For what it's worth, here's my experience with ordering. There are, no doubt, at least a few ways to get the help you need to find the bass and the price you want, but this is what worked for me (and some of why I think it did):
First, I believe that deciding what you will order are, at least until the bottom of the ninth inning (sorry, baseball's on in the background), two separate processes. This was particularly true in my case because I had decided to custom order months before I knew I would have the funding to place my order. It gave me time for a leisurely decision-making process. Second, you will not get a good deal ordering directly from Alembic (not through a dealer). The Alembicicians will tell you this up front. They don't want you to get hurt and they do want to support their dealers (a definite win-win). But this does not rule out using Alembic's expertise as a resource in figuring out what you want.
I first figured out as much as I could from reading and looking at (probably hundreds of) posts and pictures on this board. I took my several potential ideas and ran them in all available combinations through the quote generator, so I was developing an idea of retail prices. I also printed out and looked carefully through the listing of previous specials (
http://alembic.com/info/prev_special.html)
because the special in effect when you order is the final discount applied before getting to bottom line retail price (before dealer discounts are applied).
Next, I called Alembic, introduced myself as someone thinking through a custom order and wound up speaking at length with Mica about various options. I was ready with lots of specific questions. Mica walked me through Alembic's model and price structure, its philosophy, answered my questions and left me with a list of things to think about or look at. We spoke 2 or 3 more times over the next 8 weeks until I was pretty sure what I would order. During that time, Val and I talked a couple times about wood choices. The depth of these folks' knowledge and their willingness to help fill in the blanks in my thinking was, to say the least, impressive.
Because I was not under the gun to make a final decision, I was able to call back if no one had time to talk on a particular day. However, when they could make the time, these folks loved to talk about their products and genuinely cared about helping get to the best result for me.
Finally, about 6 weeks before I thought I'd order my bass, I called Alembic with a few final questions. Susan answered and walked backward through my whole thinking and decision-making process and had some unique suggestions and perspectives of her own. Based on our conversation, I wound up ordering the following day through Beaver at BassCentral. Though this was the first time I'd shopped my specific order to a dealer, I had talked to about 3 dealers and had corresponded with Club Members about the range of discounts dealers might offer.
I can't say enough great things about Beaver. Though I already had decided what I would order, he too wanted to understand what I was looking for and how the features I was ordering would get me there. He is very knowlegable about Alembics and is their largest (I think) dealer. He is also a phenominal player. I'm sure that any number of the other really good dealers (like Steve or BassNW) could assist you plenty in putting together your order and work out a price you'll be very pleased with. I could just as easily have worked through Beaver to the same or similar order. But personally, I decided on a more expensive bass because I had developed a lot of faith in the people who would actually produce it.
Now, I'm sure that Mica and company will develop migraines when they read this, in anticipation of even more phone calls (LOL). In fairness to them, everyone should do their own homework before imposing on Alembic for answers that are available elsewhere. This Club is the single best source for info and advice on Alembics.
Like I said, there are definitely a few ways to get your decisions made and your bass built. As long as you are dealing with knowlegable folks who won't begrudge you the time it takes to get comfortable with your choices, you'll do fine.
Nonetheless, I'm really glad I went about this the way I did. The acquaintances I've made among the Alembic staff are great. When I visited Santa Rosa during the construction of my bass, Susan and Mica took a couple hours with me and my family. How gracious they were. What a memory!
Well, I've long since started to run on. But since recieving my bass, I've been looking for a way to appropriately thank the Alembic folks for helping a dream come true. Maybe there's no one or two things to say to them or the Club to get that across. I guess I'll just keep rattling on where the occasion warrants about how great I think this company is.
Hope you do well deciding on your bass. One of the things Susan told me that has really stuck with me is that she talks to customers constantly about how much they LOVED the process of putting together their instrument orders. My two cents is this: You're going to spend a bunch for a bass that's the ultimate in its class. The folks who will build it for you love doing it. Make SURE you have fun in the process!
I'm looking forward to hearing about and seeing it get built in F to C. BTW, make sure Alembic knows you want them to start a thread for you. If you need any info or have any questions, feel free to Email me.
Bill
