What's Going On Here

[tree63]

Check-out this listing
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Electric-Bass-Guitar-/200523315425?pt=Guitar&hash=item2eb01ef8e1
 
Some strange things....headstock...E tuner (flip down to D)....
 
...thoughts...?...

[mica]

NOT an Alembic. Contacting seller.

[thumbsup]

I was looking at that bass and asked seller for serial number and why no alembic emblem on head stock.......no reply......Hum........
seller has zero feed back and no previous sales

[mica]

It at least has Alembic pickups, but I don't know about the electronics yet. I asked them to send me a photo of the electronics to verify.

[David Houck]

The controls look like Spoiler electronics.  The bridge also looks Alembic.

[thumbsup]

It is listed as new other   factory second or missing items.

[mica]

It looks like an Alembic bridge, and possibly a bar tailpiece. The picture is too small to say for sure. I guess the knobs look Alembic. Even if it was a shop night bass, I would have seen it before.
 
None of this means it isn't a nice bass in its own right. It just means it really shouldn't be called an Alembic bass.

[thumbsup]

mica   Does alembicc even sell factory seconds? Is that why there is no emblem on head stock?
 
Unfortunately it looks like a fairly good copy to the inexperenced new owner(s) of Alembic Basses (such as myself) if it's not the real deal.  
To veteran owners and builders it's probably an easy spot! No disrespect meant on any previous comment....
I personally wouldn't want a knock off. I would have to have the the Alembic logo to proudly show my colors  
 
(Message edited by thumbsup on September 24, 2010)
 
(Message edited by thumbsup on September 24, 2010)

[mica]

That is not a new bass from this factory. Thanks, ebay, for making it even harder to navigate through offerings with your new:other condition description.
 
I'm inclined to think the seller isn't intentionally misleading potential bidders. I hope they edit the listing as I asked in my message.

[David Houck]

Looks like an adjustable nut as well.

[mica]

Nothing leaves here without a logo unless it is stolen - thankfully few of those! There isn't a concept of factory seconds, so it's not one of those, either.  
 
Sorry, but I can't agree that is looks like a good copy. And there is no maker's mark on the peghead, so I don't even think the maker had copy in their head when they made it.

[David Houck]

Steve; it's a one piece neck, so I doesn't look to me as if it was intended to be a copy; Alembic doesn't do one piece necks.  Plus, Alembic wouldn't use that style of headstock unless specifically requested by a customer; so someone trying to make a good copy of an Alembic wouldn't have chosen that headstock.  The body style also is not a copy of any standard Alembic body.

[thumbsup]

Thank you both Mica and Dave for setting me straight. I've made it apparent of my lack of knowledge of Alembic Basses.  
Please forgive my ignorance. However, I am certain of one thing. I luv the way my Alembic 5er sounds that I purchased NOS.

[tmoney61092]

I like it, i bet it sounds pretty good also
 
~Taylor

[thumbsup]

I like it too. And it probably sounds good if it has the Alembix PUs and electronics and hardware. Just not sure about the build. Double truss rods and such and quality of the build.  I think I will lean toward the safe side and get the real deal. When you get an Alembic you know it's a top quality instrument.  This ones just not an Alembic.  I'll have to pass on it.