Author Topic: Nice Europa on Ebay. (Read 320 times)

ajish4 · « **on:** May 19, 2006, 07:36:34 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/94-ALEMBIC-EUROPA-IV-4-String-Bass-Guitar-SUPER-CLEAN_W0QQitemZ7416593913QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2006, 04:06:14 PM »

Nice top.

thereoncewasanote · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2006, 09:58:30 PM »

Well folks,does 3K sound like a fair deal for this beauty?

bsee · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2006, 10:21:08 PM »

It's hard to nail down a market value for a used Europa since they rarely come up for sale. Personally, I think $3K is on the high side, but the seller does appear to be a music store rather than a private party. Of course, you'd probably be looking at about $5K to buy this bass new today.

If it's what you're looking for, I'd buy it. I'd at least start a dialog with the dealer and make a reasonable offer in the $2500 vicinity. Since he set up the auction to take offers, he will obviously accept less than the $3K asking price. On the down side, it looks like there are a couple offers in already.

By the way, that extra switch and the battery compartment on the back suggests it has side LEDs.

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2006, 11:34:12 PM »

Bob; I missed the click here to view spec sheet the first time I looked at the listing. According to the build sheet it has front and side LEDs. The top is Flame Walnut.

Nathan; I agree with Bob. Europas don't trade often enough to have a steady market value. Front and side LEDs are a $2,300 upgrade. The Flame Walnut is a $600 upgrade. Bob's $2,500 number seems reasonable. I like the top and I think it adds to the value. And if LEDs are important to you then they would definitely add to the value.

bsee · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2006, 06:44:35 AM »

These things come by so infrequently that I wouldn't let a few hundred cause me to miss it. If you can afford the $3K, just buy it. Worst case, if you find you were wrong, you may lose a few hundred when you go to sell it. If, on the other hand, you find out that this is THE BASS for you, then $3K is a great deal and you will be very pleaseed that you paid it.

I had a few go by that I wanted to pay the correct market value for only to see the auctions end a couple hundred higher. I kicked myself for letting them go every time.

Side LEDs are very nice to have, but don't seem to add more than a couple hundred to the resale value of the instrument on the open market. I would pay for them (though not front LEDs) as is evidenced by my including them on my custom bass.

In your Seattle shoes, I'd also rush down to Bass NW and see what they have in stock. If you haven't played Alembic previously, you should be able to put your hands on one or two there to see how you like them.

One final note is that the market for used Alembic basses in the middle and higher ends of the product line have trended up over the past year or two. More commonly traded basses that were in the $2500 price range two years ago often go for $3000-3500 today. $3K could very easily be the right price for this bass. I paid about $2600 for a short scale bass with very similar specs a little over a year ago and I'm very happy that I did. At the time, I would have estimated the market value to be right around $2K, but I had learned my lesson by then. I wouldn't let it go for under $3K today, and not until my custom shows up and floors me.

-bob

ampeglb100 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2006, 02:36:45 PM »

I paid $2500 a few months ago for a '91 dead mint Europa 4 string from Bass Emporium. Was $2500 worth it? Absolutely - best bass I have ever owned and it prompted me to sell my Stanley Clarke and order a new Europa (for much, much more than $2500...) However, I had been looking for a used Europa (or even a new one) for over two years... this is the second one I found (I passed up the first one to save a few bucks, I check Ebay and various sites daily). I would have paid $3000 for mine, but that would be the very most I would have paid.

Good luck!

Andy

pmoran · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:15:10 PM »

Greetings everyone, from the most depressed NBA city in America today. I bought the Europa just now. I'm particularly interested in your comments, ampeglb100, about the comparison between your Europa and your Stanley Clark as I also now am down to only one Alembic, my beloved Mark King cocobolo w/the omega tail. I'm asking you and Dave and anyone else w/an opinion for your thoughts on comparisons between a Mark King and this Europa that I can't wait to get my hands on. Anyone care to tell me what they think? Will I, too, want to sell my MK? I've really gotten into Surines lately and have a 5 string fretless Quest Performaxe in amboyna burl being built right now. However, I just couldn't pass up this Europa. So, what does everyone think about the comparisons of Europa's vs MK's?

olieoliver · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:26:55 PM »

Greetings Patrick from the most elated NBA city in America today. I have 2 MK's, one with the Sig. elects. and the other with the Europa elects. I actualy like the Sig. elects better but the Europa elects. still have a great sound to them. The one with Europa is a little hotter but the one with Sig. has a fatter sound. I think you'll be pleased with the Europa.

