| Author | Message | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 124 Registered: 7-2003 |
Time to break your piggy banks open collectors of old Alembics. A real rare one is on the block here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&?ViewItem&item=3745733036 I have e-mailed the seller about corrections to the item he is selling and requested that he also post its serial number so the bass can be verified/check out by interested parties here. This looks like the real deal, and the seller may even get the reserve of $7,000 (Hmmm), as 8-strings are rare, but 8-string graphite necks would be EXTREMELY rare. I can hardly wait to see how this one will turn out. I wish I had some money saved up . . . | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 125 Registered: 7-2003 |
Opps, I missed Jagerphan84's thread, already alerting the club of the bass' presence on the block. I was just SOOOOO excited! Sorry. | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 126 Registered: 7-2003 |
If anyone is interested in this bass, here are some better pictures of it. If you want full sized picture for evaluating this bass for possible purchase, e-mail me which, or all, ones you want. Note that these range in size from 25-33% of full resolution  Sorry for the wide post. If you move scroll bar to the right, you should see all of the pictures and text fine in the posts. Also I apologize for a bunch of separate posts, but I want to make sure each gets done right. | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 127 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 128 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 129 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 130 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 131 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 132 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 133 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 134 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 135 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 136 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 137 Registered: 7-2003 |
I will post the results I get (Or Mica or a staff member can) concerning the double-struck serial number and lack of ALEMBIC on the pickups. Questions for seller will include is that a bone nut and is the logo on the headstock inlaid? I think this is a great bass! Definitely worth a look see, whether interested in buying or just lookin. Also requested pics of its case and a high res midsection of the fretboard. You can see dust particles in the pics he sent me, so you can pretty much evaluate (at least 75%) this bass from the high res shots. | ||
| effclef
Advanced Member Username: effclef Post Number: 244 Registered: 1-2004 |
"Wheeeeeeeee doggy, that's a nice hunk of walnut," says Jed Clampett. Interesting shape for the tailpiece, too. Changing a normal Alembic over to a fretted fingerboard is a <$1000 proposition, but I couldn't even guess if they'd attempt it on a graphite neck. I don't think I've even heard a fretless 8! Very cool. EffClef | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 243 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sting had a fretless 8 Hamer, if memory serves, and used it in the video for De Doo Doo Doo De Daa Daa Daa... This is one sweet looking bass! My '81 didn't have any writing or other identifying marks on the pickups, so this looks original to me... John | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 356 Registered: 7-2003 |
Guys, John, wow what a sexy headstock! John, you are right. Sting used a custom Hamer 8string bass with a maple fretless board. The bass was painted red and had the Standard (Explorer) body shape..... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 517 Registered: 7-2002 |
Here's what we have on file: 1982 long scale 8 string series II bass walnut top & back mahogany body maple accent laminates graphite neck phenolic fingerboard schaller tuners Completed Feb 3 1982. That's it. Valentino | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1910 Registered: 6-2000 |
The logo doesn't look inlaid. The nut has V-shaped slots, which would be typical at the time. No mention of the nut material in the file, so from that I'd assume it was made with a brass nut, but that's not 100%. If the bass was played alot, they may have restruck the numbers, or we may have before it left if we felt they weren't deep enough. I'm not entirely sure it is double struck - they certainly aren't on a straight line, but the steel punches are just handheld. Anyway, it seems the file information matches. Let's hope the next owner contacts us and we can get them to scribe the serial number in the electronics cavity for safe keeping. Fretless 8-string... In my imagination it sounds so cool but... how can you possibly have the intonation right on every set of notes? | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 445 Registered: 6-2002 |
That looks like a bone nut to me. I had an Alembic fretless in the early 80's too. It also had the bone nut. Perhaps that was something that was put on the fretless instruments at that time? | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 138 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 139 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 140 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 141 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 142 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 144 Registered: 7-2003 |
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| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 145 Registered: 7-2003 |
Opps, double post. Might as well use the blank space. Wouldn't this bass go great with this bass: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/8234.html?1078784061 Same colors in the walnut and one a point and the other an omega. Maybe I will sell a couple of basses . . . Off topic, but interesting side note - Bass NW sold that 5-String Series II today. Bummer, but not for who bought it. (Message edited by poor_nigel on September 02, 2004) | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 146 Registered: 7-2003 |
As usual, Michael is correct about the nut being bone. A blury shot, but it makes it plain on the nut and the thinness of the logo. Bass looks to be in near mint condition, as are the power supply and cable. A little time with a wire wheeled dremel would have the case looking fine for a 22 year old one. After this great bass finds a new home, I will e-mail a moderator suggesting that this thread be removed. If a member buys it, I will happily burn all pre and post processed images to a CD and mail it to them so they can use em in the Showcase section, if they want. I do hope this bass finds its way into a good home. Idle goosip/rumor: Bass is reportedly owned by a 68 year old bassist that played on either the Tonight Show or Letterman. He ordered this bass custom and went to the factory to pick the woods out for it. If I find out who the owners is, and he does not mind us knowing, I will post that information. Parting thought - I was told he also kept his 'good one,' in case he was called up to play again. Wow, I wonder what his 'good one' looks like! | ||
