| Author | Message | ||
| jogi
Junior Username: jogi Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2002 |
Could this: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7309103085&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT really be an Alembic? Does look strange to me, the seller inherited it and has no clue what it is, except it says "Alembic" somewhere on the bass - it also says "Warwick" on the bridge, though... I mailed for a serial number and the exact spot where it says Alembic, but so far no reply. Any opinions? | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 705 Registered: 11-2003 |
The lack of a logo and the Warwick tailpiece would make me very skeptical. The nut doesn't look to be adjustable either. Speaking for myself I would pass on it. Sam | ||
| jagerphan84
Intermediate Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 166 Registered: 10-2003 |
The body and headstock are both interesting shapes - the horns look awfully pointy, and the headstock sure doesn't look right. Too much meat on top, and too pointy on the bottom. My first inclination is that it's a pretty good copy, and my second would be that it could be an employee project, but I doubt it. Looks to me like if a Gibson SG and a Ken Smith had a baby, this would be it... Adam | ||
| bigredbass
Advanced Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 379 Registered: 9-2002 |
My opinion? No. Proof positive? Real serial number. ALEMBIC could look it up. Wrong tailpiece. Warwick bridge. Wrong mounting of un-named pickups. Not an Alembic bridge. No Locking 1/4" jack instead of a 5-pin connector. Non-adjustable, non-brass nut. Wrong shape of body and head. It looks like a reasonable copy, but not a great one. But it sure looks like a great attempt to make dirty money at the Wickersham's expense. J o e y | ||
| majabiax
New Username: majabiax Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
I also think, this is not an real Alembic. The shape of the body is like a Short scale Bass. But the 5-pin Connector isnt't at the right place. I also mailed for an serial number and for more photos and get no answer until now. Axel | ||
| grateful
Junior Username: grateful Post Number: 22 Registered: 12-2004 |
I also don't think it's genuine: the body shape is not quite right Mark, ago | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1518 Registered: 5-2002 |
Welcome to the group, Axel. | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 231 Registered: 3-2004 |
Not the real McCoy. All indications are off (not right) the Alembic standard. | ||
| jogi
Junior Username: jogi Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2002 |
I was pretty sure this couldnīt be the real thing even before I posted this. I asked again - and very friendly, I might add - for a serial number and just where it says "Alembic": no reply... I do understand that not everybody is an expert on what he or she sells, but they could be a little more helpful than that. I contacted the high bidders as well, hope they donīt end up with a very expensive Alembic-would-be... | ||
| speicky
New Username: speicky Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hi, jogi and friends, seems my second name is "trouble". I am the "lucky guy" who made the last bid on this auction... I browsed the club on Sunday, but heaven knows why, I did not find this thread. Yesterday, I was happy to own another Alembic, today I'm sure to invest in a load of garbage. Well, I should have known better, already being owner of two real basses. Anyway, I will try to get in touch with this female and I will find a way to make her understand that this is not the way to sell anything in ebay. My personal regards to jogi, I guess you were the one who put me on the right track just a few hours ago. Thank you so much ! Have a nice day, y'all, and stay online, this might be a real crime scene... :-) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1538 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Christian, welcome to the group. I don't read German, so I don't know exactly what the listing says. If the seller lead you to believe that you were buying an Alembic, and the bass you received is not an Alembic, then I would think you have some recourse. Since the auction ended yesterday, it may be the case that she has not shipped it yet, and you may be able to contact her before it does. Hopefully, if you explain to her in an agreeable fashion what the situation is, then perhaps in the interest of keeping her good Ebay rating, and even her Ebay account, she will understand why the deal should not go through. Again, I don't read German and I don't know exactly what the listing says. | ||
| speicky
New Username: speicky Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hi, Dave, thank you very much for quick response. The bass ist not shipped yet, nor has any money gone down the drain, so we (especially me) can go to bed quite relaxed (it's already tomorrow in Krautland). Here's a rather rough translation of the seller's offer: bli bli blu blu ALEMBIC asa asa sama sama As I mentioned, I sent an email to the seller stating that both of us have a problem with the auction. She holds the key, she may clarify everything by sending any serial number. I do not have a feedback yet, and I did not expect that. Isn't it funny (or crazy ?): I really am keen on what happens next. Luckily, the garbage in Dortmund and me in Wiesbaden are only 300 kilometers apart, not thousands. So, I at least think I have some control of what may happen next... best regards Speicky (translations on ebay auctions appear courtesy of Speicky translations bli blu asa sama) | ||
| jogi
