| Author | Message | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 60 Registered: 5-2008 |
I think about selling one of my Stanley Clarke Signature. Build 2006 How much can you ask for?  | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1519 Registered: 6-2002 |
Nice looking bass. Jazzyvee | ||
| uonra
New Username: uonra Post Number: 9 Registered: 6-2008 |
I m interessed how mutch? my email is claude.arnou@skynet.be | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 61 Registered: 5-2008 |
thats what I asked to the Alembic members of this forum....I don´t know how much money is fair.. A new one costs 7k-8k? | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2361 Registered: 3-2004 |
Ulf, you can ask whatever you might like. Every one is unique, so there's a range for everything. Also, how quickly you wish to sell factors in. In top condition, I think it would move quickly for $4K in the US, and maybe around $5K if you were willing to wait for someone to really get into it. To get top dollar, you almost need to find a nearby buyer who can see and plat the bass before committing to the purchase. Absolutely stock, a new one will be in the $7500 range at current list prices. Of course, prices in Europe tend to be a bit higher than over here. You can look at what dealers in Europe would ask for the same used instrument and, usually, it's fair to ask about 90% of that number. | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 62 Registered: 5-2008 |
thank you Bob, this is a clue for me.... indeed, the bass is in top condition...but I don´t know any dealer in Europe who offers an used Alembic such as mine..Stanley Clarkes are relatively rare...but it is not necessary for me to do fast sale Maybe a member from Europe makes me an offer | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1522 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Ulf, here is a european store selling a couple of new alembics, only one is a cocobolo and is up for sale at 9.350,00 EUR so that may give you an idea of a price to work from. http://www.station-music.de/bass/alembic.html Jazzyvee | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 63 Registered: 5-2008 |
thanks Jazzy, I know Lothar von Station Music very good, I bought my first Alembic at Station Music. | ||
| jix
New Username: jix Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2009 |
Hi Ulf. Lovely looking bass - can you let us know a few more details (i.e. does it have any custom options?) So you know, the UK American Guitar Centre (official UK Alembic stockist) recently sold a brand new, SC Standard in 5A maple for £3,600. Mint condition, second-hand go for c.£2k at best at the moment from what I've seen. Looking at the bass - is this the one you purchased from Nipperooney back in February? I remember he was looking for c. £2,300 at the time. Let me know - I could be interested. Thanks Jix | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 65 Registered: 5-2008 |
James, yes, it is the same bass from Nipperooney. £2k for a second-hand Alembic Signature is a very good price, I think. And no, these baby has no costum options, except Cocobolo front and Purpleheart laminates. I must say that this bass is worth more than £2k (at least for me) so I will keep her | ||
| jix
New Username: jix Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2009 |
Thanks, Ulf. Totally understand where you're coming from - I don't know if I'd sell my SC for £2k or not (but then I only have one at the moment, and don't need to sell). What sort of price did you have in mind, though? With the current economic crisis the 2nd hand market is a bit tough from what I've seen - and the discounts for brand new Alembic basses already stocked by dealers are pretty good compared to custom order prices, meaning people are buying new it seems. e.g. http://www.acoutron.ch/alembic.html - CHF 5,875 / £3,400. Thanks James | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 407 Registered: 11-2006 |
Prices of station music are completly crazy !! | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2367 Registered: 3-2004 |
James, it's been just the opposite here in the US. Basses that were selling around $1000 in the US up until a couple years ago can't be had for $1500 today. Again, I don't know the UK market, but I would be surprised if a near mint SC deluxe couldn't do at least $4000 here. Also, for new instruments, the difference in street price between an SC Standard and an SC Deluxe is almost $2000. You can't expect to get a Deluxe for the Standard price, even on the used market. -bob | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2368 Registered: 3-2004 |
Those prices at Acoutron look to be below Alembic's minimums. Maybe they haven't kept the list up to date. Either that, or there's something odd going on. It may be cheaper for an American to order their next bass from Acoutron at this rate. I thought Station Music's prices were okay - what do you see wrong with them? -bob | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 408 Registered: 11-2006 |
look at the US prices !!! for SC deluxe, is 5500 euros, not 9300 !!!! Crazy price are the same to californiamusic.fr (Paris) | ||
| jix
New Username: jix Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2009 |
All good points, everyone. The bass that Ulf has posted isn't a Deluxe, though - it's a Standard with Coco Bolo top and 2 purple-heart neck laminates. The basses on Station Music are Deluxe with a lot of extras (LED's / Ebony neck laminate etc..) and have been un-sold for a very long time (nearly a year at least - a reflection of them being overpriced for the current market). $4,000 is just under £2,500 so it doesn't sound like there's much difference. Ultimately, though, it's worth whatever Ulf would want to sell it for, and what someone equally would be prepared to pay for it.  If the two don't match up then, as Ulf says, he'll keep her. Cheers James | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2369 Registered: 3-2004 |
