| Author | Message | ||
| toddharris
Junior Username: toddharris Post Number: 18 Registered: 7-2008 |
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 |
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 |
I love these old lembics  | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 812 Registered: 8-2003 |
Sublime. How's she play? | ||
| toddharris
Junior Username: toddharris Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2008 |
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  | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 814 Registered: 8-2003 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
More pix  | ||
| toddharris
Member Username: toddharris Post Number: 76 Registered: 7-2008 |
 | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 492 Registered: 12-2004 |
Good Photo todd! | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 889 Registered: 8-2005 |
Killer bass!!! | ||
| eflat
Junior Username: eflat Post Number: 36 Registered: 11-2006 |
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 |
it's my dream | ||
| toddharris
Advanced Member Username: toddharris Post Number: 298 Registered: 7-2008 |
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 |
"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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
