| Author | Message | ||
| stephenr
Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 20 Registered: 9-2014 |
Wanted to share a couple of pictures of my 1978 Brazilian Rosewood five-string Series I bass. I have owned this instrument since 1985. It was my second Alembic bass and my first five-string bass. I mentioned this bass to Mica a couple of years ago during a phone conversation and she told me they have no records in-house about this particular instrument. I also do not have the build sheet. 32" scale Brazilian Rosewood top and back over Mahogany core Maple neck with Purpleheart laminates Ebony fingerboard Mother of Pearl inlays Walnut laminates on front and rear of peghead Still have the original case. The bass has Schaller tuning keys, the original tuning keys appear to have been replaced at some point prior to my acquisition. | ||
| musashi
Advanced Member Username: musashi Post Number: 235 Registered: 5-2004 |
Supercool. | ||
| room037
Senior Member Username: room037 Post Number: 510 Registered: 9-2003 |
Wow ! Nice bass ! Very interested unusual tail piece. Incredible top and back wood ! I also own small body MSB 5 strings. My bass set up with Hi-C strings. Now it is my main bass. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 132 Registered: 6-2014 |
Wow, now that's one I'd love to try! What a beauty! And even better, that must be one of the earliest 5-strings too. I'm with Eiji on the unusual tailpiece... it reminds me of the one on this employee-made Europa: http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/202968.html?1418031491 | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 2024 Registered: 7-2007 |
Great bass, beautiful! | ||
| stephenr
Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 25 Registered: 9-2014 |
The picture gremlins seem to have it out for me. Second time I have posted pictures on the forums here and had them disappear. Going to repost and add external links just in case...  http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/full%20shot%20front.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20front.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/alembic%20back.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/web_photos/case.jpg | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 377 Registered: 3-2009 |
Awww Man!!!! That is such an amazing looking instrument there! I know that it sounds superb! Congratulations! If there is a 5 string that I'd like to have, it would be that one! | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 952 Registered: 5-2007 |
The rosewood has such depth and beauty. Great looking bass. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1891 Registered: 5-2002 |
Looks like an old Bag End cab back there. I have one of a similar vintage. | ||
| stephenr
Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 27 Registered: 9-2014 |
Yes, it is a early-mid 80s Bag End D10M with JBL E-110 speakers. I used to use it with two single 15 JBL Cabaret series cabinets. It is pretty heavy considering the small size and actually makes for a better guitar cab than bass. The bass is really nice and holds a lot of sentimental value to me. Wish I could say that it was getting a lot of use but after 25 years of playing 35" scale basses with wider necks I find it really challenging to play a 32" scale bass with a narrow neck. I love the sound of the series electronics, though, and have been reluctant to let it go unless I can replace it with another series bass. | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 379 Registered: 3-2009 |
Well If you ever consider selling it please contact me!!! (just sayin') Sometimes I'll bring out my 2 Bag End D10BX-D's to gig with, but since I had a couple of custom 2x10's made in which I can lift both at the same time (& they sound just as good as the Bag Ends) I usually keep em' in the basement and make some noise there. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1894 Registered: 5-2002 |
I haven't really figured out what to do with my Bag End cab. It's a double 12 and is really massive. It came with Gauss speakers and doesn't really have the deep sound you might think with such a large cabinet. It's unmovable by myself. But, it was given to me as payment for some mixing and production work I did 20 years ago. I thought about seeing if I could adapt it to 15s, but it's just slightly too small to enlarge the speaker cutouts. So, did you play this bass with the Zen Tricksters? | ||
| stephenr
Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 29 Registered: 9-2014 |
Some of the older Bag End cabinets are really heavy and unwieldy. The one I have was designed as a mid-range cab so it also has little bass response. I think all the early BE cabinets were designed to be modular, as far as I know none were intended to be full range cabinets. I have considered selling mine but probably won't get much more for it than the value of the speakers themselves so I have kept it. I did play this Alembic when I was in the Zen Tricksters. I joined the Jeff Mattson Band in September of 1987 and a short time later the bass spot in the Volunteers opened up. When the Volunteers came to an end Jeff, Tom, Jen and I formed the Tricksters. I left in late 1991 prior to moving to CA in 1992. Charles... I will keep you in mind if I ever decide to sell the bass. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1895 Registered: 5-2002 |
