[SOLD] FS or trade - '91 Elan 5

[gearhed289]

Well, the honeymoon is over.  This bass is amazing, and I have no regrets having purchased it. But, the Elan is not really filling the role I had planned for it in my arsenal, and I'm going to move it along. I have now owned 3 Alembics, and I've learned a little more about them with each one. This bass has a 7 piece maple and purpleheart neck, ebony 'board with inlays, maple body, and really nice flamed maple top and headstock veneers, with an amazing cherry sunburst finish. Controls are vol/pan/filter/Q. I need to take some pics to illustrate, but there are some little dings and scratches throughout, but no worming/buckle rash or any exposed wood. The original case is in excellent condition. I suspect a former owner was toting this around in a gig bag or flight case. No paperwork, but it does come with a little ziplock bag with various allen wrenches, a 1/4'' combo wrench, and a little packet of Flitz (pretty sure it's dried up). The neck on this thing is great, and super solid. Center to center string spacing averages 17.5mm at the bridge saddles. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, so feel free to ask questions!

Club price is $3080, buyer pays shipping.

For trades - I am now looking for an Alembic 4 string, preferably with Europa/Rogue, Distillate, or EMW electronics. Medium scale would be great too. Open to set necks (sorry, no Epics), but much prefer a neck-through with some purpleheart.

[BeenDown139]

jsut my $0.02USD:

as i've said before when one of these fine instruments pops up for sale - these maple-body elans are the shizzle, homie. as a current series II and a former owner of one of these, i can tell ya that i've not heard any other bass alembic or otherwise that sounds as close to a series II as one of these does, especially with a fresh set of rotosound rounds on it.  so if yer a fan of that late-70's - early 80's tear-yer-face-off Ox bass tone, this is the way to do it without dropping megabucks (or at least 10s of kilobucks) to do it.  the weight and size come with the territory.  not for the faint of heart, slope-shouldered or weak of back.  others may not agree.

good luck with your sale, sir.  i hope it goes to a good home.  killer price, somebody grab this and play the dickens out of it.  i generally go for natural wood finishes on these instruments, but that burst floats my boat.

<disclaimer> imho, ymmv and all that rot.  so sayeth the cranky old geezer on his way out to the backyard for his early-afternoon hi-potency  (and totally legal) pick-me-up.  then i'm not so cranky, dontcha know.

[gearhed289]

Your posts are the best!    I was just jamming "My Wife" on it. Got a little grind with a VT Bass pedal, filter about 80% open, Q switch engaged, panned a little toward the neck pickup. Rippin!

[jazzyvee]

Yep these elan basses are incredible. I agree there is a closeness in tone to a series bass certainly from my double P-style elan 4 with certain setting especially the filter fully open. However the range of tones are not as wide as a series bass. You would get a lot of sonic mileage with this Elan 5, especially if you popped an SF-2 in to the lineup. Plus the single filter is so easy to use live. All the best with the sale.

[gearhed289]

This bass has been sold.