Fake Alembics being manufactured to order in China

[jazzyvee]

I came across this today when I followed a link from the Basschat forum where a guy was having a fake Fodera style bass made by a company in China so decided to see if there would be Alembics for sale too.
 
Sure enough they seem to be making and selling fake Alembic basses. Even in one case using an actual alembic as the initial two photographs then the remainder of the pictures clearly being of the fake.  
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Custom-Shop-Quilted-Maple-Top-5-Ply-Neck-Thru-Ebony-Fretboard-Active-Preamp-Pickup-4-Strings/32297762470.html


 
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Custom-Quilted-Maple-5-Ply-Neck-Thru-Ebony-Fretboard-Active-Preamp-Pickup-Alembic-4-Strings-Electric/32339038918.html
 
 
I've also forwarded a link to Mica as I'm pretty sure she'd want to check this out.
 
(Message edited by jazzyvee on June 18, 2015)

[slawie]

Custom Quilted Maple 5 Ply Neck Thru Ebony Fretboard Active Preamp Pickup Alembic 4 Strings Electric Bass Guitar Free Shipping
 
Might be correct.  
It could have 4 Alembic strings.  
 
Be prepared for a slew of these to be in pawn shops soon enough. Makes me angry.
 
slawie
 
There's probably 2/5ths of nothing that can be done about it. What a POS.

[sonicus]

This is quite disturbing  and hopefully will come to an end.

[sonicus]

Are they actually advertising to willfully break US CUSTOMS laws here ?  
            This is taken from their advertisement from  jazzyvees's link;
 
Customs Release
        In order to pass customs clearance easily, we will ship item as GIFT and report the goods value at low price. We can also prepare an invoice for you if necessary.

[tubeperson]

Until our Government starts aggressively protecting our intellectual property, this will only continue to increase in magnitude and scope.  The Chinese define intellectual property with a wide swath, and consider ownership of it by the people.  Perhaps we should nationalize the loans we owe them, that would send a very strong message that this kind of thing must stop.

[jazzyvee]

Well let's hope something can be done. Also many prospective buyers of alembic instruments consult this forum for background information and advice prior to purchasing an alembic, so for those musicians we at least have an opportunity to make them aware of what they are really buying before it's too late.

[terryc]

It even has LED's...to be honest I know it isn't the real thing and it should not be done at all but it would be interesting to play one to actually hear and feel the instrument itself.
What next I ask??

[terryc]

Have you noticed they have put a pic of a genuine bass and the back before the fakes to entice you in!!!
This is really bad!!!!

[lbpesq]

At least they didn't put an Alembic logo on it.
 
Bill, tgo

[sonicus]

They appear to not just be hitting Alembic Inc.  
 
 Also ;
 
    Ken Smith   :http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-Factory-6-strings-Ken-Smith-bass-guitar-Ken-Smith-electric-bass-guitar-gold-hardware/32352180821.html
 
   Rickenbacher ;   http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Arrival-Factory-Custom-Shop-3-Piece-Neck-Rosewood-Fretboard-CS-Fireglo-Ricken-360-12-Strings/32346852622.html
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-Quality-Factory-Custom-Shop-Neck-Through-Carved-Ricken-LK-Lemmy-Kilmister-Limited-4-String-Electric/32348392794.html
 
 
Fodera   http://www.aliexpress.com/item/free-shipping-5-string-active-fodera-bass-in-stock-for-sale-best-price-best-quality-active/32265755528.html?s=p
 
     !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   This looks like a BIG OPERATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gtrguy]

Not quite as fancy as the kawai versions done a few years ago.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Terry: a friend of mine wanted a new Les Paul Custom, but was unhappy with Henry J's quality-to-price ratio, so out of curiosity he ordered a $250 Chinese fake instead.  Got it, did a little fret work & pot upgrade - and ordered a LP '54 reiss & a fake Tele.  Says that the real things are noticeably better - but nowhere near 10X+ better.
 
Bill: On the Chibsons they black out the logo in most pix, but it comes saying Gibson on the front & Made In USA on the back.  I'd expect the same M.O. on these.
 
Peter

[sonicus]

There appears to Judicial Precedent  for the  Prosecution of the sale of these counterfeit instruments in the U.S.A. as discussed in this article.  
 
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/The_Growing_Problem_of_Counterfeit_Guitars
 
(Message edited by sonicus on June 18, 2015)

[5a_quilt_top]

Although they avoided using the iconic Alembic bird tailpiece, they did nick the individual tailpieces for each string from the Spyder.
 
 
Hey, in keeping with the general spirit of the proceedings -  I wonder if they'd take a fake credit card number for payment...!