It has an old, but solid, neck joint repair.
email me for hires front and back pics
 
 

 
(Message edited by longhorncat on September 21, 2011)

 
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What I dont understand, this bass was sold at e-bay at Sep 19,2011 22:51:30 PDT from a seller based in keller/texas, looks like a scam to me... it?s definitely the same bass, you can see it still on the e-bay-side:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Alembic-Series-4-String-Bass-Guitar-/150662228409?pt=Guitar&hash=item23142b29b9
also this bass has some worn spots in finish and on brass, a serious crack in the body on the bottomside and  some impressions on body and neck, they did not mention the neck joint repair.
Correct me if I?m wrong but this looks very strange to me.
Peter

here the picture of the crack

and here the backsite photo from the e-bay offer

Peter,
 
You are wrong.  You really should have done a little more research before slamming my for sale thread.  I have the bass here with me in Austin (see the new photographs) and am in the process of cleaning it up.  I'll spend several days on this as well as add a case, new strings and setup.  I was surprised and disappointing to find the neck repair.  That's why the price is $1000 less than what most Short Scale Series One Basses bring.
 
Bill
 
 

I've known Bill on the forums for years. He's legit.

I second the motion. Bill is legit , and has come forth in support of legit transactions here on the forum in the past.

Thank you.  I got an email from Peter this morning.  He said he was calling the auction a scam, not me.
 
The neck repair on this bass is interesting.  I don't think it was done at the Mothership, but someone did a seamless job of replacing the headstock veneer after the break was fixed.
 
(Message edited by longhorncat on September 22, 2011)

 

Bill,    In 4/09  I purchased a single pickup Distillate on ebay that had a similar headstock/peghead repair . I did not see the repair until I cleaned up the Bass and applied lemon oil to the finger board . A little lemon oil crept into the crack and revealed it.  Upon seeing it I was really disappointed and a little sad. I called Alembic and asked to have it inspected and Mica told me that it appeared to be quite stable. The repair was well done.  I play my Distillate often have gigged and done studio work with it with no problems. It's the One that I had at the recent Northern California Alembic Gathering.   Headstock repairs I found out are not always the  End of the World for the instrument.  Three cheers to the skilled crafts people and luthiers that do such fine work !

Glue is usually stronger than wood, but it does tend to de-value the instrument.

I think I have the instrument valued fairly - I am open to offers.  
 
Which one of you guys sold the long/medium scale Series One with a headstock repair last year.  I can't find it in the archives.  Email me please.
 
Thanks,
Bill
 
(Message edited by longhorncat on September 22, 2011)

In this type of neck/headstock repair , the work such as the laminations is where the  expertise of  fine wood craft is at a highlight. The glue with the laminations is stronger then the glue alone in my experience.

Your price is more than fair. And if you want to talk about busted headstocks you should see my old German. Major repairs are so common on double basses that they do not affect the value, as long as the repair was done correctly. That break is tight as a tick with no glue line or (shudder) screws or dowels. It ain't going anywhere.