| Author | Message | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2010 |
Hi Mica - When I told you about this bass on the phone (a few years ago) I must have given you the wrong serial number. I bought it used the late 80's. My original bass from the '70's (new from Fullerton Music) came with its pedigree. I never had it for this one. Is it missing a truss rod cover? Can the logo be shined up? Thanks very much. Jim   (Message edited by davehouck on November 22, 2010) | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 570 Registered: 5-2007 |
Welcome to the club Lovely Shedua/Ovangkol top | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6747 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hi Jim, I don't think the truss rod cover is missing, unless the strings are obscuring the screw holes that the cover would mount with. To clean the logo, use a Silver polishing cloth, but take care to not catch it under the tip of the cloud - you could pull up the logo and bend or break it. I'll be curious about the top when I look up the file, this almost looks like a Purpleheart top and the peghead veneerrs could be Schedua or Koa even. Oh well, we'll find out for sure another day. | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2010 |
Thanks for the welcome funkyjazzjunky. Hi Mica - you know, this is not the first time you've mentioned Purpleheart to me for the top of this bass. It would be an astonishing revelation. The only pieces I've ever seen of it actually had a purple color to them (more like the neck streamers in the photo). Believe it or not, I once made an amp cabinet out of Purpleheart. It was almost as dense as Rosewood. It will be great to find out the history of the bass once and for all. Thank you, jk | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1232 Registered: 11-2004 |
I reckon you could fabricate a slim brass plate to go over the truss rod adjusters. Wouldn't cost much and Alembic could supply the threaded inserts for the screws as well | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2010 |
terryc - that's a great idea! So the cover attaches with machine screws? Thank you. jk | ||
| keith_h
Moderator Username: keith_h Post Number: 1629 Registered: 2-2005 |
The early Alembics did not have truss rod covers. Keith | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2010 |
Well, while we're waiting, here's what I know about the bass. I had asked the Santa Ana, Ca. Guitar Center (back when there was one) to see if they could locate an Alembic for me. They found one in their Dallas store, and sold it to me for about $1500. I was very pleased, as that was the same price I paid back in the late '70's for my first one - which I think was a '78. (I don't even have a photo of it - regrets.) This one came in an enormous flight case, which the guys in the band affectionately called "The Sarcophagus". The bass had evidently toured, and has been played a lot - but it's a real player. Cosmetically, it has a big chip out of the tail on the right - can be seen in the photo. It's had the G string tuner replaced with one that has the screw in a different place (note the missing washer). I replaced the 5-pin connector after one of the pins broke. The G string was too close to the edge of the finger board, so I had a replacement nut made for it. Some of the holes in the pickup covers are broken, so it's difficult to adjust the pickup height. I'd love to be able to fix that. I'd also like to brighten up the bridge again. The only other mods I've done to it are several cymbal dings on the headstock. It's tough to play a long scale Alembic on a "bandstand". :-) It's a punchy, bright (not trebley) with warm mids, and a very expressive instrument. jk | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1256 Registered: 11-2004 |
keith_h..yes I know but I reckon it would finish it off with a brass plate, mind you there is plenty of work to do on the bass as well. A proper worked instrument. | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2010 |
Still hoping to learn the history of this one. Has Alembic abandoned the club? | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 1244 Registered: 7-2007 |
Hi Jim, Alembic owns and operates this club where they offer this free service from Santa Rosa where the files are kept containing the information on all instruments. Due to the demanding schedule at the office everyone wears many different hats and therefore these requests do get pushed back on the to-do list quite often. Please be patient as Mica does do her very best to get these all answered. Thanks, Art | ||
| tubeperson
Intermediate Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 111 Registered: 5-2005 |
Please be patient with the Mothership. A small family owned business faces many challanges and these people usually have three jobs or more, unlike the Government where incompetence is encouraged and not much gets done (attorneys who do not read the laws they pass? They should be given the Death Penalty). I own a small busienss myself, and although us entrepeneurs always try to provide superior service, sometimes other priorities sneak in. Even though I myself am waiting for some information from our luthier friends, I understand they have many plates to fill. Be patient, it is worth it believe me. | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2010 |
Hi Guys, Thanks very much for your replies. Yes, having operated a small amplifier manufacturing business myself I really do understand. But I also know that piles of things on the to-do list can at some point become insurmountable. I suspect we may be on the cusp of such a situation here. But honestly, I would be delighted to learn that I'm wrong about that. Perhaps some volunteer assistance could be enlisted? jk | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7058 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the details from the instrument file: top: Purpleheart body: Mahogany back: Purpleheart neck: Maple and Purpleheart scale: 34" long fingerboard: Ebony inlays: mother of pearl ovals peghead veneers: Dao originally made for: Rothchild birthday: September 2, 1977 (same birthday as my mom!) In April of 1978, the bass was returned to us for a refinish, as the original paint was cracking all over. This happened to a lot of instruments at this time, the manufacturer of the paint changed the formulation without notice. We completed the refinish in June. (Message edited by mica on November 23, 2010) | ||
| jwkelley
New Username: jwkelley Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2010 |
Thanks so much, Mica. Very sweet of you to put this together. I never would have figured out that it is Purpleheart. When you first mentioned that to me I was afraid something was wrong with the serial number. I wonder if it was made for Paul Rothchild? I did get your phone message - that was so nice. Thank you. With warm regards, Jim | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 2691 Registered: 6-2002 |
Rothchild was the company that distributed Alembics back in the days. If an instrument was made for a private individual, normally the name is withheld on these lookups. |
