| Author | Message | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Member Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 72 Registered: 2-2010 |
This is an odd one, a '99 Alembic Spoiler (beautiful quilted maple top) with interchangeable fingerboards: one fretted, one fretless and a stainless steel fretless board. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Spoiler-4-String-Bass-Fretted-Fretless-Stainless-Steel-Fingerboards-/151762982718?hash=item2355c7573e | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4443 Registered: 5-2009 |
He has been trying to sell that bass for a long time . | ||
| rstueckle
New Username: rstueckle Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2005 |
I'm the original owner of that bass. It's actually a mid 80s bass (not a 1999). I bought it in 1984 and had the fingerboards put on in 1985. They were made by a short-lived company called "Novatone". It played well for about 6 years, but then in began to warp and the fingerboards started to separate. It really was mostly a gimmick and didn't do well. I don't suspect it plays well at all now, but they did assure me that it was the only Alembic they did before they went out of business. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 55 Registered: 6-2014 |
Welcome Ron! We've been wondering about that one for a while now... It must have finally been sold, so hopefully it will turn up here, possibly for restoration. Beautiful maple top on that one. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4708 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm not surprised it started warp I guess that the original fretboard glued in place would be part of the design to gives the neck it's stiffness so with that removed and relying on the magnets holding the interchangeable fretboards in place, I doubt they would provide any support to the neck at all. Lovely looking bass though. | ||
| jcdlc72
Senior Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 442 Registered: 11-2009 |
If I could, IŽd buy it and send it to the Mothership to have a nice -fixed- fretboard (be it fretted or fretless, but one and for all) put in, and give it new life. It is a beautiful instrument indeed... | ||
| rstueckle
New Username: rstueckle Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2005 |
Thanks for the warm welcome. It seems like it's been for sale by the same shop in San Diego for a while. I'm down there often, so I may see if I can find it. It would be fun to play it again, since it holds some sentimental value for me. I seriously don't suspect it would be worth restoring, since they would probably have to completely replace the neck. Although I'm not a luthier, so I don't know. I'd love to know where it ends up. I do have a fondness for it (but clearly not enough for me to keep from trading it in). It was a sturdy and great sounding bass. Even though it's just a Spoiler. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4586 Registered: 5-2009 |
Hello , welcome to our domain . Your input surely is pure gold to any prospective investors to who are interested to the re-entry of this instrument into the world of musical contribution . Wolf | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1827 Registered: 5-2006 |
Looks like the "sacrificial" strip (walnut?) is still there, so a new fretboard might be an option... I think for around $800 I would be tempted to rescue this puppy, no way near the current asking price... Pretty sure it must be '84, most Alembics before '84 had the smaller truss rods cover (pickup closer to the neck) (Message edited by fc_spoiler on November 14, 2015) |
