For sale Alembic series 1 SSB. PRICE DROP $6500

Lovely lookng bass. Have you got more images? What work was done on the electronics?

Hi Thanks for your inquiry Here's some more pictures. As for the electronics Alembic repaired and rebuilt the main preamp circuit .Typical with these vintage Alembics ,the electronic components full function fades over time.And although the bass worked and sounded amazing before the rebuild .I noticed the gain output of the 2 pickups were not 100% equal .Alembic confirmed the pickups were fully functional and rebuilt the preamp electronics with new components to restore it it back to its original new working order .Please feel free to ask any other questions or if you would like any further clarification on the repair.The Bass is now 100% perfectly fully functional. Sounds amazing with Killer Tone and plays great set up with low fast clean action.
Loss of income is the only reason I'm regretfully forced to sell this super sweet bass.Thankfully I 'll still be keeping one of my 5 string Alembics
Anthony

Thanks for the additional information and images. Did the bass ever have the additional work to reduce interefence, because the pickups look like replacements? Does it come with a PSU box?

Hi. Thanks for your response.
I do not believe the pickups were priorly replaced.Alembic factory confirmed the pickups are 100% fully functional. And rebuilt the preamp Resulting in restoring matching pick up gain output and better noise cancelling /interference performance from its prior state. Which was very noticeable when I recently got it back.
Cheers Tone

Is there any chance you could post some pictures taken in daylight?
Particularly the headstock front & rear, to include the nut & headstock joint.
My point about the pickups not being original isn't a negative, as they are sometimes replaced as part of a noise suppression upgrade that's done on a lot of pre-2000 alembics.

Hi. All questions are completely welcome and I would never have any negative take a ways from any of them .And yes the pickups do look pretty shiney and new for being 41 years old.Though I've not confirmed that. Alembic has confirmed the pickups are 100% fine .When the preamp work was done it was restored to its original working order.Noise interference has never been a problem for me at any gigs or studio sessions. Here's the pictures you requested.Please feel free to request any additional info or pictures if you like.
Cheers Tone

Nice bass! I am assuming that you are not the original owner. At some point the pickups were definitely replaced, pretty sure the pickups with gold logo lettering were introduced in the 90s, change was cosmetic only and the ones with black logo are still an option on newer builds. As you noted it is common with older Alembics to have the electronics upgraded. When the preamps were designed in the early 70s the circuit was designed to reject existing forms of RFI. Some of the older instruments are prone to picking up noise from newer types of RFI. When you send an instrument in for the upgrade each has to be evaluated and bringing it up to spec may or may not mean pickup replacement. Because of that the price for the work varies based on amount of bench time and parts needed to get it right. The upgrades are desirable and should add to the value of an Alembic instrument, not detract from it, the upgrade itself can run as high as $1,500. Because each instrument is different it is impossible to give a firm price quote on an upgrade.

Good luck with the sale, looks to be in good shape and I am sure the bass sounds great!

Correct I'm not the original owner. Thanks for pointing out that the bass has newer model pickups.As others also had noted. And yes this super sweet bass sounds and plays amazingly.in excellent condition .

Yeah, that bass looks awesome and the addition of the master volume is a great asset. As for the rf situation with older alembics, it's hit and miss. For example my 1980 series I, when i bought it used, did experience some noise though after some careful adjustment of the hum cancellor trim pots and exercising the filter pots is now clean as a whistle. I did take it to an electronics expert and he confirmed that all was fine. All the best with the sale.

Just looking at this gem makes me miss my ‘74 SSB so much...

I’ll just say GLWTS.

Still available ?

Hi Yes the bass is still available. Was it you that inquired a couple of days ago about about buying it ? And did you receive my reply with the info you requested about the recent Alembic factory electronics upgrade and newer pickups the bass has.
Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have.
Thanks Tone Hebert
250 592 3385

Hi, how does this bass balance ? Any neck dive?
Thank you

Hi bass balances very well when using strap/standind. And when sitting with no strap balances fine with positioning lower body horn on middle of thiegh.Not positioning it this way( ieositioning it with curve of basses body resting on thiegh) does produce slight neck dive.Which is easily avoided by positioning lower bass horn on middle of thiegh .Than without even touchiing/holding the the bass at all it balances perfectly. Or the moment you lieghly positionyour right arm lightly to play it also easily balances it.
Long explanation granted ,just ,to say I've never had a problem with neck dive issues.
Cheers Tone

Hi Tone,
Loverly bass you got there. I might be interested. Would you please let me know the neck width at the nut and at the 24th fret and also if there is one or two truss rods?
Do I see the serial # correctly as 79-488?
Thank you!
Oliver

Hi Oliver. This Alembic has 2 truss rods.
The measurement of the neck at the nut is 43mm. And 57mm at the 24th fret .The serial # is 79 1386.
Please free to ask any other questions.
Thank you. Tone Hebert
250 592 3385

Thanks Tone!
I prefer the narrower SC-spec neck of 1.5” (38mm) at the nut, otherwise your bass would be a very desirable addition to my stable.
All the best with the sale!
Cheers, Oliver

Hi Oliver. Thanks for your reply .I can appreciate that you prefer a 38mm nut.
I took the Alembic to my bass tech today who got a more accurate measurement of 42 mm neck width at the nut.And he offered to install a new 38mm brass nut that he has on the bass. As this neck is already very slim and has a narrow 17mm string spacing bridge.(measured from center string to center of next string).Would be an option if that may serve your purpose please let me know.
Thanks Tone

Hi Tone,
Thank you so much for your investigation and suggestion. I am kind of set on the “Stanley Clarke” neck and string config of 38mm nut (with the corresponding very thin neck) and 15mm string spacing at the bridge.
I am specifically looking for a bass that I can convert to fretless and want to make sure to not “confuse” my fingers when switching between fretted and fretless.
You have a great bass there for a fair price and I am sure the right buyer will come knocking on your door soon.
Cheers,
Oliver

Hi Oliver .I can appreciate you wanting to keep both your fretted and future frettless the same neck feel and string spacing
.I just finished matching my main bass I'm keeping .A fretted Stanley Alembic ssb .that I put Alembic 14mm bridge spacing saddles on and a 4mm narrower nut on to match my main 14mm .spaced fretless.
Mica at Alembic said she could shave the 4mm of the neck for $450 to match it very close to the other bass.But said they were back logged and overbooked .So my local bass Luther offered to do the job for $100.But he wisely suggested I first just change the nut and compare how it felt playing it compared to my fretless.
I could not tell the difference between playing my 14mm sting spaced/ 38mm nut fretless and my 14mm /38mm nut Stanley Alembic even though though it had a 4mm slightly wider neck at the nut.So I decided not to get the neck shaved.And playing both of them daily and on all my studio session gigs Im very comfortable with the simular feel they both share. Please feel free to ask any questions for further clarification if you like.
I can also include a spare set of Alembic 15mm bridge saddles and cover the cost of my local bass tech installing them on the Series One SSB if you like
Cheers Tone 250 592 3385