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kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 830
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 11:37 am:   Edit Post

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=310136981356

Any reactions, other than "man, that bass could use a bath?"
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2297
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post

I think it looks really cool and might represent some pre-Alembic work. I will be interested to hear what Mica has to say as this could either be a laugher, or an oh my god I haven't seen that thing in almost 40 years moment.

-bob
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6082
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 12:48 pm:   Edit Post

There are no 1969 Alembic basses. Number 1 is a 1972.

Some parts of this in passing look like Alembic parts, but then, upon closer inspection, they don't really: 3-pin instead of 5-pin, peghead shape (there IS a logo(not Alembic)), hacked up brass plate, trapezoid pickups (still don't look quite right to me).
There's just alot of things that make me think this is someone's personal project, and not necessarily someone related to or involved with us.

A picture of the electronics would be revealing, I can pretty much tell my father's handiwork.
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 390
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

late 60's employee project???
jfiles
New
Username: jfiles

Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 1:28 pm:   Edit Post

Talk about weird - I just had this in my shop in Austin, Texas recently. I had the control plate off of it to determine what it was. I had let the owner know that this was not an Alembic (he agreed and said that someone made it). There is no preamp in this bass - passive pickups vol/vol/tone/tone and two jacks wired in parallel (no lo-z transformer even). The neck was pitched at the wrong angle - the bridge is adjusted all the way down and the action is still way too high. I remember looking at the pots, but I don't remember the pot codes being from 1969, though. I don't think that the current seller is the same person that brought it into the store as he was local.
rodneyat
New
Username: rodneyat

Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 2:08 pm:   Edit Post

Read through the sellers feedback ratings..not exactly stellar or anything close to it.
zezozeceglutz
Junior
Username: zezozeceglutz

Post Number: 15
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 2:27 pm:   Edit Post

I love that the pickup wires just run right along the surface. Is that a (cabinet?) door hinge for a bridge?

At least the pickups are worth $0.35-0.55 each!
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2285
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 2:37 pm:   Edit Post

Had to look for myself Ken but you're dead on. Still laughing my butt off!

Cabinet hinge, on my my,
OO
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3737
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 3:37 pm:   Edit Post

Golly gee, I was all set to bid on this one until I noticed the tuners aren't original. Love the coins in the pickup castings. Probably makes it easier to "change" tone during a song! lol

Bill, tgo
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 953
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 4:31 pm:   Edit Post

Could it be that it is some sort of Stars Guitars creation using Alembic pickups from the era? But then again, the stuff Stars was doing was waaayy better than that. The woodworking on that looks like it was done with a hot spoon.
jedisan
Member
Username: jedisan

Post Number: 73
Registered: 3-2008
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 5:52 pm:   Edit Post

Hey John,

Thanks for posting up here with additional info on this instrument. Although I think most of us would have been cautious on this one, it's good to have info like you can provide. But I've got to say... the hinge for the string anchor was pure genius. Sometimes, you just gotta' go with what you have.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2298
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 6:53 pm:   Edit Post

Sounds like Mica and the eBay police should be shutting this thing down shortly if it hasn't been killed already. Based upon her statement, it would seem this is clearly advertised inappropriately.
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 867
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 7:36 pm:   Edit Post

I have been bidding on this one and until a second or two ago I was high bidder.

I emailed the seller asking how he knew it was authentic Alembic and he replied:
"Hello,
I am sure it is an Alembic. I did a lot of research and I showed it to several dealers this weekend at the Dallas guitar. The pot codes date it to 1969. This was at the very beginning of the Alembic company.
Thanks,
Rod"

I actually kinda like the old bass. I do not plan to bid any more, however.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6087
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 7:45 pm:   Edit Post

I wrote to the seller to explain that while I didn't know who made the bass, I knew that it wasn't us. My dad said, "no 3-pin outputs ever."
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2286
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 8:28 pm:   Edit Post