Junior Username: jogi Post Number: 28 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Speicky, hope you get out of the deal without any loss - the actual bass may be even a nice handmade one, but I donīt think itīs worth that much... :o) Anyway, hereīs what the seller wrote: Iīm selling this electric bass I inherited. I donīt know anything about musical instruments, so I canīt give any specific information. It says "Alembic" on the bass, the gigbag says "Realbag by MPA". This is a private auction, no guarantee, item may not be returned. As I mentioned before, I asked twice for a serial number etc. but received no answer... Speicky, let us know how this all works out, Iīm really curious! Best regards, Jogi | ||
| majabiax
New Username: majabiax Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hello Speiky, I also send you about an our before the ending of the ebay auction a link to this page. I hoped, that you would read this discussion in time. So I'm sorry about you and wish you a good luck, when you will get in contact with the seller. Axel | ||
| petiteblonde
New Username: petiteblonde Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hi Speiky, I almost got taken for an expensive ride on eBay. Personally, I would be more worried about getting an expensive substandard though good looking fake, than getting bad feedback from the seller. If she threatens to leave bad feedback, you can tell her that Alembic experts suspect that the bass is not a real Alembic, especially since she cannot provide you with a verifiable serial number, and that you would report that in your feedback reply. Depending on how cooperative she is, you could also report it to eBay's fraud department. She may honestly not know what she's selling, but the fact that she didn't reply to your request for a serial number is a serious red flag. If there was no serial number, she could have told you that. Serial numbers on older Alembics may be difficult for a novice to find. The missing emblem is puzzling. I don't know how the emblem is attached, but there does not appear to be even a hint that it fell off or was intentionally removed, no marks that I can see. I wish you success with this. Please let us all know how it goes. | ||
| speicky
New Username: speicky Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hello, Folks, it is really amazing how much feedback is given to me stupid... Thank you all so much, I love you ! I can add new facts and suspicions to this story, as my yesterday's email has been answered in the meantime. The Lady also gave me her cell phone number, and I talked to her directly just about three hours ago. She, being single and mom to four children, got the bass from her uncle. He died abour three months ago, and she needs money to feed the hungry children. She really does not have any spark of idea, what an Alembic is, nor what a bass guitar is compared to a guitar (or a trumpet ?). I know, this is a story, maybe true, maybe not. It turned out that the bass has got Alembic pickups, that's why she came up with the name Alembic. Maybe the bass has been refitted with those, and just because there was no other trade mark on the bass, she thought it was one. There is no number on the instrument that she is able to find. She told me she has no own PC, she uses one in the neighborhood. That's why she did not reply to any of our questions. She just looked up the result at the end of the auction, and she said she was shocked also, that this thing ends up with a final price of approximately USD 1.450. If I should believe all that or not, I don't know... I told her that I will not buy this bass with just Alembic pickups. Also, my father-in-law has got enough wood for a fire. But she was very kind and offered me to come around and talk this over in person. And I think that's what I do. I will travel to the North Sea on Friday anyway for a one-week-vacation, and from the Rhein-Main-area to the North Sea, Dortmund is just on the way, almost in the middle. Keep your fingers crossed for me, I will keep you informed. best regards, Speicky | ||
| jogi
Junior Username: jogi Post Number: 29 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Speicky, my gut feeling tells me that this story just might be true - not having a computer of her own would explain not answering questions... Iīve just been offered a ī63 Strat where a fraudster copied a genuine auction and tries to get me to send him money with Western Union - now thatīs what I call a real crime... Have a nice holiday, the North Sea coast will be great now with the fine weather! Best regards from the North-West, Jogi | ||
| speicky
New Username: speicky Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hello, boys and girls, no further news, no more nervous breakdowns yet, just one general and one personal remark. general: I love this club, I have been browsing around hundreds of threats and it is really amazing what a great community is gathered together here in one place. Gratulations ! I get more and more comfortable with this and learned that a click on the usernames leads me to the profile of the corresponding poster, and that leads me to... personal: Jogi, you started this threat. The world is a village, and when I am at the North Sea next week, I will definetely visit my brother and his girlfriend in Oldenburg. Perhaps I will be given a chance to thank you directly ? If you like, boil the tea water next week, even if it's not in a real McCoy :-) love to all of you, Speicky | ||
| jogi
Junior Username: jogi Post Number: 30 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Speicky, youīd be welcome to a nice cuppa (Bünting Grönpack, of course). Unfortunately, next week Iīll be on my first holiday in five years in Cambridge/UK! Have a nice trip, mate! | ||
| locutusofborg10
Member Username: locutusofborg10 Post Number: 59 Registered: 11-2002 |
once again, i personally would do alot of homework before buying an alembic on ebay. i don't trust any of the sellers. i personally feel that if they list the item as an alembic they can get more money. read SCAM. as posted before, always get the serial # and check it out with alembic. |
