| Author | Message | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 475 Registered: 9-2003 |
Check it out, Ed Roman is back with his Triple-O....he wants $17.5k! Maybe someone will hit the lottery and make his (i.e., Ed's) dreams come true, LOL! click here | ||
| kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 147 Registered: 8-2003 |
He's had that bass for a long time...in a few more years he'll start advertising it as vintage NOS. Just you wait. | ||
| smichaels
Junior Username: smichaels Post Number: 28 Registered: 6-2002 |
The thing is...if you called him up and asked about this bass, he would convince you that his custom shop could build you an identical one for $8750. He has done that for years. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 476 Registered: 9-2003 |
I agree....It's been said before on the site that he loves to do the "bait and switch". I don't think he wants to sell anything but his own guitars, but he knows no one will buy because they have a certain brand name in mind already. Oh, don't get me wrong, he'll be happy to sell you an in-stock Alembic, or even take your order for a Custom Alembic, but you better have a pocket full of money, LOL! | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 252 Registered: 3-2004 |
I disagree. Just for the heck of it, I contacted his business via the email addresses listed on his website to discuss my future custom order. No reply at all after two attempts. It would have taken a miracle for me to have purchased from him, but I would have expected at least the courtesy of a reply. In any case, I believe that the folks at Alembic have heard the negative stories told about Ed Roman. I suspect that there are probably also some positive stories, or he probably would no longer be an Alembic dealer. I think you're beating a dead horse to keep picking on the guy. -Bob | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 628 Registered: 7-2003 |
I resisted starting this thread myself, as I suspect this horse can't be beaten any "deader". Nonetheless, I have to comment on one thing (petty though it is): He is charging for shipping on the Ebay Triple O -Amazing!!! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 477 Registered: 9-2003 |
Bob: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Even if its been repeated ad nauseum. Spice of life and all. Some did write in about the positives with regards to Roman, but the vast majority are negative comments. If you've been reading here, you know I am an equal opportunity A*****e. The vast majority of the time I'm praising good dealers like Superbass or Bass Central or Bass Northwest. Conversely, I make no bones about blasting the lousy ones, like Roman. Hell, I even defended NJ Guitar/Bass Center, even though I wouldn't give them a dime of my money. The whole point of this nonsense is to make sure that the Alembic faithful know who the good guys are versus the bad guys. That includes those that are new to the site, as well as old-timers. Positives and negatives of all aspects of the Alembic sphere of influence are presumably important to those whose (substantial) consumer dollars support this company and keep it in existence. I know I wanna know the S**T from the Shinola when I'm spending big bucks, and I imagine I'm not alone here. 'Nuff said. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 253 Registered: 3-2004 |
By the way, and again just for the heck of it, I ran the bass through the configurator. Series I 5-string ebony neck laminates MOP ovals red side LEDs triple O with pistol grip buckeye burl top and back bookmatched to center continuous wood plates chrome h/w recessed silver logo w/shell If I didn't miss anything, that's about $19,500 list before monthly special on the current price list. If he got it before the last increase, picked it up with a decent monthly special, or otherwise received favorable treatment on a large-ticket item, then he's starting the bass at about full retail. I suspect he'll get exactly as many bids as he expects, and the same as he always gets. Zero. And one last comment: It is my firm opinion that Alembic should come down hard on this guy. Not because a bunch of us don't like his business practices, but because he misrepresents the Alembic instruments that he advertises. Did you know that the Spyder is actually the "Alembic John Entwistle Tribute Series II"? With brass spiderweb inlays in the body, no less? Also, he has a suggestive link at the bottom of his Triple O page to a story on ghostbuilding. On this page, he states that "Bruce Becvar Ghostbuilt Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones Alembic Omega Bass." This was discussed and debunked here a couple months ago, yet. I would think that a dealer in good standing that gives a damn about the company he's representing wouldn't post such crap, and would remove it immediately if it was found to be inaccurate. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 254 Registered: 3-2004 |
