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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive through June 07, 2014 » Alembic Elan Plus 4 String Bass - $1100 (columbia md) « Previous Next »

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jack
Advanced Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 338
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 3:18 pm:   Edit Post

Fair price. Is this a member's? Someone needs to scoop this up.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/4341040455.html

1990 Alembic Elan Plus
4 String
With Bass and Treble boost cut switches
3 Almebic Pickups
Pearloid oval inlays on fretboard
Plays great and has a beautiful tone. Hairline crack on fretboard top frets.
Price reflects condition. Elan Plus typically sell between $1500 and $1800.
For more info about this bass see http://alembic.com/support/reference.html#sernum
mtjam
Intermediate Member
Username: mtjam

Post Number: 144
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 2:37 am:   Edit Post

I'm on it!
enzo
Advanced Member
Username: enzo

Post Number: 364
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 5:35 am:   Edit Post

I don't know what he means with 'price reflects conditions'. Is he talking about just the hairline crack, 'cause other than that looks great. I hope you can check it in person.
wookie
Intermediate Member
Username: wookie

Post Number: 188
Registered: 8-2010
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 8:01 am:   Edit Post

Who cares about a hairline crack? It's used. These basses are so awesome with the upgraded guts. I've got a 5 string version that the singer in my old band broke the head off of....sure it was total heartbreak at the time, it's not quite as pretty as it was but it's a great bass! It's comfy, fast, sounds great and the repair now 17 years old is as stable as it ever was and now it's history that makes that bass more personal.

Buy this bass and play it, live it and love it!
jcdlc72
Advanced Member
Username: jcdlc72

Post Number: 312
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 10:39 am:   Edit Post

Itīs a real beauty. Hope I could get my hands on it.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2693
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 1:17 pm:   Edit Post

Almost everyone cares about a hairline crack, at least until they've evaluated it to see if it is likely to get worse. None of the pics represent the damage. I am always concerned when an instrument is described in a way that suggests the seller doesn't know what they have. Three pickups? Make sure you get a bill of sale and good ID on the seller in case it turns out to have questionable ownership history.
llobsterbass
Intermediate Member
Username: llobsterbass

Post Number: 123
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 9:55 am:   Edit Post

I expect they are counting the split P pickup as two.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2694
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2014 - 7:28 pm:   Edit Post

Clearly, they are. Since that isn't really what it is, though, I wonder what the seller really knows about the instrument. Maybe I'm a bit of an Alembic snob, but I like to think that most owners spend that much money because they know what they are buying. When someone misrepresents the details of an expensive instrument, it always makes me wonder how they came to own it. Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but I like to think of it as careful.
mtjam
Intermediate Member
Username: mtjam

Post Number: 149
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 4:36 pm:   Edit Post

I've had several e-mail exchanges with the seller. What do you guys think? Fixable or avoid? Very appealing at that price.
wookie
Intermediate Member
Username: wookie

Post Number: 190
Registered: 8-2010
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 5:53 pm:   Edit Post

Personally, I think you should be honest and say "look, I have to expect the worst. Would you take ____ for it?"

Get it as cheap as you can and just mentally prepare yourself so that when you get it. You expect the head will be broken off.

Then cry about it.

Put your big boy pants on and have it reglued for $150 and make the best damn music of your life. I know that bass sounds awesome. And WORST CASE you spend $150 and it'll play like new!

OR if you think a guitar is supposed to be looked at instead of played, stop wasting this guys time and go pay twice as much for a pretty one.
wookie
Intermediate Member
Username: wookie

Post Number: 191
Registered: 8-2010
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 6:01 pm:   Edit Post

Is the bass going to hang on your wall or hang on your shoulder?

No one cares or knows if the paint brush that was used to paint the Mona Lisa was re glued.... Because the brush doesn't matter, only what was made with it.
mtjam
Intermediate Member
Username: mtjam

Post Number: 150
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 6:28 pm:   Edit Post

Wow. Take it easy.

Not really sure what you're getting at here...just trying to get others' opinions.

I know Alembic can fix anything, and I'm sure it sounds good. My first Alembic had a repaired jack when I bought it, and it's been absolutely stable ever since.

Sorry if you feel I'm wasting somebody's time. Just trying to hear from someone more knowledgeable than I am with fingerboard cracks.

I could see it in person if I decide I want it anyway, so that would ease my mind.

Sorry if I've misunderstood your intent. I suppose that's the problem with internet communication.

Cheers!
jack
Advanced Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 339
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 9:46 am:   Edit Post

Here's a picture of the wound. Question is whether this will grow.... maybe ask the guy how it happened and whether it's spreading?

(reminder to self - oil fretboards tonight!)

Seeing as it hasn't sold already, I'd see if there's a little flexibility in price, pick it up for a grand and slap a little epoxy in there to try to keep things stable. Then you can decide if you want to have it professionally repaired at a later point.

If it's totally stable I'd play if forever like that - we all know there's no money above the fifth fret.

jack
Advanced Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 340
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 9:55 am:   Edit Post

The top on this bass is nice.


sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 3263
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 10:01 am:   Edit Post

The crack appears to have effected the inlay as well . In my experience epoxy does not adhere to an oiled surface well . I think that the advice of a real luthier would be prudent . It might be trivial and then again ___a red flag ____. What is happening in the truss rod adjustment cavity next door ?
mtjam
Intermediate Member
Username: mtjam

Post Number: 151
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post

Thanks, Jack!

I'm not troubled much by the crack as it is now (I never play up that high anyway!), just concerned about it possibly spreading in the future.

I have a luthier buddy who fixed a cracked neck on a resonator guitar for me about 10 years ago; it's been perfectly stable now for all those years. I'm sure he could secure this problem for me.

Thanks again!
gtrguy
Senior Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 715
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 11:00 am:   Edit Post

Good glue is stronger than wood. I have had a couple instruments with neck cracks over the years and had glue injected into them and they were clamped and never had any issues again.

Typically, if a neck had a re-glued crack and it got bonked again, the new break or crack would not be in the glue repair joint, because it is so strong.
mtjam
Intermediate Member
Username: mtjam

Post Number: 152
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 6:13 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the encouraging comments, everyone!
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 2126
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 11:19 pm:   Edit Post

IIRC, the fix for this is to mix quite a bit of matching wood sawdust (ebony in this case) with a suitable super glue, make a black paste, and fill in the crack neatly. Then sand smooth. Will take more work here with the fret and inlay involved, but certainly 'do-able' by the right guy. But that should make it plenty stable and stop that crack in its' tracks.

See kids, OIL that fingerboard ! ! !

If everything is legit here, that's a deal.

J o e y

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