 article on De Quincey's Use of Americanisms (opening page only). | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2007 |
Ah, the mystery is solved!. now it makes perfect sense. Thanks Adriaan | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1242 Registered: 6-2002 |
It makes perfect sense? I guess all lovers of modernist literature are created equal, but some are more equal than others. ;-) | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2007 |
hmmmm....modernist literature...what does that mean exactly? Literaturre is literature. Alembicated I understood, exflunctify I did not. but now do.Obviously I was using the wrong search engine! However, is this last comment a positive or a negative? Will take you on any time man!!!! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1245 Registered: 6-2002 |
I was hoping the smiley for irony would do the trick ... Anyway, what a funny thing to say, that "exflunctify" makes perfect sense. Didn't Durrell have a brother who wrote books about animals? I must have a copy of the Alexandria Quartet somewhere, but can't remember reading more than a couple of pages. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1025 Registered: 10-2002 |
That would be Gerald Durrell, adriaan. probably more famous than Lawrence in the UK. I had the pleasure to meet him in me early teens when I visited his conservation zoo in Jersey - the island off france, not the NY suburb;-) A really nice guy, perfectly happy to chat for ages to one of his biggest fans. (at the time i had grand ideas of following in his footsteps and becoming a naturalist). graeme | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1247 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bonus points to Graeme! Personally, I don't care too much for the worldwide obsession with the animal kingdom - the sorry fate of Steve Irwin comes to mind. Doesn't mean I don't like the occasional visit to the zoo, and with a 6 year old one can't really avoid that - and Rotterdam zoo is not too bad. It's caged birds that I find most depressing. | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi guys. Yes correct about Gerald Durrell. Laurence IMHO is a much hipper writer though. Alexandria quartet and Avignon Quintet are amongst the finest pieces of literature! Yeah Adriaan I got the irony, but interested in why you don't think exflunctify makes sense. I will try to dig uo the entire paragraph so you get the context of the entire statement. Very cool! Ummm...by the way...isn't this forum supposed to be about Alembic lovers? Here we are lapsing into literary pursuits! Don't get me wrong though..I love it!! Also interesting that my posts pertaining to my bass ( the wife ) have elicited zero response, but quote Laurence Durrell and look what happens!!! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1252 Registered: 6-2002 |
Marcus, "exflunctify" is a made-up word with comic overtones. The sort of term typically used when poking fun at excessive verbiage (ooh, aren't I the show-off). As far as modernist literature is concerned, I prefer Musil. And thus continues our wait for the final word on #1078. | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Adriaan. I read this book many years ago, and went in search of that word, going as far as the complete OED and not finding it there or in past editions. I concluded it eas either obsolete or made up. Tended toward obsolete because I've never known Durrell to make up a word in any of his books ( that I've read anyway ). The reference in De Quincey's Americanisms' was interesting because it was the first indication that the word may be real. Looks like the mystery continues! I Prefer music too...been a professional for 30 years!! Still waiting for news on #1078. Curiouser and curiouser! | ||
| marcusbass
New Username: marcusbass Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hmmm...thought it was a typo, but l is a long way from c on the keyboard! Musil. Sounds like a breakfast food!!! Did you mean music or...pause...is there a modernist writer of literature ( Musil) that I am blissfully unaware of? Maybe just a spelling error. Doesn't matter. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a ttoal mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Fcuknig amzanig huh? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1254 Registered: 6-2002 |
It does make total sense, but it doesn't improve the reading experience one bit. Not that perfect spelling always makes for a pleasant read, but whatever. You are most blisslessly unaware of Robert Musil. The title of his magnum opus is not terribly welcoming - The Man Without Qualities - but it is actually a profoundly funny book about some very serious issues and how badly people tend to deal with them, when blinded by ideals. Vienna, 1913 - things are about to happen, but it goes unnoticed. It also teaches the important lesson that, before you pass through a door, you should make sure that the frame is sturdy. And pay attention to all the metaphors involving walls. Still no news on #1078? | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2007 |
Thanks man. Looking for Musil now! Sounds interesting but may be hard to quickly locate in Singapore. Still eagerly awaiting a message from Mica re #1078. | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 12 Registered: 1-2007 |
Anybody home? Alembic closed for holidays? | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 13 Registered: 1-2007 |
Earth to Alembic? | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 692 Registered: 2-2005 |
Marcus, Serial number requests are done when the folks at Alembic have spare time. Given year end business such as taxes and the extra work added by the previous year end sales I expect the people are very busy at this time. Keith | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2087 Registered: 7-2004 |
Marcus: Based on Alembic's serial number system, #1078 would represent the 78th instrument they ever built and would further indicate that it was built in 1910! In other words, "1078" is probably not your entire serial number. The first two digits indicate the year of manufacture, the letter indicates model, (no letter means a series instrument), and the final numbers are which number instrument this is in Alembic history. For example, my Series I guitar is 76-476, meaning that it was built in 1976 and is the 476th instrument made in Alembic's history. Perhaps posting the entire serial number might help the folks at Alembic to answer your inquiry more expediantly. Bill, tgo | ||
| muller1007
