Author Topic: What do we have here? (Read 213 times)

kungfusheriff · « **on:** December 10, 2004, 12:22:04 PM »

On consignment at Elderly--a '75 Omega Series fretless with nine knobs and three toggle switches. Price is steep, but I'd really like to know what the deal is with the control arrangement.

effclef · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2004, 12:37:57 PM »

That IS amazing, KFS. I'll let you post the link if you want, in case you want to keep quiet about it until finding out more.

EffClef

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2004, 01:42:42 PM »

It's fun to guess.

Maybe a Series I setup with the addition of a master volume, set of three band eq knobs, and a stereo/mono switch for the 1/4 output.

Maybe straight Series 2 electronics plus a pair of quick tone switches, a stereo/mono switch, and an LED dimmer?

I do like the semi-omega body shape, though Looks like most of the effect but a bit more sturdy.

The price really is steep, especially if you consider the possible need for a $1500 electronics upgrade. It would be a rare beast though. Can't understand how an early PRS could go for five times retail and these aren't worth huge money. Maybe Alembic needs to start shipping Korean factory basses, and then the pre-factory versions will multiply in price? (I know, I could be shot for even thinking that, let alone saying it!)

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2004, 02:05:58 PM »

Bob, you're right; I stared at it for a while trying to guess at the controls! Also in the price, no case.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2004, 02:24:34 PM »

bsee, I own an early PRS bass and I'm as confidant they're worth strong money as I am happy I got it dirt cheap. Wonderful instruments.
But I've also been struck by the typically low resale value of older Alembics--are you watching that '70s Series 1 on the 'Bay that just hit reserve at $1450? My only guess is that this phenomenon is tied to a similar curve in the resale value of electronic gadgets, based on the sophistication and ever-evolving design of Alembic electronics.

bsee · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2004, 03:27:53 PM »

KFS-

Alembic will tell you that the instruments they make today are superior to the ones they made 20+ years ago, and I believe it from a finish and electronics perspective. As a player's bass, that 70's Series 1 could run you another $1500 on an electronics upgrade if you want quiet. Since $3000 is not an unheard of price for a recent model used Series 1, why risk the extra big ticket service bill if you're just looking to sound good?

I believe that buying an old one means you're collecting, or that you see something special in a particular instrument. If the instrument has a history, the price can go up, as it could if being sold by a known person. For example, if Dela was offering a bass, or if you want to sell that SSB of yours, I think you might see some decent offers.

There just isn't the same kind of rabid collectors market for Alembics as there are for some other brands. Don't ask me why, then I'd have to explain why someone would pay $10K for a late 80s PRS, and I don't think I could do that with a straight face.

PRS basses don't command the same kind of money as the guitars, either. I saw a fabulous players' version with a great top and birds (and serious buckle rash) going for under $1800 recently. If it were a guitar, it would probably have been at least $3K if not more. I can tell you I played a recent PRS bass, and there is absolutely nothing special about those. There's one that's been a few turns around eBay with a Buy Now price under $1K and they can't find a taker. The old ones were definitely superior, and I might have jumped that one if I weren't an Alembic biggot.

Last but not least, don't forget that eBay caters to the last-minute bidder. That bass could still top $3K if there aer a couple people who really want it. Just like anything else in the world, it takes two...

poor_nigel · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2004, 08:16:37 PM »

What is hot now, is hot. A while back I could have sold a Tobias Signature for $4,000+. They have cooled off. I saw a signature a year ago (Maybe two, I have no real sense of time) and it never made it above $2,500, though a guy at Bunny Bass said it was worth at least $3,800. Something truly is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it. Things change. Sooner or later, the old PRS' will go down. It is no different than collecting comics - seriously. Something cool comes out in a limited quantity and people go nutz for a while, and then the real value starts showing over time.

Why aren't old Alembics worth what Fenders are? We all know why, but we just don't agree with the logic.

dela217 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2004, 05:25:24 AM »

Sweet! I really like the finish on this one. Especially over that lovely zebra head stock. Yum. There seems to have been some modifications to the hardware though. It seems that the bridge and tailpiece have been changed, and the strap buttons moved to non standard positions. It is hard to tell from the pics, but perhaps the strap buttons came standard that way. It is how I would have ordered it anyway! Soooo if the bridge and tailpiece were done at Alembic, maybe they can give us a hint to what all those knobs do. The serial number of the bass is 75-241 in case Val or Mica wants to look it up for us.

edwin · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2004, 12:50:52 PM »

It's most likely that the knobs are some version of a superfilter. The other options beyond S I and SII didn't exist back then.

Sweet bass!
Edwin

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2004, 02:34:29 PM »

Edwin; good point about the other options not existing. Looking at the controls again, the superfilter idea makes a lot of sense. There would be a master volume and then each pickup would have a volume, a switch for choosing low pass or high pass (and perhaps band pass as well), a filter, and a CVQ. The last knob might be a clean signal volume. That would leave one switch, which may be related to that last knob or perhaps to the LED's.

If it is some type of superfilter setup, then I would think the value of this bass would be significantly greater than an S2 from the same period. It would be interesting to find out what the upgrade cost would be if it is indeed a superfilter.

(Message edited by davehouck on December 13, 2004)