| Author | Message | ||
| mcdonger
Junior Username: mcdonger Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2007 |
Any insight into this bass? My tax refund is burning a hole in my pocket. I made this guy an offer less than his opening bid ($2500) a week or so ago. He declined and re-listed the bass. I feel it's kinda pricey for what it is? Your thoughts?  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6190 Registered: 5-2002 |
Listing. I think the starting point for a four string Elan in good condition is around $1,600. This is a five string and five strings generally go for more than fours. And this one appears to be in very good condition. The flight case is a plus for some people, flights cases aren't cheap, and a minus for others, since for many the standard case is sufficient and much easier to carry to gigs and rehearsals. Mistakes in the listing include describing the electronics as Europa, and describing the Q switch as an active/passive switch. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1875 Registered: 3-2004 |
If you're looking for a maple-bodied Alembic, this is the only model. There aren't many out there, so demand can easily force the price up. Electronics are nothing special compared to a Spoiler or Essence and probably a step down from a Distillate or Europa. For this particular bass, it looks to be in pretty good shape and has the 7-piece neck with plenty of purpleheart in there. If this is the bass you're lusting after, then you have to pay the price or wait another year until you see a similar instrument appear on sale. If you don't care about the maple core and are just looking for a nice playable Alembic, you might be able to get more for that money in a Rogue or Europa. You also might see an older Persuader or Spoiler five go by for under $2K. I think I sold my Persuader five last year for $1400. There's an Epic five on ebay now that might not make it that high (though I can't get comfortable on an Epic at all). You have to be careful about string spacing as well. The Elan looks like it has the old "standard" spacing or something close to it. Many of the newer models have the comfort taper which feels pretty different, and is very wide in a five or six. Know what you're looking for and what you're looking at before you buy. If you bid $2500, you probably won't be outbid. It's probably a decent deal at $2K and a very good deal at $1800. At $2575 shipped, you're probably not going to get your money back if you sell it. If you're not going to sell it, though, and it's the bass you want to play for the next ten years or more, the extra money doesn't mean much. I have let a couple instruments go because I wasn't willing to pony up another hundred or two over what I decided they were worth. I have almost universally regretted it. | ||
| mcdonger
Junior Username: mcdonger Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2007 |
I was prepared to pay $2,000 for the bass. The owner turned it down and re-listed it. Thats as high as I would go. As bsee mentioned, the electronics are nothing special. The flight case is not what I want either as I only bring basses to play at church, no more travel for me. I already have a Series II 5, Stanley Clarke Deluxe and a Mark King. I am looking for something I don't already have. Thanks to both Dave Houck and bsee for their valuable insights. |
