Author Topic: Sept. 2001 Custom of the Month for Sale (Read 487 times)

pbarsom · « **on:** October 02, 2013, 10:00:57 AM »

I am putting my 2001 Custom bass up for sale. It is a cocobolo, flame maple and purpleheart masterpiece as can be seen here:

http://www.alembic.com/info/FC_duo.html

The bass has a set of 4 custom cocobolo knobs that match the bass, completing this stunning instrument. I will include the originals, as well.
The bass is naturally resonant and big-sounding, especially for a short-scale instrument. The active electronics are powerful tone shapers, each pickup having a low-pass filter with a 6dB resonance switch. Depending on the strings, it morph through an unbelievable range of tones built from its fundamentally good resonance. It will only improve with age.
It is in like-new condition, only used for recording and I have all the original paperwork as well as several extra sets of strings for it. It has straploks installed and I'll send a strap with the fasteners attached, assuming that the buyer will use their preferred strap for playing. The case is unaccountably missing one of the metal feet on the back.
The price is $8000.
Please feel free inquire about any more details.

bluplirst · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2013, 05:27:44 PM »

Nice bass!

(in before the market value squad)

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2013, 06:17:34 PM »

It is a beautiful bass. Someday I'd like to own a guitar with the same shape.

pbarsom · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2013, 05:56:31 AM »

It's a lovely instrument, for sure. The pictures on the Alembic site don't quite do it justice. The wood looks deeper than the pics. This is the first short scale bass that Alembic made with this body design.

wookie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2013, 06:30:59 AM »

@bluplirst ha ha! they're coming lol! beautiful bass too btw.

pbarsom · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2013, 08:50:07 AM »

Yes, I'm sure they are coming. Just like the people who want 15% off the price of a car because it's not the exact color they want. Lowballers please don't waste your time posting. You either want this bass or you don't. There's not another one like it. If you want to make a reasonable offer, ok.

stout71 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2013, 10:44:29 AM »

To be fair to all the Alembic owners here, there is no Alembic like any other Alembic. They're all unique.

pbarsom · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2013, 02:27:56 PM »

Absolutely. No slight intended.

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2013, 04:32:47 PM »

I confess to being a little put off by the above references to low ballers and the market value squad.

While I wouldn't ask for 15% off a car because it's not the color I want, I would certainly ask for and expect a substantial discount off the new price if it had been previously owned, no matter how well the original owner cared for the car. And if the particular model was regularly selling within a particular price range, I wouldn't pay someone a 100% premium because they took exceptional care of the vehicle or had recently had a mechanic service the car. This scenario is far closer to the discussion that recently took place on another thread which I suspect inspired the above comments.

My experience when it comes to sales of instruments on this site is that members tend to price their instruments fairly reasonably and realistically - often giving a hometown discount to forum members as opposed to eBay sales.

It is also my experience that people who buy custom builds are often unfortunately surprised at the great depreciation to which custom instruments are invariably subject.

Nevertheless it is a beautiful bass and I offer no opinion other than good luck with the sale and I hope someone gives it a good home where it will get to produce wonderful music for a very long time.

Bill, tgo

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2013, 06:54:23 PM »

Bill makes some good points.

(Message edited by hydrargyrum on October 03, 2013)

pbarsom · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2013, 05:54:23 AM »

Thanks for the comments, Bill. I'm not the original owner and know a little about the used market for these and I understand that the asking price is somewhat above the baseline. The used model is misapplied to musical instruments, though. With time most are in better than new condition, from a musical perspective, unless abused or altered in an unsound way. This bass isn't old enough to qualify for that (give it 30 more years at least) but it's in better playing condition than when it was new having had the surprisingly shoddy fret installation (tangs extending slightly from the fingerboard) corrected and the frets resurfaced and polished. It's also now got these sweet knobs ;-)

pbarsom · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2013, 06:11:02 AM »

It should also be pointed out that while almost all Alembics are unique in some way, they are not chosen by Alembic as a featured custom instrument like this one, that displays an unusual level of designers art. This was Alembics opinion of this instrument.

Enzo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2013, 08:11:38 AM »

Bill couldn't explain it better.
I've been in your situation with a custom Alembic less than a year old, that calling it mint would have been degrading it. Used custom boutique basses market is difficult to understand and sometimes makes no sense. I don't intend discourage you, just telling my 2?. Either way that is a freaking gorgeous bass and who ever gets it will be more than pleased.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2013, 01:23:29 PM »

Is it possible that you experienced fretsprout with your new bass ( an expected thing as the wood can still shrink a bit in the first year or so) , as opposed to them being improperly installed ?

elwood

pbarsom · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2013, 05:52:38 PM »

Probable, as the fingerboard is also cocobolo which, I'm told, is slightly more prone to this than, say, ebony.