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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » For Sale & Trade » Archive through August 14, 2015 » Series I Short Scale 4-String Fretted Bass Guitar Vintage 1981 [SOLD] « Previous Next »

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musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 243
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - 6:46 pm:   Edit Post

Circumstances are such that I am considering selling my beautiful 1981 short scale Alembic Series I 4-string fretted bass guitar done up in an amazing Flamed Koa. It is fast and slinky. It is in very good condition with no electronic issues. It is also perhaps one-of-a-kind with its custom tailpiece that allows for the use of either short scale or long scale strings (as the strings run through the body). It also has Omega cutouts on the body and the headstock. Not sure if the headstock Omega is original or done by a prior owner. It surely does make the bass one of a kind, though. The instrument has the stellar Alembic neck-through construction of maple and purpleheart with a 24-fret, 2 octave striped Ebony fingerboard with Mother Of Pearl oval inlays. The headstock has Zebrawood veneers and the super-resonant mahogany/maple "Hippie Sandwich" body features Flame Koa top and back woods. The scale length is 30.75" which is comfortable and fast as they come. The bass comes with a gig bag, Alembic power supply box, Alembic multi-pin cable, and the original Alembic build sheet, if I can find it.

Please email me privately for price.

5 Alembic copy.jpg

1 Alembic.jpeg

2 Alembic.jpeg

3 Alembic.jpeg

4 Alembic.jpg
enzo
Senior Member
Username: enzo

Post Number: 416
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - 7:14 pm:   Edit Post

Looks familiar, I think this was for sale somewhere else and someone was trying to collect money in a desperate attempt to get it. I could be wrong of course.
Stunning short sale….hmmm, one day.
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 963
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Friday, February 13, 2015 - 9:54 am:   Edit Post

That Koa is spectacular

VMG
moongerm
Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Friday, February 13, 2015 - 1:56 pm:   Edit Post

Nice!
bonesrad
Intermediate Member
Username: bonesrad

Post Number: 118
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, February 13, 2015 - 2:54 pm:   Edit Post

The seller is the person who was collecting money to purchase this bass back in late 2014.

Sorry that circumstances aren't allowing you to keep this bass. Best of luck in your sale.

Bones

(Message edited by bonesrad on February 13, 2015)
edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 225
Registered: 2-2015
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 3:36 am:   Edit Post

That Koa is just incredible. If this were a 5-string I'd be in full freak-out mode right now. I concur with Bones - sorry you have to sell it.

I'm thinking Susan W. weighed in on a thread about this one a while back, regarding the headstock omega. IIRC, confirming the headstock was modified. Theories among the board here was it possibly suffered some damage to points of the omega cut, and someone rounded them over. Consensus was, that it could be either left as-is for uniqueness, or fixed properly at the shop.

Either way, it's a stunning bass.
edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 226
Registered: 2-2015
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 3:55 am:   Edit Post

Is it just me, or is this an omega cut in a Distillate body? (sometimes pictures look distorted on the mobile device)

Dang - that koa is just indescribable.

(Message edited by edwardofhuncote on February 14, 2015)
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 964
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 8:56 am:   Edit Post

What happened to the photos?
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 2157
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 9:27 am:   Edit Post

The picture gremlin ate them. It happens occasionally with the site software. Usually needs for them to be reposted.

Keith
enzo
Senior Member
Username: enzo

Post Number: 417
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 4:45 pm:   Edit Post

It's funny like the first picture link says Alembic copy, I wonder why, that looked pretty legit to me.
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 244
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 10:15 pm:   Edit Post

Hello All,

I will repost photos here:











The one is labeled "copy" because I had to re-size the photo to post it here, and I didn't want to alter the original photo.

