Author |
Message |
harald_rost
Intermediate Member Username: harald_rost
Post Number: 127 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 8:36 am: | |
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1978-Alembic-Custom-Bass-Guitar-Unique-Omega_W0QQitemZ110093213760QQihZ001QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Looks great. Very special peghead! Original? Any special history behind? Harald |
room037
Intermediate Member Username: room037
Post Number: 145 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 9:06 am: | |
It's very nice old piece. I have never seen the peghead. This serial No. is very curious. Serial No. range of 78' are about 900 to 1300. But the bass has 6 digit No. "?13? 78" The first digit is not "1", so the serial No. is not 78' range. The circuit board and DS-5 look original from Alembic. Is this employee's work ? Eiji |
keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h
Post Number: 697 Registered: 2-2005
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 9:28 am: | |
It almost looks like 813?78. Don't know if that 3?78 would be in the range of 1981 or not. Keith |
richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939
Post Number: 807 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 11:06 am: | |
I looked into that too. 81s are lower numbers and 91s are way over that. I dunno. Rich |
olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver
Post Number: 1146 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 11:09 am: | |
I emailed the seller and ask about the LOGO that he stated had "fallen off". I was crious if he had it. Maybe Mica can shed some light on this one. |
valvil
Moderator Username: valvil
Post Number: 979 Registered: 7-2002
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 12:14 pm: | |
I've seen '9s' that ended up looking like '8's. Maybe it's 913 78 What I'd like is a better close-up of the peghead, since I cannot see any signs of a logo ever being on it. Like Eiji, I have also been wandering if this might be a shop night instrument. The PF-6 card looks like a late 70s early 80s' I think. Valentino |
valvil
Moderator Username: valvil
Post Number: 980 Registered: 7-2002
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 12:26 pm: | |
I just noticed something else. Aside from the unusual headstock, the combination of soft upper horn and sharp lower horn is something I have not seen before on a triple omega. Valentino |
mica
Moderator Username: mica
Post Number: 4143 Registered: 6-2000
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 12:55 pm: | |
In this photo of the peghead, you can just make out that there was something there, but it wasn't an Alembic logo. The electronics look legitimately Alembic. 1978 is the range for the serial number on the harness. Might be able to cross reference from that (but not always). The 1/4" looks normal for 1978. Actually, my guess is that this might be a Becvar, though it would be least elaborate one I've seen. He did make basses with this body shape. I've got photos I'll check on Monday at the office to see if the peghead matches some of his other work. I'm pretty sure I've got some pictures of serial numbers too, so we can see if they similar to this bass. He purchased electronics and hardware from us for some of his instruments. If it's not a Becvar, mom and I are leaning towards a shop nighter without better serial number documentation. While it's possible this is a true Alembic bass, there are too many atypical things to tell from photos alone. |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 752 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 4:16 pm: | |
That is a Becvar. I have one. I can supply a pic of the headstock and logo. It matches mine perfectly. |
davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck
Post Number: 4783 Registered: 5-2002
| Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 7:59 pm: | |
Cool! I'm thinking that at some point the seller, and the bidders, should be advised of this discussion. |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 758 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 9:10 pm: | |
I let the seller know, and I offered to send him a pic of the Becvar headstock and logo. So far he has not responded to me with his email address. I suspect it is a music store that will probably respond during working hours. Michael |
room037
Intermediate Member Username: room037
Post Number: 146 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 12:51 am: | |
Hi Michael, Please show me the headstock of BecVar. Is there BecVar's logo ? Eiji |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 759 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 6:20 am: | |
I am going over to where my Becvar is today. I intend to take a pic and upload it later. Michael |
keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin
Post Number: 1063 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 6:43 am: | |
1974 BecVar seriesI guitar |
keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin
Post Number: 1064 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 6:51 am: | |
this guy worked at alembic in the early days. |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 761 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 5:22 am: | |
That is not the standard Becvar logo. Cool guitar, huh!!! I have taken the pics, and resized them. I am on my way off to my last Mardi Gras gig right now. Running late as usual, but I promise to upload the pics of the logo and headstock when I return. It will all be too obvious that the bass in question is indeed a Becvar. Michael |
mica
Moderator Username: mica
Post Number: 4149 Registered: 6-2000
| Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 2:54 pm: | |
This peghead hss pretty much the same shape as the bass being offered on ebay now: I don't know if this is the standard logo or not, but I bet Michael will. |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 762 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 5:53 pm: | |
Ok! Here you go: I think that settles everything. Check the auction pics. You can actually see the shape of where the logo once was. (Message edited by dela217 on February 20, 2007) |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 763 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 5:57 pm: | |
By the way, the seller of the bass did contact me. He was interested in seeing the pics too, so I sent them along to him. I wonder what will happen next. Michael |
room037
Intermediate Member Username: room037
Post Number: 147 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 8:08 pm: | |
Thanks Michael, This pict. is exactly that we want! These guitar head logos are decorative thing that I think. Eiji (Message edited by room037 on February 21, 2007) |
phys49
Junior Username: phys49
Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 9:02 am: | |
The listing was removed at about 12 noon eastern. It is not clear if it was Ebay or the seller. Perry |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 765 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 1:28 pm: | |
The seller and I talked about it. He said he was going to pull it and have it relisted with the proper info. Michael |
longhorncat
Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat
Post Number: 139 Registered: 8-2005
| Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 7:39 am: | |
This doesn't sound quite right: Vintage 1978 Alembic BekVar Custom Bass Guitar
|
mica
Moderator Username: mica
Post Number: 4164 Registered: 6-2000
| Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 9:27 am: | |
You're right - the listing is incorrect, but I understand the confusion. This bass was not made at Alembic. Bruce Becvar made his instruments at his own shop. We supplied him with parts for some of his instruments. It would be nice if the seller would ammend the listing as to not confuse the potential buyer of this bass. |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 766 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 6:22 pm: | |
The listing is incorrect. He even spelled Becvar wrong. When I spoke to the seller, I told him that it was a completely different brand altogether. Perhaps he is trying to get the Alembic connection in there to up it's value. |
bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen
Post Number: 1141 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 3:10 am: | |
It is a nice piece of Zebrawood regardless. Let's hope he gets it straight. Owning a Becvar is nothing to be ashamed of. Is Bruce the guitar player or is that his brother? I had a cassette once that had some pretty good stuff on it. Sam |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 767 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 7:45 am: | |
Sam - That is Bruce. Google him. He has lots of music. Not my cup of tea though. Zebra is my all time favorite. I really like that top a lot too. It has all the things I like. Zebra top, yellowed finish, etc.... I will try not to bid. I really have a hard time with long scale and the large body. I wonder if the C sides will give the feeling of a smaller bass? |
bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen
Post Number: 1144 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 6:30 am: | |
What I like about it is the grain angles in from the bottom towards the neck just like on my Epic. I'm looking at it thinking how good they would go together. Those dang discretionary funds are getting in the way again. |
dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217
Post Number: 770 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 4:45 pm: | |
The auction has been pulled again. This time someone hacked into the auction and put a buy it now price on it with an email address that was not the seller's. I responded to the hacker as though I was interested. He wanted $2000.00 and would offer free shipping. Yeah right. I contacted the seller and of course he was furious. So the auction was pulled. Just in case anyone here was following this one. Michael |