| Author | Message | ||
| andrew_o
New Username: andrew_o Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2008 |
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=651990&highlight=alembic I'm contemplating hoping on this instrument. Sorry if the seller is on this forum...I see a wide variety of prices on these things...and this is a beaut, but I don't want to pay too much... Thanks | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9354 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Andrew; that is indeed a nice bass! I haven't been keeping up with market prices in a while, so I could be wrong; but my guess is that the asking price is a bit high. You may want to correspond with him and ask if the price is firm. Of course you never know; someone else may come along and decide that's the bass they've been waiting for and scoop it up at that price. But it does seem to me a bit high for a Standard. If you do pick it up, note that the pickups are mounted incorrectly and should be remounted. | ||
| andrew_o
Junior Username: andrew_o Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2008 |
How are they mounted incorrectly? Mismatching pickup screws? Do you think 3000 or maybe 3500 would be more fair? | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2454 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, the fact that it has been on offer for two weeks without any obvious action means it isn't a steal. If you found the right dealer and the right monthly special, you could probably order one up very similar for $6500 or so new. For me, buying a used Alembic depends upon how close the specs are to what I really want. I have a similar instrument with a relatively boring vermilion top, but it has a custom neck spec that is narrower than standard. The chances of finding another Alembic on the used market with that neck were pretty slim, so it was worth paying a bit above what I might otherwise have felt the typical price for that model should be. Is your goal a nice bass, or figuring out exactly what you want in a custom? If the latter, then buying used can be about validating your thoughts so you order the right options. If you have to lose a hundred here or there in the process, it beats making a $10K mistake on a custom. This particular instrument is very vanilla. It has LEDs, which almost everyone who experiences them will tell you is a very useful option. Other than that, it has a pretty top. To get back to your original question, the price is probably higher than average for the instrument, but similarly featured basses have sold for similar prices in the past. If these are the features you want, then negotiate yourself a deal and don't worry if you pay $3800 for a bass you think is worth $3500. If you're just looking for an Alembic at the best price, you may be able to do better. Read recent archives of the "for sale" boards here to get an idea of what has been offered and at what prices. If you pay a high price and then decide the instrument doesn't work for you, you will certainly be unhappy if you lose a few hundred on the sale two months later. On the other hand, after you've bonded with the instrument and decided it's a keeper, a little extra money won't matter. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9355 Registered: 5-2002 |
Andrew; Alembic pickups are mounted such that two of the screws, diagonally across from each other, are mounted under the side tabs, and two are mounted on top. You shouldn't see all four on top as in these pics. By the way, if you do correspond with him, ask him if he's the original owner, ask him if he has the original build card that came with the bass, and if so have him send you a legible picture of the build card, and ask him if he can take a clear close up pic of the serial number. | ||
| andrew_o
Junior Username: andrew_o Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2008 |
Well, I talked to the seller and he's willing to take it back if I'm unhappy with it (3 day trial). I'm looking for a pretty SC bass, with red LEDS. This kind of sticks out, so I don't look TOO much like a Stanley rip off =P. I'm looking for a bass that I'll be happy with for the rest of my life... so I'm currently looking at Foderas, Alembics, Sadowskys, etc. The problem is my favorite tones come from Foderas, Alembics, and Fenders, so picking an absolute favorite is kind of hard. If I don't like it, I eat the shipping, but whats a 100 bucks in the process of finding your dream instrument? | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 737 Registered: 9-2002 |
Id call someplace like bass central and see what you can get a new one for. That price does seem kind of high, very close to the price of used series I as a matter of fact. While nice, its not really very unique of an instrument that would that would command a higher price. If you havent done so, Id offer $3500.00 and see if hed go for it. If you have gone for it, give it good going over when you get it. The pickup screws certainly do look wrong. Chances are someone not experienced with Alembics got their hands on it. Reminds me of a "highly recomended" luthier went to once who thought the pickup cavities in my series I were too small and offered to rout them out... |
