Author Topic: Series I 4 String (Read 729 times)

olieoliver · « **on:** July 07, 2006, 07:26:53 PM »

Guys please save my marriage and someone here tell me they want this bass so I won't bid on it.
It looks great and the seller seem to be OK. Not much feedback but responds to emails.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2006, 07:38:42 PM »

Did he mention the woods? Looks like a Walnut top.

olieoliver · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2006, 09:04:52 PM »

I belive this is the guy selling it?
http://www.senny.com/holy_land.html
I'm going to watch the bidding but I really don't need to spend any more money on basses right now. I'll just be a spectator on this one.

57basstra · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2006, 09:35:27 PM »

I just bumped 'er a few licks. Anybody got a guess on what the reserve might be with the F-2B? How close to $3,000 (one side or the other) will the reserve be, ya reckon?

57basstra · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2006, 04:59:50 AM »

OK not that I'm watching closely or anything, but it's $50 over the $3.000 mark and the reserve still not reached.....still several days to go so this should prove quite interesting!

olieoliver · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2006, 05:16:54 AM »

I've corresponded with the seller and he seems to be legit. He has the bass shown on his web site http://www.senny.com
with his other gear.

57basstra · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2006, 12:44:04 PM »

$3,950 and the reserve is still not met.....looks like it'll take more than 4 to catch this 4!

57basstra · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2006, 12:50:13 PM »

By the way, what is the value and/or current market rate for a pre-owned F-2B?

bsee · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2006, 07:42:34 PM »

I'd say an F-2B is in the $450-500 range. They went for $400 when list price for a new one was $750. Now that it has gone up over $1K, the used market should be on the upswing for recent models.

Unless there's something special about this bass or the condition, it seems like it may be pushing outside of the reasonable price range. I would have expected a reserve at or below $3500 with a $4000 bid winning it easily. Early bidding always results in a higher final pricetag on eBay, and it appears that there's a smart seller who wants to get every possible penny out of the deal.

57basstra · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2006, 02:46:58 PM »

I don't know......it might not make reserve price.

senny · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2006, 05:14:48 AM »

My name is SENNY, and yes, i was the guy that was selling the 1981 Alembic Series One LSB on Ebay..The mint condition bass, and vintage F2-B preamp did not meet my reserve, in fact, hit $ 4,050 and did not rise from that in an Ebay auction that was seen all over the world , from NYC to Japan to Australia..That in itself is truly sad..
When i was 18 years old back in 1980, an Alembic series one was only a dream.. in fact, i had to dig through the cushions of the couch, rummage through laundry and borrow from Mom just to dig up the three dollars for the catalog..A new Fender was about 400 dollars back then, an Alembic about 2000.I used to lust after the Series One that Manny's music had in their window on 48th street.
The first record i ever bought was Blues For Allah, my introduction to Phil Lesh, Alembic and the Dead.. Later that year, i read in GP magazing that Lesh used Alembic bassses, Pyramid strings, and Hard Trucker cabs.
My Alembic has so much sentimemtal value attached to it.. it is priceless to me..Here is how i acquired it..
My Uncle Frank(RIP) dared me to sing a really horrible Robert Goulet Christmas song in front of my entire extended family at holiday dinner back in 1982... which i did, because he said he'd buy me the Alembic if i did...what i rendition i performed! Robert Goulet would be proud..
When he was dying of Cancer in 1987, i'd bring my Alembic to his hospital room and play for him...the latest Stanley Clarke licks that i was learning at the time...
What i am trying to say here is that for me, Alembic is far more than a bass... it is a name synonymous with a bunch of like minded people that labored to improve the state of the art in so many different areas i can't even go into it here..and they sure did...I use my Alembic as a conduit to a time and place that i wish i was from, but feel fortunate that i at least hip to..the days of Casady's Alemb-cized Starfire..the days when Alembic was at the forefront of musical innovation..If you are a 21 year old kid into hip hop, you could never have as much passion about this stuff as i do..
Every time i pick up my Alembic, i feed off of the history.. and that helps my playing far more than sitting in a room with a metronome for 10 hours ever did!
I regret putting my Alembic on Ebay.. and i wiped the sweat off my brow when my reserve was not met... because i didn't want to give it up..it was a dangerous experiment that i devised to get a barometer on what the world thinks about the Alembic legacy, and i am saddened as a result.Only a lot of money, which would have been used for my Niece's college education, could have justified the sale..Prior to this,i viewed my Alembic as an investment as well as an instrument, and while 4 k is certainly more than my uncle paid for it.. it hasn't appreciated invalue as it should, partly becuase of people right here on this board putting a damper on the lure and appeal of owning an Alembic..
in fact, after the auction, i went out and bought the remastered Blues For Allah, apologized to my Alembic, saying that it will never happen again.. i hope i am forgiven.
Finally,,, this is the Alembic Club. The few people here that frown every time someone expects a lot in return for selling their Alembic bass should rethink things..You are hurting the Alembic name... bottom line..Every time you burn a cd, ask to be on the guest list, or stop attending live music shows you are sealing the fate on music today, which seems to be doomed..Whatever model of Alembic you own, give the Alembic name the love and respect it deserves...