Intermediate Member Username: muller1007 Post Number: 135 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'm pretty sure it's built in 1978. I have serial# 78-1020. So I guess the complete # should be 78-1078. Duncan | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 14 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi guys. Yeah I know this takes time...I'm just champing at the bit because...pause...1078 are the ONLY numbers on the headstock. There are NO other (visible anyway) numbers. Curious huh? I also suspect its birthday is in 1978 as well, but would like to be sure. Also very curious about the two extra toggles above the volume controls. Never seen these on any other Alembic. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4133 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hi Marcus, I'm sorry that I haven't been able to get you this information sooner. But after 20 years, 1 month doesn't seem like too long ;) Believe me, I'd much rather do instrument requests than the annual taxes  Here's what I found in the file for your bass: PSB-I Piccolo Short Scale Series I bass 78-1078 top and back: Coco Bolo core: Mahogany neck: Maple and Purpleheart, 30.75" short scale fingerboard: Ebony with mother of pearl inlays peghead veneers: Zebrawood machine heads: Schaller strings: Vinci (I'm sure they are long gone!) originally made for: Rothchild Music Instruments, CA birthday: April 27, 1978 The bass was returned to us in August of 1978 to repair a scratch on the back caused at a trade show and to file the fret ends down. Rothchild also asked us to replaced the preamp card and pickup selector switch which were damaged in shipping the bass back from the trade show. There is no record of additional switches, or any ownership history. If you post a photo of the electronics cavity, I may be able to help you identify your mystery switches. | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 15 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Mica...well...the plot seriously thickens! Piccolo bass???? I don't think so. NO evidence of piccolo type strings or any bridge or nut filing to make this into a 'normal' bass, All looks to be beautifully original. Coco bolo top and back??? Negative dear! It's quilted maple! Headstock lamination??? Not what you state!!! Once again I reiterate... NO year serial number.. only 1078 stamped on right hand side of peghead. Will send pix as soon as she arrives in an attempt to clear this up. The two extra toggle switches I have never seen on any other Alembic EVER...( have searched your site relentlessy for this) but they do appear to be original, and the documentation does refer to them . Will send you details as soon as the 'wife' arrives. I Love a mystery!!! Also..I found this bass in Perth, Australiia years before this music show that you refer to... so how??? It is definately an original Alembic...the quality of workmanship and the sound are unmistakeable!!! Also, both your Dads and Rick Turners signatures are on the documentation!!! Curious yes???!!! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2007 |
Also,,apologies...in sympathy..yes tax and all the associated paperwork sucks...but in Singapore 5%!!!!! Cool huh! Additionally, seeing as how this post has taken such a literary bent, any offerings??? | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 17 Registered: 1-2007 |
In addition...one of my favourite quotes from Hunter S. Thompson..." The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench. A long and plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side! " | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4144 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'll be looking forward to seeing your documentation, since our documentation usually contains the information you originally requested. Please do take a nice, clear close-up of the serial number. Also, take notes of the handwritten numbers on the preamp card and on one of the pots. These may be able to be used to cross reference to the serial number. There are sometimes duplicate numbers. Your additional information will help clear up the mystery. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 753 Registered: 6-2002 |
I wonder if the switches are mellow switches that were installed on a bass instead of a guitar. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1271 Registered: 6-2002 |
Michael - the "mellow" filters have been mentioned before (the July 1999 featured custom from 1975) but never what exactly made them mellow. Perhaps the filter drop-off is less steep than 12 dB/octave? | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 18 Registered: 1-2007 |
Dela you could be right! The switches appear to have no appreciable effect when engaged, but maybe Mica is right and this was originally a piccolo bass and the mellow switches were installed with that application in mind. (Definitely no coco bolo though)They do sound very cool and the effect is VERY subtle. The plot thickens even more!!! Will post pix and more details as soon as she gets here!! | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 757 Registered: 6-2002 |
You are killing me. I really need to see some pictures! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 19 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi all. Finally got my baby shipped over to Singapore after 5 years without her...a joyous reunion. Managed to take some pix but I think I need a new camera...shots are a little blurry. Also must apologise...my memory failed me ... not surprising I guess for a 48 year old ex-hippie musician. The correct serial is 78-1062. Hope this clears things up. Any info regarding the extra switches would also be appreciated. They add bottom end! I have not seen these on any other alembic.Very curious. (Message edited by marcusbass on May 09, 2007) (Message edited by marcusbass on May 09, 2007) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4553 Registered: 6-2000 |
Getting the right serial number will surely improve the quality of the information. We'll get this pulled in the next few days. | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 20 Registered: 1-2007 |
Thanks Mica. Once again apologies for blowing it with the serial number! I was so certain, only to finally see the bass again and find I was certainly wrong! The paperwork was not shipped with the bass unfortunately so I have to wait for that to be mailed from Australia. Will post details asap. Thanks again! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1445 Registered: 6-2002 |