| jimbobv
Junior Username: jimbobv Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2003 |
Ebay lists reserve at $7k; I see flatwounds at E, D, but a roundwound A pair... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1911 Registered: 6-2000 |
Yeah - that's a creative set of strings on there. I also think this nut is bone - it's just not recorded and the default is brass, so I'm not able to confirm if it was originally fitted with brass or bone. It also looks like there's something like Ebony at the top edge of the nut. I've moved a few threads, but so far I've only deleted duplicate threads. I don't see any reason that this thread shouldn't just get archived naturally, but you're welcome to email me and let me know if you think otherwise. There is no ownership or registration information in the instrument file. It's wise to check with with individuals before posting personal information. | ||
| kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 145 Registered: 8-2003 |
God, I want this bass. By the by, my '82 graphite S2 also has a phenolic board and the serial number was also not struck cleanly. It's not as fudged as this bass, but it seems pretty obvious that it's harder to make an impression in phenolic than in ebony. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 446 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have an 81 with the graphite neck. My serial number is very faint. I suspect too that it must be a harder material to dent than wood. | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 147 Registered: 7-2003 |
Yo, I am pretty sure the bass came with the bone nut. The seller would have been mentioned if anything was replaced, I'm sure. He seems very honest and straight forward. Besides, logically, there would have been no reason to replace a brass nut with a bone one. That happens in reverse . . . Actually, when I consider it, the bone would probably be closer to the phenolic material in sound than brass for open notes. That would make sense. Obviously, I simply don't know. The phenolic board being extremely hard seems like the most likely reason for the 'sloppy' SN strikes. I have one on my Steinberger and it is tough stuff! I would never post personal info about someone without their expressed permission. Maybe we'll find out who he is, and maybe we won't. It does not make the bass any better or worse. Now if it were one of Stanley's, I imagine the reserve would have been popped by now. As far as deleting this thread, I was just considering hard disc space. If a member ends up with it, this is a piece of the history of how they got it. If one does not, it is an archive of this bass' existance. So . . . Request is forgotten. The more I ponder this bass, the more I want it. Must . . have . . a . . Prozac . . . . . . . . want . . bass . . . . . | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 148 Registered: 7-2003 |
 Love these high-res photos sent me. You can better see what Mica was talking about. I have no idea if this is ebony, phenolic material, or graphite. You can clearly see the V notches for the strings and how thin the logo is (I did not know old ones were so thin). | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 305 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thanks, 'Trevor', there is just so much character in this last shot I'm going to keep looking at it a bit longer. Glad to see you worked out why bone (or something else, perhaps?) would be better than brass for a fretless :-) | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 152 Registered: 7-2003 |
I didn't get the jacket, so I have to give up the name Trevor. Bummer! I have been known to circle the barn many, many times before finally finding my way in. So, the bone/brass puzzle was of course just a matter of time and aspirin, before I finally stumbled and fell through the door. Over 1,200 hits on this auction and only two bids have been made, and those for less than the 86 Distillate is currently going for. I believe Mica made a valid point about eight-string fretless basses only sounding good in one's imagination. Sting has a few bucks saved up. Maybe he will buy this bass. | ||
| morgandog
New Username: morgandog Post Number: 3 Registered: 8-2004 |
1200 hits, because it is a cool bass, two bids becaue no one is ready to pay $7k for a bass. Why would anyone bid unless they are willing to pay out $7k? I never understood the use of a reserve price, seems like it wastes everyones time - if you have a reserve price, why not start the bidding at that price! The psychology of this concept is lost on me. The Distillate will never sell for that much anyway, and this one certainly won't sell for the current bid price... | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 154 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hey Jason. I generally agree with you. I believe eBay charges more if you start the bidding higher. The reason to continue bidding is the seller may sell the item to the highest bidder, or negotiate a deal at the end of the auction. I have had sellers e-mail me accepting my highest bid on high-end items that needed to sell off. The last eight-string Series II bass I saw go was not a graphite neck, but earlier than this one. It was on the old Bunny Bass site. I am thinking the above bass went for about $4,500. If anyone remembers what it went for, let me know. Thanks.  | ||
| room037
New Username: room037 Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2003 |
Hi, I know the bass. It was born as Series 1 with 5 strings short scale ! It was converted once 4 strings then to 8 strings. It doesn't have battery plate, only use with Power supply. This bass is so cute. I hoped to get it, but it was gone... The price was $3200. Now, I own graphite 5 strings with Ebony top. I feel Graphite sound day by day. And I am very interested 8 strings Graphite neck ! But reserve price is $7000 !!! | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 155 Registered: 7-2003 |
Thanks Eiji. It was gone before I had a chance at it, too. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 817 Registered: 5-2002 |
That's a very nice bass, Nigel. The grain of the top wood looks great with the omega cut. I'm guessing the top wood is Macassar Ebony. And it looks like it has an Ebony Accent between the top and the Mahogany body. | ||
| room037
New Username: room037 Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2003 |
Hi, It has no accent wood. Macassar Ebony top and back with mahogany core. | ||
| room037
New Username: room037 Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2003 |
Hi Dave, I add more info. about ebony 8. It was built by famous inlay artist "Larry Robinson" who working at Alembic. There are the sign. in the cavity. |
