Author Topic: Hi everybody (Read 299 times)

bankschreiner · « **on:** February 29, 2012, 09:11:57 AM »

I bought my first and only Alembic bass, a Mark King 4-string, in 1989, when I was 18 years old. It was my most priced possession and the apple of my eye :-)

Sadly, last year it was stolen (http://alembic.com/club/messages/403/111942.html?1314149760) from a relatives home, where I had it stored along with other instruments. We filed a police report and they assured us that they are working on it ... :-/
My relatives insurance is covering the theft and I am now in the peculiar situation, where I can buy a new instrument on a fairly sizable budget.
As heartbreaking as the loss was/is, I hardly play anymore as I've taken up other habits along the way such as kids, house, work, photography etc. and don't really need another bass guitar (I have another 8 instruments if I ever needed one). Ideally, I would get my old bass back, which has loads of sentimental value, but that is probably not going to happen.
So, my plan is to buy a new Alembic with the intention of selling it shortly afterwards.
As I have been out of the instrument-loop for a while, I don't know anymore what the most popular (highest resale value) Alembic models are. If anybody would have any suggestions, I would much appreciate it.

Thank you (and thanks for having me ... :-) )

Jean-Pierre

p.s. have a look at some of my other instruments: http://jpmutti.com

stout71 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 29, 2012, 09:38:15 AM »

Hi Jean-Pierre! First of all, I have to say that the basses you have built are absolutely gorgeous works of art - very impressive.

So sorry to hear about your Alembic loss. My fist custom is being built right now, so I can't say I have years of experience on the subject, but I do ready the threads in the club constantly.

I can tell you very easily that you will likely never recoup the money spent on a brand new custom anywhere close to what you'll pay for it. Generally when someone orders a new custom, they're not buying it in the hopes of selling it later for a profit. Go out to eBay and check out all the Alembics for sale. They will only sell for a fraction of the original retail price, which is why many of our colleagues here buy used instruments instead.

To directly answer your question, the Series basses are going to go for more than the others (generally). You can certianly get a custom-built Essence and tweak the crap out of it and end up with a bass that's more expensive than a Series, but I don't know if anyone has gone down that road.

For resale value alone, I think you'd be better off buying a vintage instrument that already has a good resale value, wait a few years and then sell it for a profit, but that's just me. Except for my custom, all of my extra cash is tied up in IRA's!

Again, my heart goes out to you any Alembic owner who has been ripped off. What a downer. Hopefully your MK will turn up!

pierreyves · « **Reply #2 on:** February 29, 2012, 09:56:35 AM »

Gruetzi Jean Pierre, plaisir de voir une suisse ici... enfin l? bas !!!
je n'ai vu qu'une contrebasse sur ton site qui est magnifique, tr?s bel oeil pour de tr?s belles images... du suisse quoi !!!
Google translation:
Gruetzi Jean Pierre, nice to see a Swiss here ... finally out there!
I saw a bass on your site that is beautiful, very nice eye for beautiful images ... What the Swiss!

in my opinion you do not your will recover and whatever you do, you need to reconsider your purchases through ... buy an Alembic for resale is not a solution ... it attaches to these animals there ...
but if you order a series I and you resell the after-commands in a walnut, short scale, with all MY specifications as for my bass blackwood
= LOL

bankschreiner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:02:23 AM »

stout71,

Thanks for your suggestions. I didn't think of the vintage-route. Something worth looking into. Where do I start though .. :-)

Unfortunately, the insurance has put me on a strict 6 months time limit (around 4 months are left), within which I will have to have completed the transaction. A from-scratch built custom would therefore not be an option.
I was rather thinking to just buy what a dealer would have in stock.

10-15 years ago, had I been in the same situation, I would have probably foamed at the mouth (despite the loss). Today, the whole thing is (very-)bitter sweet.

Jean-Pierre

stout71 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:08:35 AM »

JP:

Beaver at Bass Central is a very close friend of mine and I feel confident he could get you a sweet deal on an in-stock instrument, but still-the resale value wouldn't be close you what you'd buy it for. I know this is blasphemy in this group, but Foderas (right now) do have a decent resale value. They're pretty popular right now with Victor Wooten out there pimping them. I'd be happy to talk to him for you and see if he has a suggestion, if you like.

bankschreiner · « **Reply #5 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:11:25 AM »

pierre,

If you don't mind (and if it's ok with the gods of this forum), post in french only. The google translation is pretty bad. I can understand pretty much everything, but have lost all ability to talk and write french myself.

Or maybe just PM me ?

merci

bankschreiner · « **Reply #6 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:28:38 AM »

Jerry,

I have looked at the Bass Central site. They seem to have quite a few Alembics in stock. I would love to get in touch with them, whether it would be to get a lovely Alembic or something else ...
A Stanley Clarke Brown Bass would be really cool as well. That bass was such a massive object of desire for me, ~20 years ago. Good times, good times ...

Jean-Pierre

stout71 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:32:57 AM »

JP:

Alright - I'll send him an email. He may have a suggestion that neither one of us have thought of. He's in the sales business so he will have a very good idea of basses and resale values.

I'm still drooling over your other basses...

bankschreiner · « **Reply #8 on:** February 29, 2012, 11:36:39 AM »

Jerry,

Thank you for your help.

I'm glad you like my attempts a Luthiery.
Some are actually really good instruments, and others not really ...

pauldo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:26:03 PM »

Jean-Pierre,
It is not only your basses that are beautiful. Your photography has a stunning beauty to it as well.

bankschreiner · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2012, 06:05:39 PM »

Paul,

Thank you.
It's a work in progress ...

... and it's eating a hole into my wallet. If you think that nice bass guitars are expensive, wait until you take up film photography, mainly medium and large format. The quality of it though, makes it (almost) worthwhile.