Author Topic: Other custom guitar builders and strat o blaster info? (Read 347 times)

direwolf · « **on:** July 26, 2004, 09:15:41 PM »

Hey, I've been checking out the alembic site at least a few times a month for a while now just because I love seeing these instruments. I'd love to own an alembic but I'm a teenager making minumum wage so forking out five grand for a standard model isn't gonna happen anytime soon. So I've been checking out other custom guitar builders and just can't find any that have models that i really like for under $2,000. I know a nice custom for under $2,000 seems like an oxy-moron but yeah, I can still ask around. But seeing as how I won't be getting an alembic anytime soon, I thought of purchasing the strat-o-blaster. I was just wondering if any blaster owners could give me their opinion of it and an idea of how much a difference it makes.

tom_z · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2004, 10:15:41 PM »

Welcome Brent. First of all, it's not impossible to get your hands on an Alembic for under $2000. If it's a guitar you're looking for it may be a bit more difficult than for bass players, but deals can be found. I have seen the same Skylark on eBay (offered by Steve's Music in Montreal) a few times. Last time the Buy it Now price was well under $2000. Also, you never know what you might stumble across used.

I'm afraid I can be of no assistance with your Blaster questions though others here will be.

I'll probably catch a thrashing for this but I'm going to put in a plug for one of my hometown guitar dealers/builders. Ed Roman's Guitars in Las Vegas, NV sells a huge variety of hand-built guitars and he has his own line of hand-builts. Some of the custom guitars he offers are less than $2000. Having said this, I am not endorsing Ed Roman in any way or recommending buying from him. Many musicians find him highly unethical, rude and difficult to deal with. I've been in his shop many times and have found him to be professional and a great proponent of Alembic products, but I have not bought a guitar from him - I got a better price on my Alembic from Bass Central. If you ever find yourself in Las Vegas, though, check out his store - the sheer quantity and variety of guitars is overwhelming. Who knows, in spite of Ed's gruffness you might find a good deal on an Alembic or other custom guitar until you can afford a custom Alembic.

Okay folks - thrash away. =)

Tom

kmh364 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2004, 03:38:18 PM »

Sorry, duplicate post.

(Message edited by kmh364 on July 28, 2004)

kmh364 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2004, 03:39:07 PM »

Brent:

I don't have a blaster, but I am a Strat guy. It appears to me you get a built in active pre-amp with a decent amount of gain, and you get buffers that help to eliminate the capacitance (i.e, filter) effect you get with passive tone/volume controls and varying cable lengths.
As far as any additonal contribution to sound quality, I'll defer to Susan or Mica or any of the other Alembic collective that use 'em. If nothing else, you should be able to overdrive the hell out of any amp and/or effect unit with the gain of that thing, LOL!

As far as Customs...just keep scanning the net. Eventually you'll find a guitar for you. You should be able to find an Alembic either new or used (depending on model and age) for under $2k. If you see what you like, make an offer and negotiate. If it doesn't work out, keep trying. Like Tom said, Steve's out of Canada sold a brand-new Skylark for around $1600-1700 delivered.

Just my $0.02

BTW, I like my Strat's just the way they are: Low-output, Med-high action, buzzy, noisy, fret-outs and all. That's what makes 'em Strats. LOL!

direwolf · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2004, 06:34:20 PM »

thanks for the replies. I've sent an e-mail to Steve's asking about any in stock Alembics and checked out ebay. I'm going to keep looking for any type of Alembic that would match my price range. Any opinions on Carvin's? I haven't heard much but I like their new arch top and have seen some pictures of Koa DC200's that look great.

Thanks again for the replies,
Brent

kmh364 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2004, 03:52:47 AM »

Carvin's OK for the money. You can get a decent axe for not a lot of money and you can spec it out yourself (to a point). I have heard stories of crappy warrantee and/or after-sale customer service, so caveat emptor.

If you can deal with a stock guitar, scour the internet. There are great buys out there, especially on hi-dollar, hi-profile brands like Gibson, Fender and PRS. In this economy, plus with the grossly inflated MSRP vs. dealer cost of these icons of the industry, you can get killer deals. I got my new $6k Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Elegant for $2500 all inclusive from an authorized dealer on the net last year. 1/2 off MSRP or better is easily doable. Take your time, wheel and deal, and you'll get something you like for a price you'll like.