FC Bass · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2006, 05:44:42 AM »

First of all, welcome to the Club! (this is the edit, I kinda forgot to welcome you, sorry)

Alembic is a part of our lives, I don't think anyone would disagree on that. I haven't seen any hate or disrespect against Alembic anywhere on the club. I think you can ask any price you want, but if your reserve isn't reached it doesn't directly mean that it hasn't been appreciated in value as it should. I think you just found out what the vallue of your beautiful instrument is today. Good for you that you're keeping it. I once let go of a '83 Spoiler, got a fair deal but regret it till this day and I'm looking to get it back.
I think I speak for everyone when I say (bold statement since I'm relative new here, so anyone can correct me if I'm wrong) WE ALL LOVE ALEMBIC!
F.C.
A proud Alembic owner.

(Message edited by fc_spoiler on July 15, 2006)

senny · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2006, 07:42:40 AM »

Someday down the road, i would love to have Alembic build me a semi acoustic bass patterned
after Casady's Starfire-with Alembic electronics..Next on my list would be a Series One 12 string bass...when i say 12 string bass, i mean like an 8 string, meaning a bass string fundamental and two guitar strings tuned an octave above in unison. I have recently teamed up
with a NJ builder to build a line of 12 string basses that i co designed...however, i would love to see how Alembic would approach it!

57basstra · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2006, 07:50:42 AM »

Tony, This is just my opinion, but I think if the reserve had been lower and met at below $4,000 the bidding might have jumped to over the $4,050 point it reached. I for one was very interested in the bass but got cold feet I might get caught up in the emotion of a bidding war with no reserve in view, so I dropped out to see if I could climb back in once the reserve was reached.
...on the Topics For Sale or Trade portion of this forum, Olie, David W. and myself have been talking about how badly we have felt (or could feel) about selling other instruments that do not have the sentimental value that your Alembic has for you, Tony. I bought my Mark King 5 from a nice gentleman in New England who wanted to do something special for his four-year-old daughter. I think of him and her just about every time I play the bass.

bsee · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2006, 07:53:33 AM »

Senny-

Those of us who comment on prices are doing so because we pay a lot of attention to the market. What I wrote was based upon the history of similar eBay sales, not any wish to impact prices. Heck, as an owner of multiple Alembics, I am happy to see values appreciating. Two years ago, you would have been lucky to see the bidding go much past $3000 on your auction. Older Series I instruments were regularly changing hands for $2500 or so. It's not because people here don't love them, it's because that was the going rate.

You obviously have a very personal attachment to your instrument that makes it more valuable to you. Unfortunately, I doubt any of the potential buyers will see your instrument as more valuable because of its history. I have an instrument like that as well. It's not an Alembic, but it is a bass that I am unlikely to ever sell.