| Author | Message | ||
| Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 133 Registered: 6-2000 |
Fake Alembics are popping up on eBay and in some pawn shops. These forgeries are in name only, as the instruments look nothing like ones of our manufacture. If you're buying used, these are things to watch out for: 1. No metal Alembic logo on peghead 2. Model name printed on peghead 3. Non standard serial number 4. Bolt-on neck 5. Offered from a pawn broker in the southern US 6. A too-good-to-be-true price I'll elaborate these points: 1. No metal Alembic logo on peghead Alembics are fitted with either a handcut or cast metal logo on the peghead with very few exceptions. Some have the logo on the body. The Spoiler bass originally had a decal of the logo, but that was only on the first 50 or so we made, anyway, it still looked like the logo. On others the logo is inlaid under the finish will shell accents. There has never been an Alembic bass or guitar with rub-on letters that spell out the name ALEMBIC. 2. Model name printed on peghead Elan and California Special are this forger's favorite models. They use rub-on letters to identify the model on the peghead, again, not a strong Alembic tradition. This criminal usually adds ™ (trademark) after the model name in an attempt to further convince. Exceptions: The original Spoilers were identified as Spoilers on the peghead, but this was incorporated in the logo decal in my mom's handwriting. 20th Anniversary models had the model name on the peghead, but it was in gold-plated cast bronze and matches the logo and script on the peghead. 3. Non standard serial number We are strict about serial number formatting. Check our website for information about serial number formats. Most of the fake California Specials have "#1223" as the complete serial number, which does not match our format. 4. Bolt-on neck No bass or guitar manufactured at Alembic has a bolt-on neck. 5. Offered from a pawn broker in the southern US Seems to be the forger's stomping grounds. We've seen these from Texas through Tennessee. Be extra cautious when evaluating a purchase in these areas. 6. A too-good-to-be-true price It's rare to find an Alembic in good condition for less than $1000 unless the seller is highly motivated. Other thoughts If you see a fake Alembic let us know where you saw it! Tell people offering fakes what they are doing...many people don't realize they've been duped. Encourage these people to sand off the name and offer the instrument as a no-name. If you've been the victim of a forgery, contact us and tell us what you can about the purchase. I search eBay almost everyday, including weekends to find these fakes (and stolen instruments) and I contact the sellers directly when I find them. Most are happy to comply with my request to remove name from the peghead and stop the auction. |