BTW, ck all the Alembic dealers...somebody like Washington Music in MD. may have some new Alembic 6-string guitars hanging around. Washington is notorious for packing Alembics into any nook and cranny in their basement, then forgetting about them until years later.

zappahead · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2004, 04:25:25 PM »

Ive spoken to the salesguys at Washington Music Center and they have no used Alembic guitars or no nused ones either. I had the same thoughts myself.

They can give you a pretty nice deal on an Orion or a Skylark that wouldnt be that much more than the 2k you are thinking of spending. They are easy to deal with and you can use email if you dont want to call and they get back very quickly.

Finding a used Alembic guitar is very difficult. Even on ebay you rarely see them while you can get a used Alembic bass just about anytime you want to.

If you are patient you can find a used Alembic Electrum, Skylark or an older Series I that is probably in the price range you are talking about. The key is checking regularly and being patient, used Alembic guitars are very hard to find.

kmh364 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2004, 04:38:49 PM »

Russ brings up a good point. If you can't find a dealer with a suitable Alembic in stock (new or used), you can always order. True, a dealer can usually discount deepest on an in-stock item. Despite the party line that Alembics have a much higher dealer cost, hence a lower profit margin, than mass market stuff, it is possible to get a steep discount on a new order. I did. Just solicit Dealers known for dealing, like Bass Central or Superbass.net (both tops in my book) and make them bid on a fixed discount off of MSRP. All things being equal, low bidder wins. For added discount(s), wait for Alembic's top monthly special(s), and go silly. I did.

kmh364 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2004, 04:44:43 PM »

BTW, there are guys on this site, like GLOCKE that are (or were) trying to sell Alembic guitars. Greg has a Skylark in wineburst in mint condition (just like that one from Steve's Music) that he had tried (unsucessfully) to sell on EBAY. If interested, email him and see if you can make a deal. The thread about his guitar is on here somewhere...you can do a search.

hollis · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2004, 05:02:09 PM »

Yes, you might want to give Glocke a try, his Skylark might be in your price range.

Keep in mind, there's a reason that you don't find many used Alembic guitars. I will hang onto mine (with my fingernails if necessary) for as long as my fingers keep allowing me to play. There are several really nice Skylarks in the Alembic store right now..... If it's anything like mine, I can tell you for a fact that the Vintage Wineburst is an exquisite finish.
And the long scale is awesome.

Call a couple dealers and ask them what it would go for. Keep in mind, I've owned (and still do) many high end guitars in the over 40 years of my guitar playing.... The Skylark is the finest I've ever played... It's taught me more than I thought possible, and continues to do so. The extra you might pay could be an amount that you are willing to part with rather than going any longer without
the benefits of such a fine instrument.

Just another point of view for you to consider.

I know that if I had known what I know now, I would have purchased an Alembic guitar years ago, and I'd be a better guitarist as a result.

After all, money is only a means to an end.

Times ticking.....

Enjoy

(Message edited by hollis on July 28, 2004)

direwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2004, 09:00:27 PM »

Thanks for the new replies. It's funny you should mention Glocke because while scanning the discussions the day after I posted the first message I found a Skylark owner hoping to sell and sent him an email asking if he still had the guitar and if he did to send the pictures he had. This owner was Glocke. I've been checking out e-bay at least once daily and have been trying to find dealers who have or have had Alembics in stock. I'll keep on searching. Thanks again

Brent

direwolf · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2004, 09:00:34 PM »

Thanks for the new replies. It's funny you should mention Glocke because while scanning the discussions the day after I posted the first message I found a Skylark owner hoping to sell and sent him an email asking if he still had the guitar and if he did to send the pictures he had. This owner was Glocke. I've been checking out e-bay at least once daily and have been trying to find dealers who have or have had Alembics in stock. I'll keep on searching. Thanks again

Brent

direwolf · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2004, 03:33:23 PM »

Speaking of Glocke, has anyone heard from him? I sent him an e-mail a week ago and haven't received a reply yet. Maybe I'm just being too anxious.

Brent