Author Topic: Relative value of different models? (Read 1500 times)

csissom · « **Reply #30 on:** April 23, 2006, 09:14:31 PM »

Jalevinemd,

Thank you for finding the right word... eyesore. I wonder too if they were done by Alembic, they don't seem to really match the other normal inlays, seems like Alembic would have done it more tastefully. And if they were original, why not put them on a fret where there are supposed to be inlays, like the 12th or 15th? That alone makes me think they must have been added after the guitar was built.

Now I am very anxious to see what comes back from Alembic on the query for the build record.

Curt

csissom · « **Reply #31 on:** April 23, 2006, 09:29:12 PM »

Bob,

Yes, the top wood is beautiful in that one close up, and I must admit, every facet of this bass seems it would suit me perfectly, except for those stupid inlays.

Dig them out and put some pieces of ebony in there? Then have a beautiful Alembic with a hacked up fretboard? I don't like that idea either.

I suppose I could send it back to Alembic and have them put a whole new fretboard on it. I'm not sure I like the idea of a project like that either, but let me just pose a few questions to the gang about that?:

- About how much would it cost to have a new fretboard put on a bass like this?
- About how long would it take Alembic to do that?
- Would doing that add to, or detract from, the value of the bass on the market?

I always hear that you shouldn't replace parts or recondition vintage guitars, because it will ruin their value. But then I see on this forum, lots of people talking about upgrading their Alembics and sending them back to the factory for this or that. So does this rule apply to Alembics? Do improvements like that add to the value of an Alembic, or detract from the value, because the guitar is no longer original.

I wonder about this, not only because of this bass, but also the one I already own, which was sent back to Alembic at one point for lots of upgrades.

As always, any thoughts or opinions are appreciated.

Curt

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #32 on:** April 23, 2006, 10:38:24 PM »

Boy, that's too bad, Curt, it's a gorgeous Distillate, but those initials... all the charm of a girlfriend with her LAST boyfriends name tattooed on her -fill in the blanks girl forever!

I personally couldn't deal with it -what jalevinemd said...

One's things for sure... this won't be the last Distillate you see on E-bay.

Keep your eye on the Swap Shop column here on the Alembic site. You'll probably see one there eventually. Perhaps a member looking to upgrade'll hook you up!

Best of luck, again.

ajdover · « **Reply #33 on:** April 23, 2006, 10:45:06 PM »

Curt,

I own 20 bass guitars of various marques, and I've never hesitated, regardless of age or vintage, to improve them or repair them to make them more playable to me. To wit:

I had both my '73 Fender Jazz Bass' and '79 Musicman Stingray's necks refretted and refinished.

I replaced the original pickups in my '73 Jazz with Seymour Duncans, replaced the original tuners with Schaller replacements, and replaced the original bridge with a Badass II.

I had my '74 Gibson Ripper completely refinished (it is a factory second).

Like a lot of guys here, I'm a player, not a collector. I play all my basses, and I could care less if someone thinks that I've ruined it by modifying it in some way. I'm playing the instrument, not someone else. If I feel it needs something to make it more appealing to me, so be it. If I were a collector I'd be more concerned about keeping things stock, but since I play my instruments, it is not a primary concern. The way I see it, these instruments were made to be played, not placed in a museum somewhere. Others feel differently, and that's cool. For me, I'd rather play it than look at it.

On the Distillate, if the only sticking point is the fingerboard inlay, I'd call Mica or Susan and ask them how much it would run to replace the fingerboard and/or fill in the inlays and sand it over. You might find that they can do it for a relatively decent price. You could also just buy the bass and have that kind of surgery done later when it's more financially feasible. finally, you could have Alembic replace the inlays with something more akin to your tastes, e.g. an oval or some other shape with your initials in another material. I haven't seen the bass on Ebay yet (I'm at work and our firewall won't let me see it), so I'll reserve further comment until I do.

Alembics generally don't go up in value - there have been many discussions on this in the club - but once used, they tend to hold their value at a certain price point (e.g., $900-$1100 for Epics, etc.). If you got the fingerboard replaced, I don't think it would detract much from the value of the bass - it might even add to it depending on what you do with it as it would be, in the eyes of some, an upgrade.

Again, best of luck in your hunt for the perfect Curt Alembic.

Best regards,

Alan

jalevinemd · « **Reply #34 on:** April 24, 2006, 06:45:12 AM »

Curt,

This is what you need to keep in mind. As Alan alluded, this is not an investment grade instrument. It's not a vintage Fender or Gibson that there's a huge market for. If you're dream bass is a flame koa Distillate, buy this one and accept it for its imperfections (my wife does!) If you want it in as new condition, send it to Alembic and have them make it factory fresh. But do it to have the instrument of your dreams. Because with the current price hovering around $2000, you will most certainly not recoup your investment should you have this refinished and try to sell it later.

