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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive 2006 » Archive through April 24, 2006 » Orion Custom on Ebay BIN $1800!! « Previous Next »

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hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 189
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:12 am:   Edit Post

Someone buy this before I do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/beautiful-alembic-electric-guitar_W0QQitemZ7403314919QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Surely I can sell something . . .
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 826
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:22 am:   Edit Post

It's been discussed here ... Seller is properly stating that it is - despite the racing stripes - a set-neck instrument.
hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 190
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 9:43 am:   Edit Post

It looks like the same seller, and it appears to have sold for $2,375 before (deadbeat bidder I assume?). I wonder why he doesn't want to try to get closer to what it approached before.
crgaston
Intermediate Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 152
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 10:09 am:   Edit Post

Maybe the buyer was assuming it was a neck through, which could explain both the discrepancy in pricing and the buyer's backing out.
olieoliver
Intermediate Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 172
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post

I just hope my daughter doesn't see it. I have to save my $$$ for a CUSTOM!! NYUK NYUK NYUK
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1165
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 11:37 am:   Edit Post

I just looked. The BIN is $2000.

Bill, tgo
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1113
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 1:06 pm:   Edit Post

The previous "buyer" and I traded a few messages immediately after the auction. He was surprised and displeased to learn that the guitar was set neck. Fortunately, they appear to have worked it out amicably, which might not have been the case if the surprise occurred when the recipient opened the case for the first time.

The value at the end of the last auction was flawed because of the erroneous claim that the guitar was neck through. I would guess that the seller would have contacted the #2 bidder with a second chance offer after losing the initial sale. If that bidder were put off by the construction and refused, then the next highest bid was $1551. The #2 bidder had private feedback as well, so he/she may not even have been a legitimate buyer.

We just saw another Orion go under $1600 as well. This one has a few interesting upgrades, so we'll see. I know I will go for it if the price stays right.
hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 191
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 1:32 pm:   Edit Post

Well,

Looks like they have modified the auction to remove the Buy it Now price altogether. Perhaps they have been listening to the discussion here. . . Granted I am not the most knowledgable by far around here, but I think the original $1800 price would have been a steal.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1114
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 1:36 pm:   Edit Post

Actually, I placed an initial bid which killed the Buy Now option. I also disagree about $1800 being a steal, as it probably would have gone for less than that without the misinformation the first time around. It may be a fair price for the instrument, but I wouldn't call $1800 a steal if no one else is willing to go past $1600.
longhorncat
Member
Username: longhorncat

Post Number: 60
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 1:38 pm:   Edit Post

The BIN disappeared because someone bid and there was no reserve.
hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 193
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 2:05 pm:   Edit Post

Well, I suppose we'll have to see what it gets up to. I just assumed that if one were to order this now, that the electronics upgrade and custom body would push the value up quite a bit over a regular Orion. But, as I said, I am far from the most knowledgable around here, and am sure Bob would know long before I would.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1115
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 2:58 pm:   Edit Post

Personally, I believe that the electronics package on a Skylark is superior to what is in this guitar. I would think the individual filters and the on/bright switches per pickup would give more flexibility than the bass and treble tone switches. It's not too different from the question of Signature vs Europa electronics.

Since Skylarks tend to trade around $2K, I wouldn't expect this to surpass that. On the other hand, it is has a unique appearance for a "low end" Alembic guitar that may attract additional money. If there is someone out there looking for a guitar exactly like this, they will pay more than someone like me who is just looking for a decent Alembic guitar at a fair price.

Honestly, I wouldn't consider $2K to be a rip-off for this guitar. I think the guy that was tricked into bidding almost $2400 would have been ripped off because of the dishonesty involved. Look also at the Electrum that just went for $1500. That guitar and this one should command similar value.

I would predict it will end up in the vicinity of $1800, but we'll see what happens.
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 333
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 8:12 pm:   Edit Post

At first I thought that saying there was "dishonesty involved" in the first auction was a bit strong - but there are some inconsistencies in the current auction. The seller mentions going to the factory and hand-picking the options. Then in response to a question says the person from whom the guitar was bought said it was a neck through.

I'm sure there could be a logical explanation for this but it seems odd to me.

Tom

(Message edited by tom_z on March 30, 2006)
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1117
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 9:08 pm:   Edit Post

Tom, I was in contact with the seller during the first auction. After I heard back from Mica, I immediately notified him of the build record and that he could see it here if he didn't want to take my word for it. That was the morning of the day before the auction was supposed to end. He chose not to amend the listing or inform the first auction winner of the truth about the neck construction.

I suppose it is possible that he missed my message, but it seems unlikely considering his generally quick responses to my other queries. In spite of this, I wouldn't completely write the guy off. Personally, I am not afraid to bid on this guitar if the price is right, but I certainly wouldn't chase it too far.
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 376
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 6:39 am:   Edit Post

Bob,

I have a bit of interest in this guitar. Sometime after my current Alembic is done, I wanted to do a small standard Series I, a la Bill's recent ebay find. Before I invest that kind of cash, it'd be nice to know if I like the way the body style balances. It makes me nervous the way my SG (also with a behind-the-neck strap peg) lilts forward when I'm not playing. Anyway, this potentially could be a MUCH less expensive way of testing the waters. If I didn't like it, I could re-sell it on ebay for a small loss, as opposed to the bath I'd take trying to dump the Series. I'm just toying with this idea...not married to it. Anyway, I don't want to get into a bidding war...you've got squatters' rights. Maybe e-mail me off site and let me know how far you're willing to go. If it's not too out of reach for me by then, I may toss my hat in.

Regards,

Jonathan
barryold
New
Username: barryold

Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:19 am:   Edit Post

Howdy, Gang! I'm the winner of this axe from the last time. I am very grateful to bsee for the heads up. I would have taken it if it had been a neck-through. The seller was no problem to deal with, and I may have bought it for a more reasonable price, but timing of another auction I was interested in prevented us from doing that. I think someone will get a nice guitar at a fair price this time. What I really want is a Skylark, but I missed out on that last one a few weeks back. Guess I'll just keep watching. Barryold
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3555
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:57 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Barry; welcome to the board!
slammer
New
Username: slammer

Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 11:34 am:   Edit Post

Are these electronics active. may seem to be a silly question, but the Tribute has a battery and filters, but is not considered "active"
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1171
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 11:39 am:   Edit Post

I don't know who considers the Tribute a "passive" guitar. It, like all Alembics, has low impedance pickups that run through a powered pre-amp and filters. Sure sounds "active" to me!

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on April 01, 2006)
slammer
New
Username: slammer

Post Number: 6
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

I'm having a lot of trouble reconciling these inconsitantcies

>>>>At first I thought that saying there was "dishonesty involved" in the first auction was a bit strong - but there are some inconsistencies in the current auction. The seller mentions going to the factory and hand-picking the options. Then in response to a question says the person from whom the guitar was bought said it was a neck through.

I'm sure there could be a logical explanation for this but it seems odd to me. <<<<
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 379
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 9:05 pm:   Edit Post

Too rich for my blood.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1124
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 10:50 pm:   Edit Post

yep - looks like the seller is going to get his payday. A couple eBay neophytes did a heck of a job forcing the number up well ahead of the ending. I'll be watching for the finish anyway, but no bids coming from this sector.

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