| Author | Message | ||
| actual_size
New Username: actual_size Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2014 |
Are these older models with the Stanley Clarke decal/sticker as rare as the seller states? Does the asking price accurately reflect market value? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990-Alembic-Stanley-Clarke-Signature-Series-SCSSB-Bass-Guitar-/131331325672?pt=Guitar&hash=item1e93f4fee8 | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 1088 Registered: 4-2004 |
The decal is a decal.... Enough of a reason for Alembic to stop using them. For that price, I'd rather wait for two series instruments to fall in my lap. It is a nice SC deluxe, though.... | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2102 Registered: 2-2005 |
Although I'm no expert on prices I would say the asking price is somewhere around twice the market value. I also don't feel the decal adds anything to the price. At least it wouldn't affect me one way or the other if I were purchasing this model bass. Keith | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 604 Registered: 9-2009 |
I'd agree with the others 100% on this one as well as the Europa and Elan that recently appeared on the topic board. Although these are all very nice basses and people can always ask what they want (and someone may in fact pay them what they are asking) expecting to get a Series II price for a bass that is significantly less, is unlikely to lead to a sale (but...based on personal experience maybe in some cases that's the goal). | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 680 Registered: 8-2002 |
The more people ask for their instruments the higher the base price settles for future sales. This is a good thing for those who are selling and not such a good thing for those buying. I believe that Alembic Basses are valued at whatever someone is willing to pay for them. With the price you get the finest instrument possible with workmanship and technology to match all justifiable and quantified/qualified. My last Alembic purchase was a little high on "market value" terms but was well worth it IMHO because I just had to have it. When you look at a vintage Fender and the market prices that those command, I cannot fathom any justification to pay those outrageous prices. If i crank down the settings on either of my Alembics I can reproduce the sounds produced by old Fenders and then have a tonal dynamic range available to me that blows those boat anchors out of the water. There is very little sense in any pricing and what some individual will pay nowadays for anything. Was there not a Cheerio shaped like Darth Vader that sold for $10,000 not too long ago? (or some such thing) Google the Dutch Tulip Bulb Market Bubble in the 1600's. slawie (Message edited by slawie on October 30, 2014) | ||
| klinkepeter
Intermediate Member Username: klinkepeter Post Number: 153 Registered: 2-2008 |
way too expensive | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 605 Registered: 9-2009 |
Although I agree with you Slawie on some points, I was thinking more about pricing a bass so that you can sell it within a reasonable amount of time than from the perspective of long-term market value. I see Alembics listed on EBay and sometimes the topic board every day that just sit there. All of the basses in question are IMHO priced a lot higher than "a little high on market value." That can be a result of a number things ranging from sellers: (1) really not wanting to sell their bass (i.e., the spouse says, "A dozen Alembics are too much you need to get rid of one," but you just can't bear the though of parting with any of your herd); (2) hoping to find someone for whom their bass is the perfect instrument which they just have to have in their stable; and/or (3) not realizing or coming to terms with the fact that, at least in the current market, the values of Alembic basses purchased new drop significantly. One of the many things I appreciate about members of this board is that when someone throws out a question about the value of a bass they wish to put on the market, everyone provides the seller with honest, accurate input about the realistic market value of their instrument. I've even read threads in which board members suggested to sellers that they were undervaluing their instruments. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 800 Registered: 9-2004 |
Some of the EBay sellors just have accounts that they use that give them so many listings, so they keep listing stuff at top dollar over and over in the hope of a big sale. It is amazing to me as well how many do not do market research to find a workable price. Any time someone mentions what something costs new in an ad for something used, I become wary. | ||
| briant
Senior Member Username: briant Post Number: 686 Registered: 12-2004 |
^^that. With a high end instrument (or anything for that matter) anyone looking to purchase is going to do their research and determine what fair/typical market value is before dropping the scratch. Even if I had $1 billion lying about the place I'd research something before buying so I knew I was getting a reasonable deal. |
