Cherry Red Elan on Ebay - Mica/Val

[ajdover]

Mica/Val,
 
   There is a cherry red Elan, SN 88H4936 for sale on Ebay at:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3718296483&ssPageName=STRK:MEBBI:IT
 
    Do you have any history on this bass?
 
    BTW, I went to the store that's selling it (Atomic Music in College Park, MD) and played it.  It's got some nicks and scrapes, but nothing through the finish from what I could tell (other than the gouge on the bottom!).  The hardware is badly tarnished (will need some TLC with Flitz),  the controls work, though the Q-filter feature isn't as prominent as it is on my Spyder (e.g., it doesn't have as significant a wah-wah effect).  Both pickups work, but the bass will need to be set up.  I absolutely love the neck and feel - it still plays fairly well in its current state.  Frets appear OK, but the fingerboard could probably use some lemon oil.  Tone is what I'm looking for - a Jazz bass type sound in an Alembic.  
 
    Anyway, if you have any info, I'd appreciate it.  Hopefully, this will be Alembic #3 for me!
 
Regards,
 
Alan Dover
2003 Spyder 4
84 Spoiler-Exploiter
 
 

[valvil]

Hello Alan,
 
I don't know if I'll be in on Monday, however, from the pictures I'd say it looks like a fairly standard 1988 Elan with quilted maple top, maple neck & maple body with cherry red finish; ebony fretboard, brass hardware, brass truss rod cover, plastic backplate,  Elan electronics, oval inlays (can't tell if MOP or perloid); tuners look like chrome gotohs. I'll check the birthdate and see what other info we may have when I am at work next.
 
Valentino

[bsee]

Alan-
 
What's the in-store asking price?  You might want to jump on it if you are really interested.  There are others watching, myself included, and the auction could get up significantly from where it's currently sitting.  
 
By the way, I traded emails with the seller a few days ago and he said that he measured the scale at 32.25 inches, so he thinks it's a medium.  Can you confirm that from your playing time with it?

[ajdover]

Bob,
 
    I didn't measure the scale, but my Spoiler-Exploiter is medium scale, and the Elan felt longer to me.
 
     Last time I looked (this AM) the bid was at $810.  I'm not sure if it is worth much more than that due to the condition it's in, and the fact that the case isn't original (the bass moves around inside the case).  It also needs set up work, and the brass is significantly tarnished.  I also noticed that when one taps the pots, they make a noticeable noise, as if you were tapping the pickups themselves.  Don't know if this is normal (I suspect it isn't), but I'd definitely want to look inside the cavity before buying.
 
    The way I see it, whoever wins the auction will probably need to buy a new case, do set up work, new strings, etc.  That alone would probably come close to $200 or more depending on type of case selected, etc.  
 
    I asked for the selling price, and the salesman told me he couldn't tell me since it's on Ebay.  Based on the other high end instruments they had in the store (Tobias, Laklands, US Masters, Status, etc.), my guess is they're probably looking for about $1100 or so for it.  Given the fact that I got my Spoiler-Exploiter off Ebay in perfect condition for $1500 (with correct case), what they're probably asking is, IMHO, more than it is worth due to condition/case, etc.
 
Alan

[bsee]

There was a 'rash' of spoiler/exploiters on ebay several months ago and I bet you outbid me to get the one you have if it was recently.  I swear there were 3-4 of them that sold over the course of a month, and I haven't seen one come up since.
 
Not every ebayer will have the luxury of your close inspection on the Elan.  I would suspect that they will get at least the $1100 for it, though I won't chase it that far.  Heck, if you think it's long scale, I won't even bid.
 
My interest is a medium or short scale bass in four, or preferably five, strings with a reasonable to wide string spacing and a better-than-Persuader electronics package.  Of course, I am also looking for a bargain...

[ajdover]

Bob,
 
    Yes, I remember the run on Exploiters ... I bid on several, and finally won the one I have now, which of course, led to the Spyder, and hopefully another Alembic (an Europa is what I'm really saving for ... thinner neck with Jazz Bass tones).  Yes, it's a sickness, but a good one!  BTW, I won my Exploiter in November, 2003.
 
    I'm just the opposite when it comes to basses .. I like thin necks for the most part (never owned a Precision, and probably never will).  I grew up playing Jazz basses and Rickenbackers, and I've just gotten used to them.  Now, my Spyder and my Exploiter have wider necks than I'm used to, but, since they're Alembics, they don't feel wide to me.  Strange but true!  Anyway, I've got two Jazz basses, a Rickenbacker 4001, an '87 Gibson Thunderbird, a '79 Musicman Stingray, a '74 Gibson Ripper (it's a beast!), and of course, my pride and joy ... my Alembics.  You can probably tell by my collection what I prefer.
 
    Anyway, good luck on the bidding.  If you need me to run back up there for a closer inspection, let me know.  I'll take a tape measure next time to measure the scale.
 
Regards,
 
Alan
 
   

[bsee]

I own a couple Spector 4s, but I have universally played Zon 5s when it counts for the past six years.  Just before I bought the first Zon, I had an opportunity to 'borrow' a medium spoiler/exploiter from one of the local guitar shops.  I was well-connected when I was playing more, so I could pretty much take anything I wanted for a test drive.  I gigged it and everyone loved the sound, but I enjoyed the shape a bit too much and my shoulder wasn't too happy.  I could have owned it without the case for $750, and I foolishly let it go back to the shop.
 
I love my Zons, but I really want to get my hands on a short or medium scale bass.  I may ask Joe Zon if he ever thought of making a shorter scale bass, but it would probably be easier to find a short Alembic.  I will probably be branded a heathen for saying so, but I think the Zon Legacy is as good as anything else in the price range, Alembics included.  That said, a short Alembic is a sure thing compared to asking another vendor to try something new.  
 
How about a medium scale 5 with ebony neck laminates and strung on the light side?  Anyone have one they don't want anymore?

[bsee]

Did anyone have a chance to look at the books on this bass for the straight scoop?  There's about 27 hours left on it as of now.
 
Thanks-