I bit the bullet and bought this guitar today. I should have it in about a week. I'll post the results once I have it in my hot little (big) hands.
http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/395/37522.html?1174575335

Wow, congrats!  Looking forward to learning more about this mystery guitar!

Thanks Dave
 
Any idea how the controls differ from my 77 series. This one has 4 micro switches.
 
thanks
 
br

Another question/comment. There were comments regarding the battery compartment cover. Looks a lot like this one. Anyone have any ideas?
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1801628
 
br

Barry - Those are not 4 micro switches.  It is actually 2 switches, and 2 trim pots.  The trim pots are for output of the pre-amp.  This guitar has PF5 electronics, and your 77 has PF6.  It's  basically set up like your 77, but the trim pots for the output are on the face of the guitar instead of the rear.  There are also 2 hum cancelling trim pots, but those are inside the control cavity.  
 
You are right, the plate between the 2 pickups is the cover for the 2 9 volt batteries.  The hum canceller is mounted inside the guitar in a pocket under the tailpiece.  
 
I have been watching that guitar for a while.  I am glad someone got it who will appreciate it!
 
Michael

shop night?....i recall mica stating shopnight projects/instruments dont get logos.

I agree with Keavin.  I think that instrument has a serial number in the 20's based on the tailpiece used and the lack of a brass plate under the pickup selector.  I think that this guitar just made it out without being stamped.  I doubt that 'shop night' had been started yet with a guitar with such a low serial number.  They were just busy and didn't stamp it.  Or perhaps the number really is on the tip of the peg head, and no one knew to look there!

I didn't really think that it was a shop night guitar but that was how it had been previously discussed so I kept the info intact. I was reading an article about one of the employees that had worked at alembic and indicated that he made the first guitar for Jerry Garcia and that he did it after hours but I felt based on what I saw and your cumulative thoughts that it is likely an older guitar with no headstock sn. I did ask the previous owner to look there. Lest he's blind, it isn't present. Could be that policy changed. Whats the lowest number reported? Do we know that number 1 is the first instrument or were there others that never were stamped. Mica suggested that I check for painted numbers on the pots so once I actually have it I'll check there.
 
thanks guys
 
br

 
 
(Message edited by keavin on January 31, 2008)

alembic #1 is a bass http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/411/2565.html?1144935206

Chances are, that when you get it, the pots will be black plastic with nothing written on them.  But it is possible that there may be a penciled number on the PF5 circuit card.  But, being that this one is so old, I would think the writing on the electronics did not happen yet.  
 
From the older instruments I've seen and owned, I still think that this one is between serial number 18 and 29.
 
Michael

Cool
 
Whats the earliest 6 string that we have tracked so far
 
I should have this thing by next friday.
 
Best
 
barry

The earliest one I've seen was serial number 17 from 1972.  It lives in Ohio the last I heard.

I see your logic
 
thanks
 
barry

This had been dubbed #1 at a time  ,it has some similarities .
 I got to fret with it for a while,now I try not to fret about her parting path...
 ...has that great hammered brass.