| Author | Message | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2004 |
Concidering letting go of the best bass I have ever had including the Paul Read Smith fretless 4 I sold 5 years ago. I am playing 6 now and need to upgrade. Maybe to Alembic maybe not. Just can't imagine going back to the shorter scale so maybe now is the time to find someone who will be happy with it. Any interest outthere? I will add pictures later it is in sterling condition. New fret wires last year and strung w/ Tomastic flats which meens virtualy no fret ware. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 315 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes, I am certainly interested. Been looking for something along these lines for months. I'd like to hear more about the specs and see some pics, but definitely interested. -Bob | ||
| poor_nigel
Advanced Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 252 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hey Don, welcome. Bob? Yo Bob! Speak of the devil! Bsee is looking for a short or mid-scale, pretty much just what you are comtemplating on selling. I am sure he will be e-mailing you shortly. Could you list the serial number and ask for a build list? It helps on sales when the info is verified by Alembic. | ||
| poor_nigel
Advanced Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 253 Registered: 7-2003 |
You know, I just knew you were gonna beat me to the post on this! You must have radar on this stuff!!! | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 317 Registered: 3-2004 |
LOL... Let's just say that I am particularly active on the internet and leave it at that. -Bob | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2004 |
I will work on thet over the weekend and post picks on Monday. I will contact Alembic for a build list. I registered this axe with them when I bought it 10 years ago so I am sure it is on the up and up. I think I have some more info on it in an old paper contact list so I will search it out as well. I bought this used so I don,t have the original paper work from the factory. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 319 Registered: 3-2004 |
My primary interest points right now are whether it is a standard or deluxe and what you are asking for it. Other than that, there probably aren't too many build details that really matter for my purposes. -Bob | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2004 |
Bob, You could help by defining what delux and standard mean.I will get on the pic. tonight so you can see for yourself. Value is not determined yet. I am thinking around 2500. but I am not yet knowledgeable enough on the value of these to be willing to fix it at that. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 322 Registered: 3-2004 |
A deluxe has purpleheart neck laminates and has a back body laminate as well as a top laminate, usually of the same wood. Usually that wood is rosewood or cocobolo. A standard could have one or both of these as upgrades, and that would be fine too. An easy way to tell is the serial number. It will have a two digit year, then either SC or SJ, for a deluxe or standard respectively, and then the unique number of the build. Since I am interested, don't take my word as gospel on value, but I have been monitoring eBay and other sales for most of a year. That said, an unplayed SC deluxe recently topped out at about $3K on eBay, and, last week, a nominal standard with upgrades to the same list price as a deluxe sold for about $2025. Typical used values are $2000-2500 for a used but well-maintained deluxe, and a few hundred less for a standard. There are so many options available from Alembic that it's hard to put an exact value on any model without the specs. | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2004 |
Looks like an deluxe but a little help on where to find the s# would help to confirm this. Cocobolo front and back. Purple wood in the neck. I will shoot it and post one pic. today. If you want me to send the other detail shots I have planned maybe e mail is a better method. Do you want to give me an E adress or a ph #? | ||
| poor_nigel
Advanced Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 254 Registered: 7-2003 |
If you click the underlined bsee in the box to the left of one of his posts, it will take you to his profile. He, and many of us, lists his e-mail address there. I would like to see pictures of your bass, too. Feel free to e-mail me shots that you do not want to post here. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 903 Registered: 5-2002 |
The serial number should be on the brass truss rod cover plate above the neck pickup. | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2004 |
Truss rod cover has no # on it. I wonder if it was replaced by the repair man who put in the new fret wires. I can't imagine him doing that he is one of the best and most well known in our area. When I first bought this and I was trying to find some stings that gave me a decent sound I called Alembic and they walked me through finding the ser # which I rote down as 332-516. No idea where it was and I have been searching all over the instrument for something but nothing yet. The string saga was not solved with Alembic strings which I tried, but by Tomastic. I will shoot it tonight and send out some to those who have expressed and interest. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 323 Registered: 3-2004 |
Historically, serial numbers have been found in four locations that I know of. 1. Struck into the top of the headstock for very old instruments. 2. Struck into the bottom of the fretboard just below the 24th fret for some period, mostly the 80s. 3. Engraved in the truss rod cover for newer instruments. 4. Struck into the back of the headstock for set-neck basses. If you can't find a number, then any number found inside thet electronics cavity may be used by the Alembic folk for a chance at tracking the number. Alembic serial numbers universally begin with a two digit year and end with the construction number. In between, there may or may not be one or more letters depending on the model. Since Alembic wasn't making instruments in 1933, that serial number can't be right. It could be 83-2516, that number sounds about right... | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2004 |
I seem to remember a # at the bottom of the finger board but it is not there now. Could have been palned off during the refretting. Dam that would piss me off. Don't know where to look after looking all the places you sugested and comming up empty. I will contact the mother ship Monday. Found more of my notes from my first conversation. Made in 83 and looking back at the earlier notes i think you are right it is 832 516. I clearly put the space in the wrong place when I coppied it from them over the phone. Also scrawled is CX3 45s or something like that and a note about the original fret wire being 6150. Sorry to late for the pics tonight tomorrow first thing. | ||
| lbpesq
Junior Username: lbpesq Post Number: 41 Registered: 7-2004 |
