| Author | Message | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 811 Registered: 8-2003 |
http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Alembic-4-String-Bass-Guitar-DS-5-Power-SERIES-II_W0QQitemZ370174676092QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item370174676092&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 Here's a 2007 thread from a hobby forum on the seller. Looks ugly: https://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/archive/index.php/t-10421.html (Message edited by kungfusheriff on March 17, 2009) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7748 Registered: 5-2002 |
Exceptionally nice Walnut top. No reserve. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 636 Registered: 6-2002 |
I just read through that thread, ...as much as I would love to own a graphite neck series bass to replace the one I let go in the past ...I think I'll sit this one out. Thanks for the warning about the seller. I bet if it doesn't reach an inflated amount it'll be pulled early. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 946 Registered: 6-2002 |
It's a shame about the seller. Because that bass looks to be in mint condition. If he is legit, that looks like a great bass to snag. Just in case anyone is interested in the bass, I am not interested in bidding myself. It's just too big for my tastes. Just offering my opinion. Michael | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 816 Registered: 8-2003 |
$4659! I'm almost scared to gig mine now. | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 821 Registered: 4-2005 |
no more eBay listing pulled by seller | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7772 Registered: 5-2002 |
When I went to the listing, it showed it as sold. | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 822 Registered: 4-2005 |
my bad | ||
| cashbass
New Username: cashbass Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2008 |
Well... I'll let you guys know how this turns out. I've been looking for a good Series II for 2 years now and decided to chance it and bite on this one. Maybe I paid too much for her but man but it looked so nice... and that graphite neck... So come on kungfusheriff don't quit plays yours out just yet! lol We'll see if this guy comes through. More to come. Plus I'd be interested to hear what you guys think - $4600 too much for an '83 Series II? | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 818 Registered: 8-2003 |
As I mentioned above, I have a graphite '82 Series 2 and it's one of the two or three best instruments I've ever touched. What that is worth to you, dollar-wise, is a decision only you can make. What is not subjective is the fact that only 50 or so of these basses were made, and they will never be made again. You are now part of a very small club. Please post about a million clear pics of the bass when it arrives. Congratulations. | ||
| spose
Advanced Member Username: spose Post Number: 260 Registered: 5-2002 |
+1 to what the sheriff said! enjoy it! she's a beauty! | ||
| dwmark
Advanced Member Username: dwmark Post Number: 231 Registered: 1-2005 |
Brent I have the graphite eight string fretless SII and paid more than that (although it was before the bubble burst). I echo KFS--it's a special instrument. INSURE IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY IT OUT (there are threads on the board about how to get professional musician insurance, which is what you'll need--it's not that expensive). Hope things go well with the seller. Congratulations and welcome to the Club. dw | ||
| cashbass
New Username: cashbass Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2008 |
I will definitely throw some pics up when she arrives. All great comments - I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on that graphite neck. And dw, thanks for the insurance tip. Always a smart thing to have if the bass is out!! | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 819 Registered: 8-2003 |
cash, The neck on my bass has a pronounced U shape, kind of like a Fender D neck except the width is nearly the same from the nut on up. I think it's very comfortable. | ||
| cashbass
New Username: cashbass Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2008 |
Has anyone heard of issues with Alembic graphite necks developing a problematic bow that can't be fixed since they don't have truss rods? Btw-just got a shipment notification so that's a positive sign! | ||
| dwmark
Advanced Member Username: dwmark Post Number: 232 Registered: 1-2005 |
Brent Understand your nervousness but I've never heard that AND find mine easy to play. I might have bid on yours if my personal situation were more settled. If you find it not to your liking, and want to trade for something in my herd, let me know. We usually give this advice for folks waiting for customs from the factory, but, yours is so special it applies here too: Breathe. Through your nose. It's going to be really cool when you open it. dw | ||