Kevin- I should have been more verbose in my disagreement, a problem I usually don't suffer from. I was pointing out that Ed Roman just didn't bother to return my attempts to communicate with him/them, so that I don't think that it was all about bait and switch. You can't bait and switch if you don't answer the initial query. Maybe I was fortunate that he didn't get back to me? | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 478 Registered: 9-2003 |
Well, as far as the pricing goes, he is an independent dealer and can charge whatever the market will bear (even if it exceeds MSRP)...in the Car and Harley World, this is common practice. In fact I was told on these very pages that I would be extremely lucky to get an Alembic at less than 10% to 15%-off MSRP unless it was NOS due to reduced Dealer margins as compared to "mass-market stuff" (this was direct from Alembic, BTW). If this was a rare piece, I could see it being priced as high as the market will allow. Having said that, this is a bass that any of us could easily duplicate via Custom Order, if you're willing to WAIT, that is. I'm assuming anyone in the market for a $17-$20k bass will want it built to their specs, not Ed Roman's (unless by some cosmic divine intervention he has EXACTLT what you wanted, LOL!). In the case of the (sic) Spyder, They only made 50/50, so it is sort-of rare. You can still duplicate it if you want it, though....Alembic IS the de-facto definition of Custom, after all. Regardless of all this, I refuse to pay anywhere near MSRP for anything. There is no reason to on an Alembic, either. I got a KILLER deal on mine, one that would probably shock quite a few people here, especially after what I was told about pricing and mark-up (as above), LOL!. Bottom Line: Let the buyers decide....Let Ed sit on the thing for eternity for all I care, LOL! I have the same experience with Roman as you do, Bob. Non-responsive, Period. Despite all his self-hype, he exhibits no professionalism or courtesy for prospective customers (with bulging wallets, LOL!) IMHO. No matter, I don't have to beg anybody to take my money from me, nor do I have to suffer through the dreaded "bait and switch" tactic. Others have reported this, and his website reinforces this theme over and over. In fact, an alarming number of hyperlinks on his site are for instruments he appears to carry, but are actually tirades against the particular manufacturer and are Ads for his suggested superior (usually) home-made substitution. Don't believe me? Go to his site and click on the PRS or Gibson or Fender or....fill-in-the-blank(s) icons/hyperlinks. You would think he has just about everything ever made, until you actually start searching for brand(s) you want. There are plenty of honest businessmen who will deal fairly with you out there for your Alembic Dollar. I let my wallet do the talking for me. Superbass Steve answered the call admirably, LOL! | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 91 Registered: 12-2003 |
I'm not really sure what's up with Ed Roman and his outrageous Alembic pricing and erroneous descriptions...and I'm not going to venture a guess. However, I too had a decent experience with the man. Before he opened up his collossal Vegas showroom, he had a much smaller place in the middle of nowhere in New Fairfield CT. It was on the way to my old alma mater - Williams College. While visiting a couple of years back, we stopped by Ed's on 2 separate occasions. He was quite the accomodating host to my wife and I, showing us anything we wanted to see and giving us a little tour of some of his extensive inventory. I'm hardly going to say the man is a prince...he's easily the most opinionated, self important dealer I've ever run into. But as far as his selection of guitars and prices...no one else in either New York or Chicago could touch him. I bought a Ric 360 from him and never looked back. I'm not saying I would have dinner with him, but I'd buy another guitar from him. He's answered e-mails promptly, despite claiming not to have the time and either Ed or one of his salespeople was always available on the phone. Maybe he's changed lately...I don't know. But I can't lie...my overall experience was positive. Sorry to muddy the water, Jonathan | ||
| zappahead
Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2002 |
Im not a big fan of his mannerisms and sales methods, but he is what he is. The only two things I can add are that for one is showroom is probably the single greatest showing of guitars that Ive ever seen. Its worth charging admission for its so good. By far the best selection of great guitars in one place that Ive seen and second place isnt even close. The other thing is that he is pretty open to the fact that he does not answer emails often, if ever. If you call his showroom I can guarantee that someone will discuss your purchase, I can also guarantee they will steer you towards one of his in-house brands and that he will usually try to charge more for his products than most other big dealers will. | ||
| rklisme
Intermediate Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 102 Registered: 5-2004 |
