A sad day has arrived......

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

It is with much regret that I am contemplating selling my Alembic Excel bass.
 
As some of you know, I had major surgery last year and I had to collect short term disability pay for six months. This money has no taxes taken out during the year. Now it is time to settle up with the IRS  
 
I wanted to post here before I put it on ebay, to see if any other Alembic owner would be interested in purchasing it. I would feel better knowing it went to a good home  The Excel can be viewed in the showcase section of this site under X. You don't know how much it hurts to even consider this, and as the first line reads I am contemplating this.
 
Thanks,
Paul

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Well my dear western Paul,
 
I didn't had the health problems when I had to sell my MK (lucky me) but I definitely had the IRS problems.
Keep-up man! As you said once to me: there will come brighter days!
I'll call you!
The other Paul

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

Paul,
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your contemplation!!  I would lend you the money if I had it so you wouldn't have to sell.  I too am running into the same situation with Mr. Taxman too.  
Here's one thing that I have done with friends in the past and maybe there might be a willing fellow Alembician here that might consider this...
Sell your bass at a fair market value to one of the members, when you do have the funds to recoup, have the option to buy it back at the same price.  I know it sounds kooky but you never know...If there are any board members that would be willing to lease an Alembic, please chime in!!!
Hey, BTW, Mark Dufresne and I are planning on going out to the Acton Jazz Cafe Blues Jam tomorrow night, can I buy you a beer!?!?
 
Dino

[Rami Sourour (rami)]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

Believe me guys, I don't want to do it. It's just that I owe a lot in taxes this year and I just got my first long term disability check today and they took out 20 percent of it! At least I will be going back to work by summer.
 
I will hold on to this bass as long as I can, but don't be surprised if you see it listed on ebay  I would not be willing to do a lease situation or borrow money, as this would only make the situation worse, as I will have to pay next year too, eeek!
 
Dino, I can't make it tomorrow night. Maybe some night in the next few weeks we can hook up halfway, maybe in Tewksbury? Or somewhere convenient for both of us? Mark is welcome too  
 
Paul

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

Ah, the taxman.  They are about to bend me over too.  I have a strange situation where my wife and I have regular income but with no taxes taken out!  For the first couple of years of this, it was quite difficult to adjust at tax time.  Now we pay quarterly.  It makes the bite much easier to take.  Also, you can pay the government back in installments.  Don't part with your bass just for Uncle Sam!  Trust me, you can get by this. I would hang on to the bass and pay the IRS when I can.  Then, start your own company (playing bass of course) and buy more basses and equipment.  Then next year show a loss and take it all off of taxes!!  

[Jerome Edwards (jerome)]

Well mike you need to check out FEDERAL and STATE TAX NEGOTIATORS INC. They can help ,I had the same problem .  dont sell the bass.....         http://www.fstn.org/who.html

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

OK GUYS  
Let's yell all together at Brother Paul:  
DON'T DO IT!  
Brother: I thineked about it the past 12 hrs or so and remembered my situation.  
I should never have done what I did that time: I sold a MK deluxe, a Fender Strat and and an acoustic bass-guitar.  
It didn't brought up th emoney I needed. It's always in short.  
So to solve the problem fundamentally you have to look other places. See it this way: that Alembic is part of your way to make a living (don't take that only in the financial way). By selling the A you will be in a lesser position to make that living ...so the situation will go worse.  
There are other ways, I'm sure.  
With tax people you have to talk. You know that it's one of their frustrations? I know a lot of them over here on this side of the pond. They are getting frustrated because everybody see's them as demons. They are doing their job and most of them (you'll find jerks everywere, even Alembic-playing-jerks although ...) are eager to tackle a problem and work out solutions away from people disabling life. Jerome pointed in that way. Over here is no professional service that way: we have to do the negotiation yourself. About my experience: NEVER LIE! If you agree on something f.i. a Paul-friendly payment plan STICK TO IT! NEVER START ARGUING AGAIN.  
Keep-up other Paul.  
 
Paul  
 
BTW 1: there's a lot of welcoming to do these days.  
BTW 2: I do like Dino's idea about helping. I propose to add -apart from the Sell & Swap department- a Pawnshop department in wich the sell-and-buy-back-option is always included,
 
 
(Message edited by palembic on January 30, 2003)

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

Thanks everyone!  
 
Michael and Jerome, that is some great info that I am going to look into today.
 
Paul, Dino and Rami, thanks for the wakeup slap  
 
This was the last item on my list to aprt with. Next to the Caddy, oh yeah, and my wife
 
I will go over my meager budget again and find a good CPA to check my taxes. Maybe even have last year's checked as well...... It is nice to get some advice from someone else's perspective and I thank you all again.
 
Paul

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

Paul,
 
I have a great CPA up in New Hampshire and she's really hip to doing musician's taxes if you want her number.  
I also have to applaud everyone here on the board for their concern and support!!!!
I really think we should look at Paul L's idea about someday getting together.
We've all got friends here!!!  WOW
Hang in there, if there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask, ie: gig referalls etc.
 
Peace -Dino

[Joey Wilson (bigredbass)]

Elzie:
 
As someone who has seen many hard times, I can absolutely tell you that if one door closes, another one ALWAYS opens.  I've lived long enough to see that the Almighty knocks me to my knees only so He can give me a hand to help me up, and He always has.
 
My music was always the only thing that gave me an outlet to ride through these rough spots, and believe me, at those times, my bass was worth far more to me as a harbor than what I paid for it as an instrument.
 
Life happens, and I've sold a bunch of 'em I miss like old friends.  But I did keep a roof over my head.  Sometimes there's no other choice.  I had unexpected and terrifying surgery myself last year. Please do what you can to heal yourself and be good to yourself, and I really hope it all works out soon.
 
Joey Wilson

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Dino,  
 
I really would like to join the beer appointment you made at the Acton.  
Can you imagine this dude comin'in hey gang, I just catched the latest flight, well.... Dino where's that beer? LOL.  
You bet we all will be together once! We'll play that BIG BOM for your child and for anyone who cares to listen!  
 
Paul  
 
 
 
(Message edited by palembic on January 30, 2003)

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

Paul,
 
Come on down!!!!  We'd love to see you there!!!
 
Joey,
 
Very inspiring and very true!!!!!

[Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)]

Hey Paul,
 
Good Luck with all your finances.  Given the climate of the economy right now, I know many folks are a bit pressed in this area.  Will certainly say a prayer for you and your family.
 
Definitely do all you can to Not Sell Your Excel (try to keep the Caddy and the Wife, as well)  
 
Stay positive...and I know if you keep looking hard enough you will find another way out of this.
 
Mikey/

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

All this response has been very heartening  
 
Dino, I am meeting with a CPA next week in Woburn, but if it falls through I'll let you know!
 
Joey, that is sage advice. The hardest thing to do is to assess your own situation. I look at the responses and realize that they are the same things I would say to someone in my situation. That is, if I were not in this situation.
 
 
I really thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for your concern and input! I have begun to find other ways to come up with the money. And I hope the CPA can be even more creative in finding a way to lessen what I owe.
 
You really don't know how hard it was to even think about selling the Excel. And after all, I can't leave Rami as the only one here to sing praise about it
 
 
Thank you everyone!
 
Paul
 
 
PS: Paul L, thanks for all the calls! I will call you next time to keep you from spending a fortune on phone bills