Forgive if this is the wrong thread... I'm hoping to get some background intel on a bass I bought back in the '80s, and I was told it was made by some folk who had branched off of Alembic. Named "Oakland XB100", it's a long scale, with a serial number of 010053. Passive electronics, 6 point tone selector. I suspect the company didn't last long, as I can't find but one reference online. Great sound, beautiful sustain and bottom, I worked it hard for years before the fusion thing kinda changed up in Seattle. I'm primarily an acoustic player, so I loved the long scale. Getting ready to part with it and have NO idea of value.
Pix are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9ZlZgogdAzzNEFid25KVjBoYU0
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KIJdLdTBJuIQjJym0r-XpGtyIsYN1n8oyNNQeqI8jklFd7h9veSYhSLQ5AFD_Pk-joqIuTfDBbJ7tQg=w1352-h923-rw)
Thanks for any feedback!
bp
Welcome, Bruce. I tried the link, but it requires permission.
Bill, the guitar one
Except for the headstock shape, it's a dead ringer for a Vantage a friend of mine had in the '70s.
Peter
My guess would be a Matsumoto factory bass, which were marketed under a number of brands. They made some good instruments back in the day.
But I'd love to see a picture of the back.
The 3 names I am most familiar with for ex-Alembic builders are:
Becvar
Hyak
Oasis
with other instruments also made by Doug Irwin
Sorry about the pix needing password. I've got shots of the back as well as the electronics.
I un-blocked the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9ZlZgogdAzzNEFid25KVjBoYU0?usp=sharing
Thanks for the feedback!
I'm guessing the line about any relationship to Alembic was just huffing by the salesman. I paid $450 for it in early '80s... I'm guessing I overpaid and it's not worth even that at this point. It does have great sound, though.
Anyone have a thought on $$? It's time to sell.
Thanks for your time, all!
bp
Edwin and Cozmik, you guys nailed it!
So, given my model is called XB100 and the model number is only number 53, I wonder if it was an experimental attempt that morphed into Vantage basses... Hmmm.
Matusumoto Oakland:
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/search.php?keywords=oakland&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search
Same style through-body neck and bridge.
Vantage:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282287205291?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
http://www.ebay.com.my/itm/VINTAGE-80S-VANTAGE-BASS-w-CASE-MIJ-MATSUMOTO-ALEMBIC-STYLE-SLAPPER-/191769246719
Same body, bridge, through-body neck.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-80-039-S-VANTAGE-BASS-w-BAG-MATSUMOTO-ALEMBIC-STYLE-ACTIVE-P-J-EMGs-SET-NECK-/191785534945?nma=true&si=mOeG2gP6lm07Vx4D%252BdW5KwbRzsc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Same bridge
https://www.google.com/search?q=Matsumoto+factory&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizyPnvuPnQAhUB3GMKHbNSB00Q_AUICSgC&biw=1745&bih=864#q=Matsumoto+bass&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:Cd24FySiIOgBIjhKonuws7u56J5rYLn6KFHcAZPY1i2oRU-vzG7xFCLETvcAvRhnBQ5jpK7Xve0rg-fgLDIbyvYVIioSCUqie7Czu7noEQM5a7WIRbC9KhIJnmtgufooUdwR0Roee25WjZcqEgkBk9jWLahFTxEhTcktvwNJTCoSCa_1MbvEUIsROEfRsMGa69ZWbKhIJ9wC9GGcFDmMR59_1Q5vCBDZsqEgmkrte97SuD5xFMif1o-SvKvSoSCeAsMhvK9hUiEcVI8Rq3lxPE
Thanks all... I'm done here. The Alembic connection is a dead end... Indeed, it seems it's a precursor to the Matsumoku Vantage Bass series. Thanks for letting me play through, you guys were great help and saved me a lot of wasted time!
At first I was kinda bummed, some of the Vantages haven't sold for more than $200US, but it looks like there are collectors out there and with a serial number like this, I may end up with a smile on my face after all. The best part, and the part that matters, is that for the 10 or so years that I was a working player, 5-7 days a week, it was a great bass to work on. In the end, it's the playin', that makes for happiness, right?
Cheers!
Bruce Phares
Right on.
Music brings joy.
Money is just 'stuff'. It usually brings greed into the playing field, then things get ugly.
It sounds like you got your money's worth. The important thing is that it served you well. And bonus - you can still sell it if you want!
Quote from: BrucePhares on December 15, 2016, 01:11:07 PM
Forgive if this is the wrong thread... I'm hoping to get some background intel on a bass I bought back in the '80s, and I was told it was made by some folk who had branched off of Alembic. Named "Oakland XB100", it's a long scale, with a serial number of 010053. Passive electronics, 6 point tone selector. I suspect the company didn't last long, as I can't find but one reference online. Great sound, beautiful sustain and bottom, I worked it hard for years before the fusion thing kinda changed up in Seattle. I'm primarily an acoustic player, so I loved the long scale. Getting ready to part with it and have NO idea of value.
Pix are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9ZlZgogdAzzNEFid25KVjBoYU0
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KIJdLdTBJuIQjJym0r-XpGtyIsYN1n8oyNNQeqI8jklFd7h9veSYhSLQ5AFD_Pk-joqIuTfDBbJ7tQg=w1352-h923-rw)
Thanks for any feedback!
bp
Quote from: lbpesq on December 15, 2016, 05:14:30 PM
Welcome, Bruce. I tried the link, but it requires permission.
Bill, the guitar one