Marcus, could you edit your post, and add a line break after each picture? That would show off your beautiful instrument more clearly, without us having to scroll left and right. (It's also making it harder to read the postings.) | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 21 Registered: 1-2007 |
ok Adriaan will try to do this. Hey still can't find Musil in Singapore. Frustrating! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1446 Registered: 6-2002 |
No international bookshop? Any decent bookshop can order pretty much any book for you. And of course there's always Amazon.com ... (Message edited by Adriaan on May 09, 2007) | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 22 Registered: 1-2007 |
Ummm...how to edit the post? Any tips? | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 23 Registered: 1-2007 |
Ok found it!!! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1447 Registered: 6-2002 |
It helps if the page isn't as wide, doesn't it? ;-) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1448 Registered: 6-2002 |
Did you replace all the \ characters with / characters? (Message edited by adriaan on May 09, 2007) | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 24 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hmmm...completely blew it!! Will try again later. Must go to gig. Probably should have read editing instructions first!! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 25 Registered: 1-2007 |
how about this/popjpeg{39562,} | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 26 Registered: 1-2007 |
Aarrgh!! Now cannot get the pix to post at all! Should have left well enough alone! Any suggestions? Tried replacing \ with / to no avail and now i get error message informing me that my 100k pic files are too large! | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 495 Registered: 5-2006 |
 The other \ ;-) | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 27 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi all...yes finally have some pix of my bass but cannot get around the complications.Already take up too much time. Should've left the first post in place. Never mind...as long as Mica can provide information that"s all that's important Michael I know you wanted pix but just too much hassle. My 100k picture files are too big! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 28 Registered: 1-2007 |
let me try this...       (Message edited by mica on May 11, 2007) | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 29 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hurrah! Success!!! | ||
| eflat
New Username: eflat Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2006 |
Yip, your right that's not Coco Bolo... It is quite lovely regardless! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 32 Registered: 1-2007 |
hi Mica. Thanks for editing the post...now I can go back and review and correct my errors. Will shoot some pix in daylight so that you can see the figuring in the maple. It's sort of lost in these pix...I was just excited to post and the pix were somewhat hurried. | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 33 Registered: 1-2007 |
Thanks Gary. Yeah, she actually looks quite plain in these pix, but up close looks and plays like a dream come true! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 34 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Mica. Any word on my mysterious extra switches? Very curious. Have searched the Alembic site thoroughly and still not seen anything like this on any other bass. Keen to know if it is a factory installation or not. Also is it possible to find out the original string gauges that this bass was set up for? Not really expecting that sort of info to be in the original build sheet, but just curious. Is there a 'standard' Alembic string gauge? Thanks again. This site has been a revelation! So much information and way too many beautiful and desirable instruments! | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1201 Registered: 12-2002 |
you might wanna open the back of your bass to see if those toggles are connected to anything & also post a pic. | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 35 Registered: 1-2007 |
Aarrgh... the KGB ( my Russian girlfriend ) got home after a party last night to discover me sitting at the mac after my gig browsing the Alembic site and lusting after soooo many beautiful basses! Her flabber was well and truly gasted!!! She expected me to be surfing porn, not drooling over alembics! Dear doctor. is this normal???!!! Is there something wrong with me??? ; ) | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1387 Registered: 2-2006 |
Well most of them are sporting "G" strings. ;) | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 36 Registered: 1-2007 |
BTW...nickname KGB cos I am always under surveillance!! Keavin, cavity pix coming soon...need to buy a more advanced digital camera for better resolution. Adriaan, Musil on the way!!! Cheers all! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hmmm...think I need to post new thread. This one is becoming a little unwieldy!! | ||
| marcusbass
Junior Username: marcusbass Post Number: 38 Registered: 1-2007 |
Yeah damn right Olie! Only difference is the gauge!!! | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1211 Registered: 12-2002 |
Cruzing the alembic club is like a porn site cause there's soo many undressed naked B-asses to droul over......Its no wonder Bass players love to plug in!  | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2426 Registered: 7-2004 |
Guitar players know more positions! And we can sustain longer too! hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1216 Registered: 12-2002 |
But Bass players love "going down" (low)........which makes guitars scream! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4628 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'm hoping you can post a picture showing the electronics with the backplate off. Nothing in the file indicates this is anything other than a standard Series I bass. What was in the file: top and back: Maple body: Mahogany neck: Maple and Purpleheart, 30.75" short scale fingerboard: Ebony with mother of pearl ovals peghead veneers: Walnut birthday: April 24, 1978 originally made for: Rothchild, then sold to Thayer Music in Hawaii. One previous registered owner in Australia. We sent a replacement neck pickup to the original owner in 1980 and serviced the preamp card at that time where we replaced two gain trimmers. In the correspondence with the original owner, there's no mention of the additional switches. So we're only a little closer to solving the mystery until I can get a peek at what's under the hood. |
