1975 Alembic Series I Guitar

1975 Alembic Series I Guitar
Serial Number: 137
Weight: 7.92 lbs
Condition: Excellent vintage condition, 1975 model. Guitar was sent back to Alembic in 2008 where it was refinished, had new pickups installed, and a new bridge fitted. Guitars shows little wear aside from light scratches, handful of tiny dings in the clearcoat finish on the body. Hardware shows some light pitting in the finish. Guitar comes with original Active Box, 5-Pin Cable, and flight case. Case has numerous tour stickers on the outside.

This 1975 Alembic Series I guitar (Serial #137) is a used, low-serial example in excellent vintage condition. It's a neck-through build with a walnut top over an alder body, cut in Alembic's Small Standard shape and finished in natural gloss. It weighs 7.92 lb. In 2008 the guitar went back to Alembic, where it was refinished, fitted with new pickups, and given a new bridge. Wear since then is light: a few scratches and a handful of tiny dings in the clearcoat on the body, plus some light pitting in the hardware finish.

Alembic started in 1969 as a sound workshop working alongside the Grateful Dead. Ron Wickersham designed low-impedance pickups for wider bandwidth, then built an onboard preamp to bring their output up, pioneering active electronics in electric instruments. The shop "Alembicized" guitars and basses for Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Jack Casady before it began building its own line. This Series I comes straight out of that early era.

The 5-ply maple and walnut neck runs through the body for long sustain and a solid, even feel. It has a C carve (.850" at the 1st fret, .990" at the 12th) and an ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl oval inlays. The radius is 9.5", with 24 medium jumbo frets, a 24.75" scale, and a 1.75" brass nut. The headstock wears a walnut veneer with multi-ply maple and walnut binding. Hardware includes a brass Alembic bridge and tailpiece plus Schaller tuners, in gold and brass finishes.

Alembic pickups feed a control layout built for tone-shaping: neck and bridge tone filters, neck and bridge Q switches, and a 4-way selector. It's a far wider palette than a standard volume-and-tone guitar. Whether you're a jam-band player chasing the Bay Area sound, a fusion player who wants clarity and range, or a collector of '70s Alembic instruments, this Series I delivers. This 1975 Alembic Series I (Serial #137) comes with its original Active Box, 5-pin cable, and a hardshell flight case covered in tour stickers. Order today from Brian's Guitars.

Questions about this guitar? We're happy to help.

Body
Type: Solidbody
Shape: Small Standard
Top Material: Walnut
Body Material: Alder
Finish: Gloss
Color: Natural

Neck
Material: 5-ply Maple/Walnut
Shape: C
Dimensions: .850" at the 1st fret, .990" at the 12th fret
Joint: Neck-Through
Fretboard Material: Ebony
Neck Finish: Gloss
Headstock: Walnut Veneer, Multi-ply Maple/Walnut Binding
Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Ovals
Radius: 9.5"
Frets: 24, Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.75"
Nut Material: Brass

Hardware
Bridge/Tailpiece: Brass Alembic Bridge, Tailpiece
Tuners: Schaller
Hardware Finish: Gold/Brass

Electronics
Neck Pickup: Alembic
Middle Pickup: Alembic
Bridge Pickup: Alembic
Controls: Neck and Bridge Tone Filters, Neck and Bridge Q Switches, 4-way Selector Switch
Special Electronics: Active Box

Other
Case/Gigbag: Original Hardshell case