Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: cnematik on June 22, 2023, 11:33:13 AM
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Not sure if this is the right place to post, but I just bought my first Alembic. It is this 1991 Stanley Clarke Deluxe in a rare Amethyst purple and I wanted to know what you all thought about it while I'm still in the return window. It was listed for $6895, but they gave me $250 off. I could potentially return it within the next 2 days.
https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/alembic-stanley-clarke-deluxe-asmyth-1991-1801916
The bass is over 30 years old, but looks almost brand new and plays like a dream. I didn't know it was possible to get the action this low and sound so clear. The feel of the instrument is absolutely amazing. It basically plays itself.
The thing is I was originally hoping for a slim neck version, but nothing came up in a reasonable price range for the past few months so I just pulled the trigger on this one. I could potentially keep it and swap when another eventually comes along and ticks all the boxes. I'm just a little concerned about the pool of buyers looking for a purple bass in this price range if I decide to eventually list it. The quilted maple is absolutely gorgeous, but I certainly didn't have purple in mind originally.
What do you all think? Did I get a good deal? Meh deal? This is obviously a good chunk of change but what would you do if money was not an immediate concern? I appreciate your thoughts.
Side note. I looked up this bass in the old club Alembic and found posts from the early 2000s. The previous owner seems to have loved this bass. Reading the history on it was a fun journey.
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I think it is drop-dead gorgeous.
Given all the positives ("plays like a dream... action this low and sound so clear... feel of the instrument is absolutely amazing... It basically plays itself") I'd suggest relying on your hands and ears, and ignoring a numeric difference of 3/16" width at the nut.
Really, I'm just jealous of you for finding such a nice bass ;)
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That is a very beautiful bass! I don't think anyone will find another Alembic to match that one. Of course, all Alembics are unique, just like our finger prints. Keep it.
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Very nice bass and considering the current prices of Alembics you probably got as good as a deal as one could get at this time...and for a 30 year old bass its looks to be in fantastic condition. There is that purple part to which you allude but if the bass plays like a dream then the neck width cant really be that much of a problem. It's something to which you'll probably adjust in a short period of time.
As far as the color goes...if you fall in love with the bass and see this as a "til death do us part" relationship, a good luthier who refurbishes guitars can probably take the "prince purple" right out of the bass and get it down to beautiful, natural, quilted maple as from what I understand Alembic tints the finish as opposed to the wood. You might also eventually want to replace the bridge PU with a FatBoy PU from alembic to give it a more solid sound
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I also think the bass is gorgeous. Some years back i hesitated on buying a purple alembic elan Just because of the colour, however when it came up for sale again, i bought it and whilst i sort of got used to the colour it was the sound that made me keep. Then i took it out on a couple gigs that i didn't need a 5 string and decided to get it refinished in clear finish to show the quilt maple. I enjoy it much more. That's what i would recommend once you decide it's a keeper. i will try to find the thread.
There it is. [size=78%]https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8524.50 (https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8524.50)[/size]
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Thanks for all your replies! I kind of knew what the answer would be, but wanted to remove lingering doubts while I still had time. Very small chance of returning it. Maybe I'll stay on the look out for "the one", but when I plug this guy in I feel like I might already have it.
I'd suggest relying on your hands and ears, and ignoring a numeric difference of 3/16" width at the nut.
Yeah, you're right. Except that I think the difference is 4/16", but who's counting anyways :P?
I don't think anyone will find another Alembic to match that one.
Yeah. I was actually looking to see if I could find other rare Alembic colors, and found this pink one. https://reverb.com/item/2891284-alembic-stanley-clarke-signature-1990-flash-pink?bk=%3Fshow_sold%3Dtrue (https://reverb.com/item/2891284-alembic-stanley-clarke-signature-1990-flash-pink?bk=%3Fshow_sold%3Dtrue) If there are buyers for that one, then i'm probably safe!
As far as the color goes...if you fall in love with the bass and see this as a "til death do us part" relationship, a good luthier who refurbishes guitars can probably take the "prince purple" right out of the bass and get it down to beautiful, natural, quilted maple as from what I understand Alembic tints the finish as opposed to the wood. You might also eventually want to replace the bridge PU with a FatBoy PU from alembic to give it a more solid sound
I'm ok with the purple. It's just that I dont know for sure if this is the one i'm going to keep forever. I could very well, but i dont know. And I'm still getting used to the electronics, but so far i'm happy with it.
i bought it and whilst i sort of got used to the colour it was the sound that made me keep. Then i took it out on a couple gigs that i didn't need a 5 string and decided to get it refinished in clear finish to show the quilt maple. I enjoy it much more. That's what i would recommend once you decide it's a keeper. i will try to find the thread.
That thread is super helpful. Thanks for sharing! The pic of you playing it is pretty rad. I'm sure it also looks good on you after the refin. I dont think I would go through that, but good to know its been done successfully and that I have options.
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Love the Signature SC. Here’s mine.