I was at the Dallas guitar show this passed weekend. I would've loved to run into this guy. I did see one Alembic, an Epic in fair to poor conditon priced at $1400.00.
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 9:15 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Folks,
My name is Rod and I have the Alembic on ebay. I emailed Rick Turner and sent him photos of the bass. He said it was made by an Alembic employee for personal use, possibly Frank Fuller. In his email he states his is "sure" the bass was made by one of his employees. I hope this helps and if there are any questions I will do my best to answer them.
Thanks,
Rod
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 868
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 3:38 am:   Edit Post

Hello, Rod. Welcome to the forum. I think the bass is an interesting one.
govegan
New
Username: govegan

Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 4:54 am:   Edit Post

Hey Rod! Welcome to the club :-)

Be that as it may, it is still not an "alembic" and it would be unfortunate for someone to purchase it thinking it was. You should edit your listing to be fair.

Have a good day!
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2299
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 8:20 am:   Edit Post

Aaron, it isn't about "fair". It's more about things like honest and legal. If Mica and Ron say that this bass was not made by Alembic, then it is not an Alembic. Rod clearly knows this now, having read this thread and, most likely, received Mica's email. Continuing to call this an Alembic bass is fraud at best and failure to alter the listing will most likely result in it being deleted. Mica always tries to be nice when the Alembic name is used by someone who has been misinformed, but it shouldn't be allowed to stand if they attempt to continue once properly educated on the matter.

Even if Rick Turner is correct in his assessment, the best Rod can do is to say it "may have been", or even "probably was" made by a future Alembic employee in the years before Alembic began producing instruments. If Frank Fuller is still out there reachable somewhere and can be contacted to confirm Turner's story, then you could say that it was made by him rather than "may have been". You could even say that Rick Turner, who was an Alembic employee in the early years, is sure that it was made by one of the other Alembic employees of the day. Anything beyond that is pure conjecture, and actually calling the bass an Alembic is offensive and dishonest, at least to me. Even if it were made by an Alembic employee in the Alembic shop, it still wouldn't be an Alembic.

Rod, It's a very interesting bass. I hope you alter the listing, or restart it altogether, with a more accurate description.

-bob
longhorncat
Advanced Member
Username: longhorncat

Post Number: 307
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 8:54 am:   Edit Post

"The seller ended this listing early"
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 9:19 am:   Edit Post

Hello Folks,
I did end the auction. I'll put it up again when I find out exactly what it is. It's not my intention to deceive or defraud anybody. The bass was made 35 or 40 years and and at the very least is interesting because it could probably be the first Alembic "copy" ever made. Rick was very helpful and although he first thought it was an employee model he now feels it made by someone else. He did mention that certain parts on the bass are Alembic. I find it interesting that someone would make an Alembic "copy" all those years ago. I wonder where they would have seen a "real" one and be inspired to make a copy. Also, I've been buying and selling vintage instruments for many years and other "employee" guitars are collectable and bring as much or somtimes more than standard production models. Martin employee guitars are highly sought after and are very collectable and are considered to be "Martins." The feeling is that an employee making their own guitars will put the very best effort in making an instrument for personal use.
Rod
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1265
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 9:30 am:   Edit Post

Rod,
Not sure if you will see this or not.

It is not uncommon to find instruments built by other folks that contain Alembic parts. There were several other well known luthiers that were known to have purchased electronics and bridges from Alembic back in that era. Likewise you can still purchase some of these items from Alembic today to place in your instruments.

Keith
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 870
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 9:35 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Rod.
Looks like you are in Memphis. I am up North from you just a ways. I plan to keep track of your items for sale and I could be a potential buyer for the bass we are all talking about.
Good to have you with us!
jfiles
New
Username: jfiles

Post Number: 10
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 9:42 am:   Edit Post

Hi Rod,

I would recommend taking some pictures with the bottom of the control plate exposed to show the cavity and the components. When I inspected this bass recently, the only parts that I saw that were Alembic were the pots and there was no preamp - all passive. To my memory (be aware - I am 51 years old) everything else was either fabricated or off the shelf. My guess is that sometime in the '70s someone built a copy and got some NOS pots from Alembic. It would be nice to find Frank Fuller and get more information. This would not only clear things up, but might bring more value to this bass as well.

