Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: effclef on March 21, 2007, 09:25:39 AM

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: effclef on March 21, 2007, 09:25:39 AM

OUCH.
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-1990-Elan-4-string-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ140099211525QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-1990-Elan-4-string-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ140099211525QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
 
EffClef

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: longhorncat on March 21, 2007, 09:57:32 AM

That output jack doesn't quite look stock.  Yuk
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/37782.jpg)

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: longhorncat on March 21, 2007, 10:05:29 AM

For those allergic to eBay:
 
 
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/37785.jpg)

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: mica on March 21, 2007, 10:06:51 AM

Looks like a tripped-on-cable-and-tumbled survivor.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: effclef on March 21, 2007, 11:14:56 AM

Aha! I predict the next Alembic innovation, an output jack which is like the Apple MAGSAFE magnetic power adapter plug.  
 
I imagine you guys could fix the scarf joint with a new headstock but it's a shame that strat-o-jack can't be undone easily.
 
Effcled

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: jazzyvee on March 21, 2007, 12:18:57 PM

Shame really cos apart from those two probs it looks in pretty good shape. The name Bobbit comes to mind :-)
 
Jazzyvee
 
(Message edited by jazzyvee on March 21, 2007)

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: lembic76450 on March 21, 2007, 03:24:28 PM

Minor nicks to the headstock???   He must sell used cars for a living.  I bet it never left his smoke free studio either.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: bassjigga on March 21, 2007, 03:28:04 PM

Yeah I saw this and was saddened too. Maybe the jack spot can have a piece of walnut inlayed like they do with some burls. Won't look perfect but maybe not TOO bad... And yeah definitely needs a new head. I guess the question is does the added cost make it worth it in the end?

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: bsee on March 21, 2007, 06:29:01 PM

Maybe a bit iffy on the minor nicks, but I wouldn't call it decapitated either.  Decapitated is usually reserved for the headstock severed around the nut...

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: kungfusheriff on March 21, 2007, 06:38:31 PM

Point taken, but I'm still stunned that kind of Frankenstein nonsense happened to something that wasn't a Fender or Gibson.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: bsee on March 21, 2007, 06:45:40 PM

Yep, the point was taken.  Who knows where it is now, so we can't glue it back on.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: jazzyvee on March 22, 2007, 12:22:08 AM

I emailed the seller about the headstock and jack socket and here was his response.
 
My question was, What has happened to the headstock, it looks like the original Elan headstock has been broken and re-shaped.  
 
The jack socket looks no-standard too.  
Was this done at the factory by alembic or was it done afterwards?
 
======
Answer
The headstock is shaped like another model. The edges are factory. The jack socket is also factory. I bought the bass used at Guitar Center. The manager at that time is a friend. A recording studio owner had just brought the bass in for trade, and he gave me a call. We did the research on the bass, and I made the purchase. Every thing on the bass is original. For some reason this Elan does not look typical. I did find some matches with time. A year ago or so, an identical bass was on E-bay. So much so that I had to open my bass case to make sure it was not mine. It is not typical, but it sure is a beauty.
 
Jazyvee

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: adriaan on March 22, 2007, 02:48:38 AM

The headstock has an uncanny resemblance to a Guild Pilot. And it does have nicks - to what is left of it ...
 
Originally, it would have had a brass logo fitted above the Alembic script, also sideways - I think you can still see one screwhole there.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: rraymond on March 22, 2007, 04:15:52 AM

And this car has some minor scratches to its paint!
 
http://www.wreckedexotics.com/newphotos/weird/weird852.shtml (http://www.wreckedexotics.com/newphotos/weird/weird852.shtml)

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: pace on March 22, 2007, 05:16:27 AM

How dare Alembic use a 4-inline set of tuners for a 3+1 headstock!  
 
LMAO..... thanks for the answers Jazyvee!!!

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: jacko on March 22, 2007, 06:20:55 AM

Well spotted mike. i was wonderin if anyone else would notice the 'wrong' tuner.  
Adriann - if they're not reflections, I'd say all 3 screwholes are visible.  
'Minor Nicks' indeed!  
 
graeme

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: lbpesq on March 22, 2007, 06:27:40 AM

Not decapitated, but lobotomized is arguably appropriate.  And until I hear otherwise from Mica, I'm not buying the jack either.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: bassjigga on March 22, 2007, 09:54:17 AM

Original? LOL. Either this guy got taken, or someone along the line of buddies got taken, or he's doing the taking. Either way, that hack job is definitely not original. And dear God did he say there are others identical? :o

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: mica on March 22, 2007, 10:08:08 AM

There was certainly a logo mounted in the normal fashion (baseline when in stand) based on the peg hole pattern where the tuner was moved.  
 
It's actually a pretty clever way to avoid having to scarf on a new headstock. It looks functional, even if the look is jarring.  
 
Anyone get the serial number? The headstock is not original, but the jack plate could be, I'd need to check the file to be sure. I still think this bass looks likes repairs after a cord tripping incident.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: longhorncat on March 23, 2007, 08:21:08 AM

He's ignored my repeated requests for the serial number.  
I got the same story about it being stock.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: bigredbass on March 24, 2007, 07:17:46 PM

That's so utterly Guitar Center.  I wouldn't admit out loud any friend of mine worked there.  I wonder if they could get that MSNBC guy to do a 'To Catch a Lying SOB Guitar Center Employee' series . . . .
 
J o e y

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: mica on March 26, 2007, 06:26:08 PM

This bass is 90H6038. I confirmed with the current owner (the seller on ebay) that he was misinformed about the condition of the bass when he purchased it.  
 
The original build details have the regular Elan inline peghead and no Strat jack plate.

Title: Bless its pointy little head (decapitated Elan)
Post by: David Houck on March 26, 2007, 06:29:45 PM

Thanks Mica!!