| Author | Message | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 401 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'm not an ebay guy (no transactions on either side yet), but just got an email from a reader here who has owned an Alembic for ages but is not formally a member, and therefore not able to post. Don't know anything about the bass, the seller (not the guy who mailed me), or even that much about Spoilers, but it sure looks like the real thing to me. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38080&item=7314955584&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 853 Registered: 3-2004 |
Looks pretty good. If you ignore all the Prince hype, it's still a very good deal! If I were in the market, I'd jump on it. Being black, you would think Danno would buy it. I think he has the single largest collection of black Alembics on the planet... | ||
| petiteblonde
Junior Username: petiteblonde Post Number: 12 Registered: 3-2005 |
If any of you are in the market and have any reservation about bidding, please call the seller at the number listed in the eBay post. I talked to him at length a couple of weeks ago, and the Prince thing is possible (St Paul/Minneapolis, Prince's home base). It wouldn't matter to me who had owned it if the bass was right for me. I would have bought it, but already have an 86 black spoiler just like this listed one. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1593 Registered: 5-2002 |
The text is interesting. From the listing: "For controls it has 2 volume knobs, 2 tone knobs and a splitter switch." | ||
| petiteblonde
Junior Username: petiteblonde Post Number: 14 Registered: 3-2005 |
The photo only shows 3 knobs and 1 switch, just like my Spoiler. I can understand how he thinks there are 2 volume knobs, since the teardrop shaped knob seiously affects the overall volume. I'm still on the low end of the learning curve, so I don't know what everything does or is called yet. I got the impression from talking to him that he doesn't see many Alembics, mostly lower priced instruments in his location. | ||
| fmm
Member Username: fmm Post Number: 74 Registered: 6-2002 |
I went to the store over lunch and looked at this bass: It has seen some significant wear. There are several chips in the finish. The output from the bridge pickup is much lower than the fingerboard pickup, even though it’s considerably higher. The Q switch is in upside down (at least compared to mine): you flip it up to engage the circuit. There is no logo, or evidence that there ever was one. The brass truss rod cover has 4 square corners. On mine, the corners nearest the fingerboard are rounded. I don’t think the tuners are original. On the A & D tuners, the small “tab” that the mounting screw goes through has been half broken off, and only one screw secures both tuners. The nut is set abnormally high (you can see the gap on the 2nd picture on ebay) but I don’t think that’s a big deal. There’s a second strap button on the lower horn. No idea what that’s doing there. The fingerboard may never have been oiled and it shows. I don’t mean to sound so negative. I think the bass sounds great, and I’m going to mention it to my students (I doubt any will bite, though). I’d be thinking about it if I hadn’t spent all of my money on a new cabinet saw. If someone wants further details let me know. I could probably spend another lunch hour looking at gear. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 856 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, the tuner thing is normal on those basses that had the narrow cone headstock. Also, the truss rod cover on my '82 has all squared corners. Finally, some tweaking of the trim pots inside the control cavity should clean up the pickup balance issues. | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 246 Registered: 3-2004 |
I puts in a bid. Now to be fair I have 2 black, 1 almost black and another black excel on the way. 1 black ric, 1 black t-bird, 1 black les paul and 1 black japan strat. Does not a black bass owner bleed too??????? Danno | ||
| ajdover
Intermediate Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 195 Registered: 11-2003 |
Danno, Don't forget, you have a natural Ripper. You must like black, huh? ;-) Of my 15 instruments, I have natural, sunburst, and "tangerine" Jazz basses; a natural Ripper and RD77 Artist; a Tobacco burst Thunderbird; Autumn Glo Rick; "Greenburst" Ovation acoustic-electric; Natural Godin A4; Cherry Sunburst Peavey; Flame Maple Spyder; Wineburst Europa; Natural (coco bolo) Dragon's Wing; Natural Musicman; and an amberburst Pedulla MVP. Basically, I run the gamut. You on the other hand ... ;-) I had a black Rick at one point - I'm still looking for a used 4001 in decent shape that I can convert to what I had, e.g., Badass Bridge and Schaller tuners. It was the first "high end" bass I'd owned, so there's a bit of the nostalgia factor there. Hope you win the Spoiler. I know it would go to a good home where it could join multitudes of instruments that look just like it! Best of luck, Alan | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 857 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have one black bass. It's a Dean with a Jazz-spec neck. It's the E-Lite model from a little over 20 years ago, and I am the original owner. Real cool looking guitar, but I haven't really played it in 15 years or so. | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 247 Registered: 3-2004 |
