2001 A Bass Oddity

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Author Message longhorncat Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 175 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 7:48 am:    Here's my new to me Series I. Original ordered directly from Alembic in 1978 by Ed Levine. The 78 2001 serial number seems to be out of the normal Alembic sequence. I'll find out more when Mica returns from making little Alembians. fc_spoiler Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 573 Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 7:53 am:    Congrats! Maybe it took a few years to build? It's an early 80ies number, my ex 83 Spoiler was 2433. longhorncat Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 176 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 7:56 am:    longhorncat Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 177 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 7:58 am:    keavin Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1252 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 10:43 am:    Welcome to "Old alembic" side of the club! olieoliver Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1469 Registered: 2-2006 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 11:28 am:    Is that "old" as in the owners or the basses. (rim-shot-please) OLD-Olie longhorncat Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 178 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 11:36 am:    Well, I've been around 15 years longer than this bass, but I don't feel old. (Just a little slower.) olieoliver Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1470 Registered: 2-2006 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 11:46 am:    Amen to that Bill. I'm a '62 model myself but feel like 70 GTO Judge at Green Valley Race-way, turning heads and running like mad. LOL You need to bring this one to the next Dallas Alembi-fest. Austin ain't dat far! dela217 Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 819 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 1:25 pm:    This is sure is an odd one. Not only is the number out of sequence, but it is stamped on the fingerboard. The 1978 basses I have owned were stamped on the tip of the headstock. Also I think its a little unusual to see a Series II neck that has the maple and purpleheart laminations reversed. That is truly a beautiful bass with that zebra top. Great find! Michael bracheen Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 1241 Registered: 11-2003 Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 6:03 am:    Bill, it just occurred to me why you call yourself longhorncat. I always thought it referenced long horn basses. Talk about being a little slower. It is a beautiful bass at any rate. I am a big time zebra wood fan. Especially when the grains are at an angle. Sam davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5311 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 5:54 pm:    Congrats! I like the back laminate too. longhorncat Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 180 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 7:34 pm:    Thank you all. I played the bass all day when it first arrived. The electronics are quiet and I love the neck. The red Purpleheart really contrasts more than the pictures show. I actually like the back of the bass better than the front. I spent the next day polishing the rust-red tarnish off the brass. It was bad enough that Valentino thought the nut was made of ceramic. I changed the strings over to flats and am still trying to dial the action back in. I’m hoping Mica can shed some light on this interesting beast when she returns. I’d love to come to the next Dallas Alembi-fest. My weekends are full being Mr. Soccer Mom, so the timing has to be right. (Message edited by longhorncat on July 19, 2007) 82daion Junior Username: 82daion Post Number: 49 Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:59 pm:    That's an awesome wood combination, and that bass is in much better shape than the for-sale thread pics led me to believe. Nice score-play it in good health! longhorncat Intermediate Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 199 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:05 pm:    I just wanted to add what Mica found: top: Zebrawood body: Purpleheart back: not recorded on wood card* through body neck: 7-piece Purpleheart and Maple, 32" medium scale fingerboard: Ebony with abalone inlays and side LEDs peghead veneers: matching Zebrawood *The wood card doesn't specify the back, but the custom order form stated "Walnut" for the back, then later next to that is writted "our choice" so you'll have to post a pic of the back to solve this mystery. I'm pretty sure the original owner of this bass wanted us to time the finishing of the bass to get the 2001 serial number since we were near it when the bass was started.