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lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 56
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 4:56 pm:   Edit Post

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3755438804&rd=1

Ok, please someone tell me that

A) Alembic did NOT do a finish like that to one of their beautiful basses.

and

B) that there are apparently people in this world that think doing such a thing is a good idea.

I'm just dumbfounded.
poor_nigel
Advanced Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 305
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 5:00 pm:   Edit Post

I think the Thumper (Bambi) Rule will have to apply here for me. If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all. Maybe the guy was a model car builder - opps . . .

FYI - This bass has been on eBay a couple of times now.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2014
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 5:21 pm:   Edit Post

That is not the original finish. We sold this bass to our distributor in Norway in natural finish. I think it was featured in some advertisments there before the gold sparkles were added. The Spalted top probably wasn't the most exotic looking one ever, but it didn't warrant obscuring IMO.

People that have seen this in person report to me the job was well done.

Exports to Norway have included some very interesting non-wood finishes, like the scuffed up black "Harley in an accident" finish I described before. Also the "Mother of Toiletseat" Pearloid drum kit conversion for the top and my all time favorite "Slimeburst" with a metallic chartreuse green center bursted to a bright metallic kelly green.
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 57
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 7:02 pm:   Edit Post

Whew, thank you for putting my mind at ease Mica. You guys cringe at the thought of maple fretboards so the idea of a pea soup green metal flake Alembic had me worried for a minute.

"To each their own" and "whatever floats your boat" but.... wow.

(btw Mica, any news yet about my bass? I know that Susan was in the process of getting back to BassNW with the finalized price quote but I hadn't heard from BassNW yet. I had to scale back some of the options that we talked on the phone about but I think I'll be happier in the long run. This is Jim btw (sycamore MK standard omega))
echo008
Intermediate Member
Username: echo008

Post Number: 118
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 7:46 pm:   Edit Post

eh... seeing that made me cringe... its saving grace is that it can be Undone... Refinish anyone!
- Tom
mgirouard3
New
Username: mgirouard3

Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 9:25 pm:   Edit Post

I agree, I can't believe anyone would want to cover up the beautiful wood that Alembic has taken so much time to bring out the natural beauty of!
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 606
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 5:54 am:   Edit Post

Frank sang "To each his own"...I'd personally rather cut my left one off before I'd paint over a natural wood finish. Didn't Gibson learn that back in '58?, LOL! You're supposed to paint over CRAPPY wood that wouldn't lend it self to a natural finish, LOL! IMHO, Alembic just doesn't offer a bad wood choice, taste not withstanding...at least not one worth painting over.
lbpesq
Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 71
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 11:50 am:   Edit Post

C'mon guys. That gold is cool, especially with the sparkle! The only thing that would be an improvement is a couple of fuzzy dice inlaid on the neck. And how about if every time you throw the Q switch, the bass automatically plays the macarena or the chicken dance, depending on the adjustment of an internal trim pot?

Actually this reminds me of something I once read about Jose Canseco. Canseco was an outfielder who came up with the Oakland Athletics baseball team in the 80's and looked like a sure thing for the Hall of Fame. As it turned out, he had a billion dollar body with a five cent head and wound up wasting his talent and becoming a laughing stock. Anyway, a writer once described how he went out and spent $70,000 on a new Jaguar, and then spent another $20,000 customizing it to look like a Chevy Camaro!

Bill, the guitar one

(Message edited by lbpesq on October 17, 2004)
rogertvr
Advanced Member
Username: rogertvr

Post Number: 265
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post

Obviously someone along the way has lost their guide dog. Or their taste dog. Or both...

Who'd want a Camaro anyway?

Rog
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1695
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 11:42 pm:   Edit Post

We talked about this bass before and ...well ....this will reputation forever but still ....I like it! It's a gig bass ....not for the Doomtree style music and sets (no offence Danno) but ...hey ...kinda funky. I like that!!!

No-no ....Really ....no joke!


Paul the bad one

davehouck
Senior Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 936
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 6:46 am:   Edit Post

Paul is right; this bass has been owned by a fellow club member and has been discussed in a couple threads:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/397/4046.html
http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/3587.html
And it was recently listed for sale in our forum:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/13116.html
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 58
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 3:51 pm:   Edit Post

That finish must photograph differently every time a picture is taken. The current ebay pictures look more green than anything to me but those older ones look like a different finish all together.

Maybe it's all together something different if you see it in real life.
dannobasso
Intermediate Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 159
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 5:16 pm:   Edit Post

Just try to think of it as a truly beautiful woman wrapped up so as to let your imagination go wild! A little mystery keeps the relationship fresh don't cha think? BTW I just ordered another black bass over maple same as Kay but with the Distillate/Europa circut w/Fatboys, DT inlay, ebony board and red led's, and a healthy dose of Black Finish! Thanks Susan for your suggestions and help again.
Danno
hollis
Senior Member
Username: hollis

Post Number: 435
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 5:26 pm:   Edit Post

Cool Danno,

I can't wait to see it!
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1701
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 11:00 pm:   Edit Post

Danno ...have you veen hanging around with Rami lately??? You're infected!!! "Raminized"!

PTBO
oujeebass
Junior
Username: oujeebass

Post Number: 49
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 3:50 pm:   Edit Post

I heard the Metallica bassist had some Alembics made for him that were painted. I could see that the tone would be different with a paint job.
dannobasso
Intermediate Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 160
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post

I've never met the man. His collection makes me look like a mere dabbler. I do what I can to satisfy my needs and wants. It may be much but I feel that 4 basses is a good number to tour with. So far I have 3 dark ones for the road, that leaves 1 more. Jason had quite a few Alembics. What other color would suit Metallica? I hope to use them on the Warped or Honda Civic tours this summer. REPRESENT! I still regret passing up that black series graphite 5!
Danno
blazer
Junior
Username: blazer

Post Number: 47
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 12:53 pm:   Edit Post

Pfeh, this is nothing new to me.

At the Knooren guitarworkshop we had a guy coming in with a stunning Gibson Les Paul with a beautiful AAA Birdseye maple top. And what did he want us to do?

PAINT IT BLACK!
Because he didn't like the way the maple looked.
dannobasso
Intermediate Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 161
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 4:25 pm:   Edit Post

Maybe he didn't like the way the "eyes" were looking at him when he played. I had my 83' solid Koa Spoiler 4 refinished in black at Alembic. My Les Paul is already black! "I see a red Paul and I want to paint it blaaaaack!" apologies to the Stones.
Danno

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