74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Alembic Club » Showcase » Series I basses and guitars » 74 0r 75 Flamed Maple Series I Bass « Previous Next »

Author Message
toddharris
Junior
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 18
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

Here are some pictures of my recently acquired Series I bass - it plays and sounds amazing and is extremely lightweight. I believe the composition is Flamed Maple over mahogany or possibly walnut core and maple and walnut neck with gorgeous inlays of Walnut holding the frets at the edges. Hoping to get an exact year as the serial number has rubbed off during a wonderful refinish by Pat Wilkins. I'm posting some identifying pictures and numbers on the page to get production information. Thanks for looking.
Body with Brown pickups

Back

Flamed Mahogany Headstock with brass scalloped nut

Old DS5 (?) and Blue series 1 case

Headstock back
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 639
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 7:22 pm:   Edit Post

Great looking pictures of that masterpiece of an instrument...congrats and thanks for sharing.
Wow :-)
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 384
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 6:21 am:   Edit Post

I love these old lembics
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 812
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 4:14 pm:   Edit Post

Sublime. How's she play?
toddharris
Junior
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 22
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 5:02 pm:   Edit Post

The bass plays without effort - just put a set of new Alembic strings on it and the sound and feel is incredible and wonderful. Low action, fast neck - the short scale is new to me and I'm getting used to it fast. I've been in love with BC Rich late 70s Koa Eagles (I have 3) with their super fast necks and live feel - the ebony board on this is so rich - the sound surrounds my bandmates and they can't stop telling me how great it sounds. I've been reviewing every 73 - 75 series 1 picture on this board and am thinking this may be very early 75 as it seems most of the 75s I see are black pickups. Still hoping to be able to date it based on the scalloped nut, brown pickups and electronics. Todd
80 Koa Eagle BC Rich
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 814
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 7:46 pm:   Edit Post

The sound and feel of the short-scale Series basses are really something special. The Stanley Clarke association aside, I believe those factors are behind the constant demand for that configuration.
I have a graphite-neck short-scale Series 2 from '82 that I should bring for you to check out if I ever play NYC again. That bass has its' own little following. Best instrument I've ever touched.
Yours, as far as features in common with other basses, has a lot in common with Bucky's bass, 74-52, and a later Series One, 75-150, which I almost bought a few years ago but which ended up with another member here due to a mold problem I had and the very sudden move that followed it.
Both of those basses have walnut necks with what looks like maple stringers (accents) and the lovely caramel-colored pickups. You'll notice that 74-52 shares the scalloped nut, but has a brass plate between the pickups. That's not the humcanceller, as occupies that position on your bass; rather, the humcanceller is hidden inside the body and underneath that compartment are the batteries. I gather that is an earlier design that was abandoned shortly after 74-52 was built.
On the other hand, 75-150 has an un-scalloped nut and a humcanceller in the center position. I wasn't there, but my guess is that 75-150 was built during the early part of that year. Going on the assumption that Alembic's production probably wasn't more than a few dozen instruments per year at that point, I'd venture a guess that yours is a '74, not a '75.
Very curious to see what Mica can tell us. I'm warming the oil for the popcorn right now. ;)
peoplechipper
Junior
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 10:34 pm:   Edit Post

Todd, funny to see that BC rich bass, as I sold my Eagle to help pay for my Distillate...my Eagle was maple bodt w/walnut...great bass, but I prefer 32" scale and my Alembic CRUSHED it tonally...Tony.
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 631
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 6:43 am:   Edit Post

Hey Todd, very nice BC Rich. They really did make some great basses back in the day.

Very beautiful series too - I bet that bass has a story or two to tell.

John.
toddharris
Junior
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 23
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 8:01 am:   Edit Post

Dear KungFuSheriff - your observations are much appreciated. We may never get to an exact serial number but I'm thinking late 74 early 75 are pretty safe bets. Haven't seen this color combination very much in terms of the face and rear of the bass - they really standout and are bringing inquiries when I play out. Tony, I have had 5 pre-takover Rich Eagles starting with one I bought a age 16 ('76) and each one had unique sonic qualities. Love them, but haven't played them much since gettting this incredible playing/sounding series I. Thanks, Todd
toddharris
Member
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 75
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 - 12:18 pm:   Edit Post

More pix
toddharris
Member
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 76
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 - 12:19 pm:   Edit Post

serialnumber12
Senior Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 492
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 6:25 am:   Edit Post

Good Photo todd!
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 889
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 6:39 am:   Edit Post

Killer bass!!!
eflat
Junior
Username: eflat

Post Number: 36
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 7:57 pm:   Edit Post

Historic and beautiful, play it in good health.

