Author Topic: What is the most expensive Alembic guitar and bass ever produced? (Read 392 times)

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2009, 03:54:02 AM »

wait, do you know of one that is being built that will cost a crazy amount of money?

olieoliver · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2009, 06:16:24 AM »

All of those are great axes but they weren't produced at those prices.
I would imagine the most expensive at time of build would be a Classico. (which is why I don't have one at the moment).

I do have an idea of how much the most expensive one in Mesquite Texas is.

OO

hendixclarke · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2009, 07:39:14 AM »

The most expensive Alembic has not been made yet.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:04:05 AM »

It only takes one millisecond, and one penny more to be wrong on that question I honestly don't know this question....

Out the gate... on a guess, I would say the Dragon Breath (The covenant Alembic that was awarded to Stanley Clarke.)

That bass is: That One to me, yet still I am sure someone will have a better answer.

Good post Julian.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:10:37 AM »

The best things in life, are... Free

The Dragon Breath was a wonderful gift... from a great company, to a wonderful man.

tubeperson · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:26:24 AM »

I am the fortunate one who purchased the Roman Conqueror. The sellers reasons were personal and therefore I will not discuss them. While I am sure in his heart, the bass was worth to him what the behemouths mentioned above sold for, it did not get to that level.

Not to rub it in, but I also own the Triple Omega that Ed Roman used to feature on his website. It was important to me that an Alembic Club player take possesion of that one, since Ed is all about marketing Shtick.

I also own a lovely Mark King Deluxe once owned by the infamous Rory Lane. He's quite knowledgable, although some might not agree with his positions on certain matters. I find him refreshing.

Finally, I own a Stanley with Superb Walnut front and back.

Still I dream of a 4 string brother to the Roman Conqueror, perhaps the Jewish comic? Gotta love Capitalism!!!!

oujeebass · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2009, 02:08:19 PM »

The most expensive Alembic is the one that isn't getting played

alembic76407 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2009, 02:20:29 PM »

I own that one !!!!!!!

olieoliver · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2009, 02:31:49 PM »

I saw you play it once David. (I think)

OO

hendixclarke · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2009, 03:06:17 PM »

From what I am told, Alembics are worth more as virgins...

Which means: zero holes drilled for strap holders/pins or pegs.

Now somebody might come out with a new product and say:

I give you.. the new bass holder strap system!

It works like a glove by encasing around your virgin (un-drilled) guitar body, and the straps connects to the case...allowing the collectors of un-drilled axes, complete playing freedom, without devaluing your guitar(s) with drilled holes and straps.

Save your investment, and put this on, and go drill-less...

Buy my product... heeeh heee....

hifiguy · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2009, 06:19:16 PM »

I have dreamed up a bass that would certainly be among the most exotic and expensive creations from Alembic.

Let's start here

NECK FEATURES
4 string   17700.00
Right-handed   0.00
Medium scale 32 inches   0.00
1 Ebony neck laminate   775.00
Ebony fingerboard   0.00
Fretted   0.00
Classic fingerboard taper (narrow bridge)   0.00
No inlays   0.00
No front LEDs   0.00
Side LEDs in amber   0.00
Crown peghead   0.00
Bevel front and back of peghead   300.00
BODY FEATURES
Coco bolo top   1200.00
Bookmatched top   0.00
Mahogany body   0.00
Coco bolo back   1200.00
Polyester clear gloss finish   0.00
Balance K Heart Omega body shape   500.00
Tummy and elbow contour   400.00
HARDWARE FEATURES
Inlaid logo with shell   0.00
Bridge block   0.00
Bird tailpiece   0.00
Continuous wood truss rod cover   300.00
Continuous wood backplate (for model electronics)   0.00
Gold plated hardware (estimated)   0.00
Gold Alembic Gotoh machine heads   0.00
Gold strap locks   0.00
ELECTRONICS FEATURES
Series II electronics   0.00
Total Price

Series II Quotation   22375.00

Now things get really interesting:

Rays below logo
Inlaid abalone ankh on back of headstock
Custom designed (by Susan/Mica) silver hieroglyph fret markers
And now her namesake, the goddess Isis in woods and silver, all set into an ebony oval flush with the front of the bass:

See here

$40K retail, minimum. Perchance to dream.....

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #26 on:** February 13, 2009, 05:59:54 AM »

This should probably be in Dreaming for Now, but since you started, and that section's not Dreaming Forever.....

Not enough of the features are in the generator to make it much of a starting point, so we'll just have to guess at price

NECK:
ebony-framed mahogany, maple pinstripe, ebony, maple, vermilion (reddest you can find), maple, ebony, maple pinstripe, mahogany;
double-beveled crown headstock, vermilion HS lams instead of PH;
32? scale;
10? radius;
feel ? .8? behind 1st fret, .9? at heel;
taper ? 1.688?@ nut, 2.062? @ 24th fret;
red side LEDs;
6230 fretwire;
gold inlaid logo w/shell;
on back of HS, MOP inlay of Shimer College elm tree logo;
gold tuners;
abalone sun inlays starting @ 1st fret (can't get the drawing to import, but I'm no artist & it would need MUCH work from Susan anyway);
at 24th fret, inlay Greek letters lamba sigma delta.

BODY:
Balance Point upper bouts w/Val II lower bout lines (but no omegas) - or, alternately, a scaled-up version of a Skylark, or of Ezra's guitar;
mahogany core w/ash center lam, maple pinstripe, ebony veneer, maple pinstripe, coco bolo (as close to Fell's wood as possible) front & back ? front BTC;
CW truss cover, backplates, bridge block cover, maybe HX & p/ups;
gold hardware;
bird w/tail, maybe ebony shim;
Schaller Secur-Locs;
maybe gold (or CB, or ebony) thumb rest?

ELECTRONICS:
Series II w/wide-set p/ups;
no battery or ?? jack;
phase switch;
LED dimmer knob;
filter bypass switch X 2;
treble cut/boost knob X 2;
bass cut/boost knob X 2;
mid-range cut/flat/boost switch X 2;
and the Mark Sheppard Control Assign Switch.

I am, as I have said before, the World's Worst Guitar Player; if I were to order this & start practicing for it, I figure by the time it's built, I could be the World's Worst Bass Player as well. Now if Publisher's Clearinghouse would just cooperate....

Peter

hifiguy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 13, 2009, 12:40:27 PM »

Nice one, Peter - she sounds delish. I forgot the Dunlop 6230 fretwire. That is the only thing I can beef about with Alembic. Many bassists, like you and I, like those old school, narrow, peaky frets like those Fender used on early Jazz basses. Wide flats are great for guitarists that bend a lot, but I have never been able to understand their utility for bassists. I've even considered mandolin frets.. Precision is my thing, not bending!

57basstra · « **Reply #28 on:** February 13, 2009, 06:22:53 PM »

This may not be the most expensive, but I love this guitar. It was offered at Gruhns for $25,000. It was Johnny Winter's 1974 Alembic. Does anyone know where this one is now? It has been shown and discussed on the board several times that I know of.

rami · « **Reply #29 on:** February 14, 2009, 08:38:11 AM »

You can ask Mica for a quote to build this guitar again. I'm sure they'd do it. Just prepare yourself for some serious sticker shock!