Interesting. I remember hearing about you guys and this bass (I was a freak for Alembics, which I didn't get to see that often onstage) when my band, Shockra, came down to NYC to play gigs at the Wetlands, etc. | ||
| room037
Senior Member Username: room037 Post Number: 512 Registered: 9-2003 |
Wow, I'm second in line, if Charles won't buy your bass. The narrow neck 5 strings is unique and unusual. I think the narrow 5 is not familiar for all, but I feel it better. Eiji | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4367 Registered: 6-2002 |
I will jump the queue if I have to...:-) | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 380 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Stephen, Did you ever hear of "Spiders-N-Snakes"? My wife's buddy, Drummer Tim Yasui also Cleopatra Records plays around in your neck of the woods (I guess). Anyway thanks for keeping me mind if you decide to sell. | ||
| stephenr
Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2014 |
Wow... kind of amazed at, and appreciate, all the interest in this bass but at this point there is no queue to join. I have had it for almost 30 years and like a lot of instruments I own but don't play regularly have never wanted to sell it. But, if I ever find another series bass that I consider a keeper it will be time for this one to move on to a new owner. I remember Shockra but never saw you guys live. Wetlands was certainly a special place, one of the most fun venues I have had the pleasure to work in. Never heard of Spiders N Snakes... | ||
| moongerm
Advanced Member Username: moongerm Post Number: 214 Registered: 8-2013 |
Wow what a great 5 string! Beautiful! | ||
| stephenr
Intermediate Member Username: stephenr Post Number: 194 Registered: 9-2014 |
My wife and I recently had the pleasure of finally making the trip up to Santa Rosa for a visit and to fulfill MIca’s request from several years ago to bring my bass up so it could be photographed and formally documented. In the early days the company was not as meticulous about keeping records of the instruments and didn’t always take photos. Mica has developed a nifty system for taking photos so current builds are now all properly documented and added to the archives. As has been noted by many others before me, a trip to the mothership will not disappoint and you will receive a warm welcome from everyone you meet there. Lots of fun to get a behind the scenes look at how they work their magic and you will be surrounded by instruments both finished and in progress. When I made an appointment for my visit I asked Mica for a quote on having a master volume installed in my bass. She offered me the option of having it done during the visit so I would not have to drive back to pick it up when completed. Sounded like a great opportunity so it was an easy decision to take her up on the offer. After the addition of the master volume was completed Mica took some excellent photos so it seemed time to update my showcase thread. While the bass was there I also asked to have the battery circuit checked, I always use the DS5 but the 1/4” jack didn’t function properly. Turned out the previous owner had new battery leads installed and they were not wired correctly. They installed new battery leads and also offered to install inserts for the screws that hold on the brass plate for the electronics. Nice to see the bass get some long needed TLC. The other surprise was that Mica finally managed to find the build sheet on my bass so I now know its official “birthday”… 6/30/78.  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_frontviewNL.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_backviewNL.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_bodyfrontNL.jpg | ||
| stephenr
Intermediate Member Username: stephenr Post Number: 195 Registered: 9-2014 |
A few more pictures...  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_bodybackNL.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_pegheadNL.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_pegheadbackNL.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_tailpieceNL.jpg  http://www.stephenramirez.com/images/01172_TRCNL.jpg | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1639 Registered: 1-2005 |
Wow! Wonderful pictures of an amazing bass! I was fortunate to get to see it in person at the recent mini-gathering and hear Edwin play it a little bit. | ||
| rv_bass
Junior Username: rv_bass Post Number: 39 Registered: 8-2014 |
Beautiful bass Stephen! I like the tailpiece and head stock, and the wood is wonderful! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4815 Registered: 5-2009 |
Beautiful indeed ! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4816 Registered: 5-2009 |
Beautiful indeed ! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4938 Registered: 6-2002 |
Gorgeous bass. I presume it was one of the first 5 string alembic basses. |
