I've had this bass since 2003. I'm a member on the Alembic site forum where there are several posts on this bass in the showcase section under series one basses.I acquired this one from Michael Delacerda (Alembic forum)who at the time had quite a few old ones, and was willing to part with it for a very reasonable amount at the time.The two nubs between the knobs are actually the hum-canceling controls. All you need is a screwdriver to turn them. The battery compartment is under the brass plate between the pickups.I spoke to Rick Turner about this bass and he remembers it being in the shop the same time John McVie's bass was being built. Matt
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Show me your Alembics
- Thread starter echo008
- Start date
Ah, OK. Now I remember your bass. Thanks for clearing up my misconception about those controls. Beautiful bass, by the way.
...a 2000 Excel 5 in pristine condition. Can't afford the high-end stuff so I thought I'd road test one of the entry-level (?) models. Fairly light for an Alembic at ~9 lbs and well-balanced. Appears as if the fixed / preset bridge profile better accommodates non-tapered strings. Kinda reminds me of the Carl Thompson "No Frills" model with the seemingly oversized single pickup. The dual truss rod system actually works as designed! No pics, no bass....right? Here ya go:
Riis
Riis
Bought my ALEMBIC EPIC 4 bubinga brand new in 1995.
Sorry about the crappy photos, but I love it.
Nice Epic. Nice figuring on that bubinga.
I've owned this bass since 1980. Carried me through many gigs. I know Alembics have a reputation for neck dive but it is not a problem with this bass. Maybe the weight of the graphite neck? Not sure but I primarily play 4 hour gigs, sometimes 2 in a day. No more neck dive than the precision I played before I acquired this bass.
Attachments
That is the most beautiful graphite necked Alembic I've ever seen. Makes mine look very plain.
Whats the serial on yours?
Whats the serial on yours?
In the last several months I was able to acquire 2 more Alembics, both pre-owned.
First up is an 84 Distillate, 32" scale w/Spoiler electronics.
The most recent was a custom Rogue with the entire control system duplicated for the neck pickup and an upgraded cap, 34" scale. This bass fits like a glove.
Next to it is my '00 MK Std, bought new with side LED's.
First up is an 84 Distillate, 32" scale w/Spoiler electronics.
The most recent was a custom Rogue with the entire control system duplicated for the neck pickup and an upgraded cap, 34" scale. This bass fits like a glove.
Next to it is my '00 MK Std, bought new with side LED's.
Talking alembic... Have you seen this?
I was shocked when I saw this thing... to me it has a distinct highschool-woodworking-project vibe to it.
One of the few instruments I have seen that would warrant the "U" word.
Horrendous. It's a guitar, but that doesn't really come into it.
(IMO) :scowl:
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I was shocked when I saw this thing... to me it has a distinct highschool-woodworking-project vibe to it.
One of the few instruments I have seen that would warrant the "U" word.
Horrendous. It's a guitar, but that doesn't really come into it.
(IMO) :scowl:
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Hey CK, looks like were in a pretty exclusive club with the graphite necks. The SN on mine is 1318. Yours? By the way, I am bbernard at the alembic forum...is your bass listed over there?
BassClef112: Nice collection...I see you are in the Sterling Club. I have a Bongo and love it, I'm thinking the next bass will be a Sterling 5.
cnltb: definitely not my cup of tea...looks like it would hurt to play
I've owned this bass since 1980.
1980?!?!? That's amazing, that thing looks brand spanking new! Gorgeous bass.
Alembic made less than 50 basses with graphite necks, and not all of them survive. I've seen pictures of maybe a quarter of these, but only seen my own bass in person; it's a short-scale '82 Series 2 in burl koa. That one's going to Japan soon, possibly next week, as I don't really gig and barely have time to play, and the bass deserves to be used.
Mines 1309! Practically siblings! Mine must have been late 1979 and yours early 1980 I guess.
Yep I'm over at the Alembic forum although I don't post much there. I haven't seen yours over there yet but its the best looking one by a long way. Its great to see you gigging yours regularly as well, I'm stunned by the lack of wear on it. Has it been refinished at any point?
I know of another that was for sale, it had curly birch facings on it but the headstock had quite a bit of cosmetic damage. The owner wasn't flexible on his price either and was asking a LOT for it.
The SN on mine is 78-1318. At one point I had the certificate that comes with the bass but haven't seen it in a while...sometimes things go missing over 29 years.
I bought it used it March, 1980. The lacquer fell off the neck and eventually started peeling from the body. I had Michael Dolan in Santa Rosa peel off the old lacquer and put on a fresh coat, around 2000/2001 I recall.
Most of my gigging was done in the 1980s - probably around 1,000 gigs. With family and business obligations I'm just a hobbyist these days.
I bought it used it March, 1980. The lacquer fell off the neck and eventually started peeling from the body. I had Michael Dolan in Santa Rosa peel off the old lacquer and put on a fresh coat, around 2000/2001 I recall.
Most of my gigging was done in the 1980s - probably around 1,000 gigs. With family and business obligations I'm just a hobbyist these days.
Ah ok, weirrrrrrrrrd serial numbering then! Mine's definitely 79-1309 too, I can read it on the fingerboard.
The lacquer has fallen off the neck on mine too also but I haven't had it refinished. Not sure whether I want to as my bass has toured most of Canada with various session players so there's a nice load of mojo that comes with it.
BTW had these images saved to my drive of the 1981 birch faced Series II.
The only 5 string I've ever heard of, made in 1982, which I'd quite happily donate my left testicle for.
Not mine, but has been mentioned already here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7132657&postcount=31
The lacquer has fallen off the neck on mine too also but I haven't had it refinished. Not sure whether I want to as my bass has toured most of Canada with various session players so there's a nice load of mojo that comes with it.
BTW had these images saved to my drive of the 1981 birch faced Series II.
The only 5 string I've ever heard of, made in 1982, which I'd quite happily donate my left testicle for.
Not mine, but has been mentioned already here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7132657&postcount=31
Thanks! Man, yours looks like a museum piece! Wow. I've always liked graphite basses too - they definitely have a unique place in the choice pallette. I can only imagine what it's like on a Series. Very nice indeed.
The Sterling - I bought it new in '94 and I just love it. I've done some work on it - I gutted it and put in a Lane Poor with an OBP-3. Just incredible. What I really love is the neck. At one point (after getting the Sterling) I owned a '62 Jazz with an absolutely incredible neck. It was after I got that bass that I realized where EB copped the profile for the Sterling - it's right on the money! It's one of my favorites - just melts into my hand. I'm a 4 banger so I don't know what the 5's are like, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Since my little bass family is in the process of being broken up, here they are for the first time. My apologies for the quality of the photos.
Here's the graphite bass:
This is the six-string Series 2 I just sold:
And this is the wood-neck '82 Series 2, which will probably be out the door shortly:
Here's the graphite bass:
This is the six-string Series 2 I just sold:
And this is the wood-neck '82 Series 2, which will probably be out the door shortly:
