Author Topic: Essence Price (Read 493 times)

richardloz · « **on:** January 13, 2008, 04:53:41 AM »

Hi there, I am looking currently at an Essence and was after advice as to pricing. The person selling is looking for $1980 AUD ( about $1750 USD). Does this seem a fair price or a little high? At the moment it is a decision between the Essence and a MINT BC Rich Eagle which I can get for $1600 USD (brand new, never been played still with hang tags and case candy). I have attached a couple of pics of the Essence in question, even though I realise it is pretty hard to tell too much from a picture. Thanks heaps and looking forward to your replies. Regards Richard

white_cloud · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2008, 08:37:13 AM »

Hi Richard, welcome aboard!

My advice is grab the Essence while you can. Seems a good price to me ( An Essence here in the UK would cost at least $3000 )

I have got to tell you that if you expect the BC Rich to be in the same league as an Alembic you will be sorely disapointed..they are not in the same class at all!

Good luck, John.

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2008, 09:53:04 AM »

Hi Richard; that's just like my Essence - Flame Maple top, Maple body, Maple neck. I'm sitting here listening to a demo I made with it back in 2001, and it's a nice sounding bass; and I love playing it.

$1,750 would be on the high side here in the states; but then there's a lot more Alembics available here than I imagine there are in Australia. So my guess is that it's probably not unreasonable if you really like the bass.

white_cloud · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2008, 11:12:32 AM »

The cheapest Essence I can find in the UK at the moment is ?1599 ($3000 US )

I find it amusing (and I am jealous )that US buyers would baulk at the kind of price quoted. I would also love to know why Alembics are much cheaper in Australia than they are in the UK!

Its not great living in the tax capital of the universe ( although I have heard Jupiter comes close! )

richardloz · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2008, 01:06:46 PM »

Thanks for the comments. I am going to have a loook and a play of it this Thursday when I go across to Sydney for work. Any suggestions as to what to look out for on this bass would be appreciated.

It seems in pretty good condition from the photos, but as I said it is pretty hard to tell too much from a picture.

As for the BC Rich, I think that many people underate those. Yes I know that they are probably worlds apart. I currently have an 87 US neck through Warlock which I have had from new which is an awesome bass, just that the style of it doesnt quite suit the music I am currently looking at playing. Pop and ballads on a Warlock - I dont think so.....lol

Once ahain thanks for the comments and any other advice you can give on what to check for on the Essence would be most appreciated.

Cheers

Richard

longhorncat · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2008, 01:26:59 PM »

You could get that bass in the US for $1500, but then it would cost you $350 for shipping to Oz.
So the asking price is good if that's the bass you are looking for.

richardloz · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2008, 01:59:44 PM »

Well I have always wanted one, just never had the cash to actually purchase. I let music go for a while (last live gig was in 94). My wife (singer/songwriter) are now once again looking to get something happening here in Australia, so I figured that now is the time to get another bass to go with my existing BC Rich which as stated above would look pretty stupid playing pop and ballads

Never having played an Alembic I dont know what to expect although I have heard many may good things about them both in general and also from reading this forum.

I have posted the serial in the hopes of finding some more info out in regards to this bass, so that will be interesting.

Cheers

Richard

David Houck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2008, 02:14:24 PM »

Well my first question would be does it have an original form-fit case.

By the way, it's probably not that orange; my guess is that the color in the pictures is the result of the camera flash. I've worked with the picture some, and it probably looks more like this:

Check out Christian's bass here; the wall picture is a good approximation of the color.

The controls are described here. The knob closest to the bridge pickup is Volume, the knob by the bridge is the Pan, and the third knob is the filter.

richardloz · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2008, 02:52:53 PM »

Yes I believe that it does have the original hard shell case included with it. I did notice however on the bridge that the (brass)? is starting to tarnish somewhat. Do I follow the directions for taking the bridge apart and cleaning with brasso or similar to bring it back to its original condition? I guess you have to expect some wear on a 15 yr old bass that has been played

Cheers

Richard

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2008, 03:16:11 PM »

Yes, the bridge is unplated and needs to be polished from time to time. Alembic recommends a cleaner called Flitz. The plated surfaces should not be polished.

richardloz · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2008, 04:35:31 PM »

Thanks Dave, will have to order some of that if I go ahead with the purchase on Thursday evening.

Cheers

white_cloud · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2008, 04:55:09 AM »

Hi again Richard, I do agree with you about BC Rich, I owned a very nice Eagle in the eighties. I do have to say though that there is nothing like an Alembic!

If you havent played an Alembic before prepare yourself. It will feel very different to any bass you have probably played before. Give yourself a fair bit of time playing the Essence and aclimatising to it. Thats my the best advice that I can give you. John.

richardloz · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2008, 05:36:19 AM »

Thanks John. I seem to recall when I first started playing that I wanted an Alembic. COuld never aford one then, so went through some Jap Fenders, and Rick 4001, Washburn 5 and then finally the Warlock.

The time has come I think to finally own what I have always wanted. My late Christmas present to myself. I figure why should my wife have all the toys - a Motif and a Triton and I am looking at a Fantom for her also. My time for toys now

I do lilke the BC Rich Eagle that I have seen. MINT brand new never been played from 82. Just wish I had enough dollars to be able to grab both, but I guess thats just being greedy.

Cheers

Richard

jazzyvee · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2008, 06:17:21 AM »

White_Cloud, I'm with you on the premium we seem to pay for Alembics here in the UK. I guess you have checked out the UK American Guitar centre, they have quite a respectable collection and probably are a good representation of UK prices both new and second hand.

I did order a brand new SF-2 from there for ?495 which I was happy with cos it was more or less the the same as it was in USA when converted to pounds.

If I had the spare cash to get a series bass, then now would be a good time to go to the USA to take a holiday and buy one there, especially since the pound is very strong in our favour at the moment.

Jazzyvee

white_cloud · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2008, 06:32:31 AM »

Spare cash is always the problem jazzyvee!! Lol! The Uk US guitar centre is a nice looking shop, but I havent had the pleasure of using it yet!

I guess the point I was trying to make was that I kind of assumed the good folks in OZ to be paying the same sort of prices as us in the UK. It surprised me to find out the truth! John.

Author Topic: Essence Price (Read 493 times)

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