| Author | Message | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 978 Registered: 7-2004 |
After 30+ years of lusting, my Series 1 guitar arrived today. When I first saw it on eBay and told my wife I wanted to bid, she asked "why another Alembic?" After explaining it to her (and making a mental note to get her a helluva Valentine's Day present), I thought since this will be my other Alembic, a most appropriate name is suggested. So, without further ado, Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce for your viewing (& listening?) pleasure: THE OTHER ONE   Walnut top & back, rosewood fingerboard  Koa core  Beech & Walnut neck  The info with the guitar says a bocate veneer, but not where. I think this may be it.   No truss rod cover, no holes either?  appears to be brass cap on wood tailpiece.  my wife loves the purple lining in the case.  Birthday: August 19, 1976 Serial No: 76-476 I'm in love! Bill, tgo | ||
| speicky
Intermediate Member Username: speicky Post Number: 109 Registered: 3-2005 |
Bill ! Congrats once more ! Now I know why it took a few more minutes ;-) Wonderful photos of a gorgeous guitar ! Play and enjoy in good health, yours Christian (the faker) | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 289 Registered: 7-2004 |
Wow Bill - she's a real beauty! Considering it's nearly thirty years old - the pictures make it look very well preserved. The walnut and koa are just lovely, and the logo has a very nice hand-cut quality. How does it sound? Enjoy Tom | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2284 Registered: 9-2002 |
Bill ...GREAT! THis is the kind of guitar that could me tempt into higher frequencies. I just LOOOOVE that model! Playability outstanding I presume??? Sound ...never heard before?? Enjoy the many hours of playing and gigging to come! Paul the bad one | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 339 Registered: 2-2005 |
Bill, Congrats. It looks really clean. I think you did well on this one. Keith | ||
| jack
Junior Username: jack Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2005 |
A classic! Congrats! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3218 Registered: 5-2002 |
Beautiful!!! I don't think truss rod covers started showing up until sometime in '77. | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 336 Registered: 12-2003 |
Looks brand new! Congrats Bill. | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 574 Registered: 11-2004 |
Bill, that is beautiful. Congrats. Rich | ||
| rklisme
Advanced Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 295 Registered: 5-2004 |
Bill What a beauty, once again enjoy and congratulations. Rory | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 530 Registered: 6-2002 |
Congratulations Bill, A true beauty. You're gonna have some fun! Mike | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 762 Registered: 6-2002 |
Definitely one to cherish - and play! One wonders what the koa would have looked like without the tops - nothing against the walnut, which is just classy, just curious. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 982 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks to Rory, I got to try her out last night. He met me at my studio with his extra DS-5R (which he has graciously lent to me), I plugged The Other One in and, how do I put this? ... there is nothing like a Series instrument. It's as if the quantum leap from my Strat to my Electrum is roughly equal to the leap from Electrum to Series. I also discovered something: a ric-o-sound box works with a Series 1. Thanks to everyone for their good thoughts. I can't even begin to describe how ecstatic I am about this guitar. Conditionwise, it's as if it left the factory last week! The neck is thin and fast with just the right string spacing, as opposed to my Electrum's more narrow spacing. And the sound!!!! What can I say? I just tried it straight through my Boogie last night - no pedals, no SF-2, no BBE Sonic Maximizer. (I hadn't been to the studio since we dropped off the equipment after the last gig, so nothing was set up). This axe is going to sound unbelievable through my regular rig. Again, thanks to Rory, everyone here, to Alembic for building this beauty, and to whoever's hands it's been in for the past 30 years for taking EXCELLENT care of this amazing instrument. Bill, thgo (the happy guitar one) | ||
| rklisme
Advanced Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 297 Registered: 5-2004 |
Hey Guys What a pleasure it was to hang with Bill last night. It is hard to discribe what he was feeling as he was putting his new Alembic through its paces. It was like Christmas for me just watching him and listening to this sweet guitar. I had never heard a Series I guitar before and I must tell you this has to be the most amazing guitar I have ever heard! Anyway I was glad to be able to help a fellow Alembician out in his time of need and I hope you get many years of enjoyment out of THE OTHER ONE! Rory | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 763 Registered: 6-2002 |
Not to take anything away from the glories of Series electronics, but you may be surprised how good your Electrum may sound going straight into the Boogie, compared to going through all the processing units. | ||
| staemius
Member Username: staemius Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2004 |
Fanastic Bill! Congrats. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 983 Registered: 7-2004 |
Adriaan: I've had the Electrum through the Boogie by itself many times. In fact, I brought the Electrum down to the studio last night and A/B'd the two instruments. Don't get me wrong, the Electrum is a great guitar, sounds fantastic. When I got the Electrum a couple of years ago, it wound up replacing a '61 Strat and a PRS as No. 1. Even so, it pales in comparison to the Series. In addition, the Series electronics offers far more flexibility than the Electrum. My pedal board isn't that complex. Compressor, analog delay, tube screamer, chorus, wah, volume pedal. Usually I don't use any of it, and when I do it's usually one pedal at a time. The SF-2 and the BBE are in the effects loop. I've never noticed the SF-2 taking anything away from the sound. It's the opposite. Essentially an SF-2 is sort of like having Series 2 controls on your rack. The BBE is a neat subtle unit that basically puts back in any tone sucked out by the old style stomp boxes. Bill, tgo | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 983 Registered: 4-2004 |
bill i think you could retire from collecting now..... it wont get better than this.... absolutely stunning..... guess this means a trip to oakland for me to hang out and play with ya again.... lol mazel tov- play it in good health what kind of car are you buying the wife? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 985 Registered: 7-2004 |
An iMac, but don't tell her.. Bill, tgo | ||
| the_8_string_king
Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 83 Registered: 9-2005 |
Schuh-weet!!! Nice score, Bill!!! The koa core is my favorite part! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 766 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill, Whatever gets you where you want to go ... Adriaan | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 665 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nice. I would love to hear it. John | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 986 Registered: 4-2004 |
what kind of car is an imac?> lol will see ya when the tribute is ready.... or the mets hit frisco- oops san francisco..... got my steinbrenner bass today.. man it sounds good the big question? will bill start downsizing his collection now? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 989 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hey Flax, you been talkin' to my wife? Bill, tgo | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 373 Registered: 7-2002 |
Bill, About the exposed truss rod; The factory didn't use truss rod covers on alot of early Alembics. Kinda' cool 70's vibe. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 990 Registered: 4-2004 |
nah....... but i took out the garbage and let the cat out earlier today for ya...... lmao....... my tribute order was taken out to the shop moments ago..... and i bought a rick turner bass... see post | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2874 Registered: 6-2002 |
BUMP. I had the pleasure of seeing that guitar in the flesh recently. It is superb. I had previously shied away from the older series guitars but that one made me change my perspective. However I'm not looking to buy anymore instruments for the foreseeable future. Thanks Bill Jazzyvee | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5145 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jazzyvee: It was a pleasure having you stay with us for the week of the Northern Cali gathering. And the bass you picked up is spectacular! In the words of the prototypical Jewish mother: "what, so you didn't like my '77 Series 1 12 string?" (The above is a variation of the old joke about the Jewish mother who gives her son two ties for his birthday, a red tie and a blue tie. The son runs upstairs and comes down a few minutes later wearing the red tie. The mother takes one look and says, "so you don't like the blue tie?") Bill, tjgo | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2476 Registered: 5-2009 |
I think I have heard that one for real Bill _____ LOL ___ |
