Author Topic: Tom's Custom Balance K (Read 577 times)

lidon2001 · « **on:** December 12, 2005, 09:30:35 AM »

I have an old camera incapable of capturing it's true color. FTC pic is much more accurate. Will post more if I find a good camera. A simply superlative bass. I have played none finer, and it has such beauty to the eye. Amazing crafstmanship. The Signature electronics are great. Thanks again to everyone at Alembic and Uncle Bob's.

In the background I hear, "get a series, get a series...." Never say never.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:57:39 PM »

Gorgeous!

2400wattman · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2005, 10:27:28 PM »

The coco bolo and the gold/brass hardware just exude soooo much class. Is the back coco bolo as well?Bravo!

lidon2001 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2005, 11:12:14 PM »

Thank you gentlemen. I too love the gold plated logo & brass. It stands out so nice against the coco.

2400wattman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2005, 10:32:09 AM »

Hello Tom, Please don't take this as being rude but I am curious as to what you had paid for this. Did you have it custom made or did you buy it from a store? I would like to know what to expect when I decide to have something made. This bass is really right up my alley. How are the electronics?I'm still very green to Alembics Q & filter knobs/switches. You can e-mail a response to 1ars@earthlink.net if don't mind. Thanks and Happy Holidays

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2005, 11:22:16 AM »

Adam; you can get a good idea about what a similar bass would cost on the quote generator. Start with a King Deluxe. You can go back and forth and figure out what the Ebony neck lam will add (the difference between two and three Ebony lams should give you a reasonable guess). I'm not sure but the ovals look like Abalone, so add them in. Then add the Balance K Omega with Elbow Contour. Add a gold logo. That should cover most of what I'm noticing in the pics at the moment; except of course for the dummy dummy hum cancellor, which is not in the quote generator. You're probably looking at a current list of around $9k. Of course there is a price increase at the end of this month; so you would have to get your order in pretty quickly. The December special is quite generous and it looks like you could use it on most if not all the upgrades (you may need a spreadsheet to figure out which way to go with the special). Then of course there is the dealer discount, which depends on which dealer you go through. But I'm just guessing here; you need to call Val and you need to find a dealer. Hope that helps.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2005, 12:13:23 PM »

Hello Adam,

The price was standard Alembic discounts that their dealers are able to provide. I didn't shop around since all of my major purchases have been with Uncle Bob's for the last 30 years. Luckily, they are a dealer. I say support your local dealer (I'm in FL and bought from WI), but the various posts on the board should lead you to a good price from the various dealers available such as Uncle Bob's, Bass Central, Bass Northwest and Ressurection in Austin (LOVE that town).

Just get a couple quotes; don't haggle for $10-50 bucks between dealers. The elves are busy and multiple quotes from many dealers takes much of their time, but of course, they are always glad to help. (These suggestions are paraphrased from a post by Valentino)

Yes it was a custom order. Placed in the end of April to take advantage of a very nice monthly special, which is key to making your purchase in my humble opinion. Order changed from a Standard Small Body to a Deluxe BalK after I placed the initial order. I couldn't resist the hypnotic effect of Coco Bolo. I suggest you plan your dream bass better than I did; the elves were VERY patient with me. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but is my dream bass:

MK Deluxe Short Scale, Chip chose the top & back
Dragon's Breath Neck Dim.
Valentino Neck
Gold Plated Logo, Scriptless
Dummy HX (might be dumb, but looks smart), 70's pickup spacing
BalK with Tummy & Elbow & Omega in Vermilion
Abalone Oval Inlays
Case (extra charge not listed in the quote generator)

There are some nice coco Balance K's in stock at various dealers if you like Alembic's standard neck dimensions. I don't like them, so I had to go custom. I think the buckeye burl instruments currently in the store/showroom are magnificent. Also some very nice walnut examples out there. The elves might be able to steer you towards a bass in stock at dealers not mentioned that might suit your needs as well.

I am loving my first taste of Signature electronics. The filters with the Q switch are awesome. I leave the pan 50/50, roll a little high end off the neck, add a little to the bridge, and with the Ebony neck runner it has all the bottom I need. Flip the pan to the bridge, roll a little high end off, and you have a better than jazz bass sound, again in my humble opinion. Q's are always on. Unless I get a series made, I don't see how this bass can be surpassed for me. It is that good.

Hope that helps. Season's greetings to you and all.

T

rklisme · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2005, 10:38:40 PM »

Tom

I have to disagree as to what dealer you buy from. I am glad that I took the time to research dealers. The money I saved from one dealer to the next was not $10 - $50 bucks but closer to $1000.00. I am not going to talk about any one dealer or another but doing your homework in life nearly always pays dividends in the end. I don't see the point of lining someone elses pockets when I can use the cash just as much as they can if not more. I am not knocking your loyality to Uncle Bob, I just think we are talking to much money to not get the best price posible on one of these fine instruments!

Rory

lidon2001 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2005, 11:06:09 PM »

Rory,

I was paraphrasing a previous post by Valentino. Those were his numbers, or close to them. I guess I wasn't clear enough in my explanation. I'm sure you can find Val's post if you don't beleive me.

Thanks for your insight

lidon2001 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2005, 11:17:20 PM »

For the lazy ones who won't try to find this memorable post, here it is:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/18878.html?1118347959

I promise I'll tell the next person to call Roman Guitars and ask for Ed.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2005, 08:27:14 AM »

My bottom line is this:

I would not have made this or my other two current Alembic purchases if not for Uncle Bob's Music. They were able to put me at ease with a purchase of an over $9k retail instrument that I have never played. If Uncle Bob's wasn't an Alembic dealer, I wouldn't be playing one, let alone three. It's sad that Rory and others haven't been able to create the family feeling with their music dealers that Uncle Bob's Music has given me the past 30 years.

