| Author | Message | ||
| 90k6259
New Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hello Everyone, I have a four string in need of a pair of MXY pickups. I have the preamp although I am open to the possibility. Thanks, Roy | ||
| pace
Intermediate Member Username: pace Post Number: 152 Registered: 4-2004 |
EMOTW... | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 422 Registered: 11-2002 |
Lest we forget our manners - welcome, Roy (been wondering when you'd show up). I'm sure I'm not the only one curious, as to whether you are restoring an instrument that had the pickups replaced, or doing a repair of some sort on your Essence, or perhaps piecing together a set of Alembic electronics for another instrument? | ||
| claudio
Junior Username: claudio Post Number: 12 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hi Roy!!! Welcome... Check this out..maybe work for you.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22670&item=7319554136&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW | ||
| 90k6259
New Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hi Bob, Claudio Thanks for the welcome! Well I took the electronics out of my Essense bass when I started playing five and put them in an Ibanez sr1205, I since have sold the bass and now I want to restore the Essence. I have an activator with the Q switch installed and still need the pups. while I have your ear, I thought I'd run something by you. My essence is going to need a refinish. Now go easy on me for this...It was needed at the time... I drilled holes in the bass to acommodate some straplocks so I could use what is called the comfort strap. I was doing alot of heavy giging and blew out my shoulder. The only way I could play, was to get the weight of the bass off my shoulder. The bass is all maple and quite heavy. So the finish will need to be a solid color once I plug the holes. Seems to be the least expensive way out. So after this long winded explanation here is the Question. What color to paint the bass for best resale value? I,ve heard said. "Paint your kitchen yellow for best resale value on a house". But an Alembic. I have only seen black and also a white one. | ||
| drjenney
Junior Username: drjenney Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2004 |
If the holes are your only problem, consider adding an inlay rather than painting the whole thing. A couple of stars from Stewart-MacDonald would do nicely. | ||
| 90k6259
New Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hi Drjenny, Thanks for your opinion... Yes the holes are the only issue... I did looked into having inlays...However when I decided to do the modification I thought, I will never want to sell this bass. Well along came the five string and I was forever hooked. The bass is a real player and deserves the chance to live on... The cost of the Inlay work and refinish,to me would narrow the resale market reducing its resale value... | ||
| claudio
Junior Username: claudio Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2005 |
So, then is your essence a 5 or 4 strings? Do you have a pic of it? | ||
| 90k6259
New Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hey Claudio The Essence is a four string...I don't believe Alembic made a 5 string Essence in 1990... I'm not sure but I suspect mine may of come from the first production run... The string spacing on the sr1205 was so tight that the pups and all the electronics worked out like a glove fit... Sorry no pictures worthy of posting... Maybe when I finish the make over. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1676 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've just reread this thread and I'm uncertain I understand the situation. Are you planning to sell this bass once you've finished the "make over"? | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 424 Registered: 11-2002 |
And just how big are those holes? (we Need a picture) If the wood is as nice as we would expect, painting it solid to pretend they never existed would quite possibly be a mistake. And if you're not planning on selling it, who knows when you might mess up your shoulder again? I'm not sure I'd personally go for star inlays, but elsewhere we recently saw a bridge restoration that involved a few plain dot inlay/fills, which would be much easier. On the back, I might be inclined to go with something as simple as flat head brass screws. Especially if the wood and finish are good. | ||
| 90k6259
New Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hi Dave, "Are you planning to sell this bass once you've finished the "make over"?" ...Hmm know what?... Just seeing that in print makes me change my mind... I think... maybe... yup... Do I have too...ooch It will really hurt!!! We have such a wealth of history together... If I were a rich man! lada dada dada da. all day long I'd... oh ya ok I'm here...Sorry I was dreaming of Lemon aid... Finacial considerations and a new Alembic will be my modivation. | ||
| 90k6259
Junior Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hi bob, Their big enough for three straplocks to be countersunk...However not through the body... No pretense here buddy just economic law. If I do keep the bass, it will be for sentemental reasons,which could prove to be extravagant...or my best option. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1679 Registered: 5-2002 |
Without having a picture to look at, I would suggest that if you are planning to sell the bass, you might want to see if anyone here in the club would be interested in it as is. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 897 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, if Alembic has any pickup seconds, you could probably get a pair for around $100. If you're thinking resale, a '90 Essence with some finish issues is probably going to sell closer to $1000 than $1500. I don't think any attempt at refinish would add to the value at all. Though rare, solid-finished Alembics don't seem to be worth as much as wood grains. If your consideration is financial, you are probably best served to get some pics and sell it as is. If all it needs is pickups, I believe that everyone here knows they can get them from the factory for $100-150. Unless damage was done when the old pickups were removed, the new ones should just clip in, so installation is a no-brainer. Good luck- | ||
| 90k6259
Junior Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 12 Registered: 5-2005 |
Its been my experience, that when I have exposed my bass for sale in its current state, some folks went into a mild form of psyschosis, which I really would rather not experience again thank you very much. ( A picture is worth a thousand thoughts kind of thing)This is the reason I feel strongly about not posting any pics.... At the time I wieght the decision quite heavily and came to the conclusion that yah its a life time keeper... I need to keep playing this bass right now (Changing horses in mid stream kind of thing)... I didn't anticipate that the advances in the make up of the instrument would lead me to otherewise make a different decision....Sometimes you just got to bounce things off others to understand where you stand... Bsee, thanks for your info. It really helped narrow down my perception on my options... Full hearted Thanks to all my Alembic family who have contributed to what has turned out to be a personal and rather public psyschological event. P.S. Please don't send me a bill.. It will be marked return to sender...  All kidding aside... I honestly hope to be able to repay in kind on this forum with my own personal knowledge which I have acquired over the years.... Dave please feel free to delete this tread, should you find it reads to much like a novel. New guy | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1680 Registered: 5-2002 |
Roy; this thread is about par for the course around here; nothing out of the ordinary <g>. | ||
| 90k6259
Junior Username: 90k6259 Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2005 |
My apology for some misinformation... I ran into an old Alembic catalog circa 1989 and there she was, in clear ruby red... an Essence five string...Sorry Claudio while I'm at it...The above mentioned Comfort strap was in actuality a product called the Tri-Strap... (Message edited by 90k6259 on May 09, 2005) |
