| Author | Message | ||
| bassman10096
Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 79 Registered: 7-2003 |
This looks like an interesting bass and maybe not a bad deal. '78 small standard small body S2 - pretty wood (can't tell what, but photographed well) - but, according to the ad, a 32" scale. I wonder how it balances? Starting bid $1,600 with no reserve. | ||
| kungfusheriff
Junior Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 38 Registered: 8-2003 |
I wrote that guy an email a while back when he advertised it in the Recycler for $1750. He never wrote back, so buyer beware and all that. | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 272 Registered: 6-2002 |
That does look like a nice bass. The only thing that bothers me about it is that the ad states that one of the strap buttons was moved about an inch to improve balance. It has a balance problem, and an extra hole?? I like the old Polane finish with the 32" scale! That extra hole really turns me off though. If it were unmolested, I would seriously consider it. By the way, I think everyone here know that I don't notice a balance problem with the small bodied basses. Even with a 32 or 34 inch scale! I am 99 percent sure that from the looks of it, the top and back on that bass is purpleheart. | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 327 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yes, I found that bass to be quite appealing as well. And I have already sent an email to the seller, which included a request for a close up of the area where the strap button was moved; that bothers me a lot too. I also requested the serial number and will post here when I get it. Michael, please describe Polane finishes; I'm unfamilar with them. As far as balance, I believe Mica has suggested that Michael is the only person who would not have a problem with balance on a small standard body with a medium or long scale neck <g>! Despite balance questions and strap button holes, my guess is this bass will sell for more than I'm willing to pay; which is probably a good thing <g>. Hey, I just noticed; the same guy has a listing for a DS-5. Looks like he may be selling the power supply separately?! | ||
| effclef
New Username: effclef Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2004 |
Yep, he's listed the supply and a cord separately. Pickup selector knob is missing. Top looks a little like Bubinga but Dela may be right about Purpleheart - the neck laminates are about the same color. Here's the link to the bass, to save time: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3700141218 EffClef | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 968 Registered: 9-2002 |
Woops Andy I didn't get there using your link. I tried "alembic" with the search on E-bay. Indeed very nice bass. Michael I remember you having medium and even long scale SS bodies right? No balance problem. I love those SS if they have at least a mdeium neck. BTW the search also delivered a nice Fernandes Alembic copy and an absolute georgeous Sadowski 5 str, my favourite. I left the nylon stocking concept. Now I'm gonna marry near-dead-old and afwully rich ladies. With the money I heritage I can spend on Alembics ...oh ...huh and on lawyers to keep out of jail ...well ...that;s a minor detail. Paul the really bad one Try this for the Alembic: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3700141218&category=4713 | ||
| bob
Intermediate Member Username: bob Post Number: 134 Registered: 11-2002 |
"Bass is classic Alembic sound - Loud." Well, now that that issue has finally been cleared up, what shall we talk about next? | ||
| effclef
New Username: effclef Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2004 |
Hmm - my link just worked for me. Weird. Well at least we can be happy the horns weren't cut off "for studio recording"! EffClef | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 969 Registered: 9-2002 |
Body in layers so ...Alembic heavy! Next issue?? A great one Brother Bob | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 329 Registered: 5-2002 |
Ok; I've heard back from the seller. - The serial number is 78 1164. So if Mica or Val have a chance to look that one up, it would be interesting to see what the wood card says. - The power supply and cable are not included. I emailed him back and suggested that not mentioning this in the listing might not be a good idea. - The front pickup is not wired. He did not explain why. I also suggested mentioning this in the listing. - He did volunteer that there is some static when the "treble is turned up". - He borrowed a camera to take the original pictures and thus is not able to provide pictures of the area where the strap button was moved, nor does he have any other pictures of the bass. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1427 Registered: 6-2000 |
Not much in the file: top: Purpleheart back: Purpleheart core: Mahogany neck: Maple and Purpleheart fgbd: ebony with mother ofpearl ovals scale: 30.75 inches birthday: June 30, 1978 It's marked as a replacement file, there is no ownership or repair history. He's got the power supply and cable listed separately. Guessing the 1/4" is stereo, and the one pickup is from using a mono cable. He could confirm with stereo headphones. The strap pin looks about the right spot - maybe it was moved to an experimental location and then put back in the original. Another guess. The yellowing of the polyurethane paint makes the Purpleheart look brownish, but it does look like Purpleheart to me. Don't understand confusion on the scale length, maybe he measure from the tailpiece? | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 331 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks Mica; I appreciate it. By the way, I was thinking that there is a post here somewhere that gives the price of a new power supply and cable, but I can't find it. What would the purchaser of this bass have to spend on a new power supply and cable? | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 273 Registered: 6-2002 |
