| Author | Message | ||
| slawie
Advanced Member Username: slawie Post Number: 249 Registered: 8-2002 |
I found this on talkbass. It kind of makes me feel a little ill. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=688559 slawie | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 496 Registered: 9-2008 |
Oh, thats really awfull! Made me ill, but I'm glad he recovered his Bass... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9550 Registered: 5-2002 |
I read the first post, then skipped to near the end and read post #36, which has more of the story. He says he 'thinks' he has all the parts, but it would be nice to be sure. All of those holes in the top are worrisome. Personally, I would like to see it go back to Santa Rosa. A full restore, and while it's there, bass and treble switches. I think if someone were interested they should call Mica to get some kind of idea of what the restore and switches would cost. She would say that she won't know until the bass is in their hands, but it might be worth a try. I wild guess would be to take the cost of a used Europa in excellent condition, subtract the cost of the restore and switches, and make an offer of that amount. So a very wild guess would be maybe an offer of $1,000US. It's hard to tell much about the Quilt from the picture; but Quilted Maple top and back with a new refinish could be worth it. Maybe Mica can tell more about the Quilt looking at the picture. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6908 Registered: 6-2000 |
Wow, what a sad tale. I can understand the feeling of wanting to move on, and I'm glad that the current owner isn't suffering from bad feelings anymore, that's actually the nice part of the story. But that poor bass... The holes look like they are for the original Elan electronics, so good there's no extra holes. The black-toning concerns me, that might be a stain, and it might not come off. The finish looks very thin (that makes refinishing a bit easier actually). The interior of the lower horn looks like the finish stripping was a bit aggressive, maybe some recarving is needed there. There's probably a good $1500-2K of work to fully restore this bass, depending on what the condition of the wood is and how much of the original electronics are available. If there is a black stain on it, and it can be evened out, would look great with an overlaid color like deep violet and some black hardware. I mean, that's what i would dream for this bass, to transform after being in a cocoon and emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Maybe a small butterfly inlay on the first fret or engraving on the truss rod cover. | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 468 Registered: 9-2008 |
wow Mica, i love your idea of the butterfly, i hope whoever decides to get this condiers that idea ~Taylor | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 469 Registered: 9-2008 |
wow Mica, i love your idea of the butterfly, i hope whoever decides to get this considers that idea ~Taylor | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 470 Registered: 9-2008 |
oops, double post | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9551 Registered: 5-2002 |
I like it too! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1238 Registered: 5-2009 |
In essence , the " Mark Of The Butterfly" is a poetic gesture . There is infinite interpretation . Very cool . | ||
| jedisan
Intermediate Member Username: jedisan Post Number: 134 Registered: 3-2008 |
Gosh, kinda' got me to have a few tears in my eyes. | ||
| lowphatbass
New Username: lowphatbass Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2005 |
Thanks slawie for posting the link here in the Club, I appreciate it. Thank you also to everybody else for their thoughts and contributions. If I knew somebody was going to do right by this bass the decision to let it go would be easier. I have no need to sell it, and there are more reasons to keep it. If/when it gets restored I'll share some pictures and stories. This bass always had "fretless tendencies" under my fingertips for whatever reason, I've even been asked if some of the tracks I've recorded with this bass were done with a fretless. Chances are when the time is right, and since this needs so much work anyway I will be looking into converting it over. Thanks again! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9556 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for the update. Hoping for a good outcome for the bass and for you. | ||
| lowphatbass
New Username: lowphatbass Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2005 |
I really appreciate that, sincerely. Thank You. The bass has made it's way into the living room, it's the first time I've really sat down and had a good look(feel). I'm pretty sure a stain has been used and the sanding was pretty rough. In trying to get a fresh perspective on what my bass used to look like I've been studying the family tree as much as possible the last few days. I've seen some Elan/Europa body styles in solid colors. I'd like to ask all of you what you think about the idea of painting this Elan. I'd love to hear some talk about solid color Alembics, I know it's just a preference but I'm sure there's more to it than that. Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts. | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 823 Registered: 11-2005 |
Solid colors are rare with most that I've seen being black but, I would think a pearl white or arctic white w/black hardware would look very classy. I saw a Europa 5 in white w/black hardware for sale, just made me salivate. You should keep the ol' girl and get her fixed up. Take care | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1222 Registered: 11-2004 |
I love Alembics in color. Go for it! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9559 Registered: 5-2002 |
The Alembic shop does amazing things. For instance, Stormy. Go back up and read the last paragraph in Mica's post. She's envisioning overlaying a color to take advantage of the Quilt and making use of the stain. Personally, I love the things they do with color overlaying a Quilt. They are amazing. | ||
| lowphatbass
New Username: lowphatbass Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2005 |
I do like the "deep stain" look over a quilt as well, and I LOVE Stormy! For whatever reason I like the colored look better over a denser and/or more consistent quilt pattern, they seem to hold color well. My bass has a bit of "free spirit" going on, there's a lot of turbulence I guess which seems to lend itself more toward naturalism maybe. It's also possible that I'm not really a purple, blue or green bass type of guy. I'm taking a lot of inventory and that's what I'm needing to do here, this is really working for me and I thank you! One of my reasons for considering a solid color is the possibility that the sanding inconsistencies could be "built-up" from where they're at and the process would be reversible in theory, although it's debatable whether this building-up process would be less labor intensive than sanding down. At this point I think my best option is to set aside a bit of money every gig, when the coffee can is full I'll take a drive North and allow the right thing to happen from that point. Thanks again to all of you for your warmth and concern! Nat | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9562 Registered: 5-2002 |
Sounds like a good plan. Keep up posted. | ||
| rockbassist
Intermediate Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 182 Registered: 8-2005 |
In the early 1980's I had a 1971 Fender Jazz bass that I loved playing. The bass sounded great and played beautifully. In 1984, the bass was stolen. My former drummer later admitted that he had stolen it and traded it for an Alembic. He paid me for the bass but I would have preferred it if he had given me the Alembic. | ||
| masterofmanystrings
New Username: masterofmanystrings Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2010 |
... As someone who also had an Elan stolen -and by someone who WAS (emphasizing "past tense") a trusted friend... my heart goes out to you. I feel your pain -especially what with it being mutilated and all. Just horrible. I ended up getting a new and more awesome Alembic to deal with the pain/loss... and frankly as an alternative to dealing with that person in a harsh manner warranted by the situation... but one that at the least could've involved serious possible legal implications. I wish you the best dealing with this; hopefully you can send it back to get fixed up, remember, Alembic began as a repair shop, and no one is better suited to repair/modify an electric instrument -especially one of their own- than Alembic. Hopefully in the future your baby will be restored, probably (apparently certainly) not as it was, but as something you'll like. Maybe consider an upgrade to Europa or EMW electronics. Best wishes, brother. |
