Author Topic: Another !0 percent ... (Read 1267 times)

olieoliver · « **Reply #60 on:** December 20, 2006, 08:01:00 AM »

I agree that there ARE other companys that are as high quality as Alembic, I wouldn't dare say Alembic is THE BEST for everybody. They are the best for me, but not for all. I have had and and still do have other basses that I think are just as good quality as Alembic, just not the my favorite.

adriaan · « **Reply #61 on:** December 20, 2006, 08:05:21 AM »

Jordan,

I do not have an economics degree, but AFAIK you have your definition backwards. Either that, or you're confusing (monetary) inflation with price inflation. Also, as has been put forward by others, the cost of keeping the business running has been going up and up, especially in CA. This cost increase is leading to a price increase, and has nothing per se to do with inflation of any kind (although of course the monetary inflation contributes directly to the increase in business costs, dollar-for-dollar).

The current exchange rate is that for 1 EUR you will get about 1.30 USD - the rate is probably different when going from USD to EUR.

alembic_hawaii · « **Reply #62 on:** December 20, 2006, 08:49:02 AM »

Dear friends,
This is my take. As a plumbing contractor I would say that I have almost the same amount of money invested in tools as what I make a year using them.
If one purchased an Alembic for $6,000, that amount plus the investment of an amp and the usual equipment it would take to be a professional bass player to me seems like a minimal investment to make a living.
On the other hand if one is purchasing an Alembic for the sole purpose of hobby then their is no comparison as to the cost of it.
I don't think that an Alembic should be in the class of affordability just for one's hobby sake. These beautiful works of Art are just that. And the ones producing them are artisans. They deserve top dollar for their efforts.
I hope that Alembic keeps up their high standard and doesn't succumb to the competitive level of mass production like the other manufacturers has.
I have waited 30 years to finally purchase the bass of my dreams and now it is about to happen.
Some of my friends have said why spend so much on a bass when you can get one that sounds just as good for less?.
Well, I sit here almost daily and tune into this site just to druel over the sites of these beautiful works of art. I cannot wait to hold my new Series II custom named Mele Aloha.
Some like Harleys, some like Ferrari's, and some like Alembic's.
God bless Alembic for their fine family values and quality workmanship.

Aloha, Paul

olieoliver · « **Reply #63 on:** December 20, 2006, 09:00:38 AM »

Very well put Paul.

Alembic = Kilohana!

bob · « **Reply #64 on:** December 20, 2006, 09:39:09 AM »

They raise their prices every year, at the same time

That depends on when you start counting. This may offer a more complete perspective.

alembic_hawaii · « **Reply #65 on:** December 20, 2006, 09:57:04 AM »

Now my blood is starting to boil more after reading more of the threads.

Folks, the first Alembic that I could finally afford, (which is still the best bass I have ever had or heard except for other Alembics)is my single pick-up Excel which I have had for about 8 years now. This bass cost me about $1,800 then. I could have played that bass professionally and made a fortune off of it in itself without even ever haviing to purchase another bass in my lifetime.

After reading some of these posts from people who don't appreciate quality I am starting to feel sorry that Alembic even has such an affordable bass with such a good sound. It's to bad that they don't just keep there price up to what they are really worth. The sound that I get from my excel far exceeds any sound out of basses of other manufacturers that cost $4,000 plus. But in fact I shouldn't even be comparing them because none of those even sound as good as my Excel.

I know that the satisfaction that I get from my Excel to this day far exceeds anything from my Carvin which cost the same amount. It's like comparing cardboard to Gold.

The God given talents that are put into Alembics are not up for value differentiating.

The way I look at Alembics is if you have to ask how much it is then YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT!!!

Please take your price complaints to the Warwick or Carvin Forums. Leave this forum for the discussion of talent and innovation.