US list for an SC Deluxe is $9500 without the case, that's about 6800 euros. Discounted and with no options, it might be around 5500 euros base price without the case, the transport to get it from Santa Rosa to Europe, or any of the import or sales taxes. The SC Deluxe Station is showing at 9350 euros has a US list price over $14K without adding anything for the dragonfly inlay. That would get you a price around 8500 euros at a 25% discount without case, transport, or any taxes. I don't think that 9350 euros is an outrageous price when you factor in everything that went into the cost from Alembic. Admittedly, when you add options to an instrument that increase the cost by 50%, the market for the instrument can get pretty small. The bass isn't so much overpriced as it was over-ordered for the market. Even internationally, the market for such an instrument is minuscule. A large percentage of the population would rather pay 6000-6500 euros for a base model SC Deluxe rather than 9350 euros for this souped up model. In short, Pierre-Yves, I just don't see what you're seeing. They are expensive, but the prices are reasonable based upon the costs. Acoutron, on the other hand, is discounting at a very high level if those are current prices. Base list price for a Signature Standard is $7300 US. The Acoutron prices translate to about $5400 US, just over a 26% discount. That's with no consideration for all the extra costs (case, transport, taxes). The number for the Signature Deluxe works out to almost 28%. Now, maybe that's where the price has to be so that Europeans aren't calling Bass Central to order their instruments, I don't know. I do know that it is a below rock bottom price based upon current list prices and exchange rates. It's also risky to publish a full price sheet for instruments you would have to order and pay for in a different currency when exchange rates might shift. Looking at currency data, European currencies have fallen about 10% against the dollar over the past three months or so. That could also explain the apparent low prices at Acoutron. It seems that if you buy an in-stock Alembic from a European dealer, you're dabbling in the currency markets. -bob | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 66 Registered: 5-2008 |
Pierre, I used to think just like you about prices in Germany especially the prices from Station Music. So I called Bass Central last year to make me an offer...but as Bob rightly says, from the US prices you have to add shipping costs $300 US, the german VAT of 19 percent, the german Import taxes for musical-instruments of 4 percent.... thats why I think that the prices from StationMusic are fair....and furthermore the owner Lothar gives a little discount...and Station Music have a very big stock of all Alembic Basses... James, the price from Acoutron for SC Standard is net, you have to add for import to GB also all taxes, because switzerland is not member of the EU. And you have to add Cocobolo top and purpleheart laminates... Incidentally, the only reason why I think about selling my SC is that I want to buy in the next future a Alembic Series 1 and I have another SC Signature. an Alembic bass is worth every dollar, pound or euro. But whom do I say this, that's why we all here are Alembic friends | ||
| jix
New Username: jix Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2009 |
Hi Ulf. Absolutely right - there would definitely be additional costs involved in purchasing from Acoutron. I only sent the link to give you an idea of what people can get as a deal on a new SC if they look around. If you are thinking of selling one of your SC's, though, you will need to compare what you want for it against the 2nd hand prices for SC's in the market - all the comparison above is against a brand new SC which will always cost a lot more (Alembics - like expensive sports' cars - do lose a notable % of their value as soon as they become 2nd hand). As you know from the price that Nipperooney was looking for when you bought this SC of yours off him in February (£2,300) the market rate for 2nd hand SC's is notably less than a brand new SC. Having bought a brand new SC myself at the start of the year I can vouch for the difference in price between new and 2nd hand! (Pic of mine below - 5A maple; 2 purpleheart neck and additional purple heart accent around the whole main body of the bass).  Ultimately, though, as I said in an earlier post - what your SC is worth is whatever price you would consider selling it for, and whatever price someone would pay you for it. So long as both you and the buyer can agree on that then it's the right price for the bass. I was only trying to help with some info. on what I've seen in the 2nd hand market. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do with this SC - I think we'd all be interested to know what sort of price you are actually looking for it. Cheers James | ||
| ulf
Member Username: ulf Post Number: 67 Registered: 5-2008 |
Nice Bass James! I can not decide to sell my SC.... it´s so hard for me cause I love my Alembics.... First I try to sell one of my Musicman Stingray, but only in Germany. | ||
| jix
New Username: jix Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2009 |
I know how you must feel - although I think I could live with only 1 SC if I were able to save up enough for a Series 1. Good luck selling the Stingray (nice basses, with a good distinct sound). If you do decide to sell this SC then let me know what price you're looking for. All the best James | ||
| pclifton2004
Member Username: pclifton2004 Post Number: 53 Registered: 4-2004 |
UK used prices: SC or MK standard - £1500-£2500 dependent on condition/woods Deluxe - £2000-£3000 as above Station Music prices are ridiculously high on used models, especially with the Euro as it is Best bet is to buy a used Series bass from US for around $3-4000, fly over and collect it and walk it back through customs. |