I do have a goodly amount of other woods as well, remember my family picture? 7 other Alembics in quilt maple, cocobolo, flame walnut, flame koa, and what ever the SC deluxe is plus a Stambaugh that's figured whatchamacallit. Also have a quilt maple w /red mockingbird, flame purple hamer, and dark blue flame schecter 7 guitar. Oh yeah, I forgot about an Ovation prototype el/ac bass in black/grey metallic. Yes....I do like black. Now if I can keep my checking account balance black........ Danno | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 532 Registered: 6-2002 |
(Messy editing.) (Message edited by adriaan on April 13, 2005) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 533 Registered: 6-2002 |
(Still messy ...) (Message edited by adriaan on April 13, 2005) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 534 Registered: 6-2002 |
There are a few variations on the cone headstock, and I think this one is the original shape, which is narrow at the bottom but isn't really pointy:  The two other shapes that you see are the current one, which is overall wider:  ... and the rather more rare pointy one:  | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 535 Registered: 6-2002 |
I give up ... here's the really pointy one:  | ||
| essencetimestwo
Member Username: essencetimestwo Post Number: 93 Registered: 8-2003 |
Hey Danno. I saw your latest Excel at the factory this weekend. It looks pretty cool. Some would call it a sin to cover up such a nice piece of wood but I must admit that all that black looks pretty slick. | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 248 Registered: 3-2004 |
Think of it as preserving the wood from UV damage for all eternity. Hey I can always go back to clear for about a grand sometime down the road. Danno | ||
| captbulldog
New Username: captbulldog Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hi ya folks...Im the shumck what bought the Black 84 Spoiler. I could really care less about the "Prince" thing,just wanted another Spoiler!! I have owned 4 of them thru the years (always made money on them when i sold them!!) and loved them to death. Ive known Susan and Mica since I was 16 (I would call and bug them about building me a bass) I have worked at/managed a couple of huge Alembic dealerships in the past and own my own music store now (Susan, I promise we will be a dealer!) I sit here know waiting for the Fed-ex truck to show up with my Spoiler....Im drooling and my head is spinning..will let all of you know how she works out!!! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1621 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats Art, and welcome! Your name sounds familiar and I'm thinking I may have met you before. Did you work at Hames?? | ||
| captbulldog
New Username: captbulldog Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2005 |
Yes, tis me...Art Mauney. Im in the bass player witness protection program (cause i managed a MARS store...yikes) and also worked fo the dreaded folks at GC. I came to my senses(and re-read Atlas Shrugged) and opened my own store!! Feels great to be back in the family!!! The d**N Fed-ex truck is still no here yet and Im about to go nutz!!! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1628 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yes, I believe you were at Mars in Charlotte; and I'm thinking I purchased my six string Essence from you. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 541 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hm, you re-read Atlas Shrugged @-{ ... Sounds to me like you must be on a self-congratulatory trip - hey hey hey, to each his own. | ||
| captbulldog
New Username: captbulldog Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2005 |
Nope, no self-congratulations.....Just tired of making lottsa money for other people.Plus the bass is a gift from my self.I have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and dont have much longer that i can continue to gig.So when I do play...I wanna have the best. p.s. Dave,I remember selling you that bass!! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1635 Registered: 5-2002 |
Sorry to hear about the health problems. Where's your shop located? | ||
| captbulldog
New Username: captbulldog Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2005 |
My shop is in Boiling Springs NC (about 50 mins,south and west of Charlotte)Come by some time!! |
