Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: keavin on March 18, 2004, 05:14:52 AM

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: keavin on March 18, 2004, 05:14:52 AM

p-bass type.

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: effclef on March 18, 2004, 05:27:48 AM

Oh, when with the guy stop making these and go to prison????
 
 
 
Note the font he picks now - different from the other fakes that we've seen. Also, he's put on a serial number with an H in it like a real Elan.
Seller is in Las Vegas.  
 
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/8811.jpg)
 
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/8812.jpg)
 
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/8813.jpg)
 
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/8814.jpg)
 
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/8815.jpg)
 
 
EffClef

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: keavin on March 18, 2004, 05:31:03 AM

i also seen one in a vegas pawnshop for $1,500, and beleive it or not!!!! some nut baught it!!!!!,it was one of those (ply wood body p-bass, styled cheapies!) man..... i felt sorry for that buyer.!  

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: effclef on March 18, 2004, 05:33:52 AM

It's almost like there needs to be a flood of posters like the Magritte Ceci n'est pas un pipe painting! THIS IS NOT AN ALEMBIC...
 
EffClef
 
PS it should have been when WILL this guy...

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: keavin on March 18, 2004, 05:41:57 AM

sombody call the guitar cops!!!

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: David Houck on March 18, 2004, 06:39:23 AM

I started to report it to Ebay, then thought I should email the seller and give them a chance to remove the listing.  Then I thought if I did that, the seller may just find some other avenue for selling it.  Then I went back and read EffClef's post to a previous thread on this subject wherein he talked about Mica's efforts to find the person making these counterfeits.  So then I'm thinking maybe Mica wouldn't want me warning the seller if she is taking some other action.  So now I'm wondering what action, if any, should we take in these cases.  I certainly wouldn't want somebody buying this bass thinking they are buying an Alembic.

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: elzie on March 18, 2004, 08:19:49 AM

Dave, just e-mail the seller and ask him some questions about it. For example; Can you give me your address so I can calculate shipping? Or, Can you give me your address so I can mail you a certified check for this item? Maybe that way, these addresses can be compared every time one of these comes up.
 
Paul II

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: bsee on March 18, 2004, 08:59:27 AM

The guy has good feedback, so maybe he's making an honest mistake and will be cooperative?  Of course, all he's likely to be able to tell anyone is that he picked it up for a couple hundred at a local pawn shop.
 
-Bob

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: mica on March 18, 2004, 09:16:40 AM

I've contacted the seller on this listing. Hopefully I'll get a reply. I always give the sellers of the fakes a chance before reporting to ebay. So far, I've only had one uncooperative seller that I had to resort to that.

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: David Houck on March 18, 2004, 09:33:31 AM

Thanks Mica!

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: David Houck on March 18, 2004, 09:36:10 AM

And welcome to the group, Bob!

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: bracheen on March 18, 2004, 10:02:03 AM

Bob!  You snuck in on us!  Welcome!
Good catch Dave.
 
Sam

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: mica on March 18, 2004, 10:53:18 AM

From the seller:
 
 
Hi Mica,
 
I was completely unaware of the bass being fake. I appreciate you letting me know so I do not mislead anyone on ebay.  I received the bass as a gift. I will be removing the auction today. thanks
 
 
So that's that. I've emailed again to ask him to sand off the logo.

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: effclef on March 18, 2004, 11:28:37 AM

Any chance he can give you some of the paper trail, Mica? Sure would be great to get more clues.
 
EffClef

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: bassman10096 on March 18, 2004, 11:38:34 AM

I recieved an Email from the seller, saying he was not aware it was a fake and promising to end the auction.  I just checked Ebay and did not find the item.  Now I vacillate between thinking this is a good result and wondering where he'll take it next...
 
Bill

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: mica on March 18, 2004, 03:17:47 PM

I asked him for assistance with the heritage of the bass. I haven't heard back yet, but I'll ask him again in a few days and see what he says.

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: effclef on March 19, 2004, 06:12:45 AM

It would be great if some leads could surface.
 
Get Brisco and Green on the case!  
 
EffClef
 
Green: Look at that...transfer lettering on the headstock.
 
Brisco: Yeah, the guy probably got his expertise with letters by making license plates up at Ossining.

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: u14steelgtr on March 19, 2004, 01:25:18 PM

I am still musing over the second post by keavin in this thread: it was one of those (ply wood body p-bass, styled cheapies!) man.....
 
While our Alembic instruments are not cheap. They more often than not do meet the criterion to be plywood.
   
 
I am not surprised that the seller did not know it was a fake.  I find that the majority of players in my part of the country have never heard of Alembic as we know it.
 
Regards
-- Eugene  

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: keavin on March 19, 2004, 02:02:05 PM

that is sooooo true a lot of players never heard of alembic, ive had (pro) cats ask me what kind of bass is that,or did you build bass yourself,or that thing looks so old does it still work?. and when i tell them its an  antique alembic ,thats when they look like they just saw a freakin ghost!!! ....hell, this one dude almost @#$%^&**& in his damn pants, once plugged the damn thing up and did a bass solo!  

Title: Another imposter on ebay!!!!!
Post by: 0vid on March 20, 2004, 01:26:56 AM

I trawl ebay everyday for lefties and have a soft spot for Alembics & Rickenbackers. If you are in the Rickenbacker newsgroups, you will find John Hall, CEO of RIC, and his legal backup, very very quick with ebay fakes. A univox, Ibanez or tanglewood or whatever fake rick is usually attacked with a barrage of legal 'advice' and usually the goods are pulled out from auction.  
 
They have a 'no mercy' approach. But at least those fakes are infinging on copyright of design, but these alembic fakes ( I have seen more than once now).....are no where near any alembic design ethos.....