Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: tdukes on June 24, 2008, 07:49:52 PM
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link (http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-ALEMBIC-SERIES-I-GUITAR-EXCELLENT-AND-RARE-WOW_W0QQitemZ300235943977QQihZ020QQcategoryZ118985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Since I missed the Walnut Skylark I am now watching this and the 1981
Distillate.
What exactly is the difference I will hear between the electronics in
the Distillate and the series 1?
Does anyone have a guess on the top wood. The laminate on the
headstock looks like zebrawood, but the body top does not to me.
Todd.
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this looks just like one that was on eBay a month ago that claimed those marks near the bridge were from a removed after market bridge. does anyone remember that
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Headstock laminates on the earlier instruments were usually different from the top laminate. Not sure what the top could be - my guess would be oak or teak, perhaps even koa.
Series electronics are quite a step up from anything else - the Distillate may sound a little disappointing, at least in comparison.
@ josejose - what marks near the bridge?
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I see marks near the tailpiece. Almost looks like a knot in the wood. It is mirrored across the centerline.
I don't see this guitar in the completed listings, but they only seem to go back about 2 weeks.
Todd.
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It looks exactly like a knot in the wood, because it is highly likely to be a knot in the wood. It is mirrored because the whole top is bookmatched, including the knot.
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I believe it's this guitar .... opening bid was $2800 last time it was up. Scroll all the way down for a pic.
Good luck!
link (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=12062)
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It came back around a second time and sold for $2,450 (or thereabouts). Second time around the opening price was $2,400 (to the best of my recollection.) I was in email contact with the seller who is also in Tenn. I was going to bid on it, but it climbed a bit in the final minutes.
That being said, I certainly would not sell my 70s-era Alembic 6-string for the price $2,450 (or thereabouts). Again, this is to the best of my recollection and I do not mean to intrude on anyone's plans of buying or selling this guitar. They are rare....and very, very nice. That's why I was considering the joys of having two of them.
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In an unrelated note; I find that all caps used in the text of a paragraph, as for example in the text of the subject Ebay listing, are considerably more difficult to read than normal text. Maybe there is some marketing research that suggests all caps increase sales; but my experience with internet postings over the years is that most people seem to find them hard to read.
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I agree completely about the all caps.
I sent the seller a couple of questions and later noticed one of them had been answered in the all-caps text. My brain refuses to comprehend all caps.
I also notice that this guitar doesn't show up when I search for 'alembic guitar', but the listing is still on my watch list.
Todd.
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Todd, it doesn't show up in alembic guitar because the guy put a - after guitar. To match that you'd have to search on alembic guitar* which would match guitar- and guitars etc.
When selling something it's really important to make sure people can search and find your listings! No misspelled brand names etc (unless a misspelling is common, in which case, add that in also!).
EffClef
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Dave -- I work in advertising; I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that all caps actually hurts sales. In fact, there are decades of studies that prove it. Headlines are fine as all caps, but all caps are essentially illegible to most people's eyes as body copy.
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Effclef is right...
...occasionally I see auctions for the rare messa amps...or GandL guitars...I always double check my auctions for those costly typos.
peice
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Elwood, LOL LOL!!! Gandl!!!! Too funny. People have also heard Alembic as Olympic but I don't generally search on that. Then there's Loinel trains, Richenbacher guitars, and anything with LQQK in the title.
EffClef
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My favorite title: Base Guitar (http://instruments.search.ebay.com/base-guitar_Bass_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQfsprZ0QQsacatZ38078)
(Message edited by longhorncat on June 27, 2008)
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Reminds me of Richard Armour's Twisted Shakespeare. When Hamlet calls Ophelia a strumpet, the footnote says He also called her a French whorn and a base viol.
Peter
(Message edited by Cozmik_Cowboy on June 27, 2008)
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this same guitar sold a few weeks ago for around $2,500. the first seller made it clear the guitar at one time had a replaced bridge and because of this needed two holes plugged. the second seller,(this seller) left that point out of his original description. i emailed the seller and insisted he add it to his description or his ad may be considered fraud . As well, i asked him his reserve and he told me $3,900 to which i replied. wow! three weeks ago you paid $2,500 for the guitar and now you claim your wife is making you sell yet you want to almost double your money. this is what he had to say
If someone gave me this guitar, would you expect me to give it away? If I had bought it for $ 100.00, is that what you would offer? If I paid $20,000.00, would you pay that? The point is not what I paid, but what it is worth. If someone cannot afford it, that is not my problem. It is worth what someone else will pay. I'm not a dealer per se, nor am I a charity organization. Perhaps you should have bid a month ago. This is economics 101.
