Author Topic: Alembic (?) on ebay.de (Read 441 times)

jogi · « **on:** March 19, 2005, 08:56:00 AM »

Could this: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7309103085&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
really be an Alembic? Does look strange to me, the seller inherited it and has no clue what it is, except it says Alembic somewhere on the bass - it also says Warwick on the bridge, though... I mailed for a serial number and the exact spot where it says Alembic, but so far no reply. Any opinions?

bracheen · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2005, 09:19:13 AM »

The lack of a logo and the Warwick tailpiece would make me very skeptical. The nut doesn't look to be adjustable either. Speaking for myself I would pass on it.

Sam

jagerphan84 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2005, 10:26:46 AM »

The body and headstock are both interesting shapes - the horns look awfully pointy, and the headstock sure doesn't look right. Too much meat on top, and too pointy on the bottom. My first inclination is that it's a pretty good copy, and my second would be that it could be an employee project, but I doubt it.

Looks to me like if a Gibson SG and a Ken Smith had a baby, this would be it...

Adam

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2005, 10:52:45 AM »

My opinion? No.

Proof positive? Real serial number. ALEMBIC could look it up.

Wrong tailpiece. Warwick bridge. Wrong mounting of un-named pickups. Not an Alembic bridge. No Locking 1/4 jack instead of a 5-pin connector.
Non-adjustable, non-brass nut. Wrong shape of body and head. It looks like a reasonable copy, but not a great one. But it sure looks like a great attempt to make dirty money at the Wickersham's expense.

J o e y

majabiax · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2005, 01:15:55 AM »

I also think, this is not an real Alembic. The shape of the body is like a Short scale Bass. But the 5-pin Connector isnt't at the right place.
I also mailed for an serial number and for more photos and get no answer until now.

Axel

grateful · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2005, 02:36:45 AM »

I also don't think it's genuine: the body shape is not quite right

Mark, ago

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2005, 05:08:26 AM »

Welcome to the group, Axel.

dannobasso · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2005, 05:44:46 AM »

Not the real McCoy. All indications are off (not right)
the Alembic standard.

jogi · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2005, 08:08:49 AM »

I was pretty sure this couldn?t be the real thing even before I posted this. I asked again - and very friendly, I might add - for a serial number and just where it says Alembic: no reply... I do understand that not everybody is an expert on what he or she sells, but they could be a little more helpful than that. I contacted the high bidders as well, hope they don?t end up with a very expensive Alembic-would-be...

speicky · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2005, 11:53:02 AM »

Hi, jogi and friends,

seems my second name is trouble. I am the lucky guy who made the last bid on this auction...

I browsed the club on Sunday, but heaven knows why, I did not find this thread. Yesterday, I was happy to own another Alembic, today I'm sure to invest in a load of garbage. Well, I should have known better, already being owner of two real basses. Anyway, I will try to get in touch with this female and I will find a way to make her understand that this is not the way to sell anything in ebay.

My personal regards to jogi, I guess you were the one who put me on the right track just a few hours ago. Thank you so much !

Have a nice day, y'all, and stay online, this might be a real crime scene... :-)

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2005, 01:57:44 PM »

Hi Christian, welcome to the group.

I don't read German, so I don't know exactly what the listing says. If the seller lead you to believe that you were buying an Alembic, and the bass you received is not an Alembic, then I would think you have some recourse. Since the auction ended yesterday, it may be the case that she has not shipped it yet, and you may be able to contact her before it does. Hopefully, if you explain to her in an agreeable fashion what the situation is, then perhaps in the interest of keeping her good Ebay rating, and even her Ebay account, she will understand why the deal should not go through. Again, I don't read German and I don't know exactly what the listing says.

speicky · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:18:53 PM »

Hi, Dave,

thank you very much for quick response. The bass ist not shipped yet, nor has any money gone down the drain, so we (especially me) can go to bed quite relaxed (it's already tomorrow in Krautland).

Here's a rather rough translation of the seller's offer:

bli bli blu blu ALEMBIC asa asa sama sama

As I mentioned, I sent an email to the seller stating that both of us have a problem with the auction. She holds the key, she may clarify everything by sending any serial number.

I do not have a feedback yet, and I did not expect that. Isn't it funny (or crazy ?): I really am keen on what happens next. Luckily, the garbage in Dortmund and me in Wiesbaden are only 300 kilometers apart, not thousands. So, I at least think I have some control of what may happen next...

best regards
Speicky

(translations on ebay auctions appear courtesy of Speicky translations bli blu asa sama)

jogi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2005, 12:59:34 AM »

Hi Speicky,
hope you get out of the deal without any loss - the actual bass may be even a nice handmade one, but I don?t think it?s worth that much...

) Anyway, here?s what the seller wrote:

I?m selling this electric bass I inherited. I don?t know anything about musical instruments, so I can?t give any specific information. It says Alembic on the bass, the gigbag says Realbag by MPA.
This is a private auction, no guarantee, item may not be returned.

As I mentioned before, I asked twice for a serial number etc. but received no answer...

Speicky, let us know how this all works out, I?m really curious!

Best regards, Jogi

majabiax · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2005, 02:01:42 AM »

Hello Speiky,
I also send you about an our before the ending of the ebay auction a link to this page. I hoped, that you would read this discussion in time. So I'm sorry about you and wish you a good luck, when you will get in contact with the seller.

Axel

petiteblonde · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2005, 06:18:58 AM »

Hi Speiky,
I almost got taken for an expensive ride on eBay. Personally, I would be more worried about getting an expensive substandard though good looking fake, than getting bad feedback from the seller. If she threatens to leave bad feedback, you can tell her that Alembic experts suspect that the bass is not a real Alembic, especially since she cannot provide you with a verifiable serial number, and that you would report that in your feedback reply. Depending on how cooperative she is, you could also report it to eBay's fraud department.

She may honestly not know what she's selling, but the fact that she didn't reply to your request for a serial number is a serious red flag. If there was no serial number, she could have told you that. Serial numbers on older Alembics may be difficult for a novice to find.
The missing emblem is puzzling. I don't know how the emblem is attached, but there does not appear to be even a hint that it fell off or was intentionally removed, no marks that I can see.

I wish you success with this. Please let us all know how it goes.