I've got a lead on a beautiful Lacewood SII. It is a 1980 model. Just wondering if there are issues with the age that effect sound. I 'm thinking mostly about the electronics.

Well, you have to look at the data on the electronics upgrade.  I did some research recently on the boards and believe that what I read was as follows:
 
Most but not all of the older Series basses will experience some problems when exposed to ambient fields resulting in high frequency hums coming out with the sound.  If you play in an electronically quiet area, you won't notice it.  If you play in the big city, it will show up if the bass is susceptible.  If the bass requires the upgrade, it typically costs anywhere between $1000 and $1800.  The result is a bass that is more quiet than it was when it was born.  
 
Does this seem accurate to everyone?

yes. along the lines of what i was thinking.
 
I'd love to post shots of this bass but o do not know the size limits here and it seems that i have o make my shots extremely small in order to post them.

look here for pic info:
 
http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/411/447.html?1022542644

 IF I could only figure out how to change the resolution...

Don, for that you need some kind of drawing or picture editing software, like Paintshop Pro, Photoshop or maybe even more simple stuff that came with your computer and/or printer (Picture It, Imaging). Unfortunately my e-mail capacity is limited, but I'm sure someone around here wouldn't mind if you e-mailed them one or two pictures, so that they could post them here.
 
Good luck,
Wilfred

Don - I'd be happy to optimize and post the images for you. Feel free to email them to me if you like.

Take it from me, guitars are like wine,they sound better with age. wood settles and breaths with the weather,but electronically it might require an upgrade,however my alembic (old #12) is the best sounding bass on the planet and i do experience some noise from time to time especially when im on stage in a casino or places like that,but the older the better,any PRO will back that up,but remember one thing, all guitars are made from aged woods.

Except of course for Travis Beans, which are made from aged aluminum, and Ovations which are constructed of aged helicopter plastic.  And I shouldn't forget the old aged acrylic Dan Armstrongs.  (I knew there was something I like about Alembics).
 
Bill, tgo
 
(Message edited by lbpesq on November 21, 2004)

Keavin, You are sooo right.  The 1972 Alembic that I have sound much better than all the others I have.  It has a certain vibe that I just cannot explain.

The folks at Alembic say that the instruments they make today are improved over the ones made long ago, but there is no way to speed up the aging of the wood, especially when it is played regularly.  But what about the electronics?  Do they improve with age, or would a fresh set of electronics on that beautiful old piece of wood result in even more of a masterpiece?  While I won't have anything to compare it with, the '82 Spoiler that is on the way here has '99 Signature electronics in it.  Hopefully I will end up with the best of both worlds!

A couple of things not covered, and not concerning electronics related, are that the older basses generally had a thicker, Gibson-like neck.  I much prefer the thinner necks of the newer models.  The old ones have a thicker body and weigh a bit more - I love that part!  The necks are set back on the body about an inch, so they are a touch less neck heavy (Get a Balance K, if you want perfect balance).  The bridges are not as adjustable as the newer ones.  The newer ones are wider (deeper) in the dimension of the saddle area, so greater adjustment is possible on newer models.  I believe an 80 would have the double truss rods, something I consider of great importance.  If you slap, the pickup selector can be a bit painful, if you don't watch out on the old ones.  This info is just posted for FYI.  IMO, the old ones and the new ones are almost equal when the variable of woods aged another 20+ years is put the mix.  Now if you can get a new one made of aged (20 years or more) woods, that would be great!  Bob is on the right track.

Tom i tried to email you but it came back undeliverable.

Use tshaw@maine.rr.com
If that does not work, use tkshaw@maine.rr.com
I have a problem with AOL people sending me e-mails sometimes, and all servers go down because of problems or maintenance, at one point or another.  Please try again.

I just recieved a shot of the headstock. The logo is there but the name Alembic does not appear. Is this possible ?