nice triple omega series II jsut surfaced on vererb

[BeenDown139]

https://reverb.com/item/77182116-alembic-series-ii-omega-shape-2018

medium scale.  meh.

[hammer]

$30,079 MEH!!!  

[BeenDown139]

$30,079 MEH!!!

i kinda learned the hard and expensive way that no matter how cool it is, if it's not long scale then it's not for me.

here's another medium scale that jsut popped up.  always kinda wanted to try a 6'er.  no LEDs.  mediumd scale.  nice bass.  i'll pass.

https://reverb.com/item/77189017-alembic-spoiler-six-string-bass-insane-koa-top

[dannobasso]

That was mine too (note the initials) and ta dah a considerable price increase as well. It's a funny ol' world in the club. The road case that went with it is being offered separate by the seller.

[edwardofhuncote]

Cheaper to deal directly on Talkbass- (but still meh if you don't dig medium-scale... save yerslef teh click) 


https://www.talkbass.com/threads/alembic-spoiler-6-insane-figured-koa-top.1632715/

[jazzyvee]

Dannobasso, some of thre most exciting looking alembics have been through your hands.👍🏾🧐

[hammer]

That brings up an interesting question. Some people on this forum could be characterized as players/collectors. The latter not in the traditional sense because we play the hell out of our basses but in the sense that one ends up with a “collection” because it’s difficult to part with a bass you have acquired and love. The basses add up over time and soon, you find yourself with a collection. This is especially the case when one has a bass built for them by the mothership.

Other people, will build or acquire a bass, play it for a few years, and then have no problems selling it to finance another build or acquisition. Im not talking about someone having to sell because of a financial setback, or a decision to get out of the business. I’m interested in those cases in which someone builds a bass and later decides it’s not the Alembic he or she wants and starts the process again. In these cases, I wonder as to the reasons why people sell. Was the bass you acquired and later sold a step to a Series II? Did it not meet your preferences or needs (e.g., I never played a short scale before acquiring an SC and can’t bond with it)? Were the reasons sonic (sound is too bright, didn’t cut through the mix), physical (I need a lighter bass given my aging body), aesthetic, etc. or maybe people don’t know themselves, but just get the “Alembic fever.”
[/size]
[/size]Over the years, I’ve had quite a few Alembic basses. The first I sold was a Distillate and it really was my “starter” bass as far as Alembic goes. The only other Alembic sale was my 6-string Europa and that bass had a neck that was way too wide for me. Even in that case, I never really put it up for sale and changed my mine several times before letting it go. As far as the remainder of the herd goes, they would be extremely difficult for me to part with because they’re all unique, they all have things about them that I absolutely love. My wife, who has seen me struggle with decisions to sell probably put it best when she stated…”Your basses are like old friends, you might not see them on a daily basis but you’ve got too many fine memories of the time you have spent with them to let them go” (and unlike some of my friends who have passed away in recent years, I expect my Alembics to be around long after I’m gone).
[/size]
[/size] I know this sentiment isn’t necessarily the case with others and I’d love to learn more about the thinking that goes on in minds of those who take a different approach.

[edwardofhuncote]

Oh wow, Brian. I'm probably too mentally tired to properly lay this out, but it's a good one. I don't guess anyone is pushin' or shovin' to get to the Triple Omega subject, so why not?

Yeah, I would fall squarely into the category of player-collector. Note that the 'player' comes first in the equation, and for me it isn't just Alembics. In fact, I'm kind of a late bloomer here, but it's the same thing that drew me here; I just like very nice musical instruments, and when I like something, I really like it, and I go all-in. I try to learn all there is to know, and absorb the team concept. That was an easy thing to do here, from my first experience way on back. I showed up here with a screwed-up old Persuader, and the next thing you know, I'm folding up $100 bills after every gig to put down a deposit for a Custom build. Seems like yesterday.

So far I have bought 8 Alembic instruments in 9 (almost 10) years. I have "Alembicized" a couple more projects in between. It was hard, but after thinking it over, I sold the two Distillates last year, and went to a fair amount of trouble to see that they went to players who would appreciate them. I sold a vintage Series I guitar back to the Club Member I bought it from, in a no-profit deal, just honoring a gentleman's agreement, one that I imposed upon myself. I experienced, and enjoyed that instrument for a year though, and learned a ton from it. Relationships being what they are here, if I wanted it back, I could call him today, and it'd be on the truck tomorrow. I am very happy with the Little Darling guitar and Alembicized MIJ medium-scale guitar though.