Yes, Bones and Edward, I really do not want to sell it, but have some medical issues that need to be dealt with. I've owned four Series instruments over the years and an original Rick Turner 2-pickup model (now owned by Eiji). This bass is my favorite. It has a unique look, and I don't have to worry about getting short-scale strings in my guages (.35 - .95) because of the strings-thru-body tail arrangement. And yes, the body does have a Distillate aura about it, which I really, really like. It is my hope that if whoever buys it might give me the opportunity to buy it back should they ever sell it.
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 245
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 - 10:25 pm:   Edit Post

I just found the original paperwork. It refers to the model as "Short Scale Bass 3/4 size". I believe this is referring to the body being three-quarters the size of the usual Omega body. And the fingerboard is rosewood, not ebony as was represented to me when I bought it.
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 246
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2015 - 9:35 am:   Edit Post

Here's a link to a quick down-and-dirty sonic example I recorded last night:

http://bit.ly/1phlUYs
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 247
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2015 - 7:34 pm:   Edit Post

I added another sonic example of the bass in a slightly more musical context....

http://bit.ly/1EASyOk

(Message edited by musashi on February 15, 2015)

(Message edited by musashi on February 15, 2015)
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 248
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Monday, February 16, 2015 - 11:25 am:   Edit Post

I probably should have mentioned it sooner, but the bass is on ebay and the auction ends today at 2 PM west coast time....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-I-Short-Scale-4-String-Fretted-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-1981-/251838651338?ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123
hammer
Senior Member
Username: hammer

Post Number: 664
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - 5:05 pm:   Edit Post

I wish I had seen this sooner. Please tell me it didn't sell for the $2,800 posted on Ebay and that you took it off auction.
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 249
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post

Still available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwaVJGIlr1A&feature=youtu.be
moongerm
Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post

Thought this sold on ebay. Sounds very nice.
poor_nigel
Advanced Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 376
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2015 - 10:10 am:   Edit Post

That is a good, valid question. How is the bass still for sale, if it sold on eBay? I believe the Thumper Rule may apply . . .
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 250
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Monday, March 02, 2015 - 4:10 pm:   Edit Post

I'm sure this thread has been confusing, and I'm pretty sure I'm the most confused of all. I will try to explain what's happened so far.

First, the bass is still available. I was attempting to end the ebay auction early, but ebay blocked me from doing so. When I could not end the auction, I attempted to post a revision to the listing. I was not allowed to do so by ebay. I was not a happy camper. Everything I tried to do with this listing I was not allowed to do: I was not allowed to set a reserve; I was not allowed to add links to the sound of the bass; I was not allowed to end the auction; I was not allowed to add a message advising potential buyers that I had changed my mind (even though I reserved the right to end the auction early in the ad copy—as people used to be able to do the last time I was on ebay back in the early 2000's).

I contacted the winning bidder immediately after the auction ended and explained what happened, and he was very understanding. And so, here we are.

I reposted the vid on youtube with (I think) better sound, so that the filters and Q-switches can be heard more clearly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL1oxAuot0A
gtrguy
Senior Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 851
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2015 - 10:38 am:   Edit Post

EBay can be very annoying at times. They don't seem to care about sellors and you can't actually talk to them.

I sold a drum part a while ago and the buyer for some reason thought was new, which I clearly said it was used. I instantly offered to refund the money and take it back, but instead got hit with a rant calling me a crook, liar, and a cheat (with various bits of profanity included) and bad feedback (my only one). Th buyer has an EBay store and is clearly nuts, judging from crazy other listings accusing various people of also being liars and cheats, but EBay does not seem to care about such things. It appears to just be a large computerized cash machine.

I now pretty much use Craigs List!
5a_quilt_top
Senior Member
Username: 5a_quilt_top

Post Number: 454
Registered: 6-2012
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2015 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post

Evil Bay...
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 251
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 04, 2015 - 7:35 pm:   Edit Post

Price drop. Please email privately for details.
krstock
New
Username: krstock

Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2015
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 12:28 am:   Edit Post

Sent you an email - please respond
kjell.roger.stock@kollektor.no
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 252
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

Reply sent.
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 253
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - 2:47 pm:   Edit Post

Bump
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1672
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 2:41 pm:   Edit Post

Mail sent.
phate
New
Username: phate

Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2015
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 4:09 am:   Edit Post

Mail sent fatsxe@gmail.com
bforbeatles
New
Username: bforbeatles

Post Number: 8
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2015 - 10:34 pm:   Edit Post

Please send details to Dr.nicksun@gmail.com

Very much interested.
musashi
Advanced Member
Username: musashi

Post Number: 259
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2015 - 3:23 pm:   Edit Post

SOLD.

Would one of the moderators please mark the title as "sold"? (I couldn't figure out how to edit.) Thanks.

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