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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive: 2007 » Archive through November 26, 2007 » Making custom guitars and basses online « Previous Next »

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anarchyx
New
Username: anarchyx

Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 2:20 pm:   Edit Post

how do make the guitars and basses online?
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1795
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 2:24 pm:   Edit Post

Sorry, but you'll have to elaborate on that. I don't understand your question.
anarchyx
New
Username: anarchyx

Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 6:24 pm:   Edit Post

see like if u call alembic, u can order a guitar or bass, and u can tell them all the details u want for the guitar or bass. it shows the details u can ask for on the custom quote. but I can't find the online store where u can customize your own guitar (or bass). I'm not sure if u understand that, but I really can't elaborate any further. If u can please help me out on this. thanx
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 549
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 7:25 pm:   Edit Post

Have you tried going here?
http://www.alembic.com/cgi-bin/quote/quote

Hope that's what you're looking for.
82daion
Intermediate Member
Username: 82daion

Post Number: 106
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 7:29 pm:   Edit Post

Alembic doesn't have an online order page.

If you want to order one, you need to call into Alembic or order through a dealer (which is the cheaper option.) The custom quote generator is there as a means to establish a baseline for your bass/guitar before you order it.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1796
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 9:22 pm:   Edit Post

As the others have pointed out, there's the custom quote generator that will have quite a few options available for you. There are always options beyond what the tool will let you select because Alembic will incorporate any reasonable ideas the customer may have that no one has previously done.

After you have done that, you will have an idea of the list price of the instrument. From there, you get to look at the monthly special to see if it will save you money or let you add a cool option that you might otherwise have skipped. If money is no object, you can contact Alembic directly and order the instrument for list price. Most people will contact a dealer and get a pretty fair discount when they order. Don't know where you are, so we can't point you at a local dealer.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1627
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 12:48 pm:   Edit Post

I think anarchyx visited the Ernie Ball/Music Man site, where you can select the model, the different finishes and options, and it all shows up as a picture on your screen. The site can even tell you if one of the registered dealers has a matching instrument in stock.

Well, that's what a large-scale operation like EB/MM can do. For every single Alembic that leaves the workshop, there are several hundreds (if not thousands) of EB/MMs that get off the production line.

By all accounts, EB/MM produces an excellent instrument, but they don't cater to the individual customer. So they have a site where they can show you all the available options, but those options are limited to what they choose to produce on a regular basis.

(Message edited by Adriaan on October 06, 2007)
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 699
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 3:17 pm:   Edit Post

Some companies allow you to go through the entire process and actually order your custom instrument online without ever speaking to a company representative or a dealer. EB/MM still operates through dealers.

Note that selecting a series of options is different from a truly custom Bass. A truly custom Bass has unlimited options and details. That's what the super high-end companies (like Alembic) offer.

(Message edited by rami on October 06, 2007)
anarchyx
New
Username: anarchyx

Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 4:35 pm:   Edit Post

I mean, I know what the quote is. 82daion pretty much cleared it up for me thanx dude. it sucks that you can't order one online, though.
chuck
Advanced Member
Username: chuck

Post Number: 208
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 8:44 pm:   Edit Post

Of course you can.Just print out what you want from the quote generator and email it to a dealer.
They will then give you their discounted price which will be a lot less than full retail.Then arrange for payment.
Try several dealers and shop prices.A list of dealers is located elsewere on this site.

Chuck
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 646
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 11:59 pm:   Edit Post

The advantage of the Alembic way is dealing with people. Building relationships with the company can be very rewarding. I've been doing business with Alembic since 1986 after buying my first Spoiler in 83. Washington Music gave me great prices but I spoke with Mica, Susan and Mary. All the dealer did was process the credit card and confirm the order. 15 instruments later, I'm still loyal to the company and the people. If you do order one, I hope you enjoy the experience.
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 139
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 7:15 am:   Edit Post

Well put Danno!
As Alembics are not assembly line instruments, there is a special care that goes into each one produced. Alembic shows that they care for the customer and instrument even after it has left their facility. Going on 35+ years of manufacturing such eclectic instruments speaks for itself and if I'm not mistaken the serial numbers are only up around the 15000 - 16000 range (total instruments made, I believe??).

(Message edited by artswork99 on October 07, 2007)
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 642
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 7:27 am:   Edit Post

I think they're close to 15000 now and yes indeed that's the number of instruments made since '71
anarchyx
New
Username: anarchyx

Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 7:57 am:   Edit Post

well thats probably true what chuck said. I guess you could print it and email it to a dealer. Well thinking chuck
anarchyx
New
Username: anarchyx

Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 7:58 am:   Edit Post

since '71?
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1631
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 8:18 am:   Edit Post

I thought the first real Alembic was built in 72 or 73.
crgaston
Senior Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 446
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 8:22 am:   Edit Post

Mine was 13725, and it left the factory this May, so they probably aren't quite to 15,000 yet.
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 864
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 10:21 am:   Edit Post

My 2004 BB is 13317 and my 2006 Orion is 13514. With Charles number I would guess they will hit 13800 instruments between now and the end of the year.

Keith
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 141
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

The number I gave earlier was only a guess (but not to far off)...
Danno pointed out the "relationship" that Alembic builds with its customer and I was only backing it up with my own limited experiences :-)

(Message edited by artswork99 on October 07, 2007)
pas
Member
Username: pas

Post Number: 96
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 11:31 am:   Edit Post

"Since '71?"...yes. #71-01 - Jack Casady's Bass - Alembic #1.
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 881
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post

There's a picture from last month in the FTC section. The instrument's serial number is in the 14250s.
Rich
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1797
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 5:34 pm:   Edit Post

Rich, I'm not sure what you are referring to, but that might be an order number which is different from the serial number.
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 882
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 10:37 pm:   Edit Post

Bob, an order number may very well be what I saw and assumed that it is a serial number. Here is the thread. Look about 2/3 of the way down at some pictures that Mica posted. Sorry if I'm confusing the issue here.
Rich

http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/37231.html?1191762710
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1798
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 11:28 pm:   Edit Post

Yep. Those numbers inked into the pickup cavities relate to the work order, not the serial number.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1404
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 4:33 am:   Edit Post

Anarchyx (I have to call you this as you don't give us any details in your profile).

I'm not sure I understand why you'd want to order an Alembic online. This isn't like some CD ordering company where your online order is processed by a mechanical device that selects you cd choice (or builds your 'custom shop' warwick) with no human intervention. The whole point about Alembics is that they are built by warm, friendly human beings who are more than happy to discuss the tiniest detail about your instrument. (they'll talk about many other things given the chance i.e. if they're not busy). You'll also find that your chosen dealer will prefer the human contact - instrument shops (on the whole) love talking about musical instruments. You may also find that by getting into a 'relationship' with the dealer you may be given extra discounts.

Graeme

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