Author Topic: (x) 89H5444 (Read 336 times)

jet_powers · « **on:** February 06, 2006, 11:56:49 AM »

Spotted this one in a shop not too far from home. It has an injury. The input jack was levered up somehow while plugged in (maybe it fell?)and cracked the wood in about the size and shape of a thumb. The repair job was cheesey as though repaired with model airplane glue or something..... otherwise it's in very nice shape.

What do we know about this one? Is it worth buying or is the refinishing job cost prohibitive?

Thanks,
JP

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2006, 01:50:29 PM »

JP; what are they asking for it?

jet_powers · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2006, 07:23:32 PM »

They started @ $1500 a few months back. Down to $1300 now. Seems high with a defect like it has. If one can live with the imperfection and love it for its playability and sound....

?

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:18:26 AM »

I'm waiting to see what Mica finds on the build card. Can you get a picture of the bass and the damaged area?

jet_powers · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2006, 08:12:35 AM »

I too, am waiting to see what the build card says....

Getting a pic would be tough at this point. The thought crossed my mind too late that I should have brought a camera with me.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2006, 09:22:53 AM »

Does it have the Elan electronics or the Elan Plus (Europa)?

(Edit add) Also, does it have the original hard shell case?

(Message edited by davehouck on February 07, 2006)

jet_powers · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2006, 12:56:24 PM »

I'm pretty sure it has the Elan Plus electronics. Again the build card will confirm....

You know, I didn't even ask about the case. I just assumed it comes with one. I should know better about assuming things......

mica · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:04:26 PM »

Hi John,

Here's what I found out in the file:

89H5944 HLB4 Elan Bass

top: Quilted Maple
body: Maple
neck: Maple, 34 Long scale
fingerboard: Ebony with pearloid oval inlays, classic taper
body shape: Elan
peghead shape: Elan inline
finish: tobaccoburst
pickups: PJZ
electronics: Elan Plus (volume, pan, filter, 2-position Q switch, bass cut/flat/boost switch, treble cut/flat/boost switch
output: mono, face mounted
originally made for: Washington Music
birthday: not recorded, but likely early June 1989.

Refinishing is pricey. Maybe a brass plate will decorate the top nicely for much less? It depends on the extend of the damage. There is no record of the damage or repair in the file, so it's unlikely that we did the work.

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2006, 03:19:44 PM »

In my opinion, the Elan Plus electronics package makes a significant difference. It puts the bass, electronically, at the same level with Europas and Rogues, and slightly ahead of Distillates. Given what Europas and Rogues trade at, I think it might be worth at least running some numbers. The combination of this electronics package and the 34 classic taper neck is not extremely common; they don't come up on Ebay all that often. Unlike your other Alembics, this is an all Maple bass; neck, body and top. So if you really like this combination, it might be worth giving Val a call and getting a quote. Mica is right, a refinish isn't cheap; but if you can talk the seller down some more, then the total might be somewhere in the ballpark of a really nice used Europa or Rogue. Oh, and don't forget to ask about the case! That's my opinion at the moment, for what it's worth.

jet_powers · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2006, 06:07:18 AM »

Mica, thanks for the info.

Dave, thanks for your opinion. It's worth quite a bit. The question in my mind is that most likely this would not become my main bass and I have to wonder about its resale value. As an investment, well, no one can say for sure. Mica's idea of a brass plate would certainly be a cost effective means of covering this instrument's boo-boo. It might look a bit odd, but then again, stranger things have been done to Alembics.

Hmmm... I hate when I have to think!

keith_h · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2006, 06:59:36 AM »

How about the plate idea but overlay it with a wood veneer of some type? This could make it appear a little more planned.

Keith

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2006, 07:17:08 AM »

Keith; that thought crossed my mind as well. But I believe if you add a wood veneer, then the new wood will need a finish, and in order to match the finish the whole bass will need to be refinished.

keith_h · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2006, 07:50:33 AM »

Dave,
Hadn't thought of that but I'm not sure it would require a refinish. If the veneer was made to contrast or had a pattern and was finished separately I think it would look better than plain brass. For example a thin beveled ebony round might look good glued on the surface. It would resemble the shape and color of the knobs and kind of tie things together. Being dark it could also be inlaid since the edge would not be so obvious.

Again this all depends upon what the damage actually looks like.

Keith

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2006, 08:23:39 AM »

Keith; I think your idea of an Ebony ring is a good one. And the idea that it could be finished separately and then inlaid makes sense. However, I had a someone similar request when my Essence was in Santa Rosa, and I think the upshot was that a refinish would have been required. But it was only somewhat similar; and my memory for details is not all that reliable.