| Author | Message | ||
| terrapinflyer
New Username: terrapinflyer Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2014 |
Not sure what the seller means by reproduction. Lots of photos in listing. I'm far from being an expert, but it sure looks authentic to me from what's in the pictures. If it's the real thing it seems like it's a good deal at $2500.   | ||
| terrapinflyer
New Username: terrapinflyer Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2014 |
here's link to listing http://southcoast.craigslist.org/msg/4553484068.html | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3562 Registered: 5-2009 |
I remember posting a link to this Bass many, many months ago when I saw it on Craigslist as well . | ||
| flpete1uw
Advanced Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 347 Registered: 11-2011 |
The only thing I see as a maybe "yellow flag" is that it looks like for a newer Bass it only has 1 trust rod. If it's a fake she's a beautiful fake. Sort of like a man made diamond, hard to tell the difference. Also if it has authentic Alembic electronics this would be a pretty good deal. Pete | ||
| flpete1uw
Advanced Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 348 Registered: 11-2011 |
Hmmm, second yellow flag, cash only Rrrrright | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 543 Registered: 9-2009 |
I too remember this being up for sale on at least one previous occasion. My own request for information from the seller went unanswered despite several attempts. I seem to remember others trying to contact the seller too. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11457 Registered: 5-2002 |
Interesting that the description says "Signature" electronics, when the pictures tend to indicate Series electronics. Hard to tell the number of truss rods; looking at the different camera angles, I'm inclined to think there are two, despite the fact that I can't see more than one at a time. Interesting that there is no truss rod cover, nor inserts for screws. Also interesting is that the gold plated XLR is a "custom request" on a "reproduction". The connector does appear to be a five pin. A look inside the cavity would tell a lot. My guess is that the seller is not the original owner. Here's Wolf's earlier thread; and here's Hammer's earlier thread. | ||
| enzo
Senior Member Username: enzo Post Number: 404 Registered: 4-2009 |
I still think it's a reproduction, I would not spend that money, even if it plays decent. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3565 Registered: 5-2009 |
If it is really a NON alembic but a real forgery I would not want to even be in the same room with it or in possession of it considering it bares the Alembic logo and trademark . What say a lawyer ? http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/penalty-for-forgery.cfm | ||
| flpete1uw
Advanced Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 349 Registered: 11-2011 |
Looks like 1 trust rod to me. I've seen Alembic look a likes but they never said they were Alembics ex: Ferdinand. Brands always need to be protected for the company as well as the Artists.  | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2054 Registered: 2-2005 |
Shots of the electronics would be nice. It would also be helpful to get photos of the pickup cavities. Depending upon what's there it might help confirm if it is real or not. Another thing to determine is there a serial number? Lastly could this have been a shop night project therefore the reproduction designation? It wouldn't be the first time one popped up with a logo. Keith | ||
| rjmsteel
Advanced Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 231 Registered: 7-2008 |
Why is the Pickup Selector on the upper horn? | ||
| bassman8416
Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 94 Registered: 5-2012 |
Say this is a copy/reproduction/fake and it was purchased and played out in the public. Could Alembic slap a suit on the new owner? Looks beautiful, but a worrisome venture and not worth the savings of what the real thing is ALL about anyway. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 204 Registered: 8-2010 |
No, Craig you can't get in trouble lol. You only get in trouble with copies or "reproductions" if you own/ make a fake and try to sell/ say it's an Alembic. | ||
| bassman8416
Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 95 Registered: 5-2012 |
The Lloydster steps up to the plate once again.... | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2718 Registered: 3-2004 |
You can get in trouble selling it even if you didn't make it. The Univox Rick copies were so good that Rickenbacker went after anyone selling them for a while and now there are very, very few around. I don't know about the specifics of the law, or if they just threw their weight around and backed people down. If it is a copy with an Alembic logo on it, I would think the mother ship might be interested in at least forcing the removal of the logo and a change in the listing to avoid any confusion. (Message edited by bsee on September 26, 2014) | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 792 Registered: 9-2004 |
It rears its head once again. Someone please go look at it and let us know what it is. | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 957 Registered: 12-2003 |
The link doesn't work anymore. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2719 Registered: 3-2004 |
It was relisted since this thread started. Just go to Boston or Providence craigslist and search for Alembic and you should find it if it moves again. http://southcoast.craigslist.org/msg/4665945172.html This is about an hour away from me, but I have no particular interest in it unless someoen really wants me to go check it out. I'd recommend asking for pictures of the electronics cavity. Nice abalone inlays and generally good looking all around from the pics. Must be a bit complicated to create a dual truss rod neck if you don't have experience with them. I wonder who made this one. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 205 Registered: 8-2010 |
