This bass is priced on the high end. It appears to be from a music store, and of course they charge a premium. There is no recent price for an Essence in the completed listings on Ebay. Sure a year or two ago, you could get an early one at that price. A year or two ago, you could a 70's Rickenbacker for less than $1500, now try touching a good one for less than $2000. I bought a silver coin in October for $27. To buy it now would cost you over $40. Since I bought my C code bass based on an Essence in 2005-6, Alembic has raised its prices, for all intents and purposes, 10% a year. Yes, it would be nice if prices didn't inflate, but they do.
James, if you really want a bass, and can afford a few more dollars, fellow member Adam has what is essentaily a brand new Series 1 for sale on EBay at a steal for $4800. Fellow member Chalie bought one of Adam's short scale Series and just loves it. Adam doesn't post his Alembics for sale here any more and goes straight to EBay. With comments you find here, you can see why. It is a short scale, but right now that's the best buy going, the best bang for your buck.
If you want a new long scale Essence, call Will Gunn Guitars. He has a new long scale Essence in stock, could give you a price on it so you know where that stands vs. this one, and will give you the best Alembic advice as only a dealer of new Alembics can. He loves to talk Alembics I am told, and I doubt he would mind answering your questions.
If you want an Essence, check out
this bass. If you like it, send me an email at aol dot com. Let's talk. I play my short scale Alembic these days and really want minty Rickenbackers.
Generalizations that Series 1 and Signatures go for $3500 are just plain wrong, and do nothing but hurt fellow members who are trying to sell their instruments. I don't understand why people make such statements, but they do. Each bass is custom and should be measured on its own merits. Sure you can find a late 70's beat up, long scale, big body with with a 1 3/4 nut, needing an upgrade, and ergonomics that have brought much better men to their knees, unless you are a freak of nature like Mark King. But go to Bass Central, or Will Gunn Guitars, Guitar Rez, or other dealer and really, those Signatures are only worth $3500 immediately after purchase? I'm sure Mica and crew are very happy to have such informed price evalutaions to help their customers make purchase decisions on their website. Yes, I know mike1762 (if my memory serves me correctly) recently bought a Brown Bass for $3600. If I wasn't on a Rickenbacker hunt, I would've bought it just out of principle. He stole it, and he knows it.
When you purchase an Alembic, new or otherwise, and while budget should always be a priority, other priorities can have a higher motivation, such as I want an Alembic. We are only human, and often give in to such desires. Money can be earned; time without an Alembic can not be returned. There are opportunity costs in life, whether it be time, money or otherwise.
I thought I heard the beer bottles clanking, but it was just white noise from a broken Distillate. How times change...
(Message edited by lidon2001 on March 11, 2011)
