Fab Bass with headstock repair on ebay

[KR]

It blows my mind how much trouble these guys went to copying Series instruments. I played a Fab P-style Alembic that had the Series style package, but the woods were really lacking. Distillate and Excel Basses are a way better entry point into the Alembic world.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FERNANDES-FAB180-Natural/264517238346?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D60695%26meid%3D69d25c2604f6442ba8c290b4af9759c5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dco%26sd%3D184018493771%26itm%3D264517238346%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[gtrguy]

Looks like this bass is listed by 3 sellers at 3 prices on EBay.

[TolerancEJ]

Here you go. Don't buy from the eBay markup/resellers. The original stores listings can usually be located. This one is at a reputable music store, Ishibashi. It is listed for 180,000Yen, which is already net of tax. According to xe.com 180,000Yen is approximately $1650USD.

https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/select.php?cd=12-326390804

[hieronymous]

Whenever I see the thread title I think "fab" in a good way (like the Fab Four) - but this is FAB in a not-so-good way. Sure these can look tempting but I'd rather get the real thing or something else personally.

[mb94952]

Yeah, the FAB and FAG series (yes, it's called that) is Fernandes Bass and Fernandes Guitar. Not sure what the "A" stands for. I owned one a few years ago. It has electronics like a Kawai FIIB, and like Keith said above, the wood is lacking, for sure. I got mine for under a grand and sold it shortly after. For the prices they're asking ($2,500) you can get a real Alembic. I like the FAB for the collectibility and rarity, but it's just ok of a bass from what I remember. The urban legend is that Alembic sued Fernandes for copyright infringement, but the reality is Alembic has never sued anybody. Thumbs up, Mica !
- Mike B.

[lbpesq]

I have a couple of Fernandes MH-110 guitars.  A modified Strat shape, but otherwise Alembic style all the way, including Fernandes’ copy of Series I electronics.   The woodwork is quite good, but the electronics just didn’t sound like Alembic.   I highly modified one which I posted here several years ago.  Here’s the link.

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=20043

Bill, tgo

[jwright9]

Whenever I see the thread title I think "fab" in a good way (like the Fab Four) - but this is FAB in a not-so-good way. Sure these can look tempting but I'd rather get the real thing or something else personally.

Agree completely. These are just not appealing to me at all.

[eruby]

Amazing what these fakes are going for now. I got my '82 SII in '92 for $1200. If I found a fake for $500, I'd probably buy it but $2500???

[bigredbass]

Yep, went to the Orient, and bought a 'Polex' watch . . . . . look right here, you can hear it ticking !  Gonna get me a Brightlink next trip !

[hieronymous]

FAB must be Fernandes Alembic Bass, FAG Fernandes Alembic Guitar. I found some old Fernandes catalogs online - I had one of them as a teenager in Tokyo in the early/mid '80s - here's a pic:



There is some info from a different catalog about the electronics but it's not worth it to me to translate, because I don't care lol

[mb94952]

Hi Bill, The Guitar One, your Fernandes modified by Gary Brawer is BEAUTIFUL ! Tina looks like an amazing guitar. I like your personal touches and I'd assume that's a guitar that will be with you forever.