| Author | Message | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 14 Registered: 10-2007 |
I bit the bullet and bought this guitar today. I should have it in about a week. I'll post the results once I have it in my hot little (big) hands. http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/37522.html?1174575335 | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6116 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wow, congrats! Looking forward to learning more about this mystery guitar! | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2007 |
Thanks Dave Any idea how the controls differ from my 77 series. This one has 4 micro switches. thanks br | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2007 |
Another question/comment. There were comments regarding the battery compartment cover. Looks a lot like this one. Anyone have any ideas? http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1801628 br | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 871 Registered: 6-2002 |
Barry - Those are not 4 micro switches. It is actually 2 switches, and 2 trim pots. The trim pots are for output of the pre-amp. This guitar has PF5 electronics, and your 77 has PF6. It's basically set up like your 77, but the trim pots for the output are on the face of the guitar instead of the rear. There are also 2 hum cancelling trim pots, but those are inside the control cavity. You are right, the plate between the 2 pickups is the cover for the 2 9 volt batteries. The hum canceller is mounted inside the guitar in a pocket under the tailpiece. I have been watching that guitar for a while. I am glad someone got it who will appreciate it! Michael | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1351 Registered: 12-2002 |
shop night?....i recall mica stating shopnight projects/instruments dont get logos.  | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 873 Registered: 6-2002 |
I agree with Keavin. I think that instrument has a serial number in the 20's based on the tailpiece used and the lack of a brass plate under the pickup selector. I think that this guitar just made it out without being stamped. I doubt that 'shop night' had been started yet with a guitar with such a low serial number. They were just busy and didn't stamp it. Or perhaps the number really is on the tip of the peg head, and no one knew to look there! | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2007 |
I didn't really think that it was a shop night guitar but that was how it had been previously discussed so I kept the info intact. I was reading an article about one of the employees that had worked at alembic and indicated that he made the first guitar for Jerry Garcia and that he did it after hours but I felt based on what I saw and your cumulative thoughts that it is likely an older guitar with no headstock sn. I did ask the previous owner to look there. Lest he's blind, it isn't present. Could be that policy changed. Whats the lowest number reported? Do we know that number 1 is the first instrument or were there others that never were stamped. Mica suggested that I check for painted numbers on the pots so once I actually have it I'll check there. thanks guys br | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1358 Registered: 12-2002 |
(Message edited by keavin on January 31, 2008) | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1359 Registered: 12-2002 |
alembic #1 is a bass http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/2565.html?1144935206 | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 874 Registered: 6-2002 |
Chances are, that when you get it, the pots will be black plastic with nothing written on them. But it is possible that there may be a penciled number on the PF5 circuit card. But, being that this one is so old, I would think the writing on the electronics did not happen yet. From the older instruments I've seen and owned, I still think that this one is between serial number 18 and 29. Michael | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 19 Registered: 10-2007 |
Cool Whats the earliest 6 string that we have tracked so far I should have this thing by next friday. Best barry | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 875 Registered: 6-2002 |
The earliest one I've seen was serial number 17 from 1972. It lives in Ohio the last I heard. | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 20 Registered: 10-2007 |
I see your logic thanks barry | ||
| elwoodblue
Intermediate Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 195 Registered: 6-2002 |
This had been dubbed #1 at a time ,it has some similarities . I got to fret with it for a while,now I try not to fret about her parting path... ...has that great hammered brass. | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2007 |
I need a case for this guitar. Anyone have a suggestion. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6139 Registered: 5-2002 |
One suggestion would be to try and order one through Alembic. | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2007 |
Got the mysterious "Shop Night" guitar today. I studied the end of the headstock carefully and there is no stamp or sign of one. I opened the control area and found nothing there either (although I didn't take the board out). I also found no "30" on it anywhere. What i did find was a guitar that is in nearly mint condition with a ebony fretboard, almost no fretwear if any and an inlaid logo on the headstock. I don't know if we got any more clues at all but it is set up perfectly and plays great on first try. I'll try to post some pics in a few days. barry | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2007 |
Oh Yeah. The material covering the battery compartment is tortise shell. br | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6183 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats! Looking forward to the pics. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 876 Registered: 6-2002 |
Barry - That sounds great! It's nice when I buy an Alembic and find out I don't have too much to do to it. That sounds like you made a great buy on that one. By the way the tortoise shell battery cover does not sound like the one that it came with. All of the older ones I've seen were brass. Although, I bet the tortoise shell looks great! I would leave it as is. Also, all of the older ones I've seen had the inlaid logo. It seems that was standard back then. I think that they started putting on the hand cut logo on the surface rather than inlaid somewhere around serial number 50 or so. Michael | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 877 Registered: 6-2002 |
That birds eye top really looks great. I had the pic up of your guitar when my son walked in the room. He said that it looks like granite! Michael | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2007 |
Ok Here are a few better pics. A couple of things that I noticed when I cleaned it. There is no brass ring under the selector switch and standby seems to be almost 180 from on the 77. On the headstock where I would expect to see a number on the right, there is a lighter spot. I don't know if there was one and it has been removed professionally (really good job if so) or if someone was using something to see if they could see if there was once a number but that spot seems a bit lighter in color. I used polarizing lens, water and bright light and magnifyer but couldn't see anything. It also plays much nicer than the 77. I love an ebony fretboard for starters but the sound is better. Fuller and more alive and the other one ain't bad. Another thing, the mother of pearl is very irredescent. One of the photos really shows it off. I was using regular body cleaner (fender spray crap) but i suspect that i need to put a coat of something on it since it had an oil finish. Any suggestions...Mica?     (Message edited by davehouck on February 11, 2008) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6199 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice pics! Lots of people remove the selector knob on older instruments and turn them around 90° or 180° so that the pointer isn't stabbing them in the fingers when they play near the neck pickup. | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2007 |
Is this where I just use the lemon oil or do I need something different as it never had a "hard" finish on it. Anyone know? thanks | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6210 Registered: 5-2002 |
Alembic fretboards are, usually, unsealed. It is recommended that pure lemon oil be applied to them. Here is the FAQ on oiling your fretboard. And here is the FAQ on finish care. | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 28 Registered: 10-2007 |
thanks barry | ||
| elwoodblue
Intermediate Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 197 Registered: 6-2002 |
I love that woodgrain 'kiss' in the headstock, st6rangely hypnotic with the swirlly graain... ...(tpyos left for entertainment). congrats | ||
| barryr1
Junior Username: barryr1 Post Number: 29 Registered: 10-2007 |
yeah...its pretty cool thanks barry |
