interesting fretless essence jsut popped up on eeek!-bay

[BeenDown139]

in my so far fruitless hunt for my dream fretless (described elsewhere on this site) this popped up this morning on my daily cruise thru the netherworld of used instrument sales.  it was interesting enough to catch my eye.  when i copied the link i got this bizarre string of text.  it's an actual link, i checked it:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267473296659?_skw=alembic&itmmeta=01KA3WK45418JZ4ZE8B12P9SX0&hash=item3e46a69d13:g:8~oAAeSwPqNpF-3k&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1f4oyb7dRvCBPISD7BcLqcRlmTwywUnpT92cxcOdtAwKw%2BA4KFNt0cZZokSuIFwPQW2vX6wbMZpOjJRRlrSvmEjxdZtiC%2FQslzivPG8o%2Fj%2F2ey3yyVxl8Dj2PknSGglSFn1bvUH7XPYjEH0uYICemuYv4MW4M5e7mo0Syz4uozHgtpzIXqAWOXW9rwYmsjpxiNjJ%2F0mtkkq%2FQKOJ9cZqeyMVZRvtewnwHyKa1MJgfAaG1IO%2Fk96fTzCkmZVnZvAqFBSKLb29xbNLO6w8Sln%2FDiz%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9LCzPzQZg

looks like maybe a nice custom ugrade?
located in japan. 
from the seller : "The neck-side LED option was available, but unfortunately it doesn't light up.".  that's a big negative.  could be anything from dead batteries to operator error to we gotta peel the fingerboard off to fix it.
i see a bunch of knobs and switches that you normally don't find on an essence - upgraded electronics?
is that thumbrest part of the original build?

if this was in the US and from a seller i could halfway trust, i'd give them a ping.  as it stands, looks like a very pretty bass with problems and a 3x premium over a regular used essence.  thanks.  but no thanks.  good luck to all!

[pauldo]

That’s a very nice looking fretless.

I prefer my fretless thumb-rest aligned with the top edge of the PU’s, like this:

[BeenDown139]

That’s a very nice looking fretless.

oh yes it is. did i forget to mention that?  i think we had this thumbrest discussion in some other thread.  also forgot to mention the 3+2 fretless  headstock vs. 2+3 for fretted.  pretty sure i've mentioned that before.

it so happens that i own the less dressier version of this instrument.  it's a nice bass.  no way is it worth that kina scratch USD.  i really wanna upgrade it to a series or anneversary.   i want stereo output.  and built-in LEDs (mine has a FretFX strip on it). and a thinner neck (preferably with ebony lams).  unlined board.  long scale.  5-strings.  yadda yadda.  kinda like to find one before i kick the bucket.

good luck to all!

[honkylips]

I’m guessing it’s Rogue/Europa electronics, which is what I have on my “Essence.”

[sonicus]

A thumb-rest on any bass is in my way, as my right-hand technique implements three fingers and my thumb. I need to put that thumb to work, as my left-hand fingering can only accommodate three fingers. My right-hand thumb is busy with muting and double and triple stops.

[BeenDown139]

looks like some other "seller" hopped on hte bandwagon.  added another $5k USD to the price.  didn't mention the dead LEDs and says it's fully operational.  re-enforces my ban on ebay purchases from japan, especially musical instruments.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187757539934?_skw=alembic&itmmeta=01KAF0JF4GNAA9NZWCQ06KHG0K&hash=item2bb738b25e:g:H1QAAeSwUTlpHjIg&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAAwFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eDR7jlxxWKl4Spg8yN4TtT1ef%2BLNHw04g7DLiu%2BQWm5%2Bg8HvXi3AnLcqWMsVo2dIlwMB4YJs4U2aLOceEJtqA7kbuyHPkP861OcfYrWNcgH803AFFQPkWc62TRoQfzOy%2BilgoQs7A6UbLrzp0vpydQ4k3Ypm3jDqlg4RxgZd3r%2Bolbcsyul4kj7in0%2B44oL2JKtovLWxDsWtonkzCZoLqjExeHYW2zjeHlWz7VhqsnhQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR67yyeDTZg

dunno why the links copy that way.  somebody else from japan has it listed for $8600 USD.  can you say fraud fraud fraud?

also now on ebay.

maybe we're better off with the internet broken.   i dunno.  time to get baked.