Regards,

Jonathan

longhorncat · « **Reply #35 on:** April 24, 2006, 07:45:01 AM »

A black Sharpie marker would fix those initial inlays in 60 seconds.
That Koa top is very nice.

olieoliver · « **Reply #36 on:** April 24, 2006, 07:57:11 AM »

Flip it over.

David Houck · « **Reply #37 on:** April 24, 2006, 09:52:26 AM »

My thoughts. I think the current price of $1,750 (no bids) would be close to the top end range for this bass were it not for the initials. I can't recall but I'm thinking that a complete fretboard replacement would be expensive. If it were me, I would call Mica and ask if it would possible to fill in just that fret with another piece of Ebony and, if it were possible, how much it would cost. Then add in the cost of shipping the bass to Santa Rosa and back. Of course on the plus side, as long as you are shipping the bass to Santa Rosa, since it's going to be there anyway you can consider having other changes made.

spliffy · « **Reply #38 on:** April 24, 2006, 10:05:00 AM »

Hey Curt, I have an 82 Distillate, which I love. It is not as beautiful as yours, but she is amazing. I am waiting for history of mine too, although I have had her for a while. The one thing that I found fascinating about the 82 Distilate was that between the neck and the ebony fretboard, Alembic put a thin layer of wood. I believe they did this so that replacing the fingerboard at a later time would be easier to do! This may help if you purchase the axe and decide to change the ebony board.
IMO, I would buy the bass and have the inlay removed by Alembic. Alembic started out by modifying instruments, so why not modify an Alembic. Also, I feel the Distillate is a players bass and should not be kept as a collector piece. I do not use mine all that much because I am always afraid of it getting stolen if I leave the room (some places are just too shady and not worth bringing in the best bass)!
Also I noticed with my D was that at some venues the bass would pick up radio stations and it bugged me. I sent in the electronics to Alembic and they made some changes to it. It has worked perfectly since then. My only caution to that would be.... you need patience as it will not be done over night, week or month. Other than that You will be fine.
The bass on Ebay is beautiful!
If I had the cash and space I would purchase it... hmmm, and make it fretless.... a sister to my current model...... Oh to dream!!!

Good luck with your decision.

Al

csissom · « **Reply #39 on:** April 24, 2006, 10:43:38 AM »

8 String King,

The tattoo on the girlfriend's butt is exactly the analogy that came to mind when I first saw this! The perfect comparison!

Curt

csissom · « **Reply #40 on:** April 24, 2006, 10:57:36 AM »

Alan,

Thanks for that input. I sort of feel the way you do. I don't see the problem in improving a guitar and making it better.

And hey, that is amazing. I also have an early 70s Gibson Ripper, factory second, sitting in my closet. I'm not sure the exact year, since the serial number is bogus due to it being a second. But it served me well through my starving musician phase until I was able to afford my first Rickenbacker about 20 years ago. I figure the problem from the factory must have been something to do with the bridge, since someone had replaced it with a Badass bridge, and everything else on the guitar seems fine. Has anyone ever tried to Alembicize one of those? That might be interesting.

Anyway, I am with you, I am a player, not really a collector (some might say I am a very poor collector, and a somewhat less poor player, but you know how that goes). If I was a better collector, I probably wouldn't still have that Ripper in my closet. I just seem to have trouble letting go of a guitar once I have it.

So yes, I will try to get the cost for fixing the Distillate and factor that into my decision. Is calling them on the phone the best way to ask such things? I did leave the question on my thread asking for the history and build record, but am still waiting on a response to that.

In any case, thanks for all the great input.

Curt

ajdover · « **Reply #41 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:05:58 AM »

Curt,

Say, you wouldn't want to sell that Rick, would 'ya?

Alan

csissom · « **Reply #42 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:06:32 AM »

Jalevinemd,

I am not really looking at this as an investment, which I would want to sell later for a profit. Like I said above, I never seem to sell any guitar I have once I get it. I just want to make sure I am spending my relatively scant budget in the best way possible.

Curt

ajdover · « **Reply #43 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:08:43 AM »

Curt,

I'd recommend calling them as opposed to email. Just my experience.

Alan

csissom · « **Reply #44 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:16:34 AM »

Dave,

I must be getting the hang of this, because that's exactly what I was already thinking, that $1750 is about the top I would want to pay for the bass, if it didn't have those ugly initials inlaid.

So my current thinking is, I might just let the auction finish, and if someone bids that for it, more power to them. But if it ends without a bid, I might offer the guy whatever $1750 minus the cost of fixing it would be.

If he won't take that, or if someone else buys it first, I'll just keep looking.

Curt