Author Topic: Alembic Skylark For Sale Also Mesa Boogie Mark IV (Read 1434 times)

glocke · « **on:** May 21, 2004, 04:51:00 AM »

HI,

I have a wine colored alembic skylark I am putting up for sale. I have had this guitar around two years, and it is dead mint. Never played out, stored in its case when not being played.

The only reason I am selling it is to raise money and make room for a new purchase.

The serial number is 02L12799 USA.

My asking price is $1850.00 + s&h.

I also have a Mesa-Boogie Mark IV for sale...

Pics will be emailed upon request. Email me at glocke12@comcast.net

glocke · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2004, 05:22:19 AM »

bump...skylark is still for sale.

Am I asking too much, or is there just too little interest in this guitar?

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2004, 07:13:32 AM »

That is a beautiful guitar. Here are a couple thoughts for you:

The Skylark now lists for $3500 base price, I am not sure what it was before the most recent price increase. That means an aggressive shopper should be able to buy a new one from a dealer for something in the area of $2200 or so, plus or minus a bit depending upon the circumstances.

You know that your attempted eBay auction topped out at $1425. You probably also know that there's another one at auction with a starting bid of $1595 that has gone around a few times already and not received a bid. That guitar is brand new from a dealer in Canada that has had little enough interest that he appears willing to sell it at or below cost. While eBay isn't the entire market, it is usually in the vicinity.

Looking at this data, you can probably get $1500 at the high end if you're looking for a quick sale. In fact, the high bidder on your auction could very well have been willing to pay $1500.

While we may know how great Alembics are, the name just means nothing to a significant number of musicians. If you're patient, one of the very few people in the world willing to pay more might find your ad.

Good luck!

kmh364 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2004, 07:37:31 AM »

Greg,

I have to agree with Bob. Every guitarist wants a PRS or Gibson LP or a Fender. While I'm sure your Skylark is very nice, and so is the Canadian one as well, it's just never going to have that mass-market appeal that the above-mentioned brands have. While it doesn't help you, if the rest of the world doesn't appreciate Alembics, then that is their loss. I had actually thought about making the Canadian shop an offer: the thing is supposedly new and for the right price, I could get my feet wet re: a six-string Alembic (already have a Custom bass being currently fabricated). I'm thinking about having a custom Alembic guitar made, and a cheap Skylark could help tide me over until I decide what my desired specification will be. The most I would go for that one, however, would be $1500, and I want the case included (delivered to my door would be nice as well, LOL!). He wants his price just for the guitar, case and S&H are extra. Do I really need another guitar? I already have seven (the new Alembic will make eight). No, but what does need have to do with want? LOL!

Seriously, good luck with your sale, you may find somebody willing to go more just because it is an Alembic. I do feel, like Bob however, that you will have to reduce the price to get a quick sale.

Cheers,

Kevin

hollis · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2004, 11:20:17 AM »

Greg,

I also have many guitars, including a Skylark. I agree with Kevin that the majority of the uninformed population wants PRS, Gibson, or Fender (two of which I currently own and I've had a couple of Strats and an old Tele in the past), I would sell my PRS in a heartbeat over selling the Skylark. In fact, there's not one guitar that I own that I wouldn't give up prior to letting the Skylark go. I don't know your situation, and I know that there are as many ways of looking at things as there are people doing the looking.... That being said, you obviously know quality (Alembic and Mesa), your reasons are your own... The fair market value is whatever people are willing to pay. I paid $2500.00 for mine new with abalone ovals. I know that I would never be able to recoup that were I to try and sell it. But, as I've already said, it would be the last thing I would even consider selling. All my guitars would have to have been put on the block before that will happen. Good luck to you Greg. I wonder if you can consign it somewhere?
Maybe if someone were able to see it, and hear it they might be more willing to give you a true fair market price.

Take care

pookeymp · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2004, 11:51:10 AM »

You guys make a lot of good points here, definitely something to consider...as I'm also selling an Alembic and may need to reconsider my asking price.

Hey Glocke...Good luck w/ your sale and on your new purchase.

Mikey/

kmh364 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:01:18 PM »

Mikey,

Ain it a B**ch that most of the guys on this site would cut off their left you-know-what and sell it to get that gorgeous Triple-O of yours, and the general playing populace says O-lym-pic? What's that?. I wish I could play a 5-str. well enough (I have trouble with four as I'm primarily a guitar player) to be able to do justice to the thing. Every non-Alembic bass player out there (it seems) doesn't recognize anything outside the inventory of Garbage Center or Sam's Ass (Unless it's a Fodera, LOL!). Forget about guitar players...I dare you to find one outside of this site that even knows Alembic makes guitars. Hell, I've been a guitarist and a Dead Head for 27years and even I thought that Doug Irwin originally made Wolf and Rosebud for Jerry! LOL!.