The seller seems like a real charmer. I replied
You will tell yourself anything. The point is the guitar was for sale in auction on the high profile site eBay just weeks ago. The sale reflected market value as auctions commonly do. On eBay you tell a sob story involving your wife and most importantly you hid information about the guitars originality that would effect the price. Those are signs of greed and cunning nothing more or nothing less. I do not judge your petty greed but instead am simply calling a spade a spade. Good luck
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THE FIRST EBAY AUCTION HAS BEEN DISCUSSED HERE (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=12062). TOO BAD THE EBAY ADS WITH THE SELLER'S DESCRIPTIONS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE ANYMORE, BUT AT LEAST DAVID HAS POSTED A SMALL PHOTO AT THE END OF THIS THREAD... IT LOOKS VERY MUCH THE SAME GUITAR.
JOSE, I CANNOT TELL FROM THE PHOTOS IF THERE ARE HOLES NEAR THE BRIDGE, TO ME THEY APPEAR TO BE SMALL SWIRLS IN THE WOOD ITSELF...
TAKE CARE, CHRISTIAN
EDITED FOR GAINING CURIOSITY BY USING ALL-CAPS
(Message edited by Speicky on June 28, 2008)
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Brian, I suspected as much; thanks!
Interestingly, the listing has been edited and is no longer in all-caps.
The current version of the text includes an account of the bridge issue. Because of the all-caps, I never read the original listing; so I don't know the extent to which the text has now been changed.
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I think I can see some wood putty 1/4 inch behind the bridge pickup...which is where the seller describes it is...maybe the knots in the wood create a little confusion as to what exactly is going on, especially because the seller hasn't taken the effort to take a close-up of it.
I know these days you can photograph practically anything with a digital camera,the right light,and some patience....not necessarily in that order.
sigh...another puppy waiting to be adopted,hang in there boy...someone will play with you .
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the seller only added the information about the two plugged holes after i insisted. the marks are not seen in his photos. the other two marks are natural knots but the guitar had an after-market bridge and needed two holes plugged and finish added. like any collectible guitar two plugged holes on the top would take away value. if the guitar was 100% original i would pay $1000 more for it than with two plugs. in any case the seller keeps emailing me rude comments which is so surprising as his feedback score is perfect.
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the seller only added the information about the two plugged holes after i insisted. the marks are not seen in his photos. the other two marks are natural knots but the guitar had an after-market bridge and needed two holes plugged and finish added. like any collectible guitar two plugged holes on the top would take away value. if the guitar were 100% original i would pay $1000 more for it than i would with two plugs. in any case the seller keeps emailing me rude comments which is so surprising as his feedback score is perfect.
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Just a note to clarify a few things regarding the 1977 Series I guitar I have listed on ebay. The holes are not visible while playing the guitar, and frankly I forgot to mention them. Yes I was reminded by our friend jose, and others, but he is inaccurate about several points in our conversations. The guitar is quite nice. I was completely candid in saying that it is not a case queen, and my listing further states that bidders should ask questions. This is why I have 100% positive feedback. When I make a mistake, I will fix it. I do not repond well to rudeness, however.
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Did anyone ever guess the top wood? I did not see an answer.
Todd.
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Adriaan wrote oak, teak, or koa. I'd be surprised if it was koa. I'll add shedua to the list, even though this looks a little too light for shedua. Whatever it is, I like it.
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Sorry about the mystery wood, guys. I have left several messages at Alembic, but have never recieved a reply.
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Hey Barry - we've talked on several occasions, hope you're doing well. I asked Mary to review the last months' voicemail log and I don't have anything from you. Please do leave a message, we don't use a caller-ID system here. If you call between 10-4, you're likely to have a real human (that'd be me, my mom or my aunt Mary), answer the call.
You can also email your request. My address is listed in my profile. Make sure you include the serial number since that's how the records are stored.
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So are you saying that the other people at the shop are not real humans?
