I think another significant thing that most of us know, but that deserves occaisional repeating... it that an Alembic neck-thru comes standard with several significant CUSTOM options at NO EXTRA CHARGE: most importantly, you can choose your scale length and fingerboard dimensions... they build a bass CUSTOM... JUST RIGHT... for YOU. Built into the quote, no additional charge. Also, you get a choice of several very attractive standard woods... and I'm pretty sure there's more than 1 no extra charge body wood choice as well. And they don't charge extra for fretless and/or lefty.
I understand that lot's of us -myself included- like to have more than a few options on our dream basses. This adds up, of course.
Nonetheless, the point remains that one can get a VERY VERY nice albeit relatively modest CUSTOM ALEMBIC for a good deal.
If you get an Essense bass with no options other than standard, and add the right special of the month you've got yourself an awesome bass.
If you can upgrade just a little to a Rogue, you get even more, and a Europa is even a little more.
These 3 Alembic models are all AWESOME... each a little more than the previous. Oh, I also forgot to remind us that you usually have at least a couple body types to choose from at no extra charge.
Anyway, any one of these 3 Alembic models can be a unique and awesome CUSTOM ALEMBIC bass that would give a great account of itself in the bass world. Add in the right special, it get's even more awesome. And you can always minimize, and pick just 1, or maybe 2 essential features, and pay the price.
MY next/second custom is middle of the road pricey, higher than many other Alembics, but lower than many others, to be sure.
Initially, the first thing I looked at was what it would be to get a replacement for the stolen Elan with Europa electronics I'd had.
Well, excluding the Quilted Maple top I'd had, a replacement -a standard 6-String Europa- was $7900. Knock off 25% dealer discount and add in the right special of the month, you've got a totally killer custom bass for a little under 6 grand.
If you're only talking 4 or 5 strings, it's less, and a Essense with an added Q switch is a very competitive bass -in terms of quality to price ratio, and also compared to other brands of basses -no contest!
So even with the price increase, let's remember that the standard price is really 75% of the price, plus you get several wood and body choices at no extra charge, and a monthly special to sweeten things up. For that, you get A LOT of bass... (or guitar... don't want to overlook the fine guitars, no sir/ma'aam!). And you can always choose to upgrade JUST A LITTLE... pick a little thing or two, or one big thing, if you have to.
There is of course no doubt that if you get a top of the line custom Series II with a Triple Omega Stinger body and Ziricote BTC on both sides with laser LEDs and Ebony laminates and added individual bass and treble switches... it sure wouldn't be cheap.
But while the ultimate have-every/all big and small details I want bass is most surely VERY EXPENSIVE, the bass that the rest of us non-rich schmucks can afford if we work really hard, save, and pay it off isn't too hideous.
