Author Topic: 5-String Spoiler on eBay (Read 529 times)

hasadari · « **on:** August 21, 2005, 05:49:06 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pre-Owned-Alembic-5-string-Spoiler-Bass-w-OSSC-Bocate_W0QQitemZ7345124989QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

katana_6506 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2005, 02:52:45 AM »

I've heard of extolling virtues...but that's just over the top.

phys49 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2005, 06:34:44 AM »

Maybe this person should write ad copy for Alembic.
Perry

richbass939 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2005, 07:33:48 PM »

Alembic can just let the 35 year reputation speak for itself. When you are the superlative you don't have to use every superlative in the dictionary. It looks like an excellent bass but the blurb has more spin than a tornado.
At least they know that not all Alembics have a neck-through design.
What exactly does mint condition (for its age) mean? I thought mint means mint.
Pretty humorous, though.
Rich

pmoran · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2005, 08:17:03 PM »

i have a tin of green tea that is supposed to be really something. it's sealed. it's supposed to be a really old, green tea that comes from a valley mao destroyed. it's supposed to have a mint flavor to it that is highly prized. so, i guess you could have a super-superlative mint, but i've never licked an alembic. i don't care what you've heard. i've never licked an alembic. you've all been talking to clarence, haven't you? what did he tell you? well, ok. there was that one time, but i needed the money. the ad copy for this bass is a classic example of circumlocuted reasoning. same thing, over and over. it's a pretty bass, but it's not worth it. what do you guys think? i wouldn't pay more than $2000, but i'm thinking $1850. it's a spoiler. wood isn't that great. but darn, those purpleheart's in the neck are awfully pretty. in fact, they're gorgeous! ooh. ooh. ooh. oh, wait. the MK arrives wednesday. please, no one tell my wife. anyway, i'd rather have the black exploiter. if you ask me, that's a really fine looking exploiter.

richbass939 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2005, 08:42:04 PM »

Yo, Patrick, off the meds again? Oh, I know, The paranoids are after me! The paranoids are after me!
I don't really know the used Spoiler market, but $3000 could get you a Series.
Rich

pmoran · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:13:03 AM »

that's true. hadn't thought about that. why spend all that money for a spoiler when you could have a series. the thing i've never understood about paranoia, and when i graduated from law school my first position for 6 months in the DA's office here was as the prosecutor doing involuntary commitments to our local state hospital and VA mental wing, is that unless the people after you are cannibals, why not let them catch you? what are they going to do with you then? sort of the why do dogs chase cars.....what do they do when they catch one situation. i wish i could find a series for $3K though. i've looked and they sell before i can get a hook in them unless they have issues, which many in that range seem to have.

pmoran · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:15:09 AM »

i forgot! are the purplehearts going to make this one sound significantly better than my '85 spoiler w/o them? the electronics are the same as mine. i don't own an alembic w/purpleheart laminates. more sustain? comments?

57basstra · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2005, 08:17:04 AM »

Just because you are paranoid does not mean that they are not out there.

adriaan · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2005, 08:28:47 AM »

Just because you're NOT paranoid doesn't mean that they're not out there either. Or that they are. Why leave the house?

pas · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2005, 09:07:11 AM »

I had a 99 spoiler w/purpleheart lams & still have my 85 spoiler w/o purpleheart lams. Honestly, if there was any auditory difference, it was negligible.

Of the 3 Alembics I've owned, the 85 spoiler has the most stable neck...I've never had to tweak it...and I've had it for 20 years! The other 2, I had adjust several times. Simply my experiences...

sfnic · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2005, 03:37:38 PM »

Spoiler 4s generally go on eBay for between $900 and about $1350, with one hitting $2900. No 5s have sold on eBay this year, and one 6 for $3500.

Based on that, I'd figure the 5-string here would fetch around $1500. So, even though the seller makes the bass sound like it belongs at Sotheby's, it _does_ seem to be pulling bidders out of the weeds. Well, three, at least.

pmoran · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:05:13 PM »

i think you're spot on sfnic, as the brits say. you can see my idea of value above. i just checked the bass (6pm CDT)------ $2,375! and w/4DAYS still to go in the auction! i smell something. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. what's that smell? can you say shill bidding?

sfnic · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:29:12 PM »

I dunno, Patrick. That was my first thought, so I looked at the bid history. The current high bidder looks genuine: good rating and he did spend about $600 on a Trace Elliot amp a while back. The other two are a bit harder to parse: one hasn't bought anything since January, and those purchases were low-dollar buys from non-music-related dealers. He _might_ be a shill, but doesn't really smell like a typical one.

The other has been much more active, buying and selling, but hasn't bought anything since last September. But those buys are music-related (cables and concert tickets, for instance). So very unlikely to be shilling.

So, I don't know. One thing is certain: if none of these bidders are shills, they're definitely over-enthusiastic and prone to letting themselves get run up. And not inclined to do much research...

nic

pmoran · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:41:10 PM »

btw, a little---ok, alot---off the subject, but anyone here care to compare similar price range alembics w/sukops? i've only played one and i thought it was a really nice sounding bass. what do you guys think? i know the moderators are less than enthusiastic about discussions of other brands, although they are quite tolerant. i'm asking in terms i believe to be true to the spirit of the site---comparisons of alembics to sukops.