Persuader 5-string on Reverb

[edwardofhuncote]

One of the new folks was looking at one of these overseas the other day. Here's one in Florida. Looks to be in nice shape. I don't see anything out of place on it.

https://reverb.com/item/85478604

If I didn't already have one, and living on a somewhat fixed income, I'd be sweaty, and twitchy.

[gearhed289]

Yow. I wish I had 4 grand sitting around.

[kreinert]

Yes, sweaty and twitchy.  Appreciate the head's up on this one.  Came to my senses about shipping over seas, working on the patience thing.  Seems like a much simpler setup than higher-end models, with less tone control, but it still sounds fantastic.  Wish I could get my hands on it to play around before making an expensive decision. 

[edwardofhuncote]

Well, one thing about this one to consider... it's evidently been back to Alembic for some work. You might give Mica a call on Monday to see if she can remember or confirm what is detailed in that letter there, but looking at the electronics cavity, it appears that the original 2-volume harness that bass would have come with has been replaced with the new pan preamp which is a very nice upgrade. It allows for a much better balance between the P and J pickups to be set, because each has its own gain trimpot. Other than that, it says "fix headstock". I'd ask for what. I can't see any evidence of a cracked headstock, so if Alembic fixed it they probably touched it up too.


It's a nice bass. I played mine on a gig last night, and ten years on it's still my go-to.

[hammer]

But four grand for a Persuader? That’s more than what I paid for my first series I and within $500 of what my SC series I cost me. I thought inflation had,decreased.

[kreinert]

It's difficult to know what these are really worth, seems like every Alembic is listed well above "fair value."  When someone says they paid $4000 +/- for a Series or better model, I'd like to know when was it purchased?  Just seems like modern times call for modern prices.  Cost of a new build are out of reach of me, and if they're all over-priced, it would take a miracle to find one for a reasonable asking price.  Especially a 5-string higher end model. 

[edwardofhuncote]

Doesn't take a miracle Kevin, it only takes time and patience. I just posted this one because I notice them. It won't be the last Spoiler/Persuader 5 to come along.    Orion and Epic 5's come around more often, and occasionally found at $2-3k. Sometimes less. One of our members spots those things at GC all the time.


This Persuader is interesting because it isn't at a retail shop, it's a private sale, and has all that documentation with it. If you are interested, make them a fair offer... you may be surprised. Or just wait around. They may drop the price in a week or two. One of our old members here used to say; there will always be another.

[hammer]

Lots of times you can get a significant lowering of price by making a fair offer. I purchased a five string Moonstone with Alembic electronics a while back and offered $1,200 less than the listing price. Within hours my offer was accepted. My last series purchase was three years ago so it was in fact after the big price increases we saw for used Alembics. However I’ve never bought an Alembic other than through the mothership or a private party so the prices didn’t include store markup. Definitely agree with Greg on making a fair offer and being patient. My search for a series I lasted about 2.5 years.

[BeenDown139]

here's my $0.02USD FWIW YMMV IMHO

It's difficult to know what these are really worth, seems like every Alembic is listed well above "fair value."

i just pulled up my alembic search and counted about a dozen 5-stringers in various flavors for below $4500 USD, some of them have been languishing on reverb for years.  the used market seems pretty flat at this particular point in time. i'm outta the market for now (maybe forever ya never know), i'm sure glad i don't have to sell one of mine.  so i'm guessing that if you've got cash in hand, your're well informed of what the market actually is and you're ready to jump you could make a (dare i say) lowball offer and see what happens.  worst case dude blows you off and bans you from his auctions (it's happened to  me, still mad about it  ).  best case you get the instrumnet you want at a reasonable price.   just sayin'

[Notachemist]

here's my $0.02USD FWIW YMMV IMHO

It's difficult to know what these are really worth, seems like every Alembic is listed well above "fair value."

i just pulled up my alembic search and counted about a dozen 5-stringers in various flavors for below $4500 USD, some of them have been languishing on reverb for years.  the used market seems pretty flat at this particular point in time. i'm outta the market for now (maybe forever ya never know), i'm sure glad i don't have to sell one of mine.  so i'm guessing that if you've got cash in hand, your're well informed of what the market actually is and you're ready to jump you could make a (dare i say) lowball offer and see what happens.  worst case dude blows you off and bans you from his auctions (it's happened to  me, still mad about it  ).  best case you get the instrumnet you want at a reasonable price.   just sayin'

I'm really jealous of the kinds, and amount, of Alembic's you guys are able to find across the pond - a used 80's Series instrument is around 15.000 USD in Europe, and 9 times out of 10 they are 4 stringed. A new Series I is around 32.000 USD, and I think that's without any bells and whistles. But then again, Alembic is American, and, for instance, where I live, you would have to pay the price you found it at overseas, and then pay another 25% of that price, and add taxes on top of that. I think if I saw a used 5-string Series instrument for 10.000 USD in Europe, I would almost choke on my coffee!

[jazzyvee]

I think if you did it would be snapped up quickly.

[edwardofhuncote]

I happened to see in my feed yesterday this one sold... anybody here pick it up?