It blows my mind how much trouble these guys went to copying Series instruments. I played a Fab P-style Alembic that had the Series style package, but the woods were really lacking. Distillate and Excel Basses are a way better entry point into the Alembic world.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FERNANDES-FAB180-Natural/264517238346?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D60695%26meid%3D69d25c2604f6442ba8c290b4af9759c5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dco%26sd%3D184018493771%26itm%3D264517238346%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Looks like this bass is listed by 3 sellers at 3 prices on EBay.

Here you go. Don't buy from the eBay markup/resellers. The original stores listings can usually be located. This one is at a reputable music store, Ishibashi. It is listed for 180,000Yen, which is already net of tax. According to xe.com 180,000Yen is approximately $1650USD.

https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/select.php?cd=12-326390804

Whenever I see the thread title I think "fab" in a good way (like the Fab Four) - but this is FAB in a not-so-good way. Sure these can look tempting but I'd rather get the real thing or something else personally.

Yeah, the FAB and FAG series (yes, it's called that) is Fernandes Bass and Fernandes Guitar. Not sure what the "A" stands for. I owned one a few years ago. It has electronics like a Kawai FIIB, and like Keith said above, the wood is lacking, for sure. I got mine for under a grand and sold it shortly after. For the prices they're asking ($2,500) you can get a real Alembic. I like the FAB for the collectibility and rarity, but it's just ok of a bass from what I remember. The urban legend is that Alembic sued Fernandes for copyright infringement, but the reality is Alembic has never sued anybody. Thumbs up, Mica !
- Mike B.

I have a couple of Fernandes MH-110 guitars.  A modified Strat shape, but otherwise Alembic style all the way, including Fernandes' copy of Series I electronics.   The woodwork is quite good, but the electronics just didn't sound like Alembic.   I highly modified one which I posted here several years ago.  Here's the link.

http://club.alembicguitars.net/index.php?topic=20043

Bill, tgo

Quote from: hieronymous on November 06, 2019, 04:27:38 PM
Whenever I see the thread title I think "fab" in a good way (like the Fab Four) - but this is FAB in a not-so-good way. Sure these can look tempting but I'd rather get the real thing or something else personally.

Agree completely. These are just not appealing to me at all.

Amazing what these fakes are going for now. I got my '82 SII in '92 for $1200. If I found a fake for $500, I'd probably buy it but $2500???

Yep, went to the Orient, and bought a 'Polex' watch . . . . . look right here, you can hear it ticking !  Gonna get me a Brightlink next trip !

FAB must be Fernandes Alembic Bass, FAG Fernandes Alembic Guitar. I found some old Fernandes catalogs online - I had one of them as a teenager in Tokyo in the early/mid '80s - here's a pic:



There is some info from a different catalog about the electronics but it's not worth it to me to translate, because I don't care lol

Hi Bill, The Guitar One, your Fernandes modified by Gary Brawer is BEAUTIFUL ! Tina looks like an amazing guitar. I like your personal touches and I'd assume that's a guitar that will be with you forever.