Maybe for Rory, it's all about the money. For me, it's all about making a dream come true. And that dream was to buy an Alembic from Uncle Bob's Music. I made it happen. Three times over. May you all be as lucky as I have been to make my dream come true.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2005, 08:59:38 AM »

I had originally put a post here outlining a sample pricing scenario, but screw that - this isn't about money. This is about dreams and a tribute to my mom and dad. I can understand Adam's post, but Rory making this post about money and pricing makes me sick.

I told Adam in an email yesterday:

1. Not telling
2. I didn't get any other quotes. I've known Bob for 30+ years and would go nowhere else
3. Start at the largest Alembic dealer, Bass Central
4. Quoted $250 for the Dummy HX

I couldn't care less about what I, Adam, or anyone else spends on their Alembics. My dream came true.

(Message edited by lidon2001 on December 17, 2005)

rklisme · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2005, 05:38:37 PM »

Tom

It doesn't bother me your reasons for buying your bass or basses from anyone you wish. Not everybody is looking to be pals with a guitar dealer! I am not sure why this is upsetting you so, I just chimed in with my opinion. Some of us are just looking for the best price possible on a very expensive guitar. Everybody is getting what they want it seems. If you are happy with the way you do business I am glad for you as a fellow Alembician. I on the otherhand do business the best way for me and I am happy! Uncle Bob gets your Alembic order and he's happy. Whom ever gives me the best deal gets my order and they are happy. It seems everyone is happy! Tom let's not make this personal, I am sure you are a great guy and I know I am so let's be happy for one another! My deepest apologies for making you sick!

Rory
PS...Nice looking bass

lidon2001 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2006, 08:38:39 AM »

He can comment on my dealer, but then order and have to sell brand new Alembics for a loss since he has a problem giving in to his personal lust for a Series. That is just too funny. The one reason I don't go to Alembic to visit is because I know I won't walk out without ordering a Series. It's that simple.

To use the words of poker champion Mike Matusow,
Vindication, baby!

When ordering an Alembic, money isn't the issue, is it Rory? It's about getting the instrument you want. And I see you have a problem with that for whatever reason.

This will keep me laughing for sometime. Thanks for the story.

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2006, 09:52:56 PM »

I have to disagree as to what dealer you buy from. I am glad that I took the time to research dealers. The money I saved from one dealer to the next was not $10 - $50 bucks but closer to $1000.00. I am not going to talk about any one dealer or another but doing your homework in life nearly always pays dividends in the end. I don't see the point of lining someone elses pockets when I can use the cash just as much as they can if not more. I am not knocking your loyality to Uncle Bob, I just think we are talking to much money to not get the best price posible on one of these fine instruments!

I just HAVE to say that this is clearly a reasonable opinion, and one which is clearly respectfully presented -just as I'd also say the opinion/position/preference to deal exclusively with one dealer without educating one's self on alternatives/shopping around, based on positive emotional feelings as an opinion that is reasonable and certainly one's perogative to have.

So... what the heck is the issue here? It seems to me like you're laying into the guy, and HEAVILY, and I'm completely bewildered. If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Well, it looks to me like you're laying into Rory because he doesn't share YOUR viewpoint. Is this so? Or am I missing something? Your viewpoints ARE clearly different and incompatible, but it would seem to be a subjective preference. My viewpoint -as a brief digression- is somewhat of an integration of both your views as I value/exhibit loyalty -which has been discovered/achieved/developed by shopping around -and it is my opinion that doing so is a good thing which benefits EVERYONE (except those who make profits by over-charging to those who don't know any better) -by requiring dealers to retain customers by a combination of excellent prices and excellent customer service. In fact, this is the ONLY way dealers can retain the educated customers who DO shop around.

Anyway, my two cents is that you seem to be major ragging on this fellow Rory without making any clear case why he is wrong/bad/whatever. I think if you're going to publicly call someone out, you should back it up (by all means, if you're right, and he's done something wrong). On the other hand, if you're flipping/tripping for some reason, maybe a brain lapse or something (I've had it happen to me more than once) than perhaps an apology is in order.
He can comment on my dealer, but then order and have to sell brand new Alembics for a loss since he has a problem giving in to his personal lust for a Series. That is just too funny. The one reason I don't go to Alembic to visit is because I know I won't walk out without ordering a Series. It's that simple.

To use the words of poker champion Mike Matusow,
Vindication, baby!

When ordering an Alembic, money isn't the issue, is it Rory? It's about getting the instrument you want. And I see you have a problem with that for whatever reason.

This will keep me laughing for sometime. Thanks for the story.

What on earth is the point of this? It really seems bizzare.

As this is a public forum, where viewpoints are expressed and responded to -with an expectation, of course, of civility- I respectfully ask for clarification, Tom. Has Rory done something wrong that he should be condmemned for? If so, what? Please spell it out, and make a case. If you're right, I'll publicly agree for whatever it's worth. But if you're gonna call a guy out the way you apparently are, you should make a clear and strong case. As far as I can tell, you're having a bizzare hissy-fit simply cause Rory doesn't see things the way you do. If it's not so please set me (and others who may also be wondering) straight.

Maybe I'm getting this all wrong, but I looked at it several times before writing this, and the duck thing, yadda yadda...

So... what's up? Mark, the 8 String King.