I think we have seen this before, pretty nice...no affiliation


https://reverb.com/item/69506143-alembic-elan-5-string-5-string-bass-guitar-hollywood-ca

I can't unsee that.

snappy!

We may have seen it before, but this isn't the one Tom had... his was a little newer, ('91?) and had those larger "WAXY" pickups. This one's an '89, looks like AXY 4's.


Love that finish! I'd buy that bass in a hot minute if things were different.

Yeah, I thought that was the one I had for a minute. Looks very similar, but as Greg said, mine was a '91 with WAXY pups. I can see now that the neck on this one is narrower than mine was. It's also got Schaller tuners whereas mine had the Gotoh "A" branded ones.

https://reverb.com/item/61425799-alembic-elan-5-string-bass-1991-cherry-sunburst

Anyone notice the bird tailpiece is a little off center and the strings aren't straight? I do wonder what's going on there.

"Anyone notice the bird tailpiece is a little off center and the strings aren't straight? I do wonder what's going on there."

Not until you mentioned it, but yes, now I see it. A very definite shift to the left as you look at the pic.

Here is an old thread I remember reading about the off centre tailpiece. Mica explains the rationale. That might add clarity before this thread itself goes off centre. :-)
https://club.alembicguitars.net/index.php?topic=3582.msg40276#msg40276