Author Topic: Bogus Alembic on Ebay (Read 197 times)

tdukes · « **on:** March 11, 2011, 07:59:16 AM »

Bolt on neck and binding here

Doesn't really look like an Alembic to me at all.

Todd.

longhorncat · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2011, 08:03:13 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-70s-Ivory-bidding-Made-USA-/130496298516

Dreamer or scammer?

room037 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2011, 09:09:26 AM »

The story is S.F.
Science Fiction ?
No! It's a Scammer Fiction !

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2011, 11:38:33 AM »

I'm pretty sure this is a Washburn, Daion, Vantage, Westone or some other similar guitar made in the Matsumoko factory. It certainly shares similarities in pick ups and hardware, and that round hole on the neck bolt plate is characteristic of some of these brands as well. Regardless, it's no Alembic.

lbpesq · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2011, 12:34:08 PM »

I 98% sure it is an El Maya. I have a top-of-the-line El Maya which is very Alembic-like in construction - neck thru, hippie sandwich, etc. This guitar is the exact same shape. I'm at the office right now so I can't check to be sure, but I believe the headstock shape is also the same as my El Maya.

By the way, Daions, (my second favorite brand - can you guess the first? lol), were made at the Yamaki factory, not Matsumoku

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on March 11, 2011)

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2011, 01:23:27 PM »

I notified the seller of his error and the listing was ended. He replied with a nice thank you.

room037 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2011, 01:55:41 PM »

Happy End Story !

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2011, 02:37:48 PM »

Bill - looks like you nailed it. Still, I can't help but think they look similar to the brands I mentioned. Do you know if they may have sourced their pickups and bridges from the same place? Forgive me for saying so, but I've been under the impression that you have a rather nice guitar collection. Daion's must be very well made to earn your praise.

-Kevin

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2011, 04:11:20 PM »

Kevin:

I'll pull out the El Maya over the weekend and compare hardware to my Daions and a Washburn Falcon that I have. I LOVE Daions. IMHO, the Daion Power Mark XX was the finest production solid body ever made. I brought one to Alembic and showed it to Susan a few years ago. She said to do the wood work alone, they'd have to charge at least $3000 for something comparable. The Daion H-555 Headhunter is one of the best 335 style guitars I've ever played, and has a unique shape, not unlike the El Maya with the bite out of the lower bout. (I've seen pics of the guitar player in Arcade Fire playing a Headhunter). Daions also have a little set screw on either side of the bridge so that once you get the intonation set, you can lock down the bridge pieces so they don't move when you change strings. A simple, elegant, effective solution to a common problem. The kind of clever design feature we have all come to appreciate in our Alembics.

Bill, tgo

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2011, 04:17:21 PM »

Very cool Bill. That Headhunter 335 is actually what put me onto the trail of those other builders. That third cutaway is pretty distinct. Somehow I doubt that I will ever find one in middle-Missouri, but I'll be keeping my eye out for Daion's from now on.

-Kevin