One of my(?) old basses is being sold for 5 digits!!!

[malthumb]

The reason I put the “?” After the word “my” is because there is a slight chance that it is a doppelgänger. When I owned it I had to rub a pencil on tissue paper to get an imprint of the serial number and that led me to believe it was a 1979. In the sale posting they have a closeup of the serial number area and it looks like 80. I’ll let you all judge for yourselves.

Anyway, it is an Alembic 32” scale Series II with flatsawn Zebrawood top and back. Unless Alembic was able to cut two sets of veneers with exactly the same grain positioning, a year apart, this is my old bass. And it’s listed for well over $13k. I guarantee I didn’t score anywhere near that when I sold it in 2000.

Here’s the link to the sale (I am not affiliated nor am I recommending it to anyone)
1980 Alembic Series II SSB Short Scale Bass the Ultimate Stanley Bass !!! | eBay

And here’s a link to my Alembic Club posting of the bass when I still owned it

1979 Flatsawn Zebrawood short scale

Whaddaya think....same bass? Is he gonna get that price (or even 2/3 of it)?

 

[charlie monroe]

You get my vote.

 

[malthumb]

You get my vote.

Go Sabres!! Born and raised in Buffalo.

 

[seilerbird]

That is a stunning looking bass. On the same page I found an ad for a 17 string bass???

Custom Shop Electric Bass Guitar, Special Edition 17 String, Spalted Wood Deluxe | eBay

 

[bucephylus]

Yup, James. At least, the picture shows the same bass. What will the seller get? Who knows. $6k or so seems more current market value.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Malthumb, that’s the way of the world. For certain basses, you take a hit after 10 or 15 years. If you can wait 30 or 40, you cash in!

Unless I am blessed with a very long life, I won’t get to cash in like that.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

There's a series I for sale with the original build sheet, original owner for just under $6k locally. I know nothing about these basses, no affiliation, etc.

Alembic Series 1 bass guitar , 1977 vintage excellent condition

 

[spufman]

No doubt about it, wild grain don't lie.

 

[Luckydog]

I looked at all the grain markings and they sure look the same. Unless they are “photoflame” ha! Remember those? I had one with a dark section on the neck that looked somewhat like the mcdonalds hamburglar. I saw someone elses, and they had the exact same markings, hamburglar and all.

 

[JW56789]

I don't know if it will sell for the asking price, but I DO know that if you were to price a new replacement . . . . . that's cheap.

 

[malthumb]

TGhe thing about this is, it wasn’t until AFTER I sold it that I figured out just how much of a unicorn it is. A 32” scale small body Series II. Very, very rare. Most small bodies are 30.75” scale. Only reason I sold it was because it was missing a string, so I ordered a 5-string Series II and sold it to offset the price (and keep the wife from completely losing it).

 

[Tennesseemick]

Whaddaya think....same bass? Is he gonna get that price (or even 2/3 of it)?

That's definitely the same bass.

 

[Fresh Eddie]

Looks like the same bass to me!

Go Sabres!! Born and raised in Buffalo.

Add me to Buffalo club.... Orchard Park kid here.