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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive through December 11, 2007 » Another bogus "Elan" « Previous Next »

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bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1802
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 10:11 pm:   Edit Post

Another ebay decal job. haven't seen one of these in a while.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-ELAN-4-STRING-BASS-GUITAR-W-CASE_W0QQitemZ200164128988QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
danny_bryant
New
Username: danny_bryant

Post Number: 9
Registered: 9-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 7:29 am:   Edit Post

Yeah, What a goon. I wrote the lady a message and told her she wasnt fooling anybody.
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 1007
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 7:39 am:   Edit Post

$1000 starting bid is pretty audacious for a probable Chinese $150 bass.
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 166
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 7:55 am:   Edit Post

Use the "Report this item" at page bottom on eBay to suggest they remove the item as fraudulent. The more submissions from different users the better as they may remove it quicker. I have also written the seller and informed them that this was not an Alembic instrument and hope they were not misled... and suggested that they not mislead others with this information.
effclef
Senior Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 504
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:00 am:   Edit Post

I've reported it to Ebay. Once as a fraudulent listing, once as counterfeit. Hopefully it will be removed.

Don't be quick to blame the seller. My understanding is that the doofus making these is selling them to pawn shops, who then try to resell. Mostly in TX and OK, if I remember previous discussions.

What I am guessing is that some guitar blue-book out there only lists a value for an "Alembic Elan." The pawnbroker sees $2000 listed and eagerly gives the scam artist the money, without seeing or knowing what a true Elan looks like.

I think Mica should buy one of these and have it analyzed for fingerprints!
EffClef
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 167
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:09 am:   Edit Post

Agreed EffClef and is why I wrote to the seller in an informative manner (get to them with kindness - you get more flies with sugar than with salt).
I also submitted both types earlier this morning to eBay.

Here is Mica's thread in regard to "Fake" Alembics with mention of these counterfeits:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/403/1169.html?1027269907

(Message edited by artswork99 on October 18, 2007)
juggernaught
Intermediate Member
Username: juggernaught

Post Number: 101
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:11 am:   Edit Post

I love it how they show that the battery cover says "fender" on it
juggernaught
Intermediate Member
Username: juggernaught

Post Number: 102
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:14 am:   Edit Post

Damn my eyes, that's the case :P
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 168
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:21 am:   Edit Post

Hi Devon, I was going to ask you if you just woke up out there in NM :-)
juggernaught
Intermediate Member
Username: juggernaught

Post Number: 103
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:38 am:   Edit Post

Of course I did! ;)
artswork99
Intermediate Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 169
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 9:06 am:   Edit Post

Below is the response from the seller:

"I do apologize for listing this as an Alembic if is truly isn't. I'm not an expert in this area and was going strictly off of the label. Someone else said it was a Fender, so I have revised my listing as such. It was not my intention to mislead anyone."

This seller was easy to locate and I have spoken with her. A very nice woman indeed and I was told that her husband was sold this several years ago. They were cleaning house...

I have suggested removing the name on the headstock as she told me she was taking down the listing and going to relist it as "unknown" for $100.
danny_bryant
New
Username: danny_bryant

Post Number: 10
Registered: 9-2007
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post

I didnt mean to be so hard on the lady guys but you gotta call them like you see them.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1805
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 12:58 pm:   Edit Post

Maybe so, but there's this benefit-of-the-doubt thing. If you were ripped off by some mom and pop dealer or pawn shop that sold you this bass as an Alembic for $1000, how would you feel getting accused of the "crime" that victimized you? Unless it's obvious that the person knows what they have and are trying to slide one by, I believe it's best to start with a friendly query to assess the situation.

Of course, when some ass responds to such a friendly informational query with a load of attitude, I sometimes regret the decision. I'll still play it that way, though.

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