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That looks like a pretty cool bass - I saw it on the CME Instagram, even took screen shots of the post, planning to post it here but it had already been sold when I checked (they often post stuff that has sold come to think of it)
It looks pretty special to me - not one that's been passed around a bunch - personally, I'm not one to chase details, I feel fortunate to own the basses I have. I've got a '76 Rickenbacker 4001 - doesn't have the full-width inlays or the checkerboard binding, but so what! I'm so glad I hung onto it - it's what you do with it more than the specific details of the instrument itself. I also have a variety of scales/number of strings/electronics/etc., so I don't have really specific requirements of how an instrument is "supposed" to be.
But at the same time, if you are looking for something really specific, then by all means chase it! But sometimes an instrument speaks for itself - finding a nice balance between what you want/expect and the specs of an instrument is one way to approach it...
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Then there is the reality that finding a used alembic that ticks all the right boxes and is exactly what you want, can take a long time. Sometimes, as i know from personal experience, i have initially compromised on the aesthetic 'colour' because i had confidence that the alembic will sound great. One of those basses has become my main gigging bass now. All the best whatever you decide.👍🏾🎶
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Welcome to the camp!
Sounds like a perfect Alembic “starter” bass, which may very well become a “forever” bass or even a “first of many” Alembic in your collection. 😀
The Stanley Signature basses are super cool. Played one at the Chicago Gathering and it truly did play itself as well as offered a fabulous tonal range.
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Love it. Trans purple on figured maple would be my dream finish (though I would do just the top and the face of the headstock). Love the old school knobs. I would say keep it. I think the price is pretty good. I need to check my email settings as I used to get notifications from CMS. I would have liked to head over there and play this one.
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Beautiful. But close your eyes, plug it in, and play for an hour. If it feels and sounds right, it is.
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My first Alembic had a 1.75" nut. Coming from 1.5" and 1.625" nuts on my previous basses, it took a couple of weeks to get used to. Once I got used to it I actually began to prefer it. All of my purchases and trades since then have had that same neck profile.
Ken
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Beautiful. But close your eyes, plug it in, and play for an hour. If it feels and sounds right, it is.
Agreed with you. You are very right!
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I saw this one sell on eBay a couple years ago. I wanted to give it a try, but couldn't bring myself to buy it. I say go ahead and return it to CME so I can go play it!! Are you in Chicago?
It *may* be a little slow to move and I think you got an average/high-average deal. But, if you're loving it, none of that should matter!
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Love the Signature SC. Here’s mine.
Thats some beautiful burl!
And thank you everyone for all the advice! Long story short, the return window passed and i still have it. I'm planning on keeping it until I see something that ticks all the boxes, and i'll probably just keep the one i like more (if i can bear parting with the other ;) ). If nothing else comes along, then I'll be more than happy playing this for years to come.
I agree with pretty much all the comments about the neck width and the realities of finding the "perfect" instrument with all the exact specs you want. But I had a hand injury a few years ago and narrow necks are a little easier on my joints. But i'm definitely enjoying it and the purple actually looks pretty good on me! I've been having fun with it this past weekend and maybe i'll share a video at some point.
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It's a stunning bass. If you like the feel and sound, keep it for sure!
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If you get rid of your alembic, you BETTER have plenty more on hand or you will deeply regret it!
I'm telling you from experience. I bought my 1st Alembic from consignment for only $872.00 back
in 91'. It was an 80's 4 string Distillate. A nice flat sawn zebra
top. I sold it in 98'. It's now worth over $5000.
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Beautiful bass. I understand the hesitancy of owning a color-tinted Alembic, when most seem to be natural wood (what are the percentages, I wonder). I am the current caretaker of the Big Red Bass, which is just as one might imagine with the name. BRB is almost famous around here as much for the color as for the fat boys, Series omega body and crown headstock on a Spoiler. That purple bass just needs a name to make it 'famous'. if that works, resale (if you ever need to) will be no problem.
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…. so, my house was burglarized last night and this bass along with 3 other guitars were stolen. Im absolutely gutted, but we are all safe and it could have been a lot worse.
They didnt steal the Spoiler that i picked up just a week after the Stanley, which is nice. But i really grew attached to this bass in spite of my initial reservations. They also stole my first guitar (Mexican HSS Strat), a Gibson ES335 (my #1), and a Gibson SG Standard. Super, super bummed.
I filed a police report and emailed alembic at alembic dot com, but if you guys could be on the lookout for a purple stanley clarke please let me and the admins know. Much thanks.
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That's terrible news! At least you were safe. I'm sure there will be many sets of eyes looking out for your bass. I hope it makes its way back to you soon.
Ken
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Major bummer! You might consider contacting your local music stores and pawn shops so they will be on the lookout. I would also check a few times a day on craigslist and facebook marketplace.
Bill, tgo
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hang on to that beauty!!!!
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I insured all of my basses with USAA. Of course getting a new Alembic is tougher now that the prices are out of thos world. What a nightmare you are going through. Someone you know of course my be a part of the robbery. Sad but sometimes true. Or someone who came in to repair something. I used to own many G.I joe figures with many accessories back in the 70s. Between my brother and me, we had a fortune! Half our basement was a G.I. Joe military base. One day my father decided to have the basement cleaned. Or something fixed. I don't remember, but the basement was cleaned out. That means ALL those valuable Hasbro G.I. Joe and equipment was GONE! Be careful of who you invite in. Cameras can help.