$45,000 bass.....i don't think so!

[88persuader]

Toma your reaction to my pricing opinion proves my point in regard to how people react in subject focused forums. Thank you!  
 
BTW I'm not a drinker or smoker and I'm NOT anti Alembic, I love them, at one time in my life I owned 3 at once. I'm an advanced forum member for god sake! :-) BUT I do think they are way over priced regardless how nice they are. And if I could find a used one for a real BARGAIN I'd happily buy another. But it would have to be an unbelievable bargain for me to be able to justify the purchase.  
 
And Harley's are WAY over priced and over rated as well! I totally agree with you. It WILL be my last Harley.

[88persuader]

Ladies and gentlemen, I just realized I got myself into a needless and un-winable argument. I want to apologize for printing my opinion on Alembic pricing and my rebuttal to Toma. It is my honest opinion but printing it on THIS forum full well knowing it may make some people angry just to prove a point about subject focused forums and how people react was heartless. I sincerely apologize.  
 
Pricing opinion aside I DO feel Alembics are the best basses ever built.

[toma_hawk01]

Ok Raymond,
 
I have a rational question to you. Please answer this question.
 
What bass do you have in place of the three Alembics you sold, and how are those basses better in quality?  
 
I ask you this question because many people feel like myself, had tried other basses and felt ripped off.  
 
For example, my parents paid $500 for my first Fender back in the 70's, and I asked them to return it for I owned a cheaper, and better bass made in Japan.  
 
In other words, if I have to pay cheaper to get better, I will do it, or if I have to pay more, to get better -- I will do that too.
 
So, what is your better bass compared to Alembic?

[88persuader]

I don't want to fuel this fire I started and regret starting Toma but you've asked a question in a civil way and I'll gladly answer it. Actually the basses I used when I sold my Alembics were Modulus Quantum basses. I had a fretted 6 string and a fretless 5 string and both together cost as much as my Stanley Clark signature standard cost alone. I didn't buy them because they were BETTER than Alembics because they weren't, I bought them because they were outstanding basses, much better than I needed for my gig and the profit from selling my Alembics enabled me to get out of debt and still have two wonderful solid as a rock high end basses. And by the way that debt I speak of I got into by buying the Alembics in the 1st place. Modulus basses aren't Alembics woodwork wise but they ARE serious high end basses. Also having full graphite necks I was less frightened to take them into the night clubs I was playing at the time. I was ALWAYS afraid of hurting one of my Alembics to the point where I wouldn't take them on gigs anymore. What good are owning basses when you're a professional player and you're afraid to bring your basses to gigs because they cost you so much you're afraid to have them in a night club?  
 
Anyway again I'm sorry for making waves on the forum. We started talking about the Fender being priced crazy then it turned into a discussion about snobbery and I thought I could make my point about both parts of the discussion by pointing out that IMO although Alembics ARE the best in the world i think they are over priced, in the case of Excel and Epic WAY over priced, and I think we ALL tend to be a little snobbish and protective of our instrument of choice, especially on product specific forums like this.
 
Thats the last I'll add to this part of the topic, I honestly don't want to make enemies on the forum and am sincerely sorry if I pissed anyone off by having a contrary opinion.  
 
BTW my 3 Alembics were an 1988 Persuader, A Stanley Clark Signature Standard and an Epic 5 string. I loved the Stanley Clark and Persuader, And I do miss them, The Epic I really felt fell way short of expectations for an Alembic. I was very disappointed in that bass.  
 
Peace.

[darkstar01]

i agree with ray.
i love modulus basses. i've owned 4 of them in the past, and currently use one as my regular gigging bass. now, i'm kind of in the process of picking up an alembic for my regular bass, but i think it boils down to opinion.
now, i've had an argument with hal based on opinion before, and it didn't go very well.  
i LOVE alembic. i've had a custom built, they've been in the process of building my second for going on 4 years, and i honestly don't complain because i trust them. they know what they're doing. period.
point is, a great player, or even a decent player, plays what they like. i picked up a fender jaguar bass a couple of weeks ago and havent put it down. i love it.
that begs the question- if i get the playability i need, the tone i want, and the reliability i need, what does the make matter? of course, this IS an alembic forum, and i understand that. but i've played alembics i don't like, and would never buy. the most comfortable bass i own is a '77 fender jazz bass.  
the point is, better best and even worse are words that convey opinion. there's no sense in trying to convince each other that we're wrong.
hal, you're going to love your custom. i know i did!
ray, let's enjoy our mods (but i still love my alembics!!!).
just my thoughts.

[keith_h]

Well there is only one more B word  to interject into this conversation and allow the circle to be completed, Beer. I'm getting ready to go down to my local brewery tasting room, Aviator Brewery, and check out their Red Ale.  
 
Keith

[toma_hawk01]

Ray,  
 
You pulled it off. That was a tight rope over 10,000 feet drop, with Great White Sharks, Jelly Fishes, shallow rocks below and strong winds.  
 
I totally see your point, and truly respect your judgment. You made it across.  
 
 
Hal-