| Author |
Message |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 11
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 3:07 pm: |  |
Thanks Rich, I find as a whole that it's a good bunch here. Alembic is not the only line that has it's "snobs" as someone called them earlier in this thread. I used to know a Fender "snob" that would almost break out in hives if there were anything else within eyeshot. It takes more than a "whack on the head" to dissuade me. I'm sure that eventually I'll reach my goal, and on that day I would like to consider myself a worthy member of The Club. |
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee
Post Number: 590
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 3:46 pm: | |
Heck, you're welcome now. You don't have to own an Alembic to be welcomed around here, just have an interest.
Are you sure you can't sell your P-bass outright? You'll end up with a better selection to choose from. Alembic makes a wide variety of quality instruments. They do feel and sound different from each other, so if you just trade for one at random, you may walk away unhappy or put it back on the trade block.
-Bob |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 4:52 pm: | |
Well, as explained above, it seems to be a horribly lopsided buyer's market at the moment. Just today, I got a phone call from a collector wanting more information. He offered me a rediculous 3 figure offer, which I promtly declined. I'll be damned (can I say that here?) if I'll let it go for stupid money just to hang in some non-player's rumpus room. I'd sooner give it away to some deserving kid that really wants to play.
I recently visited my local GC that has a Series 1 and played it for a while. Except for it being a 5'er and fretless, I liked the feel of the neck and of course that awesome tone. I've also had my hands on a couple of other Alembics, albeit briefly, and drawing from these experiences I can't imagine being disappointed. I've always had the Alembic "jones" based on the sound alone, so all things considered, I don't think I'm going through all of the trouble I'm going through (and have been for years) just to recycle an Alembic which I have been working toward for lo these many years.
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richbass939
Junior
Username: richbass939
Post Number: 44
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 5:59 pm: | |
I agree with you guys. Bob, he probably could do better selling to someone or on ebay. I'm not sure what P-basses go for but, as was said earlier in this thread, Alembics tend to go for an unreasonably small fraction of their new price. I don't know why the player/collector world hasn't caught on to what great basses and what a good value they are. Personally I am not concerned with the resale value because I can't see myself selling. My wife and I are collectors as well as players and have been in acquisition mode the last few years (I have a picture under Epics). Even if we started selling instruments my Alembic would be the last bass standing in the house.
4 string, your suggestion about giving a bass to a kid reminded me of a 25 year old story. There was a 13 or 14 year old neighborhood kid that I barely knew. I knew that he wanted to play bass and he knew that I made a living on bass. One day I said "Hey Kenny, I want to show you something." I showed him my first bass that I didn't play anymore and said "Take it. It's yours." He couldn't believe it. Just about every time I saw him he was jamming on that bass. You'd think I'd given him an Alembic.
I'm sure you'll be please with an Alembic.
Rich
P.S. Welcome to the club.
(Message edited by richbass939 on December 18, 2004) |
dgcarbu
New
Username: dgcarbu
Post Number: 6
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 8:02 pm: | |
Hi alembicians, I am seeking serious wisdom & guidance with a torturing dilema of mine. I have a beautiful Series I, s/n 76-265, w/a new cable, and hardshell case. It has been a lifelong quest of mine to own a legend like this, but after visiting Alembic, I've recently come to terms with my physical limitations and have considered letting this beauty one go for a Stanley Clarke Brown Bass because of the shorter scale. I seek your counsel and advice on suggestions to resolve my situation.
 |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 13
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 8:12 pm: | |
Well, of course my counsel would be to swap me for my ......... |
richbass939
Junior
Username: richbass939
Post Number: 45
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 9:26 pm: | |
Yo, 4 string. Go for it, dude. |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 4:16 am: | |
my........ |
pas
Junior
Username: pas
Post Number: 28
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 10:58 am: | |
Having been sternly rebuked for both head whacking and being a snob, I would suggest selling your current bass outright...it'll give you more options. Looking in my crystal ball, I can tell you the exact date that it'll shift from buyers to sellers market - April 15 - christmas and tax season both being paid off by that date.
