Author Topic: Very overpriced Series I in rough shape (Read 300 times)

sjhoffma · « **on:** October 13, 2012, 10:11:49 PM »

Nasty headstock crack, missing an oval inlay, one was replaced. Asking wayyyy too much IMO, especially considering the damage. I wonder why the bridge is so slanted...

Also has our new friend boogieman's replacement preamp in it.

You be the judge...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-1-Vintage-Guitar-1976-Maple-Purple-Heart-Neck-Koa-Zebra-Body-/120999098687?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D2727713780678718202%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D120999098687%26

sjhoffma · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:13:15 PM »

Meant to add the the thread title, this is a Series guitar, not a bass

sjhoffma · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:16:01 PM »

Also is missing logo and has some holes where a roland box was mounted. Its not a bad specimen by any means, in fact its a great find, just should be on the other side of $3000 I think.

klinkepeter · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2012, 04:18:06 AM »

lol, 8000$ for such a bad shape, very funny indeed!

hammer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2012, 08:49:05 AM »

Though I'll admit that everyone has the right to ask whatever they want/think they can get for a used instrument, I've to to agree with everybody on this one, $8,000 with a repaired headstock, a boggieman preamp,as well as missing inlay and logo.

I'm still trying to figure out two things with this one:

(a) What did this guy do to refurbish the guitar other than sticking in a cheaper version of the original preamp. EBay's own definition of refurbished is the item has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to full working order and is in excellent condition. Just take a look at the hardware, especially the frets and the fingerboard. They don't even look like they have been cleaned and close inspection of the frets reveals what appears to be some corrosion; and

(b) How the hell does an internal preamp get lost/stolen.

gtrguy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2012, 10:20:44 AM »

Pretty guitar. That has got to be one of the worst neck cracks I have seen in a while. No picture of the brass plate and preamp.

sjhoffma · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2012, 11:14:37 AM »

BIN has been lowered to $2000, looks like the seller has come to his senses! Much more reasonable of a price, gives you some room to spend on fixing it up.

pauldo · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2012, 12:27:39 PM »

Maybe a fresh set of strings would get it to sell quicker . . . just sayin'

hammer · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2012, 02:17:21 PM »

I don't think I've ever seen a price drop in the neighborhood of this one. From $8,000 to $2,000 in less than a week? The guitar must be in worse shape than even the pictures indicate

sjhoffma · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2012, 06:36:18 PM »

Very sketchy for sure.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2012, 08:34:55 PM »

anyone have any ideas what it should sell for? I was thinking less than $1000 with missing a lot of original parts/electronics, having holes drilled into it, and that headstock crack...

~Taylor

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2012, 05:03:32 AM »

I'm with you, Taylor - at least I wouldn't pay $1000 for it. And it's dropped again; $1500 BIN, now.

Peter

hammer · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2012, 08:46:16 AM »

Looks like he got $1,600 for it. Seems overpriced to me given that neck problem and all the work that would need to be undertaken on it.

sjhoffma · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2012, 09:05:36 AM »

Hammer I agree, I don't mind a headstock repair, but that thing is just hideous, I couldn't imagine it has much structural integrity at all. I bid $700, that was as far as I was willing to go lol.

Here's my big question, how much would you guys estimate this thing would cost to get fixed up by the mother ship to be up to par?

hammer · « **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2012, 09:49:22 AM »

I think you'd easily be looking at $2,000-$2,500 minimum if there was electronics work that needed to be done and/or if the quality of the neck repair was not up to par. Even with this though getting a series guitar for around $3,000 isn't that bad a deal.

What concerned me most was that the guitar really did not look like it had been well cared-for, in spite of the claim that it had been (as opposed to needed to be) refurbished. There appeared to be corrosion on some of the metal parts including the frets, the fretboard didn't look like anyone had attended to it for years and it might have dried out and opended up, and then there's the electronics question, etc. As a result, I would think anyone would have to be prepared for at least some things needing attention that were not apparent from pics alone.

IMHO purchasing an instrument like this would be a consideration only if it was local and I was able to take a very close look at as well as play it extensively.