I figured it was purpleheart from the grain pattern. I used to have a small standard bass that was VERY similar. Mine was serial number 78 1168. Just 4 numbers away. It seems from the description of the electronics, that this bass needs work. If you plug a mono cord into the 1/4 inch jack you should get the neck pickup, not the bridge pickup. Something here is strange. Also he is describing some static with the treble turned up...hmm..not good. But, if it can be had for the low no reserve price it is at now, it wouldn't be too bad. Considering that the bass needs work, possible electronic$ upgrade. | ||
| stoney
Advanced Member Username: stoney Post Number: 267 Registered: 7-2002 |
The power supply and cord are listed under not one but TWO seperate auctions. Nice guy, huh?? Stoney | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 332 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yea Stoney, I don't think it was the right thing to do; but maybe there's some reason I haven't thought of besides money. In the least, I don't think he has endeared himself to buyers; and he has possibly generated some amount of mistrust. I'm also thinking that if potential buyers consider they have to shell out for a new power supply and cable, then he might not get as much as he would have if he had sold them together. When I emailed him, I suggested that most people who are in the market for a Series bass know that you have to have the power supply; and that most listings for Series basses I have seen included the power supply and cable or specifically stated otherwise. I went on to suggest that some bidders may therefore assume the power supply and cable are included; and if the winning bidder made such an assumption, then there might possibly be some trouble ensuing. However, he has not yet edited the listing; so I assume he disagrees with my assessment. | ||
| yggdrasil
Junior Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 29 Registered: 5-2002 |
Just money - He wrote this to me: "Power supply and cable not included. I did list them, not together because I didn't want to just give them away--since I only want 1600 for the bass " It sounds like it needs at least the $1500 electronics upgrade ( Ron did this on my Series 1 and it made an immense difference, in hindsight well worth the cost & the rather long wait for completion) After corresponding with him, I wouldn't bid on this bass without having it in my hands first. | ||
| stoney
Advanced Member Username: stoney Post Number: 268 Registered: 7-2002 |
Yea, he wrote to me too and said he is "selling them seperately in order to keep the price of the bass down" | ||
| effclef
New Username: effclef Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2004 |
YGGDRASIL SAID: It sounds like it needs at least the $1500 electronics upgrade ( Ron did this on my Series 1 and it made an immense difference, in hindsight well worth the cost & the rather long wait for completion) = = = So what is the difference in sound? How old was the Series 1 you had it done to? I am curious because some posts have talked about a hum reduction upgrade that helps the Series electronics, but I am wondering if there is some particular reason to have an upgrade done for reasons of sound quality. And is there a "build date" which says you definitely need it, or definitely don't? For $1500, did they pull everything but the controls and pickups? I wonder if there is a lesser upgrade you could do yourself (by just unplugging and swapping circuit boards). EffClef | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 336 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here is my less than informed take; Mica and others can speak much more authoritatively on this subject than I, and of course Michael has owned lots of older Series basses and has immense first hand knowledge, but perhaps this will help some and not be too far off base. I have yet to own a Series instrument, but have followed this issue closely. As a generalization, older Series basses will have some degree of hum and noise. One of the reasons for this is the significant and ever increasing amount of electronic transmissions in the air around our basses; so that a bass that would have been quiet in 1974 might be noisy in 2004. From what I understand, the amount of hum or noise can vary greatly depending on where you are playing, some players may only experience a problem in one particular club. The amount of hum or noise can apparently vary widely amoung basses, even of the same year. I do not think there is a particular "build date" which says whether you definitely need an upgrade or not. Also, it is my understanding that Series electronics are individually hand calibrated, so I doubt that there would be a do-it-yourself upgrade; apparently the adjustments needed for any particular bass will be unique to that instrument. When considering an older Series bass I always ask the seller about hum and noise and whether the bass has had an electronics upgrade. It is also worth mentioning that on the back of Series basses there are trim pots for the purpose of adjusting the hum cancellation; it could be that in some cases, the seller may not have the trim pots adjusted optimally. I could be wrong about all of this, I'm just guessing; but that's my take from trying to make sense of this subject for a while. |
