| Author | Message | ||
| mitzush
New Username: mitzush Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hi everyone, I'm considering buying this 5 string bass but the seller is short on details... age? specific model name? Anyone out there got any useful info? This photo is all I have unfortunately. Any help greatly appreciated.  | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 93 Registered: 2-2008 |
Hey John, welcome to the club! I'm definitely no expert, but I'll take a stab at this... This is a Persuader bass with the Vector body style. Looks like a walnut top, with a maple and purple heart neck, and ebony fingerboard. Here are a few pictures... http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/38471.html?1175961316 http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/55225.html?1220209033 You should be able to tell the year it was made by the 1st two digits of the serial number. http://www.alembic.com/support/reference.html#sernum Here are a few words on the electronics, but it looks like this one might have been modified somehow... http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16374.html?1107724076 Hope that helps. Good luck! Mike | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2038 Registered: 3-2004 |
It might have been a Persuader, or it could have been an Elan with that headstock, but it clearly has had modification. The position of those two switches is also awfully high on the body, suggesting that there may have been some additional routing done to accommodate the change. If Alembic did the mods, the value of the bass will be unchanged or maybe enhanced slightly. If anyone else did them, the value falls. There's even a slight chance that the mods were ordered that way from new. If it was a Persuader, the body core/back would probably be mahogany where an Elan could be maple. Another item of note is that most Persuader basses were made in 32" scale where Elans tended to be 34". If you decide not to buy, post us the rest of the info and someone will probably be interested. I know I would be if it's a 32" scale at a reasonable price. -bob | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 738 Registered: 8-2003 |
I'm thinking Vector Persuader, based on the shape of the truss rod cover and what appears to be a mahogany body core, which you can see peeking around the elbow contour. Walnut top, and I would contend that the mini-switches are an aftermarket mod, as they are chrome and not black. Can you tell we like guessing games here? Please keep us posted, and welcome to the board. | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 94 Registered: 2-2008 |
Looks like mahogany at the elbow contour. BTW, what's the black triangular shape below the P pickups? Mike | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2039 Registered: 3-2004 |
I was guessing that it was a pickup selector dial switch and cover. I agree that it's probably mahogany based on the cut. As far as the chrome switches, this is a pretty old bass with the half-round truss rod cover. I know I've seen chrome switches on some older Alembics, so it just may be a very old modification. That said, I don't ever remember seeing anything like that triangular thing in a pic of something out of the factory, so who knows. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 741 Registered: 5-2006 |
That looks like a pickholder ;-) Persuaders in Vector style came standard with the Elan headstock. The two switches are a mistery to me... You can do a history check in the "Owning an Alembic" section. Looks very nice! |
