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Alembic Club » Owning an Alembic » Serial Number / History Requests » Archive through December 16, 2015 » Archives » Archive 2010 » Archive through November 26, 2010 » (x) Series I (or II) eight string Alembic bass 81 1829 « Previous Next »

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dshade43
New
Username: dshade43

Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 5:49 pm:   Edit Post

Requesting the build sheet and owner history.

Questions about pickup selector at the top (fourth position does nothing) and chrome mini toggle by the 1/4 inch jack.

Thanks!
gregduboc
Advanced Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 315
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 6:17 pm:   Edit Post

I can help you with the pickup selector. Going clockwise, the 4 positions are Standby (the one that does nothing)-Bridge Pickup-Both Pickups- Neck Pickup. Can't help you with the mini toggle...

Greg
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 702
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 8:47 pm:   Edit Post

Would love to see pictures of it!
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2416
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 2:00 am:   Edit Post

Mini toggle near 1/4" jack is quite probably stereo/mono.

If you insert a mono cable to the jack, with the toggle on stereo and both pickups on, you will only get the signal from one of the pick-ups. Toggle to mono, and you'll hear both pickups.
room037
Advanced Member
Username: room037

Post Number: 315
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 5:23 am:   Edit Post

Welcome to the club !

I found this photo in my archives.
I remember it was on eBay.
I love such 8 strings bass !
And I think the bass is Series 1 with 3 Purpleheart neck laminate.
81 1829

Eiji
dshade43
New
Username: dshade43

Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 7:13 am:   Edit Post

Wow! Thanks for all the info. Sounds like my instrument is working properly, based on the responses.

That is the photo of my axe. I tried to load a recent picture, but am having problems getting the size of the jpeg down to 15kb.

How do we know if it's series I or II? Based on current photo's, the series II has the omega at the bottom. I'm interested in knowing what the difference is between a series I and series II.

Thanks again.
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 654
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 7:21 am:   Edit Post

Series I has 3-way Q switches, Series II has Constantly Variable Q knobs.

Peter
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1062
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 7:37 am:   Edit Post

Though 15 kb won't be a problem, 150 kb will do ;-)
If you send the picture to the email adress in my profile (click name) I'll resize them for you ;-)

Welcome here :-)
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4313
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 8:46 am:   Edit Post

Also, Series II has a master volume, Series I doesn't. The body shape has nothing to do with it. Both can come with omegas, points, or none of the above.

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on February 10, 2010)
dshade43
New
Username: dshade43

Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 4:13 pm:   Edit Post

Recent photo photo of my 8 string Alembic series I (or II)
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 721
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 4:43 pm:   Edit Post

I like it.
artswork99
Senior Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 976
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 4:48 pm:   Edit Post

Me too, what a beauty!
Welcome Dennis, enjoy and play it healthy!
Art
dshade43
New
Username: dshade43

Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 6:16 pm:   Edit Post

Healthy is the right word. It takes lots of strength to play a set with this axe. The sound is full and beautiful. I'm still working to identify when to play it. Usually difficult to change guitars mid set.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to transport this guitar. It came with a flight case which barely fits in the back seat of my 4 door sedan. The instrument is 52" long and all gig bags are 48. I welcome suggestions on where to get a bag for it. I see the Alembic site offers a custom gig bag, but it's out of my reach at this time ($$$$).


Thanks for the comments.
poor_nigel
Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 57
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 7:27 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Dennis, what a great bass! Mongo want! I am old school on flight cases = hand trucks and musicians owning vans and trucks for moving gear, so I have little worthwhile advice for easier moving around. I would hate to see that bass get bashed or even dinged. Insurance is the key word! Ask Mica its replacement cost and insure accordingly - then get your gig bag and live and play care-free. Note: Not enough $$$ - Don't buy a leather, top-of-the-line one. There are lots of semi-hard cases around for $250 or so. but do remember that you get what you pay for . . .

Almost forgot - Series II is defined by the electronics package of the bass, and not other attribues that generally are instilled into those basses. The variable Q's seem to be the tell on them, as I have seen Series II electronics with a single volumn and pan (and no pickup selector switch), instead of three volumns, et all. Personally, I would prefer that setup, but I deal with the cumbersome three as best I can (I'll suffer quietly, OK . . .).

(Message edited by poor_nigel on February 10, 2010)
dshade43
New
Username: dshade43

Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 8:28 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the feedback.

I live in Indiana. If any of you guys are in my area, drop me a line and we can kick back and tell stories of the good ol days and plan for the future.
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1512
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 5:22 am:   Edit Post

For folks that might be close to you. There's John (811952) who I think is over in the Terre Haute area. With a town name of Floyds Knobs I would think you are down in the Louisville, Ky area. If you are there is/used to be a member, Colin (Jerryme), down in Bardstown,Ky.

Keith
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1357
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 - 1:28 pm:   Edit Post

And of course there are several of us near Chicago... :-)
Mike

P.S. welcome to the club. That's a sweet 8!
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 430
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 - 5:22 pm:   Edit Post

Very Nice!
More pics please. :-)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6745
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Dennis,

Here's what I found in the file:

LBI8 Series I 8-string bass

top: Zebrawood
accent laminates: Purpleheart
body: Mahogany
back: Zebrawood
body shape: Standard Omega
neck: 7-piece Maple and Purpleheart
scale: 34" long
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: mother of pearl
peghead shape: Knobby
pickups: SC-1 + HX
controls: volume x2, filter x2, Q-switch x2, 4-position pickup selector switch, 1/4" stereo output, 5-pin stereo output
originally made for: Washington Music, MD
birthday: May 26, 1981

The original owner was from Ohio. I've got your registration from 2004 noted as well.

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