Hey Guys My one experience was negative as well, not only was he rude he hung up the telephone. I took my business to Bass Northwest and never looked back. Thank god for Evan and his crew in Seattle. Rory | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 452 Registered: 12-2002 |
I was in vegas this week & went to ed roman's ,and showed him old #12(alembic)and he was very excited to see an alembic that old!,and we talked for a wile ,,but he suggested that i should INSURE this bass for at least $40,000 dollars! just purely because of its HISTORICAL VALUE,,,,,hell i dont even have auto insurence ,,,,so somebody give some input on this! | ||
| lbpesq
New Username: lbpesq Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2004 |
Just wondering, is Ed Roman in the insurance business too? | ||
| kobgar
New Username: kobgar Post Number: 2 Registered: 8-2004 |
Hehe, i went in this summer because I was in vegas for a bach party, knew he had alembics, and i was dying just to play one, as there are no dealers down here in So Cal. Anyways, Went in and found a rogue, when i asked if i could play on it, i was asked if i was going to purchase it that day, and was told that instruments couldn't be played unless you were going to purchase them. I was kinda taken back, but they let me play on the rogue, and as you all know, it was freaking awesome. After 5 minutes of that, they pulled the universal "you had your five minutes on the nice equipment, now pay or get out" routine, swapping the rogue out with a warrior bass. I wasn't interested in that, walked out, and picked up a custom rogue a month later on E-bay. Didn't even ask the price they were gonna sell it for. Didn't meet Ed, but how are you supposed to know what you want if you can't play on it? I understand protecting the guitars, but I wasn't some 9 year old with cheetos all over my hands or anything. Oh well, that's my ed roman experience. cool showroom though. | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 319 Registered: 6-2002 |
I wasn't aware that the classical scene was so prominent in Las Vegas that people go there especially with the intent to have a Bach party. (Message edited by adriaan on September 15, 2004) | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 848 Registered: 5-2002 |
And I didn't know Bach had Alembics. | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 636 Registered: 7-2003 |
I can appreciate the need to keep high ticket items from getting shopworn (The guys at BassCentral claim Beaver beats them when they play with the merchandise.), but come onnnn! I've never had trouble getting access to high end gear provided I've made it clear I know a bit about what I'm looking at and I'm not talking to a teenage cashier/stockboy/sales expert. Look what happened to Roman as a result of attitude - a bass was selected and then bought somewhere else. That doesn't seem to concern them a lot, though. Businesses that actually want to sell a product tend to find a way. I have to believe Ed doesn't want to sell Alembics. Bill | ||
| gare
Junior Username: gare Post Number: 35 Registered: 11-2003 |
I like the Cheetos idea..I'll have to use that one time, bet you could get by with it at Guitar Center  Bob Bach, the great great great great grandson uses Alembics. | ||
| tom_z
Junior Username: tom_z Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2004 |
Well, I guess everyone has different experiences of any given place. When I went to Ed Roman's I was treated very well. When I expressed interest in the Alembic guitar that was in the store (a very nice Tribute), Ed came from behind the counter and handed it to me to play. He followed that by handing me a Rick Turner, a Jet, and a string of other hand-built guitars including, of course, his own line. He was very professional, if laid back, and spoke at length regarding the virtues of all of the guitars I was playing. It was great fun! Like Jonathan's experience, he gave me a nice tour of his inventory (some of which is not obviously accessible from the main showroom) and his workshop, where I played another guitar that had just been set up. Throughout this time, he was trying to sell me on his own lines of guitars. I have no problem with this as he encouraged me to do extensive comparisons. He does love his own work - he's proud of his guitars, and they’re not junk – they’re quite nice. Ed also loves to talk and he has lots of strong opinions, but for whatever reasons, his rap doesn't bother me - I've met plenty of guys like Ed, in all walks of life - this guy just happens to be my hometown guitar store owner. =) With respect to my Alembic purchase, Ed quoted me a very fair price on the guitar I was ordering (better than Bass Central or Super Bass) and said it was his "best offer" and that he would not make any counter-offers if someone quoted lower. Bass Central did eventually make a better offer (no tax - out of state, made it easier) and I did the deal with Beaver. Okay - sorry - this is a bit long. The bottom line for me about Ed Roman: The guy is a character, he rubs some folks the wrong way, if you're focused on what you want he is very accommodating, and his store is amazing. Tom |
