Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: hammer on August 13, 2013, 10:11:33 AM
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Looks to be a relatively nice Series I that's reasonably priced altough I wouldn't go as far as to agree with the seller that it's in 'great' condition. I wonder what the current pending offer under consideration is. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330986268000&item=330986268000&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330986268000&item=330986268000&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466)
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Hi Hammer. That's my bass. great condition is sort of in the eye of the beholder. The bass is rock solid, only issue is some crazing and a few missing screws. Some people really dig that look, others don't. But in terms if overall condition, it's great imo. If anyone has questions, please post or text me @ two one five four three one nine five seven seven.
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This should sell. Your asking price is VERY reasonable compared to what I've seen for Series basses that are in no better or worse condition. You might want to consider adding the scale. Is it medium or long scale? I didn't see that in your ebay posting.
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Good point... It's a short scale - 31. I'm willing to work something out for a forum member as well.
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Alembic is all about custom and I know they've made 31 basses before, but typically they tend to be short scale (30) or medium scale (32).
Is it truly a 31 scale bass?
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Well, based on the method I was always lead to believe was the true way to measure, it's a 31 scale. Measurement from where the fret board meets the nut to the center of the 12th fret is 15.5 X 2 = 31. If the method you adhere to is to the 12th fret and not the center of the 12th fret, then it would be a 30 scale.
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Regular short scale would be 30.75. Half the difference, I guess. ;)
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Too bad I already purchased two Alembics this year. Its been my experience that older short scale series basses like yours rarely come up for scale and when they do they alwsys have SC bodies. If I could sell my Distillate I'd be all over this one. Anyone for a reasonably priced 86 walnut distillate?
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Now more reasonably priced due to competition.
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Take a close look at the Zebrawood Series I that is your closest competition. I could very well be wrong, but the photos look to me like it has more than a bit of finish checking in the headstock/neck area. Seller, however, was honest was honest in providing the photo.
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In reference to that Zebrawood Bass , my immediate thought upon first glance was , why did they put the master volume there ?
I much prefer the traditional Alembic Standard Point Series II location . That Zebra Bass does have a nice top BUT now has been violated from a poor master volume mod location .
My 2 cents worth !
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Point well taken
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No power supply either. I'm kind of mad because the seller asked me questions about my bass and now I know it was just to gage where he should price his. Oh well. I knocked $100 off because I want the upper hand in the situation where someone is considering both. I think mine is nicer by a mile (personal preference regarding the wood selection) and all orginal too. Hopefully someone else agrees and pulls the trigger.
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An aspect apart from aesthetics is scale length. Both Bass's offer the Series I Alembic Standard Point theme but are totally different as per description scale length wise. From those facts it could be debatable how much competition there really is depending upon the buyers criteria and needs. I am very familiar with the variations.
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I agree. It's not apples to apples. Again, just trying to get a buyer in that price range to lean towards mine, that's all. Of course a buyer in the market for a 34 scale is not going to be interested regardless of the price, but someone out there may be on the fance, who knows.
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Eric, your bass is quite nice. In my opinion , a desirable aspect of yours is that from what we can see , there are no signs of modification of the original Alembic attributes . I wish you luck on the sale.
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No buyers. Re-listed with no reserve starting at $3,699.
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If this is the zebra wood Serie I that paexplorer is competing with, the pickup selector is exactly where Alembic put them on early basses. This is not a mod.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALEMBIC-SERIES-1-BASS-/321187849604?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ac849a584 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALEMBIC-SERIES-1-BASS-/321187849604?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ac849a584)
Not having the power supply sucks, because if it is wired stereo like most early Series basses, only one pickup will play when using batteries.
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Paexplorer,
Now you are describing the Series I as a 32 scale. That's a big deal. There is a bigger than you'd think market for medium scale exotic basses. At least, if you believe a lot of the convo over on talkbass.
You do not mention in your ad whether or not you have power supply and cable. Since you point out that the zebra wood bass does not, I assume that to mean that you do. If so, my advice to you would be to state that in your ad and include it in the pictures.
Alembic buyers often step away from instruments that do not have cable and box. Some who have other Series instruments are often willing to take a chance on instruments without cable & box if they already have those things with their other instruments.
My 2 cents. Good luck with the sale.
Peace,
James
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James , Regarding the Zebra Wood bass ; Yes the pickup selector is in the traditional old location however, the master volume is Not . That is a mod.
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I see your bass is now listed as a medium scale. I agree there will probably be a bit more interest especially if you have the cable and box.
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32 is from the nut to the middle of the bridge. It's still 15.5 to the middle the 12th fret. The power supply is not included at the price it's listed at now.
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I'm not sure what you mean by middle of the 12th fret. Is that on the wood in between the 12th & 13th? Measure from the nut to the 12th fret - the actual piece of metal - & double it; that's your scale.
Peter
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Using that methodology, it would be a 30 scale. However, that's a common misconception. You measure from the nut to the center (wood) of the 12th fret and double it. Ask a luthier or check out the stewart macdonnald web site for a definition. Granted, that's the method used to lay out the scale length, the actual vibrating length of the strings can differ based on the bridge setup.
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There's only one way to meassure scale length, Peter is right - Distance from the nut 'till the 12th fret x 2
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/172623.jpg)
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Are you sure your luthier didn't say measure from the nut to the middle of the crown of the 12th fret (I.e, the middle of the metal that forms the 12th fret itself not the wood which is technically not a fret).
P.S. I would suggest including the cable and box in your price even if you need to raise it or at least providing separating pricing for it as an option.
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Front of nut to center of 12th fret (the metal wire, not the wood in between) X 2. And that's what StewMac says. You have a 30 scale bass.
Bill, tgo
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Stew-Mac even has a nifty tool (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Measuring_tools/Saddlematic.html) for positioning acoustic saddles (you could no doubt use it for an electric as well) that lets you set the length from the 12th fret itself to the nut, then reverse it to mark the bridge for the saddle slot - nut to metal X2.
Peter
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Ok, so I must have mis-interpreted what I read and was told. Thanks for the info. It's a 32 scale.
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Any excuse to show that lovely bass again FC_spoiler. :-)
Jazzyvee
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Purple People Eater!
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Bump: Still for sale