I guess it comes down to this: the extent to which I collect guitars, whether it's Alembic, Turner, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, or what-have-you, they are all special parts of a library. A library of instruments I've spent literally 25 years building. So it's not something I take lightly when parting with anything in it. But just like books were meant to be read, guitars were meant to be played. That's ultimately why I have them.

[BeenDown139]

you musta read my mind.  i was in the office contemplating my view of the sky when i realized what i say "meh" to is somebody else's baby.  so maybe i should frame my aspersions in the context of - if i can't play it without worring about dinging it then it's just a beautiful wall hanging.  got two of 'em already.  so - meh.

these are the straits i find myself in these days.  did pretty well in the stock market this year. so, on one hand, i got a line on another museum piece that'll knock yer eyes out.  only 4 strings.  any playah wear on it will definitely affect its market value when my kids sell it after i kick the bucket.  all i gotta do is pull the trigger.

on teh other hand, got a couple of maple-bodied essesesences in my cross-hairs.  my band just  broke up so it's back to beating the bricks for a gig. cram the gear in the car.   dungy basements.  rent-a-studios.  gig bag.  the MKDeluxe took a pretty serious shot requiring an expensive repair on the last round.  don't want to repeat that.  again or again.

if it happens, this coming acquisition will make alembic #15 for me.  i've never had a problem (*GASP*)flipping  one if i didn't bond with it.  their subsequent owners were pleased as punch, so it's all good. 

i dunno.  museum piece or bar-hopper?  gettin to be a tuff call.  hte oven's hot, time to put the pie in and walk the dog.

[garyhead]

These days, I'm a Collector / Player.  All my Alembics DO something different.  My 6-stringers are fretted / fretless. The 4 & 8 are limited editions.  The upright is another beast all together.  I just enjoy looking at them as well as playing them.  I have a few "redundant" Ricks & Music Man's.  Just too good of deals to let pass...or the finish was appealing.  If I cull the heard, They will be non-Alembic.  My fretted 6 has a pretty good ding in it.....caused by someone else that was playing my bass.  It was my main gigging bass at the time so I never minded it.  I DID decide to send the upright in for ding repairs when I had the electronics upgrade.
The type of music I played was more "world music" than cover band so I never really played in dive bars with drunks.  I would play Alembic live it the opportunity arises.

That's a wonderful Omega II but the price is beyond what I would pay for a 4 string Series II.

[gtrguy]

If they were women I'd need a harem - OR - It's a good thing I don't treat the special woman in my life the same way or she would kill me...

[jazzyvee]

I would describe myself as a player with a collection. All mine have been bought over the past 22 years. I'm not an impulse buyer and when i have decided wanted another alembic, i would wait till the bass budget is healthy,  then if the right bass comes along within my budget and i think it will offer a different alembic sound then i might grasp it.
That said i am not sure in a blindfold test i could 100% guess each of my basses and none of the audiences i think would hear anything but 'bass' and since i'm not a session player i have basses on the basis of want not need.(No one has ever asked for me to bring another bass to a gig or recording session).

Most gigged basses are Europa 5 stringers and if i was loaded and gigging lots i think i could become a collector of those basses.
Now that the sound has become my sound, i am not interested in any other bass sound. I have to say I prefer short scales for 4 stringers but mainly i play 5 string alembics. I think I now have a good mix of alembics, one and two filter basses and one with bass/treble. That's all the basses i need however i'm still dreaming of a series II shorty and a spectrum guitar which I have got a spec for from conversations in the past with Susan and Mica, but been thwarted by other things needing my finances. But when/ if they come around it will be one in one out.
:-)
I think......

[dannobasso]

I guess i would fall into the player / collector category. When I do decide to part with something it is because I don't play it as often and I believe that someone might really want what it is. My current stable is about 50 guitars and basses. Lately the resale market has been so increased in price that it is a sore temptation for folk to sell on and hopefully improve their situation if need be. I have tried to pass on items only to club members. I haven't done other types of deals yet but I may just hire a broker to come in and take care of things for me. That way getting the dealing done has nothing to do with me beyond supplying the goods.

The Wickershams have helped me realize some wonderful instruments for decades. I finally entered the Series 2 club and I wished I had become a member sooner. From my first custom ordered in 1986 to the latest delivered in 2023 and all of the others that have given me pleasure and inspiration, I consider myself very blessed. We are all blessed here in many ways. Jazzy , I hope all your dreams comes to pass because life is too short to pine.

[pauldo]

 
Forgot how good that movie is!!!!