John
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2305
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 6:50 pm:   Edit Post

It's all good, Rod. Glad you're dealing with this in a professional manner. There's no doubt it is an interesting instrument no matter who built it, and the true story, once learned, could add value.

I also agree that employee guitars can be as good or better than "factory" release products from some companies. They still can't be advertised as a product of the company, but can be a great bargain if accurately described. That said, I believe Alembic craftspeople put forth their best effort on every instrument they touch and you're less likely to find an employee guitar that would exceed Alembic branded instruments.

-bob
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 5:20 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Folks,
I did talk with Frank and he's not sure what's up with the bass. He thinks it's possible an employee made it or someone close to the shop doing their own interpretation. I sent a bunch of photos of the electronics to Mica. I haven't heard back from her. Hopefully, she'll be able to shed some light on it. The thing that I like most about this bass is that someone really played it. It has spent a lot of time in bars. As crude as some aspects are, it is still a really good bass and someone got a lot of use out of it.
Thanks,
Rod
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3749
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 6:24 pm:   Edit Post

o.k. Is there something I'm missing? As I understand it the following are the relevant facts:

1. This is a 1969 instrument

2. Alembic made their first instrument in 1972.

So how can it possibly be an employee project unless it was built by one helluva psychic employee?

Bill, tgo
longhorncat
Advanced Member
Username: longhorncat

Post Number: 309
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 6:43 pm:   Edit Post

Rod's new auction has corrected all the mistakes we pointed out.
He was just cool enough not to post the new link.
Since I am bidding, I won't either ;)

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
link

(Message edited by longhorncat on April 24, 2009)
southpaw
Advanced Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 216
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post

Well, if the bridge is lowered all the way down and the action is still high... then I know the bridge is a real Alembic part!! (inside joke).
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 8:19 pm:   Edit Post

I dated the bass as 1969 from the pot codes. I have since found out that many later Alembics have 69 pots so that is not an accurate way to date it. I took a lot of photos of the inside of the control cavitiy, pickups, really quite a few shots. It anbody wants to see them I'll be glad to post them. I found this number under the bridge bass, Al-D903. Do that mean anything to anybody?
Thanks,
Rod
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 8:29 pm:   Edit Post

I dated the bass as 1969 from the pot codes. I have since found out that many later Alembics have 69 pots so that is not an accurate way to date it. I took a lot of photos of the inside of the control cavitiy, pickups, really quite a few shots. It anbody wants to see them I'll be glad to post them. I found this number under the bridge bass, Al-D903. Do that mean anything to anybody?
Thanks,
Rod
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 657
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 11:28 pm:   Edit Post

I'd love to see some more pics when you get a chance to post them. Is that some sort of sustain block under the bridge?
thanks
attmann
Junior
Username: attmann

Post Number: 35
Registered: 4-2006
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 4:01 am:   Edit Post

Hey Rod,
I hope you don't forget about sending out the missing tele knob screw while you are so busy with of your research here...
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 6
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 8:50 am:   Edit Post

Hello,
Here's a photo of the controls. It is a sustain block under the bridge.
Thanks,
Rod
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 875
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 9:37 am:   Edit Post

Rod I have looked for the guitar on Ebay and not found it. How about a link?
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2317
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 9:45 am:   Edit Post

Here it is

OO
altgrendel
Member
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 71
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 9:58 am:   Edit Post

Please post the internal pics. Love to see them.
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 876
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 10:29 am:   Edit Post

thanks, Olie
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 7
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post

 
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3750
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 12:43 pm:   Edit Post

Rod:

I just want to acknowledge the thoughtfulness and integrity evidenced by your new ebay description. We've seen similar issues like this around here before, and it is the rare seller who responds so appropriately. Good luck on selling your bass. Whatever its origin, it is a very cool and interesting looking instrument. If only it had thinner strings, and two more of them, I'd probably be in the running. But, alas, I am:

Bill, the guitar one
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2312
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 1:52 pm:   Edit Post

Agreed, Bill. Thanks, Rod!
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 8
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 5:48 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Folks,
Thanks for the kind words. I'm trying to post photos of the controls but I haven't had any luck. I'll give it another shot tomorrow.
Rod
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7951
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 6:01 pm:   Edit Post

If you want, you can email the pics to me and I'll post them for you.
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 9
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 7:27 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Dave,
That would be great. Please send your email address and I'll send them right now.
Rod
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1094
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 7:59 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Rod,
Dave's email is available by clicking on his name, (as is yours, and mine).

