Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: keavin on July 09, 2007, 06:10:38 AM

Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: keavin on July 09, 2007, 06:10:38 AM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/41855.jpg)http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-1977-Series-I-4-String-Bass_W0QQitemZ250140533661QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: David Houck on July 09, 2007, 07:50:37 PM: Interesting story; kinda makes you wonder what the reserve is.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: keavin on July 10, 2007, 05:20:55 AM: this bass is essentually brand new but with 'old' wings & for the price it's well worth it!
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: dwmark on July 10, 2007, 07:19:49 PM: I'm watching it. Anyone else?

dw
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: David Houck on July 11, 2007, 06:51:13 PM: I think it's intriguing, but I don't need another bass around the house.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: alembic_doctor on July 11, 2007, 06:59:14 PM: How could you say that Dave. It's not just another bass.

I want it. But, I'm so broke I can't even pay attention.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: bsee on July 11, 2007, 08:07:27 PM: I might be interested if it had a Jazz neck. I just can't play an SSB with the standard neck dimensions. Sure is a beautiful piece of wood, though.

I wonder what the reserve will be and what the seller meant about deducting the electronics upgrade price from his selling price? Probably just that he set the reserve $1500 lower than he thought the bass would otherwise be worth. I get the feeling from the listing that the reserve might still be high for a 30 year old bass, but it's still a very interesting top on a mint instrument. I might take a shot at it if it stays inexpensive, but I won't be heading past $3500.

-bob
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: David Houck on July 11, 2007, 08:11:08 PM: You're right; it's not just another bass. It's a very nice small body Series I.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: sculleyhum on July 11, 2007, 08:19:24 PM: I am watching it too dw; have been waiting for a short scale to come along of this vintage and this could be the one. Given the need for the upgrade my max is probably less than Bob's IF I can keep my emotions in check as the bid deadline approaches.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: bsee on July 11, 2007, 08:20:48 PM: That's why I don't subscribe to Paul's there will always be another one mantra. Every Alembic instrument is unique. While the differences between two Spoilers may not be that great, the higher end instruments tend to magnify the variations for me.

Sure, there will be another 70s Series SSB for sale down the road, but not in this condition. If this top resonates with you, you won't find it on any other bass. At this level, there have to be regrets when one you really want gets away.

-bob
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: dwmark on July 12, 2007, 07:23:53 AM: Bob's is higher than mine, so I won't be bidding it up. (No quarrels on value; I think it could go above that and the seller may have a reserve even higher.) Will watch with interest and hope that someone in The Club gets it.

dw
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: phylo on July 12, 2007, 08:05:54 AM: I like the seller's taste in interior design.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: glocke on July 12, 2007, 08:06:49 AM: this showed up a few days after I got my SC sig deluxe. This bass is the one Ive been waiting for for years, a short scale SI, if I wouldnt have bought the SC, Id be all over this...
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: pace on July 12, 2007, 08:20:30 PM: I remember this bass was in the shipping room when I was at the factory a few years back. Very sweet indeed.... Good luck Bob!!!!!
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: 57basstra on July 12, 2007, 08:32:32 PM: I'm high bidder at the moment; but reserve has not yet been met. It's likely past my budget. (it has the same body style as my Series I guitar)
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: bsee on July 12, 2007, 08:40:44 PM: I have no intent to aggressively chase this, so if someone out there is willing to go much past $3K, they should. If they let me know, then I am less likely to drive the bid up on them...

David said he was watching. I don't know if that carries an intent to buy, or just voyeuristic interest.

-bob
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: 57basstra on July 12, 2007, 09:03:51 PM: No need to fret a bidding war here.

This little one certainly has generated more interest than any lately; at least more so than in my recent memory.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: dwmark on July 13, 2007, 08:45:46 AM: Bob

Watching and wanting but I'm playing (and buying) mostly five strings. I was thinking it's worth over three but not 3.5 (to me). That's why I said I'd stay out of the bidding. Probably still will.

dw
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: yggdrasil on July 14, 2007, 12:18:49 PM: I dunno - I've been offered (unsolicited) over $6k for my 77 short scale Series 1. Maybe I should've taken it ?!!
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: dwmark on July 14, 2007, 02:04:15 PM: Frank

Figuring value on the short Series basses may be the toughest. As it turned out, this one was calling (maybe even singing) my name. But, I think the reserve was higher than any of us suspected.

dw
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: sculleyhum on July 14, 2007, 02:36:03 PM: This one was particularly difficult to determine the value, or even the max I was willing to pay. It's a '77, but not exactly because of the new neck - that to me was a positive and a negative. It's an '06 with '77 electronics...needing the upgrade. The player in me didn't care - I WANT a 70's vintage small body short scale as bad or worse than dw!! But that little bit of collector didn't know what to make of it; and that is the dullest bulb in my mental tool kit.

Wonder what the reserve was $6000 (or $7000)- $1500?
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: dwmark on July 14, 2007, 03:01:37 PM: Gary

It wasn't $6000-$1500 (that was my guess when I heard it singing). North of there. Maybe as much as $5500. That's too close to what it would cost to get one made, especially when you factor in the electronics.

dw
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: bsee on July 14, 2007, 06:37:06 PM: If you didn't find the bass to be particularly unique and special to you, Frank, then probably. You can't have one built for that, but you should be able to find a typical one for under $4K on the eBay market.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: yggdrasil on July 15, 2007, 07:13:12 AM: Bob- well, as you know mine does have a narrower nut and the neck pup close to the neck - both features that I like a lot and aren't that common, although I would hardly call them custom appointments. It's also in great cosmetic shape (due to the previous owner having it spruced up with some new brass, pickups, etc from Alembic). I don't think it has had the electronics upgrade, but is dead quiet nonetheless - and I play it in exactly the same Toronto location as my long-gone 1977 Medium scale, which really needed the electronics upgrade (& received it before being sold to an esteemed board member :-).

I guess it's perfect for me, but those elements I don't think make it any more valuable on the open market.

Frank
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: bsee on July 15, 2007, 08:20:42 AM: Wouldn't sell that one, then, Frank. At least not until you've found something else to pre-replace it. I very much prefer the narrow nut and I don't think they are all that common out there. I played an eight band cancer benefit yesterday and brought the #2 bass (the vermillion SC shape with Europa electronics and narrow spacing end to end). In addition to the bands, there was a small get together of local bassists in attendance and everyone was gaga over the playability of the bass. I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to find out what Alembic would charge to narrow a neck and refinish in case an otherwise nice bass comes along at a good price.

-bob
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: David Houck on July 15, 2007, 08:29:43 PM: I would think that, unless you were going to narrow the same amount over the length of the neck, that cosmetically it wouldn't look right if the new taper at the edge of the neck varied from the existing taper of the interior laminations.

Frank, I've been meaning to ask; did you have the frets lowered on that '77?
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: 57basstra on July 15, 2007, 09:24:40 PM: Here we ebay go again.
Title: 77 seriesI short scale.
Post by: yggdrasil on July 16, 2007, 05:32:27 AM: >Frank, I've been meaning to ask; did you have the frets lowered on that '77?

No, Dave - never touched the frets - I was only the second owner: I don't believe he did either.