Author Topic: Alembic police - bogus Elan on eBay (Read 946 times)

bsee · « **on:** July 16, 2005, 02:00:02 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7337290241&category=4713&rd=1

I haven't contacted the seller.

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2005, 05:57:40 PM »

I sent the seller an email telling him it is not an Alembic, but rather a cheap Fender copy with a decal and referred him to the Alembic site. We'll see what happens.

Bill, tgo

57basstra · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2005, 08:01:51 PM »

I had logged on after visiting ebay to advise of the above and was glad to see it had already been spotted. I don't consider myself an expert, or even an advanced novice, on the various Alembic models; however, this is the worst fake I've seen. (It has a bolt on neck!) Wonder what makes 'em think its an Elan?

dwmark · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2005, 08:54:09 PM »

Gee. Didn't know I could get a pickguard for my Elan. HEY, WHY ISN'T THIS ON THE OPTION LIST???

lbpesq · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2005, 08:56:12 PM »

The decal says Alembic Elan. Who needs a build record! LOL

Bill, tgo

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2005, 06:44:53 AM »

I've just sent an email as well. For those of you who have some concern about sending emails, Ebay has added an option to hide your email address when you send a message to a seller. (Of course, if like me you turn around and post a statement in a public forum that you sent an email, it kinda defeats the purpose .) These particular frauds, Fender copies with an Alembic Elan decal on the headstock, have shown up before. As I recall, they appear to have originated in Texas as several have shown up in pawn shops there.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2005, 08:08:40 AM »

The seller thinks this is a $200 bass. I think so, too, of course. Why bother the seller. It is not being portrayed as a real Alembic, like these usually are on eBay. I suppose a note on his action maybe a good thing, but what seller would? Actually, I thought of buying it as a joke item. I still might.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2005, 08:15:59 AM »

Follow-up: Well, I e-mailed him, too. I told him if he posted that it was a fake Alembic, he would probably get more bids on it, which I believe he would. At this point in time, one bid would be infinitely more than the current total stands at.

bsee · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2005, 08:26:44 AM »

I believe that Alembic would probably prefer to have their name removed from the headstock. Just because this seller is rational doesn't mean the next owner won't try to scam someone.

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2005, 08:36:01 AM »

Nigel;
Why bother the seller. It is not being portrayed as a real Alembic.

Well the listing title and text state that it is an ALEMBIC ELAN 4 STRING ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR. To a person unfamiliar with Alembics, there is nothing in the listing that suggests that it is not an Alembic. If I recall correctly, Mica has posted in the past that she does email such sellers and does ask them to remove the decals. So I'm guessing that Mica sees reason to bother the seller. There is every possibility that someone who has heard the name Alembic but knows nothing about them may pay more for this bass than they would for an unknown Fender copy just because of the name Alembic. When they receive the bass, they will then get an inaccurate impression of Alembics as being nothing special. I think that similar discussions have been held in this forum in the past. Some people hold the opinion that in cases similar to the current one, it is the buyer's responsibility to do their homework and determine that the bass is a fraud. However, not everyone agrees with that position; and it is understandable that not everyone will hold the same opinion. So while I can certainly understand why you may not wish to bother the seller about his listing, I also certainly understand why others may indeed wish to do just that. In may email to the seller, I suggested that he may want to remove the decal and relist the bass as a Fender copy; and if your assertion that the seller thinks this is a $200 bass is accurate, then my suggestion to the seller would seem not to be unreasonable.

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2005, 09:10:17 AM »

My above post was made before I realized that Nigel had posted his follow up; and thus much of it no longer seems pertinent.

j_gary · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2005, 09:23:26 AM »

Howdy Boys, I've got a better idea. Lets bid up this relabled Alembic and pay with one dollar bills relabled as $100 dollar bills. OOPS!, did I say that out loud? How long do you have to go to prision for counterfeiting? I would submit that a sound thrashing is in order. I sent a WHAT THE F ine how do you do email. At least this dope spelled Alembic correctly.

lbpesq · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2005, 10:23:53 AM »

J.Gary:

I like your idea, but how about we use monopoly money with U.S. Legal Tender written on it in crayon? Seems appropriate.

More seriously, if this seller is honorable and just doesn't know about Alembics, he will respond to the various e-mails he has received and will modify the listing accordingly. If not, let the monopoly $ flow!

Bill, tgo

57basstra · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2005, 01:28:48 PM »

I bid a couple of pops on a Matsumoku made Memphis bass on ebay recently that was billed as made in the style of the 'Amelbic' basses.

(Message edited by 57basstra on July 18, 2005)

57basstra · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2005, 01:30:27 PM »

edit above and put in Matsumoku. typos will get ya