[FS] 1974 series 1 guitar

[paexplorer]

A pre-CBS fender is junk compared to this (and I'm a fender fan) This guitar is unquestionably the finest elctric guitar I've owned in both tone and construction. I had a Matt Artinger build me a guitar about 10 years ago which was pretty awesome, but still doesn't compare. With the rack I've put together, the spectrum of sounds that can be produced are far beyond anything I've put my hands on to date. I don't want to get rid of this guitar, ever. But as it stands, the only two undamaged guitars I have are the turner M27, which is for sale anyway, and this one.

[cozmik_cowboy]

A pre-CBS fender is junk compared to this (and I'm a fender fan) This guitar is unquestionably the finest elctric guitar I've owned in both tone and construction.
 
I really don't think anyone here would disagree; our recognition of the quality does not, however, translate into a comparable market.  And that doesn't mean the Alembic market is low, it means the vintage Fender market is insane.    
You have a wonderful guitar which I, for one, would love to buy.  If I were in a position to do so, I would (knowing the market, and based on that) offer you $3000 for just the guitar, and would probably be willing to be talked up to $4500 because it's so nice.  That's what they sell for, and if you're really trying to sell it, you should probably take that into account (you'd have a hard time finding someone better informed on Alembic guitar prices than those here - and especially Bill).  
If, however, this is a See, honey, I'm trying to sell it but nobody's buying listing (and who hasn't done that?), well, then, well played, sir!
 
Peter

[gtrguy]

I personally would take a good pre CBS Strat over this guitar any day and a whole lot of world famous players would (and have) too. They have the superb recognizable vintage tone, the playability, the looks, the collector value, the mojo, and the iconic value.
 
Good luck with your sale, I will be curious to see what it actually sells for.

[hydrargyrum]

If the guitar fairy was handing out guitars I'd probably also take the strat.  Then I'd sell it for 4 other nice modern guitars.  People who buy those vintage guitars are paying for something other than playability and tone (even though some of them do possess those qualities).
 
(Message edited by hydrargyrum on October 01, 2013)

[jzstephan]

I've had a lot of very collectible vintage guitars and as cool as they are, a modern instrument that is adjustable, stays in tune and plays great wins every time. If it doesn't sound the way you want, change the electronics.
 
This Alembic guitar is old, but a visit to the mothership and it would be a great sounding player. What are you going to do with a '61 strat? Put a new bridge on it and new quiet electronics? Maybe a Floyd?

[lbpesq]

Put that stuff on a '61 Strat and you devalue it!  At one time mine had a Stratoblaster, brass nut and saddles, two-band Stars Guitars Star Tone EQ, and a Seymour Duncan bridge pick-up.  The improvements probably devalued the guitar by $5-10K!  It is now all back to stock.  If I found another like it for the same price I paid in 1975 - $125 - I'd jump on it like white on rice.  But I would never even consider for one second buying one today for what I can get for it on the open market.  It is a wonderful instrument that I played as my main axe for 25+ years.  But it is certainly not a finer guitar than anything new.  There are lots of excellent guitars out there at all different price points.  I just find that Alembic's approach to guitar electronics gets me a lot closer to the sound I'm personally looking for.  And, of course, Alembic's woodwork is true art.  It sounds good and makes me happy.  What more is there, really?
 
Bill, tgo

[jzstephan]

Precisely, a vintage instrument needs to be bone stock to retain its value. Changing anything is sacrilege.  
 
I've sold a couple of Alembic guitars I bought new. Took a beating on them but I'm still buying a new custom. There really isn't ANYTHING like it in the world.