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Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post

Here's a charming bass we made back in 1972, number 72-14:

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
Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 5:08 pm:   Edit Post

I liek that one... it's rather neat
WIJ (rpnfbywij)
New
Username: rpnfbywij

Post Number: 8
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 2:25 pm:   Edit Post

just wondering but how much did that bass sell for originally?
Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 89
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 5:58 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2003 - 6:54 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, December 02, 2003 - 7:31 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 2:16 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:52 am:   Edit Post

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 Picture 002 (3).jpg
keavin
Junior
Username: keavin

Post Number: 47
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:11 pm:   Edit Post




(Message edited by davehouck on May 19, 2005)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1756
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 1:58 pm:   Edit Post

alembic brass!!!
fretlessoldguy
New
Username: fretlessoldguy

Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 12:04 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 1:11 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 9:13 am:   Edit Post

Revival! What ever happened to the restoration of this baby??
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 508
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 10:22 am:   Edit Post

I would love to know too!
exploiterplayer
Member
Username: exploiterplayer

Post Number: 71
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 11:36 am:   Edit Post

Will this bass be for sale after the restoration?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2442
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 12:29 pm:   Edit Post

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:

body back

plate

peghead

pegheadback

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
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 12:32 pm:   Edit Post

The tuners were replaced before the finish restoration was done.
57basstra
Advanced Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 387
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 6:22 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 8:20 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 8:42 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 10:52 am:   Edit Post

Finally, I have been waiting years to see this beauty
dannyj
New
Username: dannyj

Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 11:48 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008 - 3:46 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008 - 4:50 am:   Edit Post

Very, very nice!
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 746
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008 - 5:02 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008 - 8:54 am:   Edit Post

What a rare beauty
new2alembic
Member
Username: new2alembic

Post Number: 86
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008 - 10:32 am:   Edit Post

Thank you for sharing. Great bass!

Carl
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 830
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 01, 2008 - 5:36 am:   Edit Post

Dannyj,

simply WOW!!!!!

Oliver (Spyderman)
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 582
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 01, 2008 - 9:21 pm:   Edit Post

Great Pic...thanks!
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 583
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 01, 2008 - 9:34 pm:   Edit Post

Is that a piece of ebony inlaid to anchor the bridge pickup post?
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7295
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - 11:46 pm:   Edit Post

Danny, welcome to the board! As you can see, we love your wonderful bass!
dannyj
New
Username: dannyj

Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2009 - 4:22 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 12:47 pm:   Edit Post

"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.

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