GO MAVS!

ampeglb100 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:41:56 PM »

Hey there-

Well, I no longer have my S.C. with signiture electronics to do an A - B test against the Europa, but I will say that my S.C. sounded very close to Stanley's sound and had a wide range of tones for sure and it sounded really great - but, when I got my Europa and twidled with a few knobs and switches it was like BOOM... there's my sound - perfect. To me the Europa has a more rock or I guess aggressive sound to it, for lack of a better term. I guess the biggest difference (strictly talking electronics here, all woods aside) would be that with the Sig. you have 2 Q switches and filters and with the Europa you have only one. I always ran both of my Q's up and the filters wide open on the S.C. though so it didn't matter to me, and most of the time I only ran one pickup at a time. I like the quick change tone settings on the Europa a lot and think that having the Q switch, filter, and the tone switches gives you a lot of flexabily in finding your sound. I am sure many would disagree, but to sum it up - the Europa just spoke to me whereas the S.C. didn't do it quite well, though if did sound amazing in it's own right. Also, I have to say that the Europa is much more ergonomic and comforable to play for me (especially strapped on), which makes it easier to switch between my other more Fender-like basses.

Lemme know how you like it and hey, even if you don't like it you could easily sell it here, and maybe I'll even buy it!
Andy

ajdover · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:25:17 PM »

Patrick,

I have a Europa, and a Dragon's Wing with Signature electronics. I think the what the Europa brings to the party is the ability to boost freqencies when you want them. Sure, the Q switch is a boost of sorts, but the treble and bass boosts offer something that the filter and Q set up just can't. Doesn't make the Signature set up bad, just different.

I don't think you'll want to sell your MK. The Europa will augment, but not replace that instrument. Like any bass, there will be times you'll reach for the Europa depending on what you're doing. At other times, the MK will be in your hands. They're both Alembics, so I think it is a win-win situation for you.

I own five Alembics (Essence X 2, the Europa, my Dragon's Wing, and a Spyder). I love them all for different reasons, and I use them for different things sometimes. I surmise you'll approach your Europa the same way. In any case, it's still an Alembic. As I see it, you can't lose.

Enjoy,

Alan

ajdover · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:40:36 PM »

Patrick,

I have a Europa, and a Dragon's Wing with Signature electronics. I think the what the Europa brings to the party is the ability to boost freqencies when you want them. Sure, the Q switch is a boost of sorts, but the treble and bass boosts offer something that the filter and Q set up just can't. Doesn't make the Signature set up bad, just different.

I don't think you'll want to sell your MK. The Europa will augment, but not replace that instrument. Like any bass, there will be times you'll reach for the Europa depending on what you're doing. At other times, the MK will be in your hands. They're both Alembics, so I think it is a win-win situation for you.

I own five Alembics (Essence X 2, the Europa, my Dragon's Wing, and a Spyder). I love them all for different reasons, and I use them for different things sometimes. I surmise you'll approach your Europa the same way. In any case, it's still an Alembic. As I see it, you can't lose.

Enjoy,

Alan

bigredbass · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2006, 08:04:41 PM »

I'd JUMP on a $3K Europa if the shape's is 'as represented', plus your friends will just FREAK OUT when you hit the LED's . . . that's gotta be worth 500 bucks alone! If it were only a five . . match this in the Quote Generator and YOU decide.

J o e y

pmoran · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2006, 09:34:58 PM »

i guess what i'm asking is how does a europa sound compared to an MK? anyone know? i play metal/hard rock. sometimes i find myself fighting the MK and its electronics to get the attack i want. thoughts anyone?

crgaston · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2006, 11:24:23 PM »

Patrick,
The Rock will happen for you. Those boost switches add a lot. I usually run the bass and treble boosted for fingers, and switch the treble to flat for pick.