| Author | Message | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 28 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's a charming bass we made back in 1972, number 72-14:  Right now it's getting fully restored, including sanding down and putting on a fresh oil finish. At all the end grain of the Mahogany body a rough bumpy texture had developed which was not only unattractive, but actually harsh enough to hurt if you scraped even lightly across it. I will post pictures of the after restoration when it's complete. | ||
| WIJ (rpnfbywij)
New Username: rpnfbywij Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2003 |
I liek that one... it's rather neat | ||
| WIJ (rpnfbywij)
New Username: rpnfbywij Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2003 |
just wondering but how much did that bass sell for originally? | ||
| Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 89 Registered: 6-2002 |
WIJ - I am not sure about the bass that is pictured as far as the cost. I do have an old brochure from 1973 and an Alembic from that time was $1650.00 with a hardshell case and power supply. | ||
| fretlessman123
New Username: fretlessman123 Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2003 |
that bass is awsome. expesally the curly cutaway and those pickups are really neet too. | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 225 Registered: 6-2002 |
I like that bass a lot too. I hope that the owner of this bass knows that I could provide it with a good home. Mica - I hate to be such a pest, but did you get any pics of this bass after the restoration? Is it finished yet? I would love to see other pics if there are any. - Michael | ||
| blazer
New Username: blazer Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2003 |
It looks a bit like Rick Turner's "pretzel" guitar, I take it that he was still with Alembic when it was made. | ||
| keavin
Junior Username: keavin Post Number: 46 Registered: 12-2002 |
the old brass looks really cool ,and also gives it a old,old look which is a very (vintage) look,also a very seldom seen on any newer alembics,which puts them in a class all by them selfes | ||
| keavin
Junior Username: keavin Post Number: 47 Registered: 12-2002 |
the old brass looks really cool ,and also gives it a old,old look which is a very (vintage) look,also a very seldom seen on any newer alembics,which puts them in a class all by them selfes | ||
| keavin
Junior Username: keavin Post Number: 49 Registered: 12-2002 |
 (Message edited by davehouck on May 19, 2005) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1756 Registered: 5-2002 |
 | ||
| fretlessoldguy
New Username: fretlessoldguy Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2003 |
Looking at that bass gives one a good image of what early Alembic instruments where like. Many progressive ideas even at that stage of developement. Was the tapered P/U an experiment in varying magnetic arpeture for each string, or were there increasingly large cylinder magnets for each string? I must say, I like the refinement of the newer instruments. ptron | ||
| mint_bass
Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 69 Registered: 1-2004 |
that bass is cool i like it it has something different about it like all alembics you can tell thought time and love went into creating it rather than just copying others | ||
| trekster
Junior Username: trekster Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2004 |
Revival! What ever happened to the restoration of this baby?? | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 508 Registered: 6-2002 |
I would love to know too! | ||
| exploiterplayer
Member Username: exploiterplayer Post Number: 71 Registered: 12-2002 |
Will this bass be for sale after the restoration? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2442 Registered: 6-2000 |
It went very well, but I can't seem to locate the photos - I sure hope I took some! If I don't find them soon, I'll ask the owner to swing by sometime (he doesn't live too far away) so I can record it for the file. The bass doesn't look much different, and that was the goal. There wasn't any sanding at all done - the oil alone dissolved the hardened little nubs at the endgrain and we were able to preserve the patina. Here's some others that seem to be from the before series:     The pickups did have a tapered magnetic core, but otherwise were constructed the same as we so now. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2443 Registered: 6-2000 |
The tuners were replaced before the finish restoration was done. | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 387 Registered: 4-2005 |
The curled upper horn on this bass reminds me of the Kit guitar that was in the Alembic store for a while | ||
| dannyj
New Username: dannyj Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2003 |
Here is an updated picture of my baby ! Sorry it took so long to post !  | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 917 Registered: 11-2004 |
That is just awesome. I'd love to see a few more pictures when you have the time. Thanks for checking in- can you share some of the history behind this one? | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 239 Registered: 5-2007 |
Finally, I have been waiting years to see this beauty | ||
| dannyj
New Username: dannyj Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2003 |
And yes I do take it out and play it ! Skinny neck and killer tone !  | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 915 Registered: 6-2002 |
Dannyj - I know exactly what you mean. I have the same electronics setup in my 1972 Alembic. It's the best bass tone there is. Michael | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 499 Registered: 7-2007 |
Very, very nice! | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 746 Registered: 8-2003 |
Man, the looks you must get from other bass players..."what the hell is THAT?!?" | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 242 Registered: 5-2007 |
What a rare beauty | ||
| new2alembic
Member Username: new2alembic Post Number: 86 Registered: 9-2008 |
Thank you for sharing. Great bass! Carl | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 830 Registered: 7-2003 |
Dannyj, simply WOW!!!!! Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 582 Registered: 6-2002 |
Great Pic...thanks! | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 583 Registered: 6-2002 |
Is that a piece of ebony inlaid to anchor the bridge pickup post? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7295 Registered: 5-2002 |
Danny, welcome to the board! As you can see, we love your wonderful bass! | ||
| dannyj
New Username: dannyj Post Number: 9 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hi Dave ! Thanks for the Welcome as I have been lurking for sometime as you can see ! Also I will be posting some more pic's of some other alembic's I own and history to follow on this one. | ||
| briant
Senior Member Username: briant Post Number: 609 Registered: 12-2004 |
"I do have an old brochure from 1973 and an Alembic from that time was $1650.00 with a hardshell case and power supply." I plugged this into several inflation calculators and they all came up with 1973 $1650 USD working out to roughly $8450 USD in 2012. Current base price of a Series I with standard 25% off list discount is $11,100. A price increase of $2650 over covering the cost of inflation isn't all that bad all things considered. |
