Hi Don,
 That matches with a few other very early Alembics that I've seen - on Gbase now, the Doobie Brothers bassist's bass (lower than serial 40 I believe) has the battery between the pickups - it lost its brass plate cover and has a plastic strip.  Guessing that didn't go 20 more based on other early exmaples in the gallery of Series I's.  Love that kind of history - it would be very cool to have a reference of serial numbers and changes in hardware though I understand that many things (carmel pickups) overlapped depending on what parts were on hand.
 
(Message edited by toddharris on April 28, 2011)

OOPS - width of the neck at the nut is 1 5/8ths, not 7/8ths

Hi,
 
Screwed dummycoil is started 1974, these are counted 9 instruments (74-53 to 74-94) on my archives.
I believe some mores are replaced glued type.
 
Why did Alembic change the mount method ?
It's easy to replace by screwed one, isn't it?
But steel screw is magnetized material.
I think the screw interfered with perfect noise provision.
 
Always the early Alembic instruments have each story.
The thought of story is my pleasure !
 
Eiji

The bass is now being auctioned on eBay.  
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270744082566
 
(Message edited by toddharris on May 02, 2011)

Congrats on the sale... the price jumped up $1000 w/in a couple of seconds!!!

I observed the last 30 minutes and watched the biding leaps.  
 
Congratulations to the winner and to Todd as well.

It's going to be a tough sending off party for me!  My only consolation is that I will be receiving a near mint 59 Fender P Bass with Maple Neck and Anodized guard.

Reminds me of my first Alembic. 74-49 short scale with birds eye maple top!