Any ideas on what models/woods/electronics/scale lengths you're interested in? |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 15
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:23 am: | |
I pretty much figured on getting in somewhere around the entry level area. Don't know who the member is here, but he had a transparent blue flame maple Essence that sold on Ebay for $750. When his auction ended and mine had not sold, I was cursing everyone from Leo Fender to the CEO of Ebay!!
But seriously, folks, the woods that Alembic uses are as a whole so far beyond what anyone else does as a whole, I don't think I've seen a single top that I didn't like. If I were ordering a custom, perhaps quilt, birdseye, cocobolo, hell, they're all gorgeous. I'm not terribly picky about the electronics, since conventional wisdom seems to be that if I were to end up with a basic Alembic setup, the preamp Alembic sells could take up the slack.
I don't make a huge distinction between a 32" or 34" scale, I've played both, and wouldn't disqualify a prospective acquisition on that issue. (gee, I sound like a collector....)
As far as shapes, I tend to gravitate toward the Persuader, Essence, Rogue primarily. Oh, and the shape that is November's featured custom, I don't recall the name of it. Should the day ever come that I am able to order my own custom, that will definately be the one!! |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 16
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 12:06 pm: | |
Correction. It's not Alembic's preamp I was thinking of, but the sf-2 superfilter.
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dgcarbu
New
Username: dgcarbu
Post Number: 10
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 12:27 pm: | |
pas, thanks for the advice, your foresight is my hindsight. Answers like yours justifies why I seek advice from fellow alembicians such as yourself. I thank you for that. As far as what I'm looking for, aside from my previous posting above, I like the Stanley Clarke Brown Bass for obvious reasons. It's been suggested to me to hold out for a short scale Series I. |
jimbobv
Junior
Username: jimbobv
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 3:19 pm: | |
I agree with PAS on this one, you'll probably have better luck selling it outright. There's less chance that an Alembic-owning-PBass-GAS-sufferer are one in the same. Keep your eyes open for both a Pbass buyer and an Alembic seller.
As much as I'd like a fretted Pbass, (have 78 fretless p) I can't trade my Elan away, and I have more desire for acquiring a S1 or S2 if the price is right - dgcarbu's looks like a beauty! |
gbarchus
Member
Username: gbarchus
Post Number: 97
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:18 pm: | |
I'm living in Tokyo right now and there is a used 20th Anniversary bass in good condition at a well known shop going for about $4000. They also have '65 Precision and Jazz basses in average condition for about $8000 each. ...and someone will buy them! |
oggydoggy
Member
Username: oggydoggy
Post Number: 100
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:39 pm: | |
Gale!!
Back in tokyo, ehh,
I assume your 20th made the Pacific trip again.
***
This fender is cool but, Some collectors might look for some other more rare models, esspecially when consodering trading for an Alembic.
On a side note,what years was fender doing the strings through-body design?
Best Of luck, hope you find your first Alembic soon!!
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4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 18
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:48 pm: | |
No offense intended to anyone, especially anyone here, but I'd rather a player get this bass. Actually, I may have a done deal already. Thanks for the good wishes. |
dgcarbu
Junior
Username: dgcarbu
Post Number: 14
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 25, 2004 - 9:19 am: | |
Heads-up fellow alembicians, I am seriously considering working out a deal with my Series I for a Brown Bass in the near future. Merry Christmas everyone! |
gbarchus
Intermediate Member
Username: gbarchus
Post Number: 102
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, December 25, 2004 - 11:37 pm: | |
Hey Ed!
Yeah, back in the land of godzilla, again. I'm headed back to Austin in January.