I am going to play my Excel right now just for a RUSH! That's what Alembic does for me.

lbpesq · « **Reply #66 on:** December 20, 2006, 11:36:52 AM »

Jordan:

I don't know nearly as much about basses as many around here do, but I do know a thing or two about guitars having played for the better part of 40 years and currently in possesion of nearly 50 guitars of all types. I have NEVER EVER seen another guitar that equals an Alembic in build quality. Period. (If you know of one PLEASE tell me). I have some very nice instruments including a 1961 Strat, 1970 ES335, several Daions (IMHO the finest production line guitar ever constructed), PRS, Hofner, Bond, National, Fernandes Alembic copy, Aria Pro II Alembic copy, Phiga, Godin, Doug Irwin, and others. I go 2x a year to the World Guitar Show (both days) where I am always on the lookout for unusual quality instruments. In my experience, when it comes to guitars, not only does nothing beat Alembic, but nothing even comes close. As for the price increase, I am always amused when I hear rock 'n roll musicians complain about the cost of guitars and basses. Just go ask the cellist in the symphony orchestra how much they paid for their axe. Compared to the classical world, Alembics are fairly inexpensive!

Bill, tgo

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #67 on:** December 20, 2006, 02:13:46 PM »

Too true, Bill. In my former capacity as recording crew supervisor for the NIU School of Music, I once heard the violinist for the Vermeer Quartet lament that a malfunctioning $3 rosin cake could render his $1,000,000 fiddle unplayable. Makes a custom Series seem a lot more doable, no?

Peter

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #68 on:** December 20, 2006, 05:12:38 PM »

quote: Mark,
You would wish for cats with wings? My cats are enough trouble already, wing equipped cats would take it to a completely different level!

... Okay... maybe I didn't think that one through...

Ollie, not to argue, but just out of sincere curiousity, what companies do you regard as equal to Alembic? I'd like to check 'em out.

I've seen a FEW individual, specific instruments that are of comparable build/feel quality. I'm not aware of any company that consistenly equals Alembic, and would be interested in checking them out -just for my own education, and being informed.

I've NEVER seen/heard any other electric bass with electronics even close to Alembics... within the context of my knowledge, the Europa/Rogue electronics are substantially superior in cleaness/reproduction of sound than anyone elses' electronics. And the Series seem to be in a class by themselves.

Just curious.

hifiguy · « **Reply #69 on:** December 20, 2006, 06:06:52 PM »

So many have said it so well, particularly Mark (8-string King) alembic_hawaii and bob, but it bears yet more repetition. An Alembic bass is an expression of the sonic and artistic limits of the possible at various price points. The cutting edge is _always_ expensive.

Alembic has few if any economies of scale and makes virtually everything in house. Exotic woods are rare and expensive; they will not be getting any cheaper. Hand craftsmanship by artisans is expensive. The company could probably make more money if it built one offs for museums/collectors and selling them for $50,000 like Jens Ritter does. Not that there's anything wrong with what Ritter does, but Alembic has always focused on putting their extraordinary instruments into the hands of musicians who use Alembic's expression to express themselves.

I am in no position to afford another Alembic at this point, but I cherish the one I own. If my house was on fire the two things I'd run in to rescue are my Alembic and my cat. If and when my finances once again get in order, my baby will be getting a custom sister or two or three.

The electronics point is for me the fatal argument against there are other equally good basses. Any instrument with off the rack Barts or such cannot be compared to an Alembic, period. The electronics in my Signature can do things that no conventional electronics can do.

A 10% increase is what is needed for Alembic to continue doing what it does. So be it. They do what they do better than anyone else in the world. I'm sure Stradivari and Guarneri heard the same griping, but thankfully it didn't stop them.

Paul

zappahead · « **Reply #70 on:** December 20, 2006, 08:16:32 PM »

I actually dont see much difference in the base prices of Alembics when you compare them to a lot of the other boutique guitar companies. Where Alembic 's prices differ is in the options. They do have the most expensive options I have seen anywhere. Im sure somewhere they are higher, but I aint seen it. That being said, if you choose to forgo a lot of the expensive options you probably get as much or more since their base wood options are pretty nice.