Someday I will have a Series 1.... :-)
bigyouth
Intermediate Member
Username: bigyouth

Post Number: 159
Registered: 7-2006
Posted on Monday, July 20, 2009 - 4:34 am:   Edit Post

it's my dream
toddharris
Advanced Member
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 298
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 - 5:38 pm:   Edit Post

Just a heads up - I will be posting a listing for the sale of this bass shortly. I have just had it refinished by Pat Wilkins and the electronics are extremely quiet - the bass will come with the silver power pack pictures and the form fitting blue case (1 broken latch) and a recently purchased 25' 5 pin cable from Alembic. The bass is ultralightweight. The neck is perfect and plays at low action and sounds AMAZING. I paid $3800 for the bass and $700 for the finish. Will take $4300 shipped prior to public offering. Very cool, very early, very rare short scale bass.
skyboltone
Intermediate Member
Username: skyboltone

Post Number: 110
Registered: 11-2010
Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 - 8:15 pm:   Edit Post

"as the serial number has rubbed off during a wonderful refinish by Pat Wilkins"

Odd choice of words; "wonderful". Sorry. I can't imagine sanding the serial number off a "Very cool, very early, very rare short scale bass."

I'd be after mister Wilkins' hide. Wouldn't one consider at least recording the number in the extremely unusual circumstance where a serial number would need removal? Is he a luthier?

Harsh words perhaps. None of my business perhaps but it makes me angry, and out of the market for your bass. I've been looking for just such a bass. My apologies for venting frustration.
lembic76450
Advanced Member
Username: lembic76450

Post Number: 290
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 - 8:38 pm:   Edit Post

Dan
In the early days of Alembic, a number of bass serial numbers were not too deeply stamped. This has led to a few basses with unreadable numbers. This just makes it a rarity amongst rarities. The serial number was in question before Todd bought it, I believe.
skyboltone
Intermediate Member
Username: skyboltone

Post Number: 112
Registered: 11-2010
Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 - 8:59 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Kenn: That's good to know. I guess I'm calming down. I tried very hard to acquire James' 75-150 from Jane but alas to no avail. I suggested in the swap forum that Todd might contact the PO who may have recorded the number.

Todd:, where is the bass located? My cousin keeps an empty apartment in Westchester for visits to town (who can explain such people!?) and has repeatedly taunted me to fly out for a NYC experience. I haven't been since 1963? Unfortunately I'd have to do the entire East Coast from Syracuse to Naples Florida to prevent a civil war. If I took my wife maybe she wouldn't notice the extra luggage on the way back.
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1783
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 - 9:25 pm:   Edit Post

I would like to comment that I purchased an SF-2 from Todd a while back and it should be noted that it was very cool to do business with him and his packing of the unit was exemplary for the trip form the East Coast to the West. HI Todd ! Dan, if you walk down 47th Street (Diamond District) in NYC with your wife she might see a sparkle she likes too, then she will experience a sudden distraction from your new Alembic .LOL _ just joking ____
skyboltone
Intermediate Member
Username: skyboltone

Post Number: 113
Registered: 11-2010
Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 - 10:43 pm:   Edit Post

Oh I know Wolf. That's what I'm afraid of.......sorta. Getting on in years you know. My cousin mentioned that she and her husband are not going to keep the apartment forever. They live in Hilton Head now but I still have another cousin in the City who plays first piano for the Met so I'd really be connected musically while there. http://www.instantencore.com/citymetro/photos.aspx?perfsubregion=Washington-Baltimore&PhotoId=66136 (she sure was pretty when she was 20 and I was 13) Last time I went I was 13 and stayed up about 48 hours with maybe a couple short naps "doing" the City. Amazing unforgettable trip. My beloved long suffering wife has never been. The whole thing is sounding better and better. Hell maybe I can get Linda to send a bass player from the Met orchestra to look.
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1784
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - 12:05 am:   Edit Post

When I went to NYC in April 86 I had a blast. Music of every type all night long, and day too !
toddharris
Advanced Member
Username: toddharris

Post Number: 306
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - 5:18 am:   Edit Post

Hi All, The bass is an hour out of Long Island, 10 minutes east of Huntington on the North Shore. Hi Daniel, as indicated above, the serial number was gone when I got it - Pat Wilkins does superb work and is among the best in the business as far as my dealings with him have gone - a great finish. It is a wonderful bass and finish. Thanks Wolf - hoping you are well, Todd

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration