| Author | Message | ||
| marcky
Junior Username: marcky Post Number: 35 Registered: 11-2005 |
http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-ALEMBIC-SERIES-I-BASS-STANLEY_W0QQitemZ7370719237QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem  | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 84 Registered: 5-2002 |
I emailed him for scale length, and the response was: "I'm going to say 32." I don't think he has any idea how important this is. Frank | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 424 Registered: 8-2003 |
You expected a guy who put those knobs on an Alembic to have a clue? | ||
| lembic76450
Member Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 82 Registered: 5-2002 |
Does the truss rod adjustment cover look original to you guys? My '76 doesn't have one and the squared corners look odd. | ||
| marcky
Junior Username: marcky Post Number: 36 Registered: 11-2005 |
I don't think it is original. My 1977 doesn't have a truss-rod cover either. they didn't do that in those days. There are more parts on this bass not from 1976 Marc | ||
| hankster
Junior Username: hankster Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2004 |
Selling an Alembic out of the back of a truck seems a bit odd to me. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1366 Registered: 9-2003 |
Yup, this one's no collector's item, it's a player's workhorse, nothing more. | ||
| beelee
Intermediate Member Username: beelee Post Number: 141 Registered: 11-2004 |
I think I've seen this bass somewhere before, that flying tigers on the power supply seems vaguely familiar, it might have been on Ebay before, those knobs look like the ones on my Pedulla Pentabuzz | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 113 Registered: 12-2004 |
hey, members, something really odd just happened. i submitted a series of bids and each was outbid by a previous undisclosed/secret bid not appearing on the item page. i finally gave up. i just now received a message thru ebay, and it's legit and coming from the seller, asking if i would pay a reduced price from my maximum bid if the high bidder's bid fails. is that weird or what? so, i think we have a case of bid rigging on this bass. i'm out. you guys may be right about the warning signs but i've never received a "pre-sale" second offer before. there is definitely something wrong here. i see signs that bid-rigging has occurred and the seller has run my ebay history, seen i'm legit and have purchased and sold many alembics and has offered me the bass at a price below the current high bid and below my maximum bid. something's wrong here. | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hey Pat, I was almost sucked in on this one also. What saved me I asked him to get a quote for next day shipping. He told me only ground sooo... I bailed faster than a flying tiger. Have you checked what it went for??? It disappeared! Hmmm... Now I get the ebay apprehension! I think the little extra cost from a legit dealer is looking more like cheap ins..Better hunting! | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 86 Registered: 5-2002 |
This looked really fishy to me as well. $4650! And the high bidder has an ebay feedback of 3 - all items under $10. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 962 Registered: 3-2004 |
Even with a post-'99 electronics upgrade, that's still more like a $3000-3500 instrument in a private sale, and the description doesn't suggest that was part of the work done. It would have to have a collectable history with some pro player to head for $5000. Either that, or anyone that bought a used Alembic over the past couple years has had a great windfall. There has to be another bass out there for sale that has a better vibe. Proceed at your own risk. | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 114 Registered: 12-2004 |
just as frank said, the winning bidder had 3 buys, all for under $10. doesn't make sense that bidder would buy this bass for that price. i wasn't quite accurate in my description of the seller's message to me. he actually said, "i don't know this person", referring to the buyer. then he offered to sell the bass to me at a price below my highest bid, which was below the highest bid on the auction. can you do that on ebay? i don't think so! is that weird? i've never known anyone who bought one of my basses and i've never known anyone i've bought a bass from; although, now, i try to keep in touch w/everyone who bought one of my alembics to find out how things are going w/my former basses. james pollicita, who bought my persuader vector, and i email each other all the time. there is definitely something weird going on w/this auction item. beware, everyone, beware! | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 87 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think it looks suspicious right after b moreland dropped out. Could be a case of a bidder getting cold feet nad using a low-feedback address to negate his bid, or it could be shill bidding, but it doesn't look right.I agree with Bob's assessment of value, having sold a 77 med scale with the electronics upgrade myself this year. On edit- the seller is "no longer a registered user" on ebay. Caveat Emptor. (Message edited by Yggdrasil on December 05, 2005) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1396 Registered: 9-2003 |
Wow, personally I never thought that thing would sell for so much. It's been kinda rode hard and put away wet. I imagine it's a perfectly good player, but it's far from in "collectible" shape IMHO. Having just gotten a new Series I for not much more than that, I'm obviously jaded. Sorry if I've offended anyone. Just my $0.02. | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 430 Registered: 8-2003 |
The top bidder has bought a five-cent James Gang tape, an LP and a book about horror movies...and then a $4,650 Alembic bass worth maybe half that. Not buying it. Nope, nope, nope. | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 30 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hey to my surprise (sure...), a 2nd chance offer to buy this bass... NO THANKS! no regrets. but Watch out for this guy and his collection! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1415 Registered: 9-2003 |
FWIW, Ebay is just getting downright scary...all the scams combined with high-ticket items really open-up the buyer to a prospective big fall. This is not to downplay the seller's risk as well, but it appears to me Ebay is increasingly becoming a distasteful place to do business. | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 115 Registered: 12-2004 |
hey, james. apparently, i'm more popular than you! no doubt it's my striking good lucks. i have received 5 second chance offers at the bass------and not one of them from the same second chance seller. so, how do you like them apples? huh? huh? | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 32 Registered: 4-2005 |
pat, i've heard of 1 up-manship, butt 4???? I guess some guys have all the luck! The moral we can all take is to be extremely careful... and boy were those apples sour! | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2004 |
well, when you're an alembic stud like me, you attract a different level of con-man. wait, i think i've missed the boat. does this mean they think i'm 4 times "more stupider" than you? oh, no! i'm having flashbacks to the time a bunch of us and our wives went to "the saint" the local gay, techno music club to dance one night and all the other guys--------EXCEPT ME!--------got pinched on the ass. i still have a complex about not being attractive enough to have my ass pinched when all the other husbands did! curses. first, the gays don't hit on me; now, the con-men do! | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 117 Registered: 12-2004 |
btw, the "lucks" really was a dumb-butt misspelling of "looks." man, my blood sugar must have been really low this morning when i typed that. i must have put too much heroin in my oatmeal this morning! i hate when that happens. | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 33 Registered: 4-2005 |
pat as a certified medical basket case, i'd have to recommend the morphine drip w/am oatmeal. Breakfast of ... and, like the bass that got away, i would'nt complain about the night out. FWIW. Now back 2 that SB SS S1 hunt. | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 36 Registered: 4-2005 |
Well... don't blink, but it's baaack. New seller, (0 feedback), and new location. Anyone else surprised yet? (NOT)! Love that ebay. FWIW. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2833 Registered: 5-2002 |
Has anyone emailed the seller yet? | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2005 |
Dave, Why???... After the 1st post on ebay, it seems obvious to me that this is a scam. The only way to deal with this bass would be in person, and then not only are you risking financial loss, but your physical health, too. my .02$. OR, am I missing an alternative??? | ||
| speicky
Member Username: speicky Post Number: 59 Registered: 3-2005 |
Yes, James, sure: trust in god, bid and lose a huge bucket of bucks... not the one alternative I would prefer, though :-) You are absolutely right, there are a few auctions up on ebay that you should pass by: the RC of course, the "white elan" from the south, there were a few Alembic scams up from ebay China (not to offend anyone, but it's amazing how China developes, many Alembics already there), just to mention some. My two Euro-cents, I don't have Dollars :-) | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 38 Registered: 4-2005 |
Thanks Christian for your agreement w/my gut-feeling regarding this bass. Seems a shame though that a bass with potential as this one ends up with #!^%*!. Oh well... By the way, Nice new bass! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2835 Registered: 5-2002 |
James; Why? Because, while this listing certainly looks suspicious, and I tend to think that it is not legit, I'm not yet confident that the evidence is compelling enough to report the listing to Ebay as fraudulent and have it removed. In the first listing the seller says he is selling because of a job change. The first listing shows the location as Grove City. In the second listing there is a new seller. And the location changed. Well, the first seller had a job change that necessitated selling a bunch of stuff; this could be construed to mean he has to move away. So if he has indeed now moved and he hasn't sold all the stuff, then it's not beyond the realm of possibility that he may have asked a friend to continue trying to sell his stuff for him. And in the second listing, the new seller states that she is selling for a friend. The new listing shows a location of Delaware, Ohio, which is on the north side of Columbus. There happens to be a town on the south side of Columbus called Grove City. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that a seller who lived on the north side of Columbus may have a friend who lives on the south side of Columbus. But then I've never lived in Columbus; so I could be wrong about that. Regarding the first listing, Patrick states that he received a "legit" offer from the seller, because the seller was concerned about the high bidder. Well, several posts to this thread tend to support this concern about the high bidder. In the second listing, the serial number is unavailable because the bass is packed for shipment. Now this is really suspicious looking. However, again it could be the case that when the first seller moved, the bass was packed for shipping and then delivered to the friend on the south side of town to make it easier for the friend, since packing a bass for shipment is a bit of a chore and a bit much to ask from someone who is already doing a big favor. There is certainly a lot about this situation to warrent concern; and it may very well be the case that this is a fraudulent listing. And if it is fraudulent it should be reported. However, I don't think the evidence is beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, I asked if anyone had emailed the seller, since it seemed that more facts might be helpful. | ||
| ctjim
Junior Username: ctjim Post Number: 39 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hi Dave, you bring up some good points. Still have a bitter feeling from the 1st listing. Legit or not. Thanks for the perspective, though. | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 121 Registered: 12-2004 |
dave always takes the high ground; however, i'm not so predisposed in this case. i still think something is fishy. when i said i received a second chance offer and it was from the actual seller, please do not construe that to mean i believe it was legit. the second chance offer was made BEFORE the auction had closed.......i think there's a problem with that being a clear, illegal violation of ebay rules. so, we can't ascribe a noble motive to a seller deliberately violating ebay rules to make a sale. in fact, it's wrong, thereby making the seller's actions somewhat fraudulent just in case the buyer was really a legit buyer. did you guys follow that? hope so. anyway, i looked at the seller's "other items for sale" and guess what? by gosh, most of them are pictured on the tailgate of the same red pickup. location is listed as delaware, ohio on each. so, who knows? almost every other guitar and amp he/she is selling is on the tailgate of that truck. could be legit! how else would he/she be able to take those pics of all those other guitars/amps in the same setting? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2864 Registered: 5-2002 |
Interestingly, the seller has "removed the bass from it packing to retrieve the serial number". If anyone's interested, it's 77-818. | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 88 Registered: 5-2002 |
Well guys, I just bought this bass on ebay. I'm in Oaxaca Mexico right now,in the Jefferson Campervan with my wife Taylor and Thor the WonderPoodle. Before bidding, I ensured that I could pick it up and pay when I did. My feeling is that it's legit, but this eliminates uncertainty. I'll be driving right by Columbus on my way back home to Toronto from Mexico. Now I'm entertaining suggestions on wooden knobs from THG (?) for it. Those knobs gotta go, and I'm happy with the wooden knobs I put on my Stanley Custom. Feliz Navidad y Nuevo Ano Frank | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2871 Registered: 5-2002 |
Frank; sounds like you've covered the bases. Let us know what happens. Looks like you might end up with a short scale small body Series I at a very very good price! | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 89 Registered: 5-2002 |
Dave- Well, we'll see if I get any contact info. I haven't heard back from her since I emailed her after winning the auction. On Edit- Now Have contact info and a cell number. Now she's "not a registered member" on eBay as well. Funny, though, that she (and the original owner) would agree to my pickup & pay scenario - if it's a ripoff,my winning precludes the ability to carry it out, so you'd think they would have replied: "no - immediate payment, no pickup only". I emailed the original"seller", whose email I had from the first auction, and his AOL account is "user unknown". Anyway, the prospect of me actually taking possession of this bass looks dim - I'll keep you posted :-( Frank (Message edited by Yggdrasil on December 23, 2005) (Message edited by Yggdrasil on December 23, 2005) | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 122 Registered: 12-2004 |
hey, frank. if you run thru san antonio on your way back to the great white north and want to have a beer, i'm buying. drop me a line. | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 90 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey Patrick- Thanks for that; I'll have a Celis Witbier :-) We usually return on the Laredo/Columbia Bridge, then San Antonio, but this time we are staying east, thru Brownsville. BTW, I am now as confident as one can be that this bass deal will go through. Frank in Ciudad Oaxaca (Message edited by Yggdrasil on December 26, 2005) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2193 Registered: 9-2002 |
Celis Witbier rules! Paul TBO | ||
| pmoran
Intermediate Member Username: pmoran Post Number: 128 Registered: 12-2004 |
where you be's? post a note here and let me know if you're coming thru. it's now jan 7. i'm buying. | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 91 Registered: 5-2002 |
Patrick- Headed esat out of Brownsville, so no stop in San Antone this time. Merci! Frank | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 92 Registered: 5-2002 |
edit - double post (Message edited by Yggdrasil on January 11, 2006) | ||
| yggdrasil
Member Username: yggdrasil Post Number: 93 Registered: 5-2002 |
I picked this bass up yesterday. The seller is a very upfront,standup guy; seems a disgruntled former employee is playing games with him. The bass itself looks a lot better in person than in the pics. With the cosmetic refinishing he did, it looks like a 5 year old bass, not a 30 year old one. Weighs in at a nice 8.5 lbs as well. Knobs will be replaced with THG wooden ones. Sounds great on battery - neither 5 pin cable works, so I'll be cutting & resoldering the ends. I hope the power supply works - guess I'll find out soon, but the seller has promised to adjust if it doesn't. ( On edit - cables check out fine with a continuity tester; anyone know what each pin should read on the output 5-pin from the power supply itself?) It does have some noise in the higher registers - with the filter pots turned up 2/3 or so towards "treble". No noise at all though at bassier positions, which is where I always play, so I won't pursue the electronics upgrade on this one, altho another purchaser might make a different decision. (On edit - virtually no noise on the neck pot once I move over 6 feet from my amp.) Definitely a keeper! Frank (Message edited by Yggdrasil on January 11, 2006) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2992 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats Frank!!! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2224 Registered: 9-2002 |
Vive le Frank! Il a fait le coup encore une fois! Félicitations! Paul TBO | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 959 Registered: 11-2003 |
Congratulations Frank. Dave, here I was ready to jump on the "run him out of town on a rail" bandwagon. You come into it with, of all things, reason and sure enough it turned out to be a good deal for our brother Frank. Please don't take this wrong but as I was reading your first post all I could think of was the show "Monk" with Tony Shaulub. If I'm not careful I might learn something from you one day. Sam | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2993 Registered: 5-2002 |
ROFL!! | ||
| speicky
Member Username: speicky Post Number: 90 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hi, Frank & friends, congrats from me also. Obviously, I have so say sorry to the seller as everything turned out to be okay and fair with the deal. I would not have expected that, to be honest, but I was glad that you picked up the bass in person, you know, cash and carry. But there's no reason to lean back and relax on eBay auctions, there will be the next scam just around the corner, and we will chase that up ! LOL ! take care & have fun with your "new" Series, cheers from Germany Christian (the faker) |