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Actually, Dave, it is a like known fact that Alembic employs a number of highly skilled rats. They gnaw and gnaw and gnaw away at the wood, until it is just the right shape. While humans still control the laminating process, there is an ongoing search for just the right animal to fill that niche as well. I won't tell you who/what does all that final polishing prior to shipment. I'll leave it to your imagination! ;)
Dr. J
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Hmmm ... I find that hard to believe. When she said they weren't real humans, my guess was going to be artisans from another planet; which might explain a few things about the electronics.
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Dave, Keebler Elves maybe?
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There are several members here that would probably agree with the Elvish theory.
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That would be the Noldor Elves, those that were gifted in fine hand crafted artistry. Both Galadriel and Elrond were of that lineage.
Ken (TEO)
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Back again. here (http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-ALEMBIC-SERIES-I-GUITAR-EXCELLENT-AND-RARE-WOW_W0QQitemZ300249624059QQihZ020QQcategoryZ118985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
The seller says they have only seen two series one guitars on ebay. I have only seen this one. How many have others seen?
Todd.
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They come up about a couple of times a year, at least. I bought both my '76 Series I MSG and my '77 Series I LSG 12 string on ebay in the last 2.5 years.
Bill, tgo
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Would you mind sharing the price paid?
Thanks,
Todd.
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Todd:
Series I guitars in good condition with a power supply usually go in the $2500-$3500 range. Both of mine were at the lower end. It seems in the last year or so, the prices have been more toward the higher end of the range. Every now and then someone posts an old Series guitar with some hyperbolic claim like: Jerry Garcia's mailman's cousin's barber used to own it or someone who used to work at Alembic 30 years ago saw this and thinks it's possible it could have been Garcia's and asks a ridiculous sum, like $26,000, but they never sell at that price. Another consideration. Depending on where you live and the particular instrument, you might pick up some radio interference. There are a lot more rf waves cluttering the air than there were in the 70's. If your instrument picks this up, you may need an electronics upgrade from Alembic to rectify the problem. I believe the upgrade is around $1500. Neither of mine needed the upgrade, and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there are lots of radio and other waves hanging out in our air.
Bill, tgo
(Message edited by lbpesq on August 18, 2008)
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Thanks.
I was worried about the electronics upgrade recommended for some instruments older than 1999. Glad to here that yours didn't need it.
I am worried about noise caused by light dimmers mainly. They affect my stratocaster something fierce. So I usually leave it at home. Maybe its just that I make a good antennae.
Todd.
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I could be wrong, but I don't think the knobs are stock. Anybody recall seeing brass knobs on a guitar from this era?
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Neither my vintage Series I guitar or Series I bass pick up any radio hum (or dynamo hum) and have not needed electronics upgrade.
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Wow! It went for the $4,298.98 buy it now price.
Todd.
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Wow! It went for the $4,298.98 buy it now price.
Looks like this guitar might be going to Australia.
Todd.
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Todd I bought it. I had to take a deep breath when I clicked the BIN button, but I suspect I'm going to forget all about what I paid when it arrives next week. If anyone has a series one for sale I'm interested in buying another. Cheers, Peter
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Congratulations!
I am sure you will enjoy it. It looks like a wonderful guitar.
Todd.
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Peter,
I'm in the middle of purchasing a new house and I'm debating about selling my 1980 Series II Guitar with a graphite neck. I've never seen another one like it. It has a fiddle maple top and back with a mahogany core and purpleheart accent. It is a three quarter size omega cut style with a comfort cut/fit for the right forearm (I think both firsts for Alembic, but don't quote me on this). On top of the original Series II electronics the guitar was order with two treble boost switches one for each pickup (at least that's what I think they are). I have the original build sheet and the guitar is in amassing condition. With that said the price is not cheap I would be looking to get at least $8,000 and preferably $10,000. The guitar will come with the original blue box power supply, 5 pin cord and original flight case. Again I am just testing the waters as I may be able to swing the purchase without the sale. If you are seriously interested I could add pictures.
Mark
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Thanks Todd - I'm truly sure I will! Mark, I was really after another series one (mainly due to cost) but I'm game and I'm certainly motivated - please send me some pics. Feel free to email me direct with them or post them here is cool.
Cheers, Pete