| Author | Message | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 760 Registered: 9-2004 |
Just found this ad and know nothing about it: https://reverb.com/item/133359-alembic-series-i-bass-1973-natural?gclid=CLDr2b28h78CFQqIfgodqagAgA | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11368 Registered: 5-2002 |
Same instrument as discussed here. | ||
| mtjam
Intermediate Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 170 Registered: 11-2011 |
I'm surprised this bass is still for sale. Someone should scoop it up! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2010 Registered: 2-2005 |
I think it is just priced too high. Plus it is missing the blue box/chord which would reduce the price even more. Keith | ||
| tomhug
Intermediate Member Username: tomhug Post Number: 116 Registered: 7-2008 |
What does everyone think about the purported John Entwistle association? It can't be accurate, can it? JAE didn't even know about Alembic until 1974, and I don't recall ever seeing him with a bass with those caramel covered pickups. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2011 Registered: 2-2005 |
All I see in the posting is it was signed by John. I don't read anymore into it other than someone had him autograph the bass. Keith | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 175 Registered: 6-2014 |
I notice the price on this one continues to drop... it's listed in another place for $3995 now. Although the ad says the bass may need additional work. I kinda' wish someone would restore this one... heck, she doesn't look too bad. I believe this one must have been owned by a serious John Entwistle fan. Sounds like there's a cool back story. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 177 Registered: 6-2014 |
Couple things strike me as odd about this bass, and I wonder if the voices of experience might chime in. The brass truss rod cover on a '73. Extra holes between each Volume & Filter knob. Position of the switches. (maybe related to ^) Logo looks odd too, quite detailed for such an early bass. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1819 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think the "extra holes' are the trimpots; that was the location on some of the earlier examples. Peter | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3872 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes, I think Peter is spot on . On one of my old Alembic modified Starfire's those trimpots were present . | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 179 Registered: 6-2014 |
Ah. That makes sense, since there doesn't appear to be access on the back of the control cavity plate. Truss rod cover could've been added afterward... doesn't look wrong, just not period-correct. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1820 Registered: 10-2006 |
And as to the logo, there seems to be a great deal of variation among the early ones; that one wouldn't raise my eyebrow. My main problem with this one (beyond the price, which is becoming more reasonable) is whether you could remove the sticker and the mall-engraving-shop plate without damaging the finish (though it is kind of clever how they used the set font on the machine to make the o in Who an Alembic logo of sorts) Peter | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 180 Registered: 6-2014 |
I've never seen a sticker I couldn't remove with patience and a hairdryer. Not as sure about the aforementioned brass plate. Actually, I'd make some effort at returning it to whoever put it on there in the first place, since it obviously meant more to them than me. I see this as almost a total overhaul project. Having already taken on one restoration of an Alembic-in-distress, I'm a little hesitant, since this one could be quite expensive. Possibly enough so that it wouldn't be economically feasible. That said, this looks to be a legitimate very early Series bass, and hyper-cool for that reason alone. It deserves better, maybe better than I could afford to do. I may email the seller and inquire about the electronics, just for curiosity's sake. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 194 Registered: 6-2014 |
Haven't gotten any response from the seller... I guess there isn't much way to tell if the electronics work or not without the power supply box, particularly on these early Series instruments. (?) | ||
| mtjam
Advanced Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 254 Registered: 11-2011 |
I e-mailed with the seller a while back, and it does seem like this one needs a lot of work. The seller sent me some info he discussed with Susan. I think the brass plate is affixed to the body in a way that is not easily removable. However, I think this is a really cool bass that someone needs to bring back to life! That person is not me however. You know the Mothership could get this thing playing again... | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 208 Registered: 2-2015 |
I did finally get some correspondence from the seller, largely confirming what mtjam came up with. Salient points - the battery compartment in this bass is underneath that engraved plate. The seller is reluctant to remove it for fear of damage I suppose,(understandable) but without an Alembic power supply box, there's no way to know if the electronics work. They are confirmed to be PF-5 electronics, with the humcanceller glued inside the cavity. If they are the 40+ year-old originals, they may require some work anyway. Hard to tell what kind of touch-up would be required under that brass plate, or after peeling that sticker off. The best news, the bass is structurally sound. It's a legitimate early Series I bass from the somewhat formative years, and has an interesting neck wood recipe of mahogany, birch and walnut. Walnut back, and birdseye maple top. The case is almost certainly original. It's a gamble, but possibly one worth taking. Just don't know if I could commit to a(nother) rescue. Gotta' think on this one some more. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2147 Registered: 2-2005 |
It is a fairly common neck wood recipe from that era and is still the standard recipe for the current Brown Bass. If the electronics need upgrading it could end up adding $1000-$2500 (my best guess) to the cost of bringing it back. It might be more or less. There is no way to tell until Alembic takes a look at it which usually requires shipping the whole bass. Keith | ||
| edwardofhuncote
New Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2015 |
This one appears to have been sold... I had a couple more exchanges with the seller, and was waiting to hear back on the functionality of the truss rod, but apparently someone else stepped up. Part of me is glad, now that I can stop thinking about it. I do hope we'll see it appear here... a classic bass like that deserves to be fixed and played. | ||
| bladerunner347
New Username: bladerunner347 Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2015 |
Hi Everyone, I'm the guy that bought this bass. I am planning on restoring it through Alembic in Santa Rosa to its original glory. I do not believe there is any real Entwistle connection other than he appears to have signed it as well as the case. I doubt he ever owned it as I spoke with the seller and Alembic last week and there is no record that he did. I am prepared to spend what I need to to get this bass in shape and I do plan on playing it. I will keep you posted... Just thought you all might like to see how it turns out... It is in transit from NY to So Cal... Cheers, Rob | ||
| enzo
Senior Member Username: enzo Post Number: 429 Registered: 4-2009 |
Well done Rob! Looking forward to the final result, I'm sure it will be spectacular. ...and welcome to the Club  | ||
| tomhug
Intermediate Member Username: tomhug Post Number: 167 Registered: 7-2008 |
Congratulations! This is exactly what I hoped would happen to that bass. I was pretty intrigued by this bass, but I already have one quite close in age. I speculated a bit over on TalkBass Please keep us posted, and I hope the way is easy to restore that caramel-pickup beauty to its former glory! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11670 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats Rob! This will be a wonderful bass with an Alembic restoration. Look forward to seeing the "after" pics! | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 234 Registered: 6-2014 |
Fantastic Rob... congratulations and compliments. I'm so glad someone's going to restore this one! Looking forward to the Factory-to-Customer thread on this one. |
