| Author | Message | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 554 Registered: 7-2003 |
Check this out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3742794011&rd=1 Small standard body, short scale with ebony lams. Should sound pretty interesting. On the other hand, the supposed electronics customization seems less than optimal and should definitely be confirmed. Seems to have been built with a Signature control layout, except with CVQs instead of Q switches. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 210 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes, and Series pickups. It doesn't really appear to have a back on it either, though the neck does have Series II laminates. I have asked the seller about the body/back, since it looks like Walnut (to me) from the back. The 'C' serial number is also odd if it really is a Series bass. Looks great, I am just not sure if it's a Series II or an SC with upgraded neck lams and electronics. | ||
| the_mule
Advanced Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 208 Registered: 1-2004 |
I'd quess the second, and in that case it's too expensive, isn't it? Nice bass though... Wilfred | ||
| stoney
Advanced Member Username: stoney Post Number: 313 Registered: 7-2002 |
I believe the "C" designates "custom" Nice piece. I'd jump at it if someone would buy my Brown Bass for about 3.5k stoney | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 211 Registered: 3-2004 |
That was my thinking, Wilfred. But it's all in the name. The only negative I can think of on any Alembic policy is that they let you play these name games. You can design an identical bass from a couple different starting points and come up with significantly different prices. The monthly specials can increase the price gap. I'll play this game, too, when I order a custom, but it does seem odd. If it's an SC standard with a few key upgrades, then the price is probably not far from what you could have bought it for brand new. At least, with the right monthly special and an aggressive dealer. An SC standard plus lams and S2 electronics would have been around $10K list, and $7500-8000 after application of the most advantageous monthly deal. A true Series II would have been about 1.5 times the price. It's all in the details, I guess. All that said, as a player's bass it is probably worth the asking price. For the same money you can just about get a brand new SC deluxe. That's signature electronics and two purpleheart lams instead of three ebony. If the top/body/back woods were more to my liking, I'd seriously consider this bass. It's enough money that 'close enough' isn't really close enough. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 213 Registered: 3-2004 |
I got my response and it sounds like it's an actual Series bass from the way he describes it. It does look like gold-plated hardware, and the 7 piece neck, though no continuous wood plates which are currently standard on an S2. The body core is walnut, and maybe it's set up with a walnut back laminate as well. It's really hard to tell from the pics and the owner is obviously not a student of the details of Alembic construction. Either way, this looks like a VERY nice bass. Stoney, Are pictures and details of your brown available anywhere? | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 434 Registered: 6-2002 |
One thing I notice is the case. To me it does not look like a case that was offered with a real Alembic. The case looks like the ones that came with the Fernandez copies. Not that it matters, I think that case is pretty cool. | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 270 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yeah, from what I see it is definitely a Series bass. The 5-pin input is there and the back has 3 plates, one for the tone pots, one for the batteries, and one for the Series circuit board, complete with the 4 access holes for tone/volume adjust and hum canceller calibration. In the one picture where it is standing up inside the case I catch a glimpse of what could be side LEDs. My guess is it started as a Series I or II with some options (back laminate, separate p/u volumes) omitted. The continuous back plates for Series II didn't start until sometime after I received my bass in June 2000. I think this started as a Series because the Serial # is all numbers except for the "C" denoting "Custom". My bass, which started as a Mark King Deluxe optioned up to Series II electronics has Serial #00MKC12421. Mine is only 380 after this one, so I doubt the numbering convention changed much. The "MK" in my serial # denotes its starting point as a Mark King Deluxe and the "C" notes that it is a custom. Not having a letter model designator leads me to believe the eBay bass started as a Series. Peace, James | ||
| mkazaria
New Username: mkazaria Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2002 |
Not sure, but I always thought that a “C” was used for instruments with a custom neck size (length, width, radius or spacing). I have had several custom Alembic instruments and only one had a “C” for the model and it did have a custom neck size. I’d be interested to find out. On another note, I emailed the seller and it does not have side LEDs. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 215 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hmmm. Seems like the price went up. Very odd. Maybe it will come back down toward the end of the week if there are no bids. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 216 Registered: 3-2004 |
And now the auction has been ended... | ||
| kmh364
Advanced Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 358 Registered: 9-2003 |
The guy either got cold feet or he found another buyer and didn't wanna pay EBAY, LOL! It was an interesting bass, and probably well worth the money. I'm just not interested in a short-scale bass. I personally don't care for it, and I'm primarily a guitar player. |