Mike
rodsguitars
New
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 10
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 8:04 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Mike,
I figured it out. I'm at best, semi literate on computers. Actually, I'm pretty much semi literate about everything.
Thanks,
Rod
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1095
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 8:10 pm:   Edit Post

No problem, and welcome to the club.
:-)
Mike
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7952
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 6:16 am:   Edit Post

Here are Rod's pics.













57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 880
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 12:33 pm:   Edit Post

The story on this bass gets more interesting all the time.
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 662
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 1:07 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Rod for the time spent taking the detailed pics...and thanks Dave for posting them.
The headstock has a sort of "Oasis" vibe to it.
altgrendel
Member
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 72
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 5:18 pm:   Edit Post

Looking at the head stock, some of that grain looks like it could be red oak.


And I asked, it's a short scale bass.

(Message edited by altgrendel on April 26, 2009)
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1441
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 5:27 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Rod, nice to meet you. I just stumbled on this thread tonight. I have to commend you for stepping up and setting things right so quickly. As Bill mentioned there have been others who've just gotten pissed and didn't fix anything.
About the bass all I can say is wow. I want to buy it just because its so weird. I'd sure hate to try and set the intonation though.
Good luck with this auction and your others as well

Sam
rodsguitars
Junior
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 11
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 5:50 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Sam,
Good to meet you as well. It is such a weird bass. I can't believe the time and energy that went into some details of this bass and the lack of time and energy that went into other aspects. Why someone would not take the time to run the pickup wires under the controls is beyond me. My first thought was that it was built as an experimental model and that the pickups would be changed alot so why bother. I took to it my band practice today but our bass player didn't deem to play it. He probably thought he would catch something if he touched it! It's been great hearing all the different points of view.
Thanks,
Rod
artswork99
Senior Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 647
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 6:39 pm:   Edit Post

Rod,
Quite an interesting bass from the past. Thanks for sharing all that you have on this instrument and welcome to the forum.
Art
longhorncat
Advanced Member
Username: longhorncat

Post Number: 315
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 6:26 am:   Edit Post

The auction has been canceled.
Oh well.
effclef
Senior Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 546
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

:-( That's too bad. Rod has 10,000+ feedback and I wonder why he pulled it again.

EffClef
effclef
Senior Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 547
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 6:53 am:   Edit Post

:-( That's too bad. Rod has 10,000+ feedback and I wonder why he pulled it again.

EffClef
rodsguitars
Junior
Username: rodsguitars

Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 6:55 am:   Edit Post

Hello,
I decided to end the auction and hold on to it for a while. I've become quite attached to it since I've got it.
Thanks,
Rod
altgrendel
Member
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 73
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 7:02 am:   Edit Post

I honestly don't blame you one bit, Rod.

Enjoy it.
effclef
Senior Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 548
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 7:09 am:   Edit Post

Whoops, sorry for the double post!

Thanks, Rod - I am glad you didn't take someone's buy-it-now offer or something, that's a real bummer on Ebay when someone pulls the rug out.

It is a VERY interesting bass, despite the construction weirdness. I'd sure love to know the history. Homemade bits and pieces, sweaty barroom corrosion, many similarities to Alembics which came later - it would be an interesting story to know what this started our as, and how it may have changed over the years.

Please keep in touch in the Club! We love mysteries. :-)

EffClef
paulman
Advanced Member
Username: paulman

Post Number: 366
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 11:37 am:   Edit Post

The tailpiece looks centered and even. I was hingeing on making

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