[SOLD] John Entwistle 1977 Alembic Series I "Baby Bass"

[Ross]

Greetings --


It's been a while since I posted here, though I do regularly lurk and look at the "for sale" listings.  I'm considering selling the 1977 Series I "Baby Bass" I acquired in the May 2003 Sotheby's auction, http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2003/the-john-entwistle-collection-w03875/lot.35.html.


I have attached pictures; many more are available.  I am still gathering information as to appropriate pricing.  I have been informed that this bass would have the highest value to a memorabilia collector, so I do not think that the players and working musicians here would be the prime audience. 


Here's the information Mica provided about the bass back in 2003, which I have slightly edited for clarity:

top: Ebony
body: Mahogany
back: Ebony
neck: Graphite
scale: 32 medium
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: mother of pearl
birthday: September 16, 1977
 
Under customer it says, Demo and in the comments section it simply states, Entwistle.
 
There is no mention of the tremolo in the record, so I don't think it was installed originally. 
 
The case looks original too. We still use the same casemaker, but the fashion has changed a little.



******************************


Please note that there are also 5 sets of new unopened Rotowound bass strings that came to me along with the bass back in 2003.  I also have all the original paperwork from Sotheby's. 

I am having some regrets about possibly selling this unique and historical item -- John Entwistle has always been my favorite bass player and I've loved THE WHO forever -- but I'm almost afraid to play it (I fear breaking a string played by the great virtuoso) and I'm not comfortable displaying it.  So it just stays in its case (albeit the original Alembic hard case) in a closet.  That seems like a waste.

I am philosophical about pricing -- I concur with the school of thought that collectibles are worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for them.  Nevertheless I'd appreciate thoughts from all the experts here.  And, for sure, if you're interested in acquiring this treasure, please feel free to send a PM.

Thanks!

[edited for formatting]

[edwardofhuncote]

Interesting that it is a medium-scale bass on a small body. Someone here was looking for exactly that recently. @Bob Ross I think it was... are y'all related? 

[pauldo]

Goodness.
Hard to say what pricing is appropriate, know it is outside my budget.
That is certainly worthy of a drool.

Paul (who thought Dancing Master was played with an 8 string)

[KR]

That bass is so cool. I believe Stanley Clarke also had an ebony body bass w/Bigsby back in the day.

[moongerm]

Such and interesting and wonderful bass.

[Ross]

Thanks so much for everyone's kind words.  It is a cool bass and I'm sure I'll miss it. 


It's now listed on Reverb -- https://reverb.com/item/29101039-john-entwistle-1977-alembic-series-i-baby-bass.

As I'm sure you all know, Reverb has pretty much eaten eBay's lunch in coming to dominate the online resale market for rock/pop instruments, amps and accessories.  But Reverb doesn't have an auction feature.  Think of my listing as an attempt to emulate an eBay auction with an ambitious "But It Now" price, as suggested by one of my friends.

[jwright9]

Ambitious! Yes, that is for sure.
I was thinking it was going to be like $10k or something around there.
But hey, if I pay ~$40k for the bass, will you at least throw in the DS-5 and cable for free??

[Ross]

Ambitious! Yes, that is for sure.

Hey, if I pay $40k for the bass, will you at least throw in the ds5 and cable for free??

That's negotiable!  ;-)

And in all fairness, I am including everything that came to me from Sotheby's in 2003 without added charge.  I had to go out and buy the DS-5 and cable separately. 

[jwright9]

Ambitious! Yes, that is for sure.

Hey, if I pay $40k for the bass, will you at least throw in the ds5 and cable for free??

 I had to go out and buy the DS-5 and cable separately.

LOL!!

[Ross]

Ambitious! Yes, that is for sure.

Hey, if I pay $40k for the bass, will you at least throw in the ds5 and cable for free??

 I had to go out and buy the DS-5 and cable separately.

LOL!!

I understand your perspective.  If this bass and accessories were to go back on the auction block, at Julien's or Christie's, for instance -- which remains a possibility -- the power supply and cable would not be included and that would mean a 20% commission, as well as a 10% buyer's premium.  If you're just going to display the bass, or put it in a vault, as would be true for most collectors/investors, the power supply and cable are totally unnecessary.  I said in my original post that players and working musicians would probably not be interested in this bass. 

[Ross]

I was thinking it was going to be like $10k or something around there.

Wow!  That seems pretty astounding.  Including all costs and expenses, including VAT (I live in the U.S. and the auction was held in London), I paid over $8,000 for the bass in 2003.  Merely adjusting for inflation would bring that total to about $12,000 today.  I suppose most members of this forum don't follow the market for classic rock memorabilia, but it has skyrocketed since 2003.  As I noted in another post, I have in hand a cash offer of $25,000 from a memorabilia dealer, who told me he intends to resell.  That would imply he believes he would get $30 to $35K or more.  If so, it seemed prudent to see if I could cut out the middleman by listing on Reverb.  I suspect you would do the same thing were you in my position. 

[jwright9]

    Take the $25,000!!!!!!

Good luck to you with the sale. Cool bass.

[hieronymous]

I was thinking it was going to be like $10k or something around there.

Wow!  That seems pretty astounding.  Including all costs and expenses, including VAT (I live in the U.S. and the auction was held in London), I paid over $8,000 for the bass in 2003.  Merely adjusting for inflation would bring that total to about $12,000 today.  I suppose most members of this forum don't follow the market for classic rock memorabilia, but it has skyrocketed since 2003.  As I noted in another post, I have in hand a cash offer of $25,000 from a memorabilia dealer, who told me he intends to resell.  That would imply he believes he would get $30 to $35K or more.  If so, it seemed prudent to see if I could cut out the middleman by listing on Reverb.  I suspect you would do the same thing were you in my position. 

I wonder if someone in the memorabilia market would see it on Reverb? Best of luck on the sale, looks like a very cool piece!

[Ross]

   Take the $25,000!!!!!!

Good luck to you with the sale. Cool bass.

  If the bass hasn't sold on Reverb in a month or so, I'll probably do that.  I'm sure that the offer will still be there.  And I haven't even shopped that offer to other dealers. 

Thanks so much for your well wishes.  As I said before, I know I'll miss it. 

[jwright9]

What is going on with the back of the neck? Is that graphite? It looks odd. Discolored? I don't know, maybe just the photos but it looks unlike any other graphite neck I ache seen.