| Author | Message | ||
| fish
Member Username: fish Post Number: 68 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hello All Long time lurker, some times poster here. I am thinking about this one. Any red flags that you see? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110349084324 Thanks Dave | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 809 Registered: 4-2005 |
looks like a nice bass. Some will say the asking price is too high. Looks like there have already been some offers. Are you near the seller? Can you go and try it out? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7542 Registered: 5-2002 |
It's missing the power supply; so you need to factor that into the cost. It looks to be in great condition; however, my guess would be that it doesn't actually look as red as it does in the pictures. I think the camera flash has probably distorted the true color. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7543 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've played around with the picture some. What I've come up with isn't right; the Maple neck lams don't look right. But I think this looks more like Walnut. An outdoor picture in natural light would be helpful. I think it's a great looking bass, and Walnut S1's sound very nice.  | ||
| fish
Member Username: fish Post Number: 69 Registered: 6-2006 |
Thanks for the input guys. The seller is in Texas and I am in PA; so trying it out is not an option. Are there any options missing (other than the needed power supply) that would make this an undesirable example of a series one? Are some years better than others? (Message edited by fish on February 14, 2009) | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 558 Registered: 9-2002 |
A little too high without the power supply. I paid $4000.00 4 years or so ago for my quilted maple 1998 SI with the DS5R. Also, as an older bass it may need some TLC at first (frets, electronics upgrade).... That said, it looks great. Im really starting to like the the older basses look more and more. By the way, Im in Bucks County also... (Message edited by glocke on February 14, 2009) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3529 Registered: 7-2004 |
Dave: Alembic's production numbers are so low, and the number of people who put their hands on an instrument during its build are so small that, unlike a large company like Fender, Gibson, Martin, etc., the year of construction really doesn't make much difference, IMHO. Bill, tgo | ||
| pas
Intermediate Member Username: pas Post Number: 160 Registered: 3-2003 |
If I was a betting man, I'd wager that the top on that bass is bubinga, not walnut. It looks VERY similar to the top on my '85 Spoiler. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7550 Registered: 5-2002 |
Paul's is an interesting suggestion, which might explain some of the apparent "redness", in which case my rendering may be a bit too "brown". In reading all of the posts on this site, I've never noticed anything that would suggest any deviation from the highest of quality year to year. | ||
| fish
Member Username: fish Post Number: 70 Registered: 6-2006 |
Quality year to year is not a question. I guess I should clarify a bit. Did the Series I Electronics evolve over time? Thus making some later years more preferable? Thanks | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7560 Registered: 5-2002 |
Over time, the amount of RF noise in the air that the electronics are subject to has grown. Thus, to keep the electronics quiet, the circuitry has been modified over the years. The older the instrument is, the more susceptible it is to this RF noise; but it depends on the instrument, and it depends on the environment. Alembic offers an electronics upgrade for older Series instruments that addresses this noise issue. The upgrade is not inexpensive. However, most older instruments have not had the upgrade and their owners seem very happy with them. As far as the tone shaping circuitry, the electronics are essentially unchanged over time. My '86 S1 is a little susceptible to RF noise, but I never thought it to be a problem; and if I hadn't switched to six string, it would still be my primary instrument. | ||
| fish
Member Username: fish Post Number: 71 Registered: 6-2006 |
Thanks Dave! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3535 Registered: 7-2004 |
Both my '76 Series I MSG and my '77 Series I 12 string LSG haven't had the electronics upgrade and I've never had an RF interference problem with either one. And I live in a fairy populated and congested area: San Francisco Bay Area. Bill, tgo | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2081 Registered: 2-2006 |
My 89 S-2 gets a little RF noise but not always. And when it does it's not loud enough to create any problem. OO | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 410 Registered: 5-2002 |
My '78 Series I has original electronics and have never had a problem with noise. Bill, you aren't making a comment about the social reputation of SF, are you? NTTAWWT (tm Seinfeld). :-) Edwin |
