Fernandes on eBay, pretty amazing copy of S1

[allgood]

There is a Fernandes on eBay, around 1980 I think.  The zebra wood top and back and neck laminates look amazingly like my old S1, except for my Omega cut out.  Only difference, at least looks wise, is pickup selector knob, core wood, and obviously logo.  I wonder what the core is.  I wonder what these sold for back in the day.  I probably could not have afforded it, but when I was 16, drooling over the real thing, maybe I could have had one of these.  Of course, I have no idea how it plays or sounds.  But interesting how close they copied the S1.  If it were less than a grand I might buy it just for fun.

[dela217]

I think the cores on the Fernandes are maple.   I had one.   Mine was maple, and this one looks like it too. 

They are close copies and the electronics work like the real thing.   But the electronics are lacking quality wise.   You can look under the hood and see immediately that it is not up to par.  My Fernandes was a short scale and had cream colored pickups.

Michael

[edwardofhuncote]

I reckon you saw this one: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192742859823

Yup, pretty close wood recipe' to your old bass. Haven't seen a Standard Point FAB in a while. For that money though, even with the exchange rate, I'd just put a few more bucks into a real Series I.

It's good to keep an eye on these in case of mischief. I'll save the rest of my soapbox speech for another time, another thread.

[hieronymous]

Just watch out for the "white turbidity of the paint centering on the outer periphery of the body"! On the plus side, though, the frets still have 4 minutes mountain remaining and "Gully noise and malfunction were not seen"

(I am a non-native speaker of Japanese and I know how hard it is to speak a foreign language, I know I make some amusing gaffes, but I thought these were pretty out there!)

[lbpesq]

No gully noise!  Bummer, dude! 
At least it doesn't have those awfully ugly white PUs often seen on the Fernandes copies.

Bill, tgo

[allgood]

Yes, that’s the one I saw.  I guess Fernandes didn’t have a template for Omega cuts.  It was Interesting reading the old posts here about Fernandes.  One in Particular, where someOne was selling an S1 without a logo.  It had the proper pickup selector knob, and was apparently the real deal.

[allgood]

You’re right, I don’t think anyone would spend nearly what they are asking for it.  But, considering what I am going through, wouldn’t it be interesting, if they would sell it real cheap , to buy it and see if there are any. CITES shipping was issues.  Looks like rosewood to me.  I expect your soap box post would discuss paying royalties to Alembic, or stealing designs.  And I agree,  but I don’t think I would feel like I was robbing from Alembic if I bought it, because somehow it seems to fit in an Alembic collection, to show that Alembics are so great, this is the length people went to to copy them.😉

[gtrguy]

6,577 other items for sale? How do they do that?

[edwardofhuncote]

...I expect your soap box post would discuss paying royalties to Alembic, or stealing designs.  And I agree,  but I don’t think I would feel like I was robbing from Alembic if I bought it, because somehow it seems to fit in an Alembic collection, to show that Alembics are so great, this is the length people went to to copy them.😉

Your point isn't without merit, but it (my soapbox) actually has more to do with second and thirdhand buyers getting ripped off than Alembic... they already dealt with Fernandes years ago, and without litigation required. But these things still have a way of turning up with logos, and being misrepresented. I wouldn't be in this place at all if it weren't for a crooked ebay deal, so if I can ever save anyone here 5 cents worth of grief over buying something that isn't genuine, then yeah... l'll be glad to, for free. 

[allgood]

I certainly see your point.  If that thing didn’t say Fernandes, and was advertised as an Alembic, even without an Alembic logo, I would probably buy it at that price and take a chance, because, from pictures alone, it is so close to the real thing.  Care to share your eBay experience?  If not, I understand. 

[edwardofhuncote]

It all started a couple days before post #19 here: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=601.15


Bring that old upright of yours up here for a fix sometime, and I'll tell you about it over coffee. 

[allgood]

Ahhhh.  I would love that, and maybe I can get up there some day.  For now I will probably have have to just send pics and ask for advice.  Hope to hear good reports of healing.  Thanks

[bigredbass]

'White turbidity', what an amazingly horrible turn of phrase, like the last thing you want to hear your Dr. say . . . . yeesh.

There's no soap box to get on.  Pay whatever for one of those sleds (I'm surprised you can't buy an 'Olimbic' onone of those $100 Chinese copy sites), then play a real Series and you'll see right quick where the difference in $$$$ went, not to mention the Wickershams will treat you like a royal to help you enjoy your new axe, even if it's used.  I know, and most of us on this website have been treated like family by folks we've never met in person.  I don't mind speaking up for them and their axes, as the two I owned were the best (out of many) basses I ever owned, and they treated me like I was their  best customer.  To me, it's one thing to be influenced by all things Alembic, but to me and others, the Fernades copies are a money grab ripping off dear friends, nothing more.  Alembics are very special, made by very special and dear people.  It's bad enough to rip off big corporations like FMIC or Gibson, but it's especially cutting on a small, family business, which is the essence of Alembic.

Well, I guess there is a soap box.  I feel better now . . . . . . .

[lembic76450]

As always Joey,  well said.

[edwardofhuncote]

Regarding translations in ads... they are sometimes amusing, but this one may actually be quite appropriate.

White turbidity. Until this recent break in a pretty spotless employment record, I've worked in water treatment my entire career. Well almost. I tried to play bass for a couple years there... Anyway, turbidity is a term that we use many times daily at the Water Treatment plant. We measure the turbidity of water at various points in the treatment process as a means of determining the quality and effectiveness of the plant processes, using an instrument called a turbidimeter. The unit of measure, if you're curious, is an NTU or Nephalometric Turbidity Unit. There are very strict federal regulations on how much turbidity can be present in public water. So what the ham sandwich is it? It quite literally means cloudiness...  white cloudiness in a lacquer finish, I'd guess was moisture. 


Just had to share.