As far as companies who are on par with Alembic I would put Giffen's stuff with anyones, Gustavvson's are interesting and if word of mouth is to be trusted they are making the best of the best at the moment. Its different with guitars though, Alembic's are a different beast and thats what I like about them. Just about everyone else is doing their spin on the same old thing, Alembic stands out on their own.

Alembics prices are steep but really, comparatively they are just at the top of the scale. I would only consider their prices over the top if they were on a plateau of their own and they arent. Plenty of people are charging this much. I also cant see why Bass players can complain, on ebay Alembics are a fantastic deal. You frequently see even unique custom jobs for a song. Guitar players have to wait and pick through baritones and orions and the rare series 1 from the 70s that you have trouble trusting.

richbass939 · « **Reply #71 on:** December 20, 2006, 09:09:20 PM »

Personally, naive or not, I trust the Wickershams to do the right thing. If they wanted to make a pile of money without regard for the good Alembic name or the current or distant-future owners they would have artificially pumped up the value of the brand name and sold the company to the highest bidder long ago. They could have an Alembic-Squire or Alembic-Metro line that is made by the best artisans 35 cents per hour can buy. If they were mainly interested in how much money they could make, there are better ways of going about it. I'm sure they are good enough at business to figure out how to make a financial killing if that is what they wanted to do. Instead they choose to keep moving along at much the same production pace they have had for years.
They probably choose to live in California because they like it there. If they didn't, then they would be somewhere else. I don't want them to move someplace where they wouldn't be as happy so that new guitars and basses would cost a little bit less.
They have come up with outstanding innovations in electric instruments and have built a great company over the last 35 - 40 years. They have the best customer service I have ever seen. Several people in the company (including Mica) have spent a total of 30 - 45 minutes talking with me about my instruments and things that would help me be a more satisfied Alembic owner. I'm sure they knew I would not be ordering a new instrument and it didn't matter. (Good luck getting someone at a relatively high level in Fender Corp. to spend half an hour talking about the seven-year-old Jazz bass you just bought on e-bay.) When I registered my first Alembic and requested a build record, Mica also sent me a bag of tools that I didn't even ask for. This isn't how one runs a company whose focus is strictly on the bottom line.
I hope that they have made a lot of money building Alembics. I think they have earned it. I'm happy that the integrity with which the Wickershams have built their products and their business remains intact.
Rich

lbpesq · « **Reply #72 on:** December 20, 2006, 09:16:28 PM »

Why does Alembic do business the way it does? For the same reason the Grateful Dead didn't put out albums full of 3 minute 1-4-5 songs proclaiming Oh Baby, I love you.

Bill, tgo

tbrannon · « **Reply #73 on:** December 20, 2006, 09:23:25 PM »

Well put Rich~ I sat here for a few minutes after reading the latest additions to this thread and was trying to come up with some way of expressing how much I appreciate Alembic. I found that it wasn't an easy task, but that's never stopped me before

I like Alembic.

That's it.

I didn't say that I like Alembic basses or that I like Alembic preamps. I like Alembic. I like the products, I like the service, I like the attitude and I like the fact that they don't compromise on quality.

I feel lucky to own a used Rogue. I never thought I'd be able to afford an Alembic, but now that I've got one you can be sure that I'll be putting aside money for the day when I can afford to call Alembic and order my own custom. It'll be expensive, but worth every penny.

terryc · « **Reply #74 on:** December 21, 2006, 01:32:17 AM »

Sod the money, you may be dead tomorrow, life is for living, whether it be basses, cars or spending money on the person you love, you came into the world with nothing and you leave with nothing.
Alembic basses are the best in the world and that is what you are paying for, besides you cannot help feeling good when some other bass players asks you what bass you have and you reply 'Alembic'. The look on their faces is worth every penny!!!