| cashbass
New Username: cashbass Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2008 |
hahahaha!!! Yea, you're right. Gotta remember to breathe... | ||
| altgrendel
Member Username: altgrendel Post Number: 53 Registered: 5-2008 |
Post some pictures once you get it. One thing I hate about ebay is that once the auction is done you can't review the item. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7788 Registered: 5-2002 |
Brent; there have been a number of past threads on graphite neck Alembics. You may want to run a search and read through some of them. I think it fair to say that David Fung is perhaps the most knowledgeable of our members when it comes to graphite necks (and many other subjects as well); so read anything written by him on the subject. Here is a thread from last year with some interesting and detailed information from David. | ||
| cashbass
New Username: cashbass Post Number: 8 Registered: 6-2008 |
Hey Dave - thanks so much for the link to the thread. I'll check it out tonight! I also promise pics once it arrives. Thanks again - Friday can't get here fast enough! | ||
| cashbass
New Username: cashbass Post Number: 10 Registered: 6-2008 |
Alright - I've got loads of pictures of the "unpacking" but I gotta say - this bass has nary a scratch on it (well, one tiny mark on one of the back brass plates, and one small, tiny, miniscule indentation on the bottom). This was the bass as I was unpacking it - no cleaning, etc. The only interesting thing is that if someone told me that these were the original strings I would believe them. New strings on the way. However, IT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE!!! More testing this weekend but thought you guys might like to check it out. Graphite neck is tight and straight!! I also included a pic of all the original paperwork that came with it. Amazing stuff in there. Like stepping back in time...    (Message edited by cashbass on March 27, 2009) | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 161 Registered: 2-2008 |
VERY nice!!! Congrats! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1061 Registered: 6-2002 |
Oh my, I'm drooling again... sorry ;) Mike | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 947 Registered: 6-2002 |
I too have a graphite necked Series II. I keep it strung with D'Addario Chromes which are relatively a highish tension string. No problems at all. I find the neck very stable. You should have no problmes at all with that beaut! One of the first comments I made on this thread was how that bass was in such good shape. It looks like no one ever really used it! Congrats! | ||
| cashbass
Junior Username: cashbass Post Number: 12 Registered: 6-2008 |
I don't think it has been used. No rash on the back. Frets in great shape. It has less marks @ 26 than some of my "new" basses. Quite amazing actually! I'm going to clean of up this weekend - but she don't need much!! Thanks for the string tip. I ordered a few sets of Alembic strings a few days ago anticipating it would need new ones - but - I think I have some d'addarios and DR around here somewhere... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7794 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats!! It looks great! | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 611 Registered: 7-2007 |
That is beautiful! Congratulations Brent! Play it Healthy! Art | ||
| bassfingers
Advanced Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 211 Registered: 11-2005 |
Stunning!!,enjoy in good health my friend. | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 822 Registered: 8-2003 |
That's an incredible find. You paid through the nose, but it looks like you got every penny's worth. I hope the bass serves you well for the rest of your days. As a point of order, it looks like you have a phenolic fingerboard, which is basically plastic. You do NOT want to know how much refretting it will cost, and how hard it will be to find someone qualified to do the job if you elect not to send it to Alembic for repair. Mine has worn the same set of Thomastik flatwounds since 2004, and I haven't noticed any fret wear in five years. If you're anti-flats, fine, but you'll want to do anything reasonable to slow down the process of fret wear. | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 612 Registered: 7-2007 |
I don't believe that a Series II of a limted availability graphite neck and the pristine condition that Brent has indicated is unreasonable at all for under 5k. | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 825 Registered: 8-2003 |
To me, no matter what you get, $5K is a lot of money. | ||
