| Author | Message | ||
| jack
Advanced Member Username: jack Post Number: 338 Registered: 11-2005 |
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 |
I'm on it! | ||
| enzo
Advanced Member Username: enzo Post Number: 364 Registered: 4-2009 |
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 |
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 |
Itīs a real beauty. Hope I could get my hands on it. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2693 Registered: 3-2004 |
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 |
I expect they are counting the split P pickup as two. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2694 Registered: 3-2004 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
The top on this bass is nice.  | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3263 Registered: 5-2009 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Thanks for the encouraging comments, everyone! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2126 Registered: 9-2002 |
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 |