BTW, I see you're in Rahway...I work at EWR and am in Rahway fairly often (Liberty H-D, The Back Porch, etc.)...and I take my guitar lessons and get all my guitar work done right next door with Steven Hayes (Steve's Studio) in Colonia. My Grandmothers's whole side of the family is in Woodbridge Township as well. Small World, huh?

pookeymp · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:48:32 PM »

Hey Kevin,

It really is a shame that the vast majority of the musician world is unfamiliar w/ one of the greatest instruments available...but I guess that's what makes us such a special, elite group.

It certainly is a small world...I live on Main Street, a 5 minute walk from Liberty H-D and The Back Porch. I used to frequent The Waiting Room before they tore it down a few months back...and since hang out in the Back Porch now and then...who knows...we may even have bumped into one another.

Mikey/

bob · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2004, 10:41:12 PM »

Mikey,

I don't want to get picky about wording here, and in fact I don't think we disagree at all.

At the same time, it bothers me a little when I see words like 'special' and 'elite'. To me, that suggests a certain smugness or superior attitude, and - while we all might feel that way from time to time - that's not what I think it's all about.

Those of us here happen to have been fortunate, or just plain lucky, in various ways (financially secure, old enough to know better, found a killer instrument in a pawn shop, got stuck on a particular musician, whatever) to have come into contact with Alembic instruments.

None of those things make us better, but in some way the contact enriches our lives. I think that's what you're trying to say, I just want to suggest we be careful to avoid the pride and snobbery aspects of 'elite'. We're just damn lucky.

kmh364 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2004, 05:03:17 AM »

Mikey: I may very well have run into you,. My buddy's band (Stormy Weather Band) has played at the Back Porch many times (they've been at most of the area bars, a lot of them now closed, over the past 15yrs or so), and was there just within the past few months. I was there for the last Harley and Hot Rods show on my bike (my bud from the SWB had his '69 GTO ragtop in the judging).

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2004, 07:25:09 AM »

Bob, very nicely said!

pookeymp · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2004, 09:04:43 PM »

Hey Bob,

There are no feelings of smugness, superiority or snobbery here. As a matter of fact, the comment was meant to be humorous...not to imply anything more (I'll put a smiley face after it next time).

I do take pride in my Alembic, but I take just as much pride in my $500.00 Samik and will speak highly of it as well in the right forum.

I understand your point about one's perception of what is said and the intent behind it...but I personally didn't feel the need to censor myself in this instance, for fear someone may misinterpret me. I believe the masses understood the spirit in which my comment was made...as you yourself understood.

We sometimes get caught up in over-analyzing things, trying to ensure we find the exact phrase to be more appropriate...when it really wasn't that serious. I realize there are times when one must choose one's words carefully...but honestly, this wasn't one of those times...as I wasn't trying to shed any deep insights or disparage anyone...merely conversing with a fellow Alembic owner about an instrument I'm trying to sell.

Mikey/

(Message edited by pookeymp on June 13, 2004)

(Message edited by pookeymp on June 13, 2004)

pookeymp · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2004, 09:22:21 PM »

Hey Kevin,

The next time SWB is over at the Back Porch (or anywhere in the area), drop me a note...I'd love to drop by and check them out.

I was there at the Harley and Hot Rods show as well. I do remember the '69 GTO...sweet ride. I don't own a bike...but I do drool every time I pass by Liberty Harley.

Mikey/

bob · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:06:34 PM »

Mikey,

Like you said, I understood you just fine, no problem. But it took a little reading between the lines, so my comments were addressed more to others than you. It's such a weird medium to deal with, seems worth a reminder sometimes that a thoughtful reading is better than knee-jerk response.

I was also tempted to add something about the fact that there are other instruments out there worthy of appreciation, but felt like I'd said enough - so thanks for making that point. We're not the only lucky ones (but hey, we're doing okay).
-Bob

kmh364 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2004, 04:10:47 AM »

Greg:

BTW: Just for sh*ts and giggles, I made an offer to Steve's Music in Canada for that wineburst Skylark he's got on Ebay for $1500USD including case and delivered to my door. I guess he didn't like my offer because he didn't respond and he started the auction over again yesterday. Meanwhile, he starts the bid at $1595 sans case and delivery AGAIN after not getting one single bid to date! What is that now, three, four times on the auction block and not a single taker? I guess he doesn't wanna sell that thing bad enough.

Mikey:

Yeah, you couldn't miss that screaming yellow '69 ragtop Goat replete with The Judge stickers. Kenny brought little Kennny Jr. and was disappointed he didn't win anything. You may have seen me hang out with them...big, pissed-off looking biker with a H-D shirt, biker boots, chained wallet and short hair/goatee, LOL!

I don't know when SWB has another gig at the Back Porch, as it keeps changing owners, LOL! They are playing again either the end of this month or beginning of next at Jammers on St. George Ave in Avenel (Colonia). They haven't updated their website yet, and Kenny's Mom just died while on a cruise this weekend so I won't see him until the wake/funeral to ask him what's up.

(Message edited by kmh364 on June 14, 2004)