Author Topic: California special.... (Read 386 times)

serialnumber12 · « **on:** February 06, 2006, 07:29:04 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-CALIFORNIA-SPECIAL-SIX-STRING-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ7388428340QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2006, 07:34:06 AM »

This one is listed by the same seller from whom I just won the 1976 Series 1 guitar on eBay. Lots of positive feedback, responds quickly to email.

Bill, tgo

lbpesq · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2006, 07:43:55 AM »

sorry, double post

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on February 06, 2006)

jalevinemd · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2006, 09:49:51 AM »

If the bidding doesn't go too high, I may toss my hat in and then send it to Santa Rosa for a refin and whatever else to make her look/play brand new.

Jonathan

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2006, 02:26:52 PM »

double post, sorry

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on February 06, 2006)

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2006, 02:27:25 PM »

Tempting, but I just can't tolerate fancy tremolos . . . Aside from not having spousal approval. . . I am kicking myself for not bidding on that squire strat with the alembic p/u's that sold recently.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2006, 08:25:34 PM »

I'm in, but I don't think this is going to happen for me. If I'm buying a used Alembic, it needs to look like it came out of Santa Rosa yesterday. I figure this guitar will need at least $1500 to accomplish that (refin, new pickup covers etc...) Considering I could probably get a new CS for $4500-4800, I need to be able to wrap this whole thing up for well under $3000 to feel like I've gotten a good deal (including the restoration work). That means it has to sell for no more than say $1300 on ebay, which isn't likely to happen. But, I'll keep my fingers crossed. Plus, what the seller calls nothing more than a finish crack near the headstock has me a little worried. I don't know...maybe I should just cut it loose.

kmh364 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2006, 06:09:12 AM »

I imagine one day that Floyd's and/or other locking wammy's will be back in style, but that day is not today. According to the blue book values I've seen lately, the value of Floyd-equipped (et al) guitars is at an all-time low.

While the Cali Special is, after all, an Alembic and is probably head-and-shoulders above just about anything else that ever wore a locking wang bar, I personally don't need another Floyd-equipped guitar. While I'm not sure the Cali has that hair band metal tone my Charvel/Jackson's have, I'm sure the quality and playability is superior with the Alembic (and the C/J's play pretty good with the slim satin neck, fat conical radius fb and jumbo frets).

At any rate, I'm with you Jonathan. If it's mint, it'd be nice to have an Alembic version for the collection, but it probably wouldn't be very useful to me. I've gotten too d*mn old to deal with Floyd's anymore. In this case, price is everything...if it goes cheap enough, so be it!

(Message edited by kmh364 on February 07, 2006)

jalevinemd · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2006, 06:27:00 AM »

I'm just looking for one all purpose guitar to take out of the house and occasionally I like having a Floyd. At his point, I only have one other guitar with a FR on it and it's only 22 frets. I want one with 24. But, this isn't so important that I'm willing to move the Earth to make it happen, so I'll just let the chips fall where they may.

Jonathan

kmh364 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2006, 06:45:39 AM »

Well, any strat-style guitar with that s/s/h p/u configuration is about as Swiss Army as you can get, IMHO. Other than the dated looks (pointy inline headstock, shark-tooth inlays, blacked-out hardware, etc), those Charvels are as versatile as they come. Dealing with the locking vibrato is a real PITA, though. I used to think Fender-style fulcrum tremolos were craptastic (got two of those), and they are, but locking jobs are that and then some. I've gotten to the point that I don't lock 'em any more due to the constant tuning problems and those pesky bridege fine tuners. Having to cut the ball ends of the strings off to lock'em at the bridge end (I know you can string 'em backwards, but I don't like the look of the ball ends and the wraps at the machines) is a real PITA as well.

Just my $0.02 and is in no way a reflection on anybody else's taste/preferences.

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2006, 06:48:02 AM »

H*ll, for the right price, I'd take the thing, Floyd and all. It IS an Alembic, after all. But to pay top dollar, or to order a new one when a Floyd is involved...tanks, but no tanks, LOL!

Cheers,

Kevin

jalevinemd · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2006, 09:11:06 AM »

Im letting it go. I bid up to $1500. Figuring in all the work I'd want done, it's simply not worth it to me at this point. Oh well.

kmh364 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2006, 05:44:16 AM »

Wow! That thing went for $2400!

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2006, 06:11:48 AM »

Yes, I was surprised as well. These don't come up very often, but when they have in the past, I don't remember them going for this much. But then I always thought they were a bit undervalued in the market.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2006, 07:12:36 AM »

Plus, this one seemed to have a few issues. I'm still not sure what to make of that crack by the headstock.