Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => For Sale & Trade => Topic started by: handsonsound on December 08, 2009, 08:11:38 PM
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I am selling #15, a guitar made in 1972 for Neil Young. Neil has been the only owner of this instrument and has kept it carefully stored since he stopped playing it in the 70's. In recent weeks I took it out of the vault, gave it a minor cleaning/test drive and came here to the Club to learn more about the guitar. I'd like to thank all of you for your interest and information on this special and historic instrument. It seems fitting that someone from this Alembic Club should end up as the second owner and custodian of #15. I am therefore offering it for sale here before going to eBay or seeking other sales avenues. #15 is currently in it's original padded soft gig case and is without power supply and 5 pin cable. If I can locate these items they will be included in the sale. What IS included is a letter of provenance and a copy of the only known photo of Neil with #15, taken by Joel Bernstein in 1973. The guitar is in the SF Bay Area. While dialog about this historic Alembic is encouraged I would ask that financial discussions regarding this sale are kept out of the public forum and directed to me confidentially and privately via e-mail and phone. Hoping that one of you will be the next owner and custodian.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/73823.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/73824.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/73825.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/73826.jpg)
(Message edited by Handsonsound on December 08, 2009)
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Personally I'm not interested but for those who may be, what are you asking for it?
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I hope she stays in the club here,
it be cool to see her next to #10 ;)
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***double post***
(Message edited by elwoodblue on December 09, 2009)
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(Message edited by pierreyves on December 09, 2009)
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Hey Bill,
I don't think you have one that looks like this yet. With Hanukkah a couple of days away this would sure make a good gift for yourself. :-D Not to mention it appears to be close by you.
Keith
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Hi folks and thanks for your messages and e-mails.
We don't want to be high profile and sell thru Sothebys and such to create a celebrity auction. That isn't our vibe and seems to be a route to put the guitar in the hands of just some rich person who treats it like another trophy and isn't a musician.
I've met those kind of collectors and they creep me out.
As I mentioned in my post, I don't want to get into public financial discussions here, so there isn't a asking price. Just to give some kind of frame of reference it's my guess that we could say that #15 will sell somewhere between $5,000 and $12,000.
Please remember that our purpose with coming to you folks isn't strictly about making a pile of money, but more about a good home and making sure we get what the value of the instrument is.
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Just want to add that I have a message in to Neil's guitar tech to see if we have the power supply and 5 pin cable for this.
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Man, it's times like this that I really hate not having a job!
Peter
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Will,
I applaud you for looking to put this instrument in the hands of a player and to give it a good home, rather than a glass case somewhere. These instruments were built to be played.
Good luck with the sale-
Toby
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To bad it's not like #14 or #10. I like the hollowed out look on those guitars.
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I'll second to what Toby said,
(and what Cozmik said too.)
The bass response must be real nice and woody with the big body.
Kris
(Message edited by elwoodblue on December 09, 2009)
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I'm loving it just the way it is. Thanks Will for making it available to us. Todd
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Will - can you tell us if the guitar was used on any album or specific cut? If not, are you able to say what gigs it might have been used at if any and during what years? Did he play it on the Rust Never Sleeps tour? Finally, will Mr. Young be writing and or signing the letter of provenance? Thanks, Todd
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Man, it's times like this that I really hate not having a job!
The only thing that might be worse is having my job, and still not being able to afford it. :-)
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How very cool. Under that brass plate are batteries, like Dela's #16? Silly question, but what type of batteries go in there? I was always under the impression that part of the reason for the 5-pin design is that batteries didn't produce enough juice for long enough.
Anyway, great guitar, and thanks for bringing it to the club, and double thanks for offering it to the club.
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Todd-
To the best of my knowledge this guitar was never used on any albums. If it was used in concert, it would have been in 1973.
Neil will not be signing the letter, I will.
We had a discussion about this instrument the other day and I learned that he never really liked this guitar and didn't play it. that is why it was put away until now.
As you know, Alembic have a very clean, also HI-Fi sound and he found that didn't lend itself well to getting the gritty rock tone he wanted.
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Jack-
Yes, a 9 volt battery lives underneath the brass plate.
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As a general message on this, I've received quite a few offers and messages from folks that are interested in #15.
I'll be sending out e-mails today to let everyone know where we are at. Then there is a chance for another offer to be placed (in case some folks can go higher).
The guitar will be sold on Monday.
In a semi-related story, I also have a number SWR Goliath II bass cabinets and EBS power amp racks to sell. These all come in road cases on wheels and are owned by Billy Talbot from Crazy Horse.
This is a simple straight sell and I'll be placing an ad over the weekend with details and photos. Let's not muddy the waters discuss these items here.
Thanks again for welcoming me/us to the Club.
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Hi Will,
Thanks for the reply. As to the letter of provenance, I understand that it is Neil's guitar, but the letter is part of the value and if Neil won't be signing it, can you tell us what the nature of your relationship to Neil is in terms of your job or role and what the letter might say? Thanks again, Todd
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Todd, check Neil's recent album credits... especially the archives.
Personally, I could care less about the letter.... Neil's a saint for not butchering the thing.... It could have easily shown up now with P-90s and a Bigsby~ then what would we all be thinking?!??
(Message edited by pace on December 11, 2009)
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for what its worth.
there is a 1973 video of the show from wembley csny on this website
http://www.tapecity.org/ (http://www.tapecity.org/)
i dont know if young is playing this alembic- BUT its a highly recommended show-
good quality considering the year
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Can you post the picture of Neil Young playing this guitar?
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I got an email that the guitar sold. Anyone here pick it up?
Bill, tgo
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Hey Bill, I can tell you it wasn't me. I was only willing to make one offer past the opening number.I just as much assumed that you'd be the one who grabbed it....
check your e-mail, I saw something today that was very intriguing, and need your help placing it...
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If it didn't end up with a member I hope they become one...and give us a tone report.
After sitting in a case 35+ years it'd be nice to know there's a fresh set of strings and hear from a giddy guitarist with a new (old) Alembic.
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The last email I got said the current price was $7500. I was surprised anyone bid that much (and I don't know that I believe anyone really did). IMHO that high a price would only be justified by the Neil Young connection. While I have long liked Young's music, I wasn't willing to spend a few extra thousand dollars for the Young factor - especially without any provenance from Neil. I hope whoever got it plays it and enjoys it. I would have liked to grab it, mostly for the Wolf DNA evident in the upper horns.
Bill, tgo
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Hi Bill, why the parenthetical? I was up there and didn't win it. Todd
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Todd:
I guess I figured what I paid for #10 was a reasonable ballpark value, especially in light of the fact that early Series I guitars usually go for $2400-$3000 and prices for guitars across the board seem to have been dropping in recent months. I certainly can understand an increased value based on the Neil Young connection, but I assumed anyone willing to pay a few thousand extra for the Young mojo would require a letter signed by Young, not someone else saying it was Neil's. Anyway, if you were willing to go that high, I'm sorry you didn't get it. It would have been nice to keep it in the club.
Bill, tgo