Gale |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 19
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 4:57 pm: | |
Well, I tried out a Persuader as a prospective trade. Loved it, but passed on this particular one. I'm not done yet!! |
pas
Junior
Username: pas
Post Number: 29
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 9:51 pm: | |
What was it that made you want to pass on it...electronics...body-style...scale length...woods...price? Enquiring minds want to know... |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 20
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 4:32 pm: | |
The scale took a little getting used to, but after a couple of hours, it felt quite normal. The woods were very cool, I liked them alot. The price was an even trade for my '73 Pbass. The electronics were pretty much what I expected. I can't knock the bass at all, in fact I really like it and I really enjoyed putting it through it's paces, even though my P seems to have a bit more "ass" to it as Geddy Lee puts it. I suppose when all was said and done, this particular bass wasn't enough for me to give up my P for. But as I said, I'm still on the hunt. |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 21
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 4:35 pm: | |
The scale took a little getting used to, but after a couple of hours, it felt quite normal. The woods were very cool, I liked them alot. The price was an even trade for my '73 Pbass. The electronics were pretty much what I expected. I can't knock the bass at all, in fact I really like it and I really enjoyed putting it through it's paces, even though my P seems to have a bit more "ass" to it as Geddy Lee puts it. I suppose when all was said and done, this particular bass wasn't enough for me to give up my P for. But as I said, I'm still on the hunt. Many thanks to the member here(or at least I think he's a member since he replied to my post here by email) for allowing me the opportunity. |
ajdover
Intermediate Member
Username: ajdover
Post Number: 163
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 2:56 pm: | |
All,
Read this entire thread with great interest, and everyone has good points (allright, everyone sing Kumbaya now ...). As the owner of 2 Gibsons, 2 Fenders, a Rickenbacker, an Ovation, a Godin, a Musicman, a Pedulla, a Peavey, and 3 Alembics, I'd offer the following.
I think a lot of folks, particularly if they know something about musical instruments, pay a lot for a vintage Fender or Gibson (or Rickenbacker, Musicman, etc.) due to the sound. I say this because my Rickenbacker, Musicman, and Fender Jazz are all from the '70s (as is my Gibson Ripper). I'd owned Ricks and Jazz Basses in the 70's, and like an idiot, sold them. When I was able financially to acquire these instruments again, I intended to buy new. I went and tried them out, and they just didn't sound like I remembered and liked. Not that they're bad instruments, just not what I wanted. Same went with the Musicman. I waited until what I wanted came along on the used market, and picked them up. I haven't regretted it since.
I think it's a fact of life that some things are always going to be more collectible than others for any number of reasons (nostalgia, so and so played one, very few made, etc.). Fenders and Gibsons, I think, fall into the nostalgia and so-and-so played one camp, Rickenbackers and Musicmans a bit less so. Alembics, while IMHO the finest instruments produced, do not (unfortunately) have the mass appeal that Fender and Gibson does. Price alone makes them less accessible than the average mass produced instrument, and the fact that they don't do artist endorsements doesn't give them the same visibility as the average Gibson, Fender, etc. What folks don't recognize they are less inclined to pay top dollar for, regardless of quality.
For myself, I don't see anything wrong with someone's preference for a good old P-Bass. Though I'm not a fan of them nor do I own one, I also know that people own and happily play them. If it works for someone else, so be it. I purchased all of my instruments (13 now - yikes!) because I liked them for any number of reasons - nostalgia, had one before, always wanted one, etc. And yes, I play them all - they don't sit in a closet. Of course, I don't play them all at the same time, but I digress! :-) Each has a particular quality that I like, and I fit the instrument to the requirement at hand.
I truly hope that 4string gets what he wants in an Alembic. I'm sure he'll enjoy it and that he'll find it's the best decision and purchase he's ever made bass-wise.
Best regards,
Alan |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 22
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 6:08 pm: | |
Thanks Alan for your kind sentiments.
Y'know, a guy offered me his Benevente Vortex the other day, another guy offered his '87 G&L L2000, someone else offered me his Stingray plus $500, and yet another guy offered me his Spector NS4 neckthru. If I weren't so badly G.A.S.-ing for an Alembic, I might have taken any of those offers!! |
dgcarbu
Member
Username: dgcarbu
Post Number: 51
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 9:11 am: | |
Alan, I share your sentiments.
4string4ever, take your time, I waited 22 years before I was in a position to actually buy one...used that is. I'm your average middle class musician. I think you can aquire one without sacrificing your P-Bass. Just my opinion... |
4string4ever
Junior
Username: 4string4ever
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 7:05 pm: | |
Also being an average middle class musician, already waiting about 25 years, and at my ripe old age of 42, I'll gladly sacrifice my P before arthritis sets in and I have to worry about breaking a hip or something....  |
dgcarbu
Member
Username: dgcarbu
Post Number: 64
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 7:35 pm: | |
I hear ya... |
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