Nah it's not a big deal to use 2 rods. You can tell from just the pics that whoever built it must have just preferred 1 truss rod. It's really nice. If I were into that model I'd definitely consider this bass as long as I could check it out in person. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 53 Registered: 6-2014 |
A serial number might tell the story true. Short of that, shopnight bass is plausible. Another theory... maybe this bass is a total rebuild of a destroyed-beyond-repair Alembic. A skilled luthier could have done it using the husk as a pattern. That would explain the correct-looking logo and parts. Also lends some credence to the "reproduction" description. Anybody else notice the (PU selector?) knob on the upper horn? Maybe that's normal and I've just never seen it. | ||
| petegossett
New Username: petegossett Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2014 |
I've exchanged a couple emails with the seller. It is indeed a reproduction, built by the seller & a luthier in MA with all original Alebic parts(I'm guessing from a destroyed Alembic?). It appears to be well built, although it also looks like it's well used. If the price was low enough it might be a nice sounding/playing bass, but even if you remove the headstock logo, it's still going to look like an Alembic without the pedigree of actually being one. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11536 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for the update Pete! | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2720 Registered: 3-2004 |
That said, Pete, if it plays well and has all the best Alembic guts and hardware, it's going to have most or all of the tone. I do object to the peghead logo, but it is all Alembic except the woodworking. If it came off a destroyed Alembic, that could even be the original Alembic board. The abalone looks so nice I'd have a hard time believing anyone else did that work. Maybe the result of a broken neck at the nut that just wouldn't take an acceptable repair? Personally, if I were in the market for such a bass, there are two things I would consider. First, I'd want Alembic's blessing that they don't object to its existence. Second, I'd have to convince myself that I couldn't get a nice old Series I for not too much more. -Bob | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 55 Registered: 6-2014 |
I have fixed some badly broken musical instruments over the years, even a Gibson Granada banjo once, that had been a victim of severe domestic violence. So I was guessing this was a rebuild using as much of the original instrument as possible. If that is indeed what happened here, I'd love to know more about what had happened to the bass, and what was involved in the restoration. I also wonder who did the work... sounds like it could be a cool story. | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 105 Registered: 5-2012 |
I have exchanged some emails with the seller as well. Like Pete said, it was built from scratch by a luthier, who would not be named. He put the pickup selector where it is so it would not interfere with his slapping. I got the feeling the seller was very wary of getting in trouble with Alembic. I was seriously considering buying this at one time to save money etc. In the end I just could not pull the trigger. The idea of having the logo on there and trying to explain to folks that its actually not an Alembic was discouraging. So instead I have two Spoilers arriving this weekend. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 57 Registered: 6-2014 |
"...having the logo on there and trying to explain to folks that its actually not an Alembic was discouraging" Yeah, that's kind of a sticking point. Even though this IMO doesn't qualify as a full-blown forgery or fraud, this is sounding less attractive, just because of what it's not, even though the Series electronics and parts have considerable value alone. Here's where I'd draw the line - (purely hypothetical) if someone owned an Alembic bass, that had something tragic happen which rendered it unplayable and unfixable in the whole, then I wouldn't object to someone having a "reproduction" body made, and putting the original parts into it. Were it mine - I would make every possible effort to graft the original body wings and/or headstock onto a new neck rather than simply do a switcheroo with the logo. One thing the guy I apprenticed under stressed to me almost daily - wood is forgiving. The neck-through design adds another layer (no pun intended) of difficulty in an already complicated repair, but it can be done. Even so, I would not under any circumstances try to pass it off as anything other than precisely what it was. (not that that's the case here) But really, if you're going to that much trouble, (and no doubt expense) why not just send what's left of it out to the Mothership for a proper fix? Just my limited experience with the Staff there is that they are more than eager to help keep instruments that bear their name 100% Alembic-spec. If I went home today and found my Persuader in 3 pieces, it'd be in a box on the next Brown Truck bound for Santa Rosa, even though I'm completely capable of fixing it myself. Obviously, somebody else went a different route with this one. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2721 Registered: 3-2004 |
Purely a matter of money, Edward, I'm sure. Alembic has perfected all this stuff and the prices reflect that. When you're looking at rebuilding a $10K bass, you'd expect that to cost a good bit. There's no doubt that you could find a skilled hobbyist or lower level pro to do the work for a lot less money. You won't get an Alembic, but maybe you get a bass that does everything you need it to do at a budget price. After all, you've already got all the best specialty electronics and hardware available anywhere. I have always been impressed by Alembic's woodworking skills. My custom is super precise. That said, there are a lot of folks out there who have woodworking skills. No one else has Activators and Series preamps. I believe it's the guts that keep so many of us coming back (and the people!). | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 66 Registered: 6-2014 |
This one seems to have slipped back into obscurity... I sure was curious what the rest of the story was, but something tells me we'll see it again one day. |
