Just bought my first Alembic. Still in the return window. Thoughts?

[cnematik]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but I just bought my first Alembic. It is this 1991 Stanley Clarke Deluxe in a rare Amethyst purple and I wanted to know what you all thought about it while I'm still in the return window. It was listed for $6895, but they gave me $250 off. I could potentially return it within the next 2 days.

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/alembic-stanley-clarke-deluxe-asmyth-1991-1801916

The bass is over 30 years old, but looks almost brand new and plays like a dream. I didn't know it was possible to get the action this low and sound so clear. The feel of the instrument is absolutely amazing. It basically plays itself.

The thing is I was originally hoping for a slim neck version, but nothing came up in a reasonable price range for the past few months so I just pulled the trigger on this one. I could potentially keep it and swap when another eventually comes along and ticks all the boxes. I'm just a little concerned about the pool of buyers looking for a purple bass in this price range if I decide to eventually list it. The quilted maple is absolutely gorgeous, but I certainly didn't have purple in mind originally.

What do you all think? Did I get a good deal? Meh deal? This is obviously a good chunk of change but what would you do if money was not an immediate concern? I appreciate your thoughts.

Side note. I looked up this bass in the old club Alembic and found posts from the early 2000s. The previous owner seems to have loved this bass. Reading the history on it was a fun journey.   

[Songdog]

I think it is drop-dead gorgeous.

Given all the positives ("plays like a dream...  action this low and sound so clear... feel of the instrument is absolutely amazing... It basically plays itself") I'd suggest relying on your hands and ears, and ignoring a numeric difference of 3/16" width at the nut.

Really, I'm just jealous of you for finding such a nice bass 

[Mlazarus]

That is a very beautiful bass! I don't think anyone will find another Alembic to match that one. Of course, all Alembics are unique, just like our finger prints. Keep it.

[hammer]

Very nice bass and considering the current prices of Alembics you probably got as good as a deal as one could get at this time...and for a 30 year old bass its looks to be in fantastic condition.  There is that purple part to which you allude but if the bass plays like a dream then the neck width cant really be that much of a problem.  It's something to which you'll probably adjust in a short period of time.


As far as the color goes...if you fall in love with the bass and see this as a "til death do us part" relationship, a good luthier who refurbishes guitars can probably take the "prince purple" right out of the bass and get it down to beautiful, natural, quilted maple as from what I understand Alembic tints the finish as opposed to the wood. You might also eventually want to replace the bridge PU with a FatBoy PU from alembic to give it a more solid sound
   

[jazzyvee]

I also think the bass is gorgeous. Some years back i hesitated on buying a purple alembic elan Just because of the colour, however when it came up for sale again, i bought it and whilst i sort of got used to the colour it was the sound that made me keep. Then i took it out on a couple gigs that i didn't need a 5 string and decided to get it refinished in clear finish to show the quilt maple. I enjoy it much more. That's what i would recommend once you decide it's a keeper. i will try to find the thread.
There it is. [size=78%]https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8524.50[/size]

[cnematik]

Thanks for all your replies! I kind of knew what the answer would be, but wanted to remove lingering doubts while I still had time. Very small chance of returning it. Maybe I'll stay on the look out for "the one", but when I plug this guy in I feel like I might already have it.

I'd suggest relying on your hands and ears, and ignoring a numeric difference of 3/16" width at the nut.

Yeah, you're right. Except that I think the difference is 4/16", but who's counting anyways ?

I don't think anyone will find another Alembic to match that one.

Yeah. I was actually looking to see if I could find other rare Alembic colors, and found this pink one. https://reverb.com/item/2891284-alembic-stanley-clarke-signature-1990-flash-pink?bk=%3Fshow_sold%3Dtrue If there are buyers for that one, then i'm probably safe!

As far as the color goes...if you fall in love with the bass and see this as a "til death do us part" relationship, a good luthier who refurbishes guitars can probably take the "prince purple" right out of the bass and get it down to beautiful, natural, quilted maple as from what I understand Alembic tints the finish as opposed to the wood. You might also eventually want to replace the bridge PU with a FatBoy PU from alembic to give it a more solid sound

I'm ok with the purple. It's just that I dont know for sure if this is the one i'm going to keep forever. I could very well, but i dont know. And I'm still getting used to the electronics, but so far i'm happy with it.

i bought it and whilst i sort of got used to the colour it was the sound that made me keep. Then i took it out on a couple gigs that i didn't need a 5 string and decided to get it refinished in clear finish to show the quilt maple. I enjoy it much more. That's what i would recommend once you decide it's a keeper. i will try to find the thread.

That thread is super helpful. Thanks for sharing! The pic of you playing it is pretty rad. I'm sure it also looks good on you after the refin. I dont think I would go through that, but good to know its been done successfully and that I have options.

[hammer]

Love the Signature SC. Here’s mine.

[hieronymous]

That looks like a pretty cool bass - I saw it on the CME Instagram, even took screen shots of the post, planning to post it here but it had already been sold when I checked (they often post stuff that has sold come to think of it)

It looks pretty special to me - not one that's been passed around a bunch - personally, I'm not one to chase details, I feel fortunate to own the basses I have. I've got a '76 Rickenbacker 4001 - doesn't have the full-width inlays or the checkerboard binding, but so what! I'm so glad I hung onto it - it's what you do with it more than the specific details of the instrument itself. I also have a variety of scales/number of strings/electronics/etc., so I don't have really specific requirements of how an instrument is "supposed" to be.

But at the same time, if you are looking for something really specific, then by all means chase it! But sometimes an instrument speaks for itself - finding a nice balance between what you want/expect and the specs of an instrument is one way to approach it...

[jazzyvee]

Then there is the reality that finding a used alembic that ticks all the right boxes and is exactly what you want, can take a long time. Sometimes, as i know from personal experience, i have initially compromised on the aesthetic 'colour' because i had confidence that the alembic will sound great. One of those basses has become my main gigging bass now. All the best whatever you decide.👍🏾🎶

[pauldo]

Welcome to the camp!

Sounds like a perfect Alembic “starter” bass, which may very well become a “forever” bass or even a “first of many” Alembic in your collection.  😀
The Stanley Signature basses are super cool.  Played one at the Chicago Gathering and it truly did play itself as well as offered a fabulous tonal range.   

[gearhed289]

Love it. Trans purple on figured maple would be my dream finish (though I would do just the top and the face of the headstock). Love the old school knobs. I would say keep it. I think the price is pretty good. I need to check my email settings as I used to get notifications from CMS. I would have liked to head over there and play this one.

[mavnet]

Beautiful. But close your eyes, plug it in, and play for an hour. If it feels and sounds right, it is.

[Spoilers!]

My first Alembic had a 1.75" nut.  Coming from 1.5" and 1.625" nuts on my previous basses, it took a couple of weeks to get used to.  Once I got used to it I actually began to prefer it.  All of my purchases and trades since then have had that same neck profile.

Ken

[cuteJessica]

Beautiful. But close your eyes, plug it in, and play for an hour. If it feels and sounds right, it is.

Agreed with you. You are very right!

[OJ Dorson]

I saw this one sell on eBay a couple years ago. I wanted to give it a try, but couldn't bring myself to buy it. I say go ahead and return it to CME so I can go play it!! Are you in Chicago?

It *may* be a little slow to move and I think you got an average/high-average deal. But, if you're loving it, none of that should matter!