| Author | Message | ||
| bsee
Intermediate Member Username: bsee Post Number: 108 Registered: 3-2004 |
There is a current discussion about an Electrum guitar on eBay that has had the pickups replaced. What does this do to the value in your opinion? The obvious answer is that everything in an Alembic is top quality, but would you rather have an Alembic instrument with replacement electronics, or a Fender with Alembic guts? Maybe I am not asking the question with particular eloquence, but you get the idea... | ||
| 811952
Intermediate Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 183 Registered: 10-2003 |
I would rather have a Fender with Alembic guts, if I were forced to choose, because while there are many very competent woodworkers and luthiers on the planet, the Alembic guts are simply without peer. John | ||
| gbarchus
Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 73 Registered: 6-2002 |
I would choose the Alembic with aftermarket guts. You cannot forget about the craftsmanship. It does contribute to the sound. By the way, I have a Fender with Alembic guts, but I can't imagine changing the electronics in my Alembic. Gale | ||
| 811952
Intermediate Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 187 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gale, Yes, I can't imagine changing the electronics in my Alembic either. And the craftsmanship is incredibly good. I think probably Fender was not the best brand to have posed the original question with, because compared to most other brands their stuff really is not all that nice. Kind of an Apples vs. Oranges deal really. I suppose in my head I was answering the Warwick or Lakland or Modulus with Alembic guts question and not the Fender with Alembic guts question. John | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 621 Registered: 5-2002 |
What does it do to the value? When I see an Alembic on ebay with non-Alembic electronics, I estimate the value by adding the cost, including shipping the instrument to Santa Rosa and back if required, of restoring the electronics. Usually, adding the restoration costs to the current bid will raise the total cost beyond what I'm willing to pay. In the current case, if it's only the pickups and not the controls, and if the pickup cavities have not been altered, then it's the cost of purchasing new pickups from Alembic. So for me, that's what it does to the value. But that's just me; others will have different perspectives. Gale's point about the craftsmanship is certainly true; but for me, at this point in time, the value of an instrument is reduced by the cost to make it whole. Hmmm .., I'm thinking that the word "value" does have different meanings; so I'm using "value" here as a measure of the amount of money I would be willing to expend on the purchase of an instrument. Of course there are other meanings of "value". My Essence has a high "value" to me because I've played it a long time and it's an important part of my life. But if I were to sell it, it's value to a perspective buyer would be reduced by its cosmetic blemishes. This question has made me think a lot. For instance, now I'm thinking about headstocks; the value of my Essence to Paul would be reduced because he prefers other headstock designs over the Cone design. So, again, what does it do to the value? It does different things to different people <g>. | ||
| gbarchus
Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 74 Registered: 6-2002 |
John, I would like to hear a Warwick with Alembic guts. I see alot of similarities between the two basses, especially the neck-through models with the bridge/tailpiece and adjustable nut. Gale | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 231 Registered: 5-2002 |
There's a guy on a newsgroup that I frequent that has Alembic guts in a Warwick Dolphin (a porpoise with a purpose?). Haven't seen or heard much from him lately, but if he surfaces I'll ask him to chime in here. Peace, James |
