Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: BeenDown139 on January 19, 2021, 11:40:23 AM
-
not really a fan of flippers, 4 stringers or short scales but this one piqued my interest slightly:
https://reverb.com/item/38374366-alembic-series-i-custom-bass-guitar-4-string-1984-short-scale-factory-kahler-tremolo
i've been told that i'm pretty obnoxious when i use the fingernail on my right index finger as a pick and bend the dickens outta the strings with my left. i could really take that to the next level on this bass.
that look just beckons to me. must....resist!
(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--5iA_Qrac--/f_auto,t_large/v1611082614/hfczb1trrjknelzebqeh.jpg)
-
While a find a trem bar enticing, I imagine it would tend to pull the strings out of tune on a bass more readily than on a guitar. Wondering how much a locking nut would help.
-
Or a roller nut.
-
Or a roller nut.
Yes
-
I wonder if the bridge could be replaced with a more standard arrangement.
-
I think the rout needed for one of those Kahlers is pretty substantial, but I would say a competent woodsmith could block that back in and set a sustain block/bridge and bird without a lot of drama.
This Series II had one, and I could swear there were pictures somewhere here of the cavity under that contraption... must be an old thread. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8281.0
-
This one must’ve been one of Les Claypool’s creations.
-
That's exactly what I was thinking Pete!
-
I’m pretty sure this one was for sale a year or so ago by a person in California.
-
I'm caretaking this bass now and it certainly is weird. The Kahler bridge's routing goes completely through the top layer, so you can put your finger through the bass if the bridge is off. Changing it for a proper Alembic bridge would probably best be done by the mothership. I'm going to look at ways of locking it off until I know how to use it.
If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. It's getting a re-fret right now and I expect to have it back soon.
-
Ah... and here's something funny... the picture at the top of this thread shows a proper, Alembic DS-5. The seller switched it out with a Boogieman before sending it to me... yet another moment of dishonesty in the sale. ::)
-
I purchased it from him and sent it back because the DS-5 wasn't functioning and he was like don't worry about it - you don't need it. I couldn't get it to stay in tune for nothing, it was in pretty good shape in general. When he got it back he messaged me that it was a loose wire and it was easy to fix, then he listed it again saying he purchased a new DS-5 for it... Frankly, I'm glad I sent it back. Good luck on it, I felt it was a steal for the electronics alone and thought I could get over the Tremelo and realized that maybe it was a bigger deal than I thought.
-
I purchased it from him and sent it back because the DS-5 wasn't functioning and he was like don't worry about it - you don't need it. I couldn't get it to stay in tune for nothing, it was in pretty good shape in general. When he got it back he messaged me that it was a loose wire and it was easy to fix, then he listed it again saying he purchased a new DS-5 for it... Frankly, I'm glad I sent it back. Good luck on it, I felt it was a steal for the electronics alone and thought I could get over the Tremelo and realized that maybe it was a bigger deal than I thought.
That sounds like him... "don't worry that the $600 thing you paid for doesn't work!"
I love it, and will do something about the tremolo if I need to... there are blocking plates and stuff.
Russ - Since there isn't a message function here, are you comfortable adding me on Facebook (OJ Dorson)? I'd like to learn more about your experience.
-
I sent you a friend request, I think there is a message function on this board BTW...
-
Hey OJ,
If you go into your user profile under account settings you can add an email address and then click the box to let others here email you. After you save and update your profile there will be a small envelope icon below your avatar. If someone clicks on that they can send you an email. Since it goes out through the club server this protects your email address, person sending the message will not see your address unless you choose to respond.
Good luck with your new bass. I bought a bass from the same guy, while there were no issues other than me knowing he had jacked up the price and was flipping it, I would not deal with him again because of what I know about his "business" practices. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.
-
...
Thank you! I’ve turned on the “let others email me.”
-
For some reason the setting didn't take, are you certain that you clicked on the "change profile" button on the bottom right of the account settings panel after you added your email address and turned on "let others email me"? If you did those three things the envelope icon should show but I can remember at least one member that had a difficult time getting the feature to work. If you need help contact David Houck or one of the other moderators.
-
For some reason the setting didn't take, are you certain that you clicked on the "change profile" button on the bottom right of the account settings panel after you added your email address and turned on "let others email me"? If you did those three things the envelope icon should show but I can remember at least one member that had a difficult time getting the feature to work. If you need help contact David Houck or one of the other moderators.
