Author Topic: What is this? (Read 175 times)

hg30904 · « **on:** July 01, 2009, 03:31:15 PM »

Seen on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-4-string-Bass-Fretless-custom-made-Beautiful-NR_W0QQitemZ130315526881QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item1e576922e1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2009, 04:12:55 PM »

It's an Elan. The pickups and electronics have been compromised. The electronics may have originally been Elan Plus, which is essentially Europa electronics. The top might be Coco-bolo. I don't know what it would cost to get Alembic pickups and Elan Plus electronics put in it, but at the current $1349 price, it might be worth it.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2009, 04:20:11 PM »

according to the price list, it would be about $1300 for the pickups and electronics, so i think it could definetly be worth it

~Taylor Watterson

jedisan · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2009, 05:46:58 PM »

Makes me wonder why someone would swap the oem pups for some Barts. I really like Barts, have them in a handful of my basses. But, what gets me, is they don't fit the cutout. Well, maybe the original pups died, and this is what they came up with. Just thinking out loud, if you will.

bsee · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2009, 08:58:28 PM »

Too bad they did a hack-job on the routing to make the Barts fit. Is it a good value? Hard to say. I'm sure it's a great playing bass, but you can probably find an equal or better value of a bass that hasn't been hacked up if you're patient.

Elan basses aren't all that common on the used market, though, so you might have to be really patient if you want the maple. Otherwise, you should be able to get your hands on a Distillate in good shape for $2K or so.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2009, 09:39:17 PM »

I didn't notice the routing issue before.

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:06:10 PM »

Now that you point out the routing issue , I wonder what the professional fret removal looks and feels like close up ? What is the line material ?

2400wattman · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:46:10 PM »

I don't think the p/up holes were routed out to acommadate the Barts., as it looks like the barts are smaller than the original p'up's.

bsee · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2009, 11:46:14 PM »

I think the Barts have a smaller aperture, but may be a bit wider. Who knows what the area under the pickups looks like. I assume at least one hole per side was added to mount them, maybe more. Could look like Swiss cheese under there.

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2009, 06:39:13 AM »

It may be worth it to someone to do some correspondence with the seller, and some better pictures would probably be helpful.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2009, 08:19:16 AM »

Didn't really think about that stuff, and didn't see the routing issue. Maybe someone will buy it and send it to the mothership to be fixed( very pricey bass) could be worth to someone

~Taylor Watterson