| cashbass
Junior Username: cashbass Post Number: 14 Registered: 6-2008 |
I agree with both Art and KFS! Did I pay through the nose? Heck yeah. But did I get a great deal on a fantastic Alembic in fantastic shape? Heck yeah. And I’m thrilled with both. For those with patience, let me explain… In 1997 I bought a 1992 Porsche 911 Cabriolet. I spent a few years researching the market, looking at a ton of Porsches, checking DuPont Registry, etc. etc. I finally found a 5 year old 911 that was the cleanest used car that I had ever seen. Had 18,000 miles on it, barely driven. I paid an unbelievable $40,000 in cash for it. Crazy! To say I paid through the nose would be incorrect – I paid through the back side of my body, just a little south of my belt… That same summer I bought a brand new Ford Explorer right off the dealer’s lot. I paid just under $22,000 for it. Again, brand new. I sold that Explorer 3 years later for the market price - $15,000. A loss of $7,000. I sold the 911 two years after I bought it for $39,500. A loss of $500 (I put 10K miles on it in the interim). Now which was the more “expensive” car? Truth is if any of us wanted a bass there are lots of cheaper basses to buy. Not nearly as good as an Alembic mind you (I’m already a convert – sorry!!) but there are good basses out there for a fraction of what you will pay for a fine Alembic. The difference, besides the incredible workmanship and tone, is the cost of entry versus the total cost of ownership. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my life financially. I spend no time worrying about "cost of entry" – I spend tons of time worrying about "total cost of ownership." What I paid for this bass is right in there with the market. Could I have found a cheaper one? Maybe... And maybe not... But you all know there aren’t a ton of Series II basses that come onto the market, much less a Series II with a graphite neck. And the condition that this thing is in… Well… I can say that I’m extremely happy. Both with the bass (it’s crazy good!) and the price… Even though I did pay through the nose! Thanks to all for your support during my entry into the Alembic clan. I look forward to much post reading and post writing. This forum has already proved itself many times over - it might have taken me a week to figure out why my treble pickup wasn't "working." A quick check on this forum told me to use a balanced stereo cable - problem solved!!! So thank you!! (Message edited by cashbass on March 29, 2009) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3639 Registered: 7-2004 |
Brent: If you are blessed enough to be able to afford it, and you know enough to appreciate what a truly spectacular piece of functional art this bass is, and it brings you great joy, then what you spent is a pittance in the great scheme of things. I know I have spent more on things that haven't brought me nearly the joy and satisfaction my Alembics have brought me (hell, I'm about to spend a LOT more and get no joy in a little over two weeks. BEWARE the ides of April!). She sure looks like an amazng instrument in rare condition and you just don't get that stuff cheap. I have a '76 medium scale guitar and a '77 long scale 12 string. The older Alembics certainly have some heavy mojo. Enjoy your new baby and may you spend many years making wonderful music together. Bill, tgo | ||
| peoplechipper
Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 60 Registered: 2-2009 |
Brent, Nice bass!!! enjoy it and welcome to the world of Alembic! They will spoil you for anything else though; I can't see buying anything else now, except maybe something vintage and weird, and cheap... If Kungfusheriff is right and phenolic is a pain to refret, DON'T USE STAINLESS STRINGS!!! I've put more fretwear in the last year on my Distillate than the original owner did since 1981...I guess I'm looking at refrets every 5 years or so; too bad I like that tone so much... ENJOY!!! Tony. | ||
| cashbass
Junior Username: cashbass Post Number: 15 Registered: 6-2008 |
Thanks Tony - fortunately I absolutely HATE stainless strings so I stay away from them like the plague! I have a Modulus Quantum 5 that has a phenolic fingerboard that I use as my primary gigging bass. Using nickel strings I've managed to stay away from undo fret wear (knock on wood). Actually it's not the sound of stainless that puts me off; it's the feel of stainless. Something about it is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me... - Brent PS - Bill, I hear ya' man. I spent some time this weekend working on my "ides" of April. Ugh.... | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2212 Registered: 2-2006 |
Very nice bass Brent, love the top on this bass. OO PS. I disagree, $5000 is not a lot of money anymore, but it is a lot of PAPER. |