[sonicus]

BeenDown139,
With regard to the same instrument having multiple eBay sellers listing it, it is an issue that I have noticed as well. Unfortunately, the propensity for this multiple listing scenario seems to be prevalent with listings from eBay Japan in my observations.  (I in no way disparage anything Japanese).  One can contact eBay for them to look into such multiple listings of the same instrument, and they might take some of them down, perhaps.

[BeenDown139]

 well here's another nice fertless that jsut popped up on everbr:

https://reverb.com/item/93437135-alembic-europe

nice top.  unlined board.  not enuff strings or bells and whistles, unfortunately.  plus it's gotta travel across the pond(s).  a hazardous undertaking these days it seems.

the search continues.

[garyhead]

Have you considered defretting a 5-string Series II ?  There is one coming up on the market soon. I guess that maybe a “no” as the LED’s will be in the wrong location.    Just a thought.

[BeenDown139]

Have you considered defretting a 5-string Series II ?  There is one coming up on the market soon. I guess that maybe a “no” as the LED’s will be in the wrong location.    Just a thought.

interesting that you should suggest that.  my bandmates who are totally unschooled on alembic made the same suggestion after i told them i was looking for the fretless version of the ebony amazon.   when i showed them the gold foil pointers on the knobs they were agog. i think the LEDs being out of position would be the least of my problems if i were to de-fret that bass.  oh the horror just to think about it.
 my fertless 5-string essence has a fretFX strip on it and the LEDs get further misaligned from the position dots the further up the neck i go.  i've been playing that bass so long like that my brain has adapted to the offset and i use my ears to find the correct intonation in any case.

i have to say that essence is a very nice instrument.  but the difference in fretless tone between it and my anniversary electronics 4-string fretless is night and day.  i'd really like to have one fretless that does it all.  it's not too much to ask.  is it?

[edwardofhuncote]

It isn't quite as simple as just defretting with an Alembic. I was just having this conversation with another Club Member recently... see, with a fretless bass the point of contact between the string and the wood fingerboard makes a particular sound. Those big pearl ovals don't sound like the wood around them. If you find a bass you just can't live without it isn't an insurmountable challenge. You could ease the inlays out and replace them with wood. That would help. Maybe rosewood or white holly would be hard enough. You still have to address the side markers, which are typically at the intervals between the frets, not at the fret slots. Again, it's do-able... just drill 'em, fill 'em, and move 'em. Don't miss! The best thing to do, (particularly in BeenDown's case) is to have the whole fingerboard replaced and have LED's installed at the same time. I don't know what it costs or how long it takes sooooo...

[tkotmk42]

BTW, this bass (the original poster linked from Ebay) is being sold at the Ishibashi music in Tokyo Japan.

Very legit shop, and I am regular there, bought many many basses, sold many as well, always professional and great to deal with.
The direct link to their shop is below:  they do ship internationally so you save a lot of money going direct.

https://intl.ishibashi.co.jp/products/05-2800003181847

Hope this helps.  I haven't seen this particular bass in person, but it looks very nice    (one too many strings for me, and fretless scars me lol)

Takeo

[BeenDown139]

....particularly in BeenDown's case) is to have the whole fingerboard replaced and have LED's installed at the same time....

these LEDs and inlays are only getting touched when somebody pries this instrument outta my cold dead hands.  which is the only ways it's leaving my possession.  probably won't be much longer.

, and fretless scars me lol)

well in my experience playing a fretless is an acquired taste.  kinda like eating geoducks.  only took me about 20 years before i felt comfortable playing one infront of people.

[edwardofhuncote]

I wasn't suggesting you defret that one. It is an option available to you should you find a candidate that meets your other criteria. Sooner or later you will find one anyway.

[garyhead]

I wasn’t referring to the Ebony Amazon either.  I was suggesting another SeriesII for a defret….then I had a nights sleep (after a week-long 2,200 mile journey). I woke up and thought “who got on my phone and posted that nonsense!”  Cannibalize an Alembic?!?  Anyway…..I’m keeping my eyes peeled for that elusive fretless 5.