How many strange Alembics can show up this week?

[ed_zeppelin]

quote:The 5-pin has been "improved" with an Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator.  

  I might be wrong (wise married men begin every sentence that way), but if I'm right, the first time someone plugs a 5-pin into that thing, all that would be left in this sector of our galaxy would be old Travis Bean necks and Kanye's ego.  

  Obviously, the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator was reassembled in the control cavity (not without a fight, looks like). The ridiculous asking price might be all that's keeping our planet from being vaporized.  

[edwardofhuncote]

Seller reports:
 
1. doesn't know if the electronics are original Alembic, but that the bass belonged to his (late) father, who did not alter it while he had it.  
 
2. he does believe it was originally a left-handed instrument.
 
Kinda' vague... I'm not sure if he knows much about it or is intentionally being elusive. I'm still waiting on additional photos of the back and control cavity. (guy was at work)  
 
I'm sticking to my original post... if the price were right, I'd totally rebuild it, but at this point, it's impossible to know what to even bid... so I'd just consider it a spare parts buy. At the very least you'd have a neck for another more suitable restoration.  
 
I'd expect a little more for $2000. There's a good opportunity for disappointment here.

[sonofa_lembic]

Looks like pure trouble to me.

[edwin]

And yet, there is one bid at $2k. Trouble, indeed.

[StephenR]

Even if the electronics are somehow intact it is a stretch to think of anyone offering even one cent in excess of a grand for what is left of a once presumably fine instrument and that seems overly generous. $5,100 plus shipping for an instrument in that condition is a pipe dream.
 
But it is in mint playable condition which I take to mean that what is left still plays well ... what it sounds like and whether you would regret looking at the carnage every time you opened the case is yet to be determined. Also yet to be determined is if the seller even plays bass and can assess the playability.
 
Luckily for the person who bid $2K he didn't meet the reserve price. Doubtful there will be a bidding war for this one.
 
(Message edited by StephenR on February 22, 2016)

[sonicus]

Edwin , __ indeed . Indeeded !

[gtrguy]

That first bid hit the auction pretty fast, for what it's worth.

[mica]

Serial number anyone? The logo is OK for the year, but there are lots of things that look awry on this sad puppy.

[sonicus]

Mica  , thanks for this confirmation  ,  We saw,   and felt  it coming . Indeed !  
 
               Inevitable it is , as it seem it would be ,  Sadness .  
 
 ( I need to write a song for this bass )  BLUES !

[edwardofhuncote]

FWIW, I have not received any further reply from the seller regarding the full serial number, nor any pictures of the back or electronics cavity. Their original message did say they weren't too keen on opening it up. Those screwdrivers can be tricky you know... =)
 
My sense, (which is very trusting and often dead wrong) is the guy doesn't know much more about it than what generally to ask for a late-70's Alembic.  
 
Sad shape indeed, but this whole episode got my interest renewed... probably won't be this one since I already have enough irons in the fire, but someday I hope to find another forlorn classic and restore it. Unless it gets re-listed at a reasonable price, and/or there's some confirmation it has working Series electronics, I'll pass on this one.

[edwardofhuncote]

Seller reports serial number is 77-934.  
 
Pictures of the back confirm this is a converted left-handed bass, or at least it *was* a left-handed for a while. Looks like they swapped the body wings and re-cut for symmetry.  
 
No confirmation of Series electronics, as they can't get the cover plate off, because of stripped screws. (guessing they flipped the brass coverplate too...) There's no way to say this without sounding snarky, -and I surely don't mean it to be- but I don't think the seller would know whether the electronics worked correctly or not... they seem clueless other than knowing what the thing is. I take it the bass belonged to a parent who is apparently not able to play anymore.  
 
A second bid of $2375 still hasn't reached the reserve. Might be a while on this one.

[keith_h]

Assuming it has the original electronics to me what you have is a neck and some guts. The routing cavities in the neck look ok so you would need new wings. The hum canceller has been hacked up so it would need replacing or hiding in the body. Possible electronics upgrade. To be honest the seller should be happy to get $1K, expect less than that and sell it as a parts bass.  
 
Keith

[edwardofhuncote]

I had a longer conversation with him later this morning... I believe he's figuring that reality out. Kinda' feel for the guy... deal is, his Dad died leaving him a few instruments as an inheritance, however he's having to sell some of them to cover some final expenses.  
 
I agree with the sentiment, that it's a parts bass as-is, with little-to-no collectible value... trouble is, I'm such a hopelessly sentimental squish when it comes to these things, that the crazy side of me wants desperately to save it, and it's completely within my capability to do at least the woodwork, but the sensible old curmudgeon living upstairs knows better than to drop $2k for a total rebuild project. Now for $1K... I'd have to think on that. (Nah - probably best I don't!)

[StephenR]

If you have to basically do a total rebuild with the exception of the neck you aren't really going to be saving anything except some parts. Hard to see a once nice instrument hacked to bits like this one but IMO this would only be worth purchasing if it were dirt cheap and you wanted to use the parts for another build.
 
If the seller wants to maximize the money he can get from this sale he really needs to take the bass to someone who can assess the condition of the electronics and neck, check to make sure the truss rods still work etc.

[keith_h]

I know it can be hard handling estates particularly when your are unfamiliar with the contents or inherit something you know nothing about. Adding in the emotional nature of losing a loved one only makes it harder.  
 
I'm not familiar with e-bay rules but if I were him I'd accept the highest bid even if it doesn't meet his reserve price.  
 
I've already discussed some of the What do you do with the instruments? with my wife and children. Since none of them play the guitar or bass the majority will be sold. To help them along that route I have kept a file with more or less current values based on the instruments condition.  
 
Keith