Cool fretless in Chicago are Craigslist

[rv_bass]

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/msg/d/downers-grove-alembic-excel-fretless/7584153838.html

[BeenDown139]

nice bass.
doesn't appear to be in any hurry to unload it.
local pickup only.  waaayyyyy optimistic price
good luck with that, sir 🥸🤡☃️🧑‍🎄

[KR]

Very nice bass.

[edwardofhuncote]

I think we must think a lot alike, KR. 


Yessir, that's a fine-looking bass. 

[KR]

I think we must think a lot alike, KR. 


Yessir, that's a fine-looking bass.

Greg, for sure. That's a looker right there.

[pauldo]

Bass porn.

[keith_h]

It is a purdy bass. I wouldn't pay the asking price but I think it would be worth a premium over the typical market price.

[adribass]

all things considered, isn't $5500 actually a GOOD price for this? condition? year? uniqueness?
is the fact that it is a fretless actually a BAD thing as it pertains to resale?

just asking...
NEWB here!

[JimmyJ]

Resale value is tricky.  Uniqueness might be important to a "collector" but every Alembic is unique.  And the more customized it gets the smaller the pool of potential buyers.  For example, how many bass players in the Chicago area right now might be looking for a relatively expensive 5-string fretless with no lines or LED markers?  They would love it though!

Jimmy J

[OJ Dorson]

I'll second what Jimmy said... uniqueness can actually limit the people willing to buy that instrument. There's an Alembic that's been on Reverb for at least two years. I think it's ***beautiful*** and I'd ***love*** to have it, but I can't even dream of spending that much money on a bass that obviously has very limited appeal - then I consider that it's not even Series electronics... So, it would seem to me that uniqueness and "weird" build options will actually hurt resale value. Fretless almost never helps, either.

FWIW, I think that bass would sell instantly at a much lower price.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm pretty sure this was Reid's Custom Excel. I thought it looked familiar the other day. Don't know what to say about the discrepancy in the year model.

https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=27295.0

I expect that is a devastating combination for a fretless. Having sold a Custom fretless Distillate, I'll quote our buddy, Joey; "you gotta' wait for a pipe-smoker to come along..." meaning; not just anybody wants that bass, but the player who does, he really does. That cat who bought my Distillate called me the night he got it, literally in tears. He had wanted one his whole life. It was perfect for him.

[pauldo]

I'm pretty sure this was Reid's Custom Excel. I thought it looked familiar the other day. Don't know what to say about the discrepancy in the year model.

https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=27295.0

I expect that is a devastating combination for a fretless. Having sold a Custom fretless Distillate, I'll quote our buddy, Joey; "you gotta' wait for a pipe-smoker to come along..." meaning; not just anybody wants that bass, but the player who does, he really does. That cat who bought my Distillate called me the night he got it, literally in tears. He had wanted one his whole life. It was perfect for him.

😂
I was smitten with it back then as I am now.

As others said, the price is whatever a buyer is willing to pay for it.   I have two non Alembic fretless basses, one active and one passive, but this is an Alembic!!!   However these days I am so broke I can’t even pay attention.

[jagerphan84]

That's a gorgeous bass. If I hadn't recently been reunited with my own custom Excel 5 fretless, I'd be tempted.

[adribass]

thanks for the great answers and I agree with all of the above regarding "uniqueness" as it pertains to perceived value vs. actual benefit of ownership for actual PLAYING the darn thing... especially if you love an instrument and it is just not "right" for you (fretless, long scale if you really want a short scale etc.).
this particular fretless is amazing and if all things aligned (mostly in one's bank account lol), most of us would probably pick this baby up.
Last point is I am actually looking for a "less expensive" Alembic now, Rogue preference, but considering other body styles, and I see a few tempting options out there but the $$'s are simply too much for me... again, comes down to willingness to open up one's purse vs. specific "wants" for one's playing ability (I'm no pro).

[rraymond]

That was my bass. Fabulous instrument, as you would expect. The only fretless I ever had that sounded as good was the four string fretless Excel I had before it.

Somebody will be very happy with it.

Reid