I'm sure I'll never own one, but the Europas always get my attention.
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Best looking Alembic you’ve seen
- Thread starter Chickenwheels
- Start date
Always were past me, not gonna say what I paid, although probably posted at some time
... Ill say the insurance is almost as much as i paid. There was a very intermittent distortion, maybe the reason priced as was, but Ron sent me a module to replace and its been like new ever since.
Was the pick guard part of the deal as well? Definitely gives the bass a lot of character.
Are we talking $2k, $3k, or more to get the job done?
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
That there makes it bs of the Wickershams saying they've always only built Alembics in CA.
I think the pickguard was $150 and I got the activators used on the bay for like $400 . I posted the website for the guard in another post . It starts with a A
From an old Reverb ad selling one of these: "Mica Wickersham estimates only around 50 were built. When the exchange rate became too unfavorable in the 80s, Alembic and the then Japanese distributor Rokkoman agreed to have "Alembics" built in Japan. Alembic supplied pickups, electronics and logo. Equal in build quality and sound to a similarly equipped US Alembic, these basses are the only officially licensed products and the only Alembics with a bolt-on neck."
https://reverb.com/item/66630696-alembic-aj-ii-hb-80er
And a more complete quote, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
"This was made by Rokkomann, Inc., our distributor in Japan for many years. At the time these were made the exchange rate was terrible and there was no market for very expensive products that wound up costing twice as much. I believe there are about 50 of them. We supplied the pickups and electronics, they made the instruments. These are the only Alembic branded instruments that were not made in our shop."
No BS.
These were built by a Japanese concern, Rokkoman, who contracted with Alembic for the pickups and electronics, and the right to use the logo as a 'co-branded' sort of arrangement only in Japan, in a design they had no hand in. Less than 100 examples, mostly basses but a few guitars as well. A footnote in Alembic's history, they were never marketed in the US, and all production has only ever been in the various NorCal locations they've occupied over the years, from SF to now in Santa Rosa.
Alembic has done some outside design or production work in small numbers. The TUNE fretless Wood Basses from the 80's had the pickups and electronics designed by Alembic. And they've modified axes for guys: Look real close at some of the Aria SB's that Rudy Sarzo played in his 80's Whitesnake days, you'll see some installed Alembic AXY pickups. And currently, they're supplying Blasters to the version of the PRS Silver Sky that JM's playing on his Dead dates that's for sale to the rest of us.
See the little brass plate with the in/out switch and the LED? PRS 'Dead Spec' Silver Sky Limited Edition.
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Pulled the trigger on this bass today. Thanks to the fine folks at Bass Central. I should take possession in a week.
Bones
I was hoping you’d show up. The bass in your avatar is probably one of my all time favourite Alembics. I really dig those old ones.
Here is 74-74. Tom Fowler’s old Alembic.
Mine.
It is a great bass. I should play it more.
It is a great bass. I should play it more.
Looking at all of these beautiful Alembics made me scooch on over to their website. The 6-string Series II is $45,300! The Rogue 6 is $19,500! This is insane.
So you might find discounts are available through dealers.
I mean, it still ain't buying a Fender...
Alembics have never been cheap but the prices are certainly getting way up there these days. I believe there is a price increase coming very soon, too, unless the price list you saw was recently updated. I got both of my Series basses used but my understanding is that the dealer you buy from gives you a discount from "list" price. List price with Alembic is elusive since you can mix and match body shapes with the majority of the electronic packages and a lot of the orders have custom touches that can add to the list price. There are a few body shapes that aren't thick enough or are too small to accommodate Series electronics and the upgrade price for a Series electronics package is daunting but there are ways to get a better deal. Keeping an eye on monthly build specials is one of those. Sometimes you can select free LEDs, upgraded premium wood choices etc. Always good to check if you are thinking of ordering.
A family owned business producing low volumes of products that are largely customized in the most expensive part of the country to do business will certainly do that!
If the market for their instruments is no longer able to bear the prices, then it'll be interesting to see how things may change.
Buy used and do your own setups. Unless it needs a refret, there's really no point in paying someone else to adjust a few screws and whatnots. Just follow Link Removed
