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barryr1
New
Username: barryr1

Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

I saw this a few days ago and noone has brought it up. Anyone emailed this guy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290196860096&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 5977
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 7:29 am:   Edit Post

No power supply. Probably means he doesn't have the cable either.

Q switch needs to be replaced.

Case is not original (may or may not be an issue; a picture of the guitar in the case might be helpful).

Battery plate has someone else's initials.
cozmik_cowboy
Advanced Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 248
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 8:17 am:   Edit Post

The seller doesn't mention it, but it looks like the pins are missing in the XLR jack.

Peter
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1687
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post

I thought the pins were missing too but if you look real close it looks like they are there, juts in a shadow of the hole. I'd deffinately ask first though
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 936
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 8:33 am:   Edit Post

Somebody named Bill with a Series 1 twelve string was asking questions. I wonder who that could be? ;-)

Keith
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2842
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 9:44 am:   Edit Post

Me too! hehehehe

Bill, tgo
barryr1
New
Username: barryr1

Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post

I know this will seem elementary but I just bought my first series one (1977) a month or so ago. It had the more symetric body shape. Is there some rhyme or reason to why a series one would be one shape or another and is it year specific? any other basic differences

thanks
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 622
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 10:55 am:   Edit Post

Bill...you naughty little boy!
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2845
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post

Barry:

Your '77 is very similar to "The Other One", my '76 Series I. This style is a medium scale like a Gibson (24 3/4"). I believe the body style on the one currently on ebay is a long scale, like a Fender (25 1/2"). Someone else jump in and set me straight, if I'm wrong.


Jonathan: I ain't buying or even bidding. Yet.
The Guitar show is this weekend in San Rafael. I'm waiting to ascertain the condition of my wallet following the show before I can even consider the ebay one. It would match "Big Irv" quite nicely, though.

Perchance to dream!

Bill, tgo
barryr1
New
Username: barryr1

Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 1:41 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Bill

That makes sense. Did they make both at the same time or were they different by year or what. Is it like a 911 and a carrera. I just don't get the differences aside from the measurement. Did they change from year to year to distinguish

thanks
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1749
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

Barry: there has always been a standard set of features for the different Alembic models, but they will build to your specifications: scale length, body shape, woods ...

One thing that tells you the guitar on eBay is an early example is the shape of the point: it is shorter than the current shape, and there are slight scoop-outs left and right of the point. But with Alembic being Alembic, you can still order that shape. Other clues for its age would be that the nut is not adjustable, and that there is probably just a single truss rod instead of two.

So in a sense it is worse than 911 vs. Carrera, but in a wonderful way.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2848
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 3:54 pm:   Edit Post

The truss rod cover is added. The old ones didn't have one. Also, maybe it's my monitor, but the bridge looks to be a silver or chrome color with brass saddles. Anyone else see it this way?

Bill, tgo
brb9911
Junior
Username: brb9911

Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 4:12 pm:   Edit Post

I have a color-calibrated monitor here at work, and it looks to me that the bridge is actually very, very tarnished brass. A little Flitz® will fix that right up!
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 623
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 5:15 pm:   Edit Post

Bill...it would match Big Irv quite nicely.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 5979
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 6:18 pm:   Edit Post

Barry; as a generalization, as far as basses are concerned, in the seventies there were two main body styles, which are currently called the Standard Point and the Small Standard. The Standard Point body style was typically matched with long scale necks, and the Small Standard with short scale necks. (Before the advent of the Balance K, these same two body styles, again as a generalization, typically distinguished the Mark King and the Stanley Clarke Signature models.) My guess would be that the two guitar body styles being discussed in this thread correspond to the two bass body styles, a Standard Point and a Small Standard.
barryr1
Junior
Username: barryr1

Post Number: 11
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Guys

It's wierd. Guitar players don't deal with all of that scale length stuff. I have fenders and gibsons (and assorted other stuff) and I know that some are 22 and some are 24 (not that the 2 xtras make all that much difference unless you have tiny fingers)and a firebird has a tremendously long neck. I actually like the looks of the point pretty well and possibly they just made both models based on aesthetic preference to match the bass line.

thanks again
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2852
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 11:28 am:   Edit Post

Barry:

Scale length is different from fret numbers. Two guitars can have the same number of frets and different scale lengths or vice versa. The scale length refers to the distance between the bridge saddles and the nut, though it is more accurately measured by taking the distance between the nut and the 12th fret and doubling it. The frets are then laid out in reference to the scale length. For example, if you measure the distance between the 11th and 12th frets on a Les Paul (24 3/4" scale length), and then measure between 11 and 12 on a Strat (25 1/2" scale length) you will find the distance is proportionately greater on the Strat. Scale length has an effect on string tension which has an effect on bendability and other factors. Many guitarists do pay attention to scale length. It is often the most important factor that makes one a "Gibson" man and another a "Fender" man (or woman, as the case may be. Gotta be P.C. this close to S.F.)
By the way, there is more to 22 vs. 24 frets than a place to put tiny fingers. It has an effect on where the neck pickup goes, which has an effect on the tone. Guitar design and construction isn't as simple as it might seem on first blush

Bill, tgo
jtonylee
New
Username: jtonylee

Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:09 am:   Edit Post

Hi guys! This is actually my guitar, so I figured I'd chime in. I've owned several Alembic basses in the past but this is my first guitar so I apologize for my lack of knowledge.

To address some of the previous questions:
1) the XLR pins are still there...the pics aren't closeup enough to show them
2) I don't have the power supply or cable. As I told Bill on eBay, I bought the guitar second hand, which is why it has someone else's initials on the backplate.
3) It is a long-scale guitar
4) The guitar has serial number 75-159 on the top of the headstock, which I understand is a 1975 build, 159th guitar made by Alembic

I am primarily a bass player and you can check my feedback on Talkbass (user id: jtlee) if you need a more reliable reference than eBay. :-)

Great forum, by the way...got most of my info on Alembics here!

Tony Lee
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2856
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:20 am:   Edit Post

Tony:

Welcome to the club. I'm the "Bill" that sent the ebay questions. As for the serial number, you are inaccurate on one account. This isn't the 159th "guitar" made by Alembic, it is the 159th "instrument" (basses included) made by Alembic. Even more provenance, IMHO. Good luck on the sale, I may be there depending on what I find at the Guitar Show in San Rafael this weekend.

Bill, tgo
jtonylee
New
Username: jtonylee

Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:25 am:   Edit Post

Bill,

Thanks for clarifying all those things on eBay. Appreciate all the insight! Good luck at the Guitar Show...hope you find something tasty. Of course, my guitar will still be waiting for you. :-)

Tony
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 713
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 6:50 pm:   Edit Post

Sold for $3,500!

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