Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: californiaman on October 06, 2009, 08:04:35 AM

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: californiaman on October 06, 2009, 08:04:35 AM

Thinking about selling my Spoiler. I'm wondering what a mint condition 5-string long scale Spoiler would sell for.
I can post pictures later.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: David Houck on October 06, 2009, 08:21:54 AM

It's been my observation that, as a gross generalization, Spoiler's trade on Ebay at an average of around $1,500.  Also as a generalization, 5 string Alembics trade higher than 4 string Alembics.  And a bass in mint condition with a nice top wood should trade higher as well.  34 Spoilers are a bit rare, as are five string Spoilers; and another factor buyers will consider is the neck taper.  So what the bass would bring on Ebay, or Craigslist, or here, depends significantly on who happens to be in the market for this particular bass when it's listed, and on how patient you are.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: kungfusheriff on October 06, 2009, 12:23:14 PM

Also, bear in mind that A) we're coming into the holiday season, when many people spend heavily on other people and not on personal enjoyment, and B) unemployment continues to rise and many are strapped.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: californiaman on October 06, 2009, 02:13:29 PM

I'm probably going to keep it. It's too nice and I really enjoy playing it from time to time. Especially when I'm recording. (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71224.jpg)

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: David Houck on October 06, 2009, 03:03:08 PM

Nice picture!
 
Why were you considering selling it?

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: robertodiazj on October 07, 2009, 01:05:10 PM

Dave I am considering selling my Spoiler 5-string, So $1,800 is a good price for it??
What is the neck taper?

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: bigredbass on October 07, 2009, 09:56:35 PM

Roberto, ALEMBIC will list several 'tapers' in spec'ing how a particular axe was built or ordered.  It's the fingerboard width at the nut by the width at the 24th fret.  Both of my axes are what they call 'classic taper', which on a five string is 2 at the nut by 2.5 at the 24th fret:  VERY little flare at the top of the fingerboard.  They list a 'comfort taper' which is more like current practice with more flare at the top, 3 (Dave?) if I remember correctly.  
 
These are standard options;  of course, for a price they will make you ANY 'taper' you want, as well as neck profile.
 
But remember, friends:
 
There's custom with a little 'c':  This is some combination of available options for which templates, etc., and prices alreacy exist.
 
Then there's Custom with a capital 'C':  This is when your choices are utterly new, it's all new for them, where there is no previous development, templates, assembly methods done:  Takes longer (maybe a LOT longer) and possibly a LOT more money.  Nobody does this better than ALEMBIC, but it's just going to take more to accomplish a one-off than some combination of already on line features.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 08, 2009, 07:34:23 AM

....for a price they will make you ANY 'taper' you want....
 
Actually, Joey, according to the Quote Generator, a custom taper (some limits)has no up-charge.  Cool, or what?
 
Peter

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: terryc on October 08, 2009, 07:43:23 AM

californiaman..you will regret it in the future, I have a Honda Fireblade which is nearly 3 years old, it has only done 5k miles as it is my summer toy. It is bedded from Oct to Apr and I sometimes think I should sell it when I haven't been on it for a while but when I get on it then I enjoy it.
It has no loan on it and is immaculate so I keep it.
I know if I did sell it I would kick myself when I hear all the other bikes screaming on the road on a hot day.
Think of it as a life investment..pass it on to your kids(assuming you have some that is)
An Alembic is for life and not just for Christmas!!!

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: David Houck on October 08, 2009, 08:05:29 AM

Roberto; as Joey said, neck taper is how much the neck widens over its length, and it is measured at the nut and the 24th fret.  And as Joey said, there are two standard tapers, the classic and the comfort, and then there are custom tapers.  Classic taper for a five string is 2.0 at the nut and 2.5 at the 24th fret.  Comfort taper for a five string is 1.875 at the nut and 2.930 at the 24th fret.  Classic taper was the standard through the 70's and 80's, and is thus found on Series I and II, and on Persuader, Spoiler, Elan, and Distillate models.  In response to the growing popularity of slapping, in the 90's the Comfort taper was introduced on the new Essence, Rogue, Europa, Epic, Excel, and Orion models.  Signature models traditionally have had Classic tapers; however, with the advent of the Balance K bodies, many now have Comfort tapers.  And then there have always been Custom ordered tapers.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: robertodiazj on October 08, 2009, 04:37:34 PM

Thanks! Bigredbass and Dave
 
 
(Message edited by robertodiazj on October 08, 2009)

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: longhorncat on October 12, 2009, 08:21:13 AM

A 5-string Persuader just sold on eBay for $1650.
It had a fairly rare J/J pickup configuration, but your Spoiler should sell for at least that amount, plus maybe $100 more.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160365681001 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160365681001)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/71399.jpg)

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: californiaman on October 13, 2009, 01:50:43 PM

Thanks for the reply fellows.
I'm pretty sure she's staying in the family for a while longer.
The only way I'd get rid of her is to trade her for a Les Paul Custom or a Marshall Silver Jubille or Bogner Shiva amplifier.
No... I'm not particular. No.
Just know what I like. And I do like my bass.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: californiaman on October 13, 2009, 01:53:15 PM

And I do have children and at least one of them has his eyes on it.

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: gogi on November 07, 2009, 08:32:49 AM

hi people.i am from serbia.i have one alembic spoiler,but one pick up is corrupt.gave is whom notably where that purchase pick up in europe.thanks

Title: 1987 Spoiler 5-string
Post by: David Houck on November 10, 2009, 01:19:00 PM

Hi Goran; welcome to the board!
 
I'm not certain that I understand your comment, but my guess is that you have a bad pickup and you are looking for a replacement.
 
Alembic dealers in Europe (http://www.alembic.com/family/foreign_dealers.html) include Bass Connection in Holland, Station Music in Germany, and Bassworld in England.
 
If you haven't already, you can check to make sure the problem is the pickup and not something else by carefully switching the pickup leads in the control cavity.  You may want to start a thread in our Troubleshooting (http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/22071.html?1257811731) section if you're not certain it's the pickup.