Series I

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Author Message serialnumber12 Advanced Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 202 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 4:40 am:    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=7319620513&rd=1 pace Intermediate Member Username: pace Post Number: 151 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 5:37 pm:    Is this the same one w/ the Wilkinson bridge scars on it?!?!? mkazaria New Username: mkazaria Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 10:28 pm:    No Wilkinson Bridge scars here. The top is perfect. glocke Junior Username: glocke Post Number: 36 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Friday, May 06, 2005 - 9:46 am:    anyone know what the buy it now price was? dwmark Junior Username: dwmark Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2005 Posted on Friday, May 06, 2005 - 11:14 am:    $4700 glocke Junior Username: glocke Post Number: 37 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 3:22 am:    Does anyone know if that was a high or low price? I have similar series one I may need to sell in the future... davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1683 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 5:23 am:    Whether a price paid is high or low is both objective and subjective. For instance, part of the price paid accounts for degree of patience; nice quilted maple series basses don't come up for sale often, so if you want one like this one now, and it's the only one available, then you may be willing to pay a premium. Here's what I'm thinking at the moment. This is a post '94 pre '99 bass, which gives it a premium over a pre '95 bass as regards the electronics; and the chrome plated hardware is nice too. And it appears to be in excellent condition. I'm thinking you can pick up a pre '95 (post '84)quilted maple Series I for maybe 3,000 to 3,500 depending on condition, if your patient <g>. So, I would add to that amount maybe 400 to 500 for it being post '94 but pre '99 for the electronics upgrade differential (but not necessarily so since not all basses need the upgrade). Then if the chrome plated hardware is an important consideration for the buyer, it would add another premium of a few hundred dollars. So, my guess would be low to mid 4k's. Add to that the fact that such a bass doesn't come up for sale very often, and the 4,700 doesn't seem unreasonable. (After thinking about this some more, my 3,000 to 3,500 range stated above may be a bit low as it does not consider the recently observed increases in used Alembic prices generally.) (Message edited by davehouck on May 07, 2005) davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1684 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 5:49 am:    On the other hand; for someone who had been considering purchasing a new quilted maple Series I anyway, but was having a hard time coming up with the required funds. You can take the retail prices for a new Series I and case, and then apply a dealer discount. Then take the $4,700 and add in shipping to and from Alembic and the electronics upgrade (and while it's there since it's eight years old you might as well get the frets crowned). Then compare those two numbers! bsee Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 901 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 9:13 am:    It's all a head game, and it seems to have gotten into your head, Dave. Last year, Series I basses in mediocre shape started around $2500 with prices going up to around $3500 for better condition. That's for "ordinary" basses. These prices have definitely moved up a little, possibly as a result of the price increase. From what I have seen, the number one optional feature that holds value is the Exploiter body shape, with some other shapes also holding value. Think about what you would pay extra for. I'd pay up for particularly nice wood or a neck profile that suits me (more like a Jazz bass). I might pay up a little for plated hardware or wood backplates, but probably not for a wood truss rod cover. Then there's the greatest consideration of all. Do you want the bass as a keeper? Alembic basses are great instruments for life, but some people keep them for a short while and go looking to trade them for another. If you're planning on keeping it and it suits you, it's worth paying more to get one in great condition. This is the head game part of the equation. These aren't cookie-cutter Fenders, so each bass has a character of its own. Something as "minor" as the headstock shape can kill your interest in a particular instrument. If you and the bass are compatible, then the bass will be worth more to you than to someone else. That doesn't mean you are paying too much. The short answer is that I wouldn't have paid that price for that bass, but it is definitely worth the value to someone. If it were a 2000 five string in a Rogue or Europa body shape with the same features, $4700 might be in my range. glocke Junior Username: glocke Post Number: 38 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 2:31 am:    thanks for the info...I Paid $3900.00 for mine (same bass) last year, so I was surprised to see it fetch that amount... serialnumber12 Advanced Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 211 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Monday, May 09, 2005 - 6:29 am:    http://www.bunnybass.com/basses/alembic_1974_seriesI/alembic_1974_seriesI.shtml bigbass Member Username: bigbass Post Number: 58 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Monday, May 09, 2005 - 3:54 pm:    Yo, I used to own that above bass. A real nice one...I might add. glocke Junior Username: glocke Post Number: 39 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 2:01 am:    that is a nice looking bass... I'd love to own an old alembic that has nicely aged like that..