You're right - the setting isn't holding. I check the box, then click "Change Profile" and the page refreshes like it would if it worked, but then the box returns to unchecked. I guess I'll check in with David Houck. Thanks for trying!
-
Here are pictures under the tremolo…
-
looks like it's back up for sale. I gotta say that your listing on reverb is one of the most detailed and honest that i've seen in some time. good luck with your sale. i'm loaded up on basses elsewise i'd give it a shot.
<edit> after re-reading this thread (it's early in the morning here in the mile hi and i'm just getting my mental claws sharpened for another day of toil and tears), i also have to say a big fat raspberry to the flipper in this deal. yet another reason to never deal with one of those guys, that one in particular.
-
I'm really not loving the idea of selling it and I'm going to keep playing it with a smile on my face until the day it sells. I'm hopeful that my personal circumstances will change quickly enough to pull it off before someone buys it, but I really can't afford to hang on to this much bass when I've got some serious kid stuff going on.
-
OK, enough is enough, I have to respond now.
First, I did give OJ a partial refund of $200. That is more than enough to clean up the fret edges...
As we all know... There are two sides to every story.
OJ bought a bass from us, yes that is true.
OJ was disappointed with the condition of the frets , yes that is also true.
But what OJ has not mentioned is the rest of the story.
I normally would not go into this on a public forum but since OJ insists on disparaging our shop, I feel it necessary to put forth my side.
After OJ received the bass, he let me know that he was not happy about the frets. However, he also made some claims that were not true. The frets were original and the bass played just fine.
I was perfectly willing to try and resolve the matter but OJ was not willing to negotiate the terms in a reasonable manner. He simply demanded a partial refund of $845. I said that I was not willing to give that much of a partial refund. I would have gladly taken the bass back and given him a full refund but he never asked for that. He only insisted on a very large partial refund. I also offered to do a partial refund for a lesser amount.
I do acknowledge that there was an issue with the ends of the frets being messy but that in no way affected the playability of the bass or the fact that it is a great instruments. It played up and down the neck just fine.
Anyway, I do not wish to get into a flame war here but as I mentioned, it is only fair that I air my side of the story since OJ keeps belaboring this issue.
It is really this simple...
* OJ wanted the bass.
* We talked at length on the phone. OJ seemed very hesitant, to the point of me telling him that he probably shouldn't buy the bass.
* OJ bought the bass.
* OJ received the bass and let me know of his dissatisfaction. Not only did he say the frets were terrible, he also claimed that the electronics did not work correctly and that the power supply was noisy. He claims that I swapped out the DS-5 for the boogieman but that is not the case. He is referencing older photos from Reverb. I talked at length with OJ on the phone and he asked all sorts of questions. I answered them. Yes, I did say that the frets were in great shape and I was referring to the fact that the surface was in great shape. Yes, I will say now that there were some messy edges but that is not what he was upset about. The frets did not have much wear on the surface and were certainly not worn flat. They were large frets that were specifically ordered by the original buyer.
* Initially, OJ asked for a partial refund of $200, then he changed that to $845 and filed a dispute with PayPal.
* I offered a smaller amount for a partial refund and OJ refused, he then escalated the claim to a dispute.
* I did give OJ a partial refund of $200!
Eventually, PayPal decided the case in my favor. Had OJ asked to return the bass for a full refund, PayPal woudl have decided in his favor.
* OJ decided to air his grievances on a public forum and continues to insult us.
I would have gladly taken the bass back and given a full refund. As is the case with every instrument we sell.
OJ did not want to return the bass, he only wanted a very large partial refund. He was not flexible in any way.
To be blunt, the amount he wanted was way more than was warranted for the issues.
I was really confused, if he was so disappointed and upset, then why not just return the bass.
All this aside, it is one thing to be disappointed, it is completely another thing to take the grievances to a public forum such as this.
We stand by everything we sell. Always have, always will.
If any of you have any questions , I will be happy to talk privately. However I will not respond any further to this thread.
Perhaps the mods should just lock or delete this altogether.
-
looks like it's back up for sale. I gotta say that your listing on reverb is one of the most detailed and honest that i've seen in some time. good luck with your sale. i'm loaded up on basses elsewise i'd give it a shot.
<edit> after re-reading this thread (it's early in the morning here in the mile hi and i'm just getting my mental claws sharpened for another day of toil and tears), i also have to say a big fat raspberry to the flipper in this deal. yet another reason to never deal with one of those guys, that one in particular.
BeenDown, if you have issues with me please take it up directly rather than posting your issues on this public forum. This is not the place.
Moderators, I need your help here.