My '83 Electrum guitar is #2780 and its birthday was July 14, 1983. Since Alembic serial numbers indicate the sequential manufacture of all instruments, your number being 2516 makes sense for a 1983 instrument. I'm sure Mica or Val can look up your number and tell for sure. You may want to put the serial number back on it. When I recently brought my Electrum in (which has the number imbedded on the neck just below the 24th fret), Mica added the serial number inside the electronics compartment. Bill, the guitar one | ||
| kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 163 Registered: 8-2003 |
If that SN guess is correct, it's probably a Distillate or even a Series. Can you describe the control layout and pickup arrangement? Sounds like a real nice bass--the early 80s were when Alembic seemed to get into using outrageously gorgeous woods, rather than just plain pretty ones, as the rule rather than the exception. Bob, repeat after me: I am the point man. The Sheriff is my wingman. I am the point man. The Sheriff is my wingman (laughing). Just think: it would be the perfect big brother to the Cocobolo Custom my wife's going to buy me after she gets tenure, whenever you happen to be done stroking this one. There's a cookie in it for you, maybe even a donut. I'll just have to keep my mouth shut about her shoe fetish, which seems fair. Who refretted that poor bass anyway? EDIT: Pardon me for being rude, I do that often. Welcome, you're among a group of very sweet-natured obsessives. I'm a PRS owner myself--my old five-string has served me well for years, but it was time for her to retire, so I went Alembic. I'd definitely recommend you do the same with your future six. (Message edited by kungfusheriff on October 02, 2004) | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2004 |
The refretting was done by John Warden here in Maryland. He is the Martin guitar recommended guy for the east cost or so I hear. Lots of us in the group of players I hang with down here send their axes to him. He is also recommended by Chuck Levins music where we all buy most of our gear. Any way, he set up my 6 string Korean Fender copy (dam site better than the fenders I have played)and it has been a peach. Re the Alembic 6 strings: I have played a mess of them in both neck through and glue on and I have yet to find one that works for me. I am not a slapper or thumber and i am loooking for one that my small hands can be more comfortable with. Whe Warwicks and a through body Peavey Sirus are the faves at the moment. Any imput is appresiated. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 324 Registered: 3-2004 |
There are small hands, then there ae short arms. Alembic can make you the perfect six with narrow string spacing and a shorter scale, though I wouldn't go under 32" on anything with a low B. The down side is that you'd have a hard time finding one of these on the used market or sitting in a showroom. The Low End has a Zon Legacy Elite convertible that might interest you. It has the hardware to be set up as a 19mm spaced five, or a narrow spaced six. It might still be a bit big, but it could work. They are here: http://www.thelowend.net/thelowend/index.htm Also, Ibanez basses usually have the narrowest necks for off-the-shelf stuff. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 325 Registered: 3-2004 |
Any update on photos? Also, since this appears it might be a series instrument, do you have the external power supply and cable that would go with it? | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2004 |
Yes on the power supply but the cable is bad. Pics are shot and not yet loaded as I need to reduce them from the size they come out of the camera to 150 kb max needed to upload. Weekends are my busiest time so sometime this week. Re: the Ibanez basses. Played a slew of them and they are incinsistant and the sixes I have seen only have one truss rod so neck adjustment is an issue. The Alvarez I am playing ( I know I didn't know they put their name on basses either) is two rods and a pretty good fingerboard. Pick ups are not as nice as the Ibanez but with a little pre amp help and the magnificant Geroge L cords it has plenty of punch. A note on the George L 's. The single best thing one can do for connecting any electric instrument to it's amp. Like an effect it makes so much difference in the bottom and the sound overall. The Peavey is a much better axe all around so I think it is between that, Warwick and Alembic. Still on the prowl. | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2004 |
Here are some pics.      | ||
| effclef
Advanced Member Username: effclef Post Number: 258 Registered: 1-2004 |
That's really beautiful, Don! And it's not cocobolo - it's zebrawood. Cables can be fixed... I'll defer to Bsee who's probably going to ask about the price! EffClef | ||
| kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 166 Registered: 8-2003 |
Stunning. | ||
| whitz
New Username: whitz Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2004 |
The conversation with you all and the process of photographing the instrument has me reconcidering sales of the this gem to be the funding sourse of the new 6. I am as of now undecided. Nice offers will be concidered and I am not just being coy. I might be persuaded by someone who really wants it but today it doesn't feel like it. | ||
| hollis
Senior Member Username: hollis Post Number: 408 Registered: 11-2003 |
If that were my bass, I'd keep it. It's a true work of art.... But then again, which Alembic isn't? A six string would be nice.... Still, that's a very fine instrument..... Hmmmm, I see what you mean about the ambivalence involved.... Sorry, no help here.... | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 330 Registered: 3-2004 |
By the way, there was an Essence 6 on eBay very recently that didn't sell, and located very near to you in DE. Check out the eBay completed items and you may find yourself an inexpensive way to get into an Alembic 6. The starting bid was $2K and no one offered at it. -Bob | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1652 Registered: 9-2002 |
And keep the smell in mind ....mmmmmmmmmmm ...a zebrawood bass ...ideal to get the audience "on the run" PTBO | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 910 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey Paul! My Zebrawood Alembic don't smell! | ||
| fungke
Member Username: fungke Post Number: 56 Registered: 7-2004 |
Will you be selling this on eBay? Or holding a private auction here? Thanks, fungke. | ||
| whitz
Junior Username: whitz Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2004 |
I have decided to wait on the sale. I am playing furiously to see if this instrument is one i should keep. Thank you all for your input and interest. This should end this thread. DO need to do something to end it? | ||
| poor_nigel
Advanced Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 279 Registered: 7-2003 |
Threads never really end. People just quit posting when they are talked out on a subject. |
