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A VERY SAD STORY-ALEMBIC CONTENT-QUESTION

#41
cheesybass said:
If you do sell the bass, sell it as is - this seems to be your mind set as well. I state this from the perspective of someone who, 7 years ago bought a beautiful, but trashed, Elan off of eBay and sent it to Alembic for a full restore/refinish. Also, as others have said, you have my sympathies, the whole situation sounds like a really sad episode. Congrats to your relative for coming out of it a better person.
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I agree. Just sell the bass and put it all behind you if that's what you want to do. If you want one like it was, go buy a new one from Alembic.

If the bass has some sentimental value to you then get it restored perfectly. Be aware it will probably cost much more than a new one. You say this option doesn't interest you.

Now if this were my bass and my story, I can tell you what I'd do! I'd leave it just as is (like Willie Nelson's guitar with the hole worn though it) just for the "story" value. People trash brand new instrument to "relic" them to generate a fake story and you've got a REAL story! But of course I'd also tweak that baby in until it had better tone than it had new (ever notice the TONE out of Willie Nelson's beat to crap guitar?). Then I'd take it out and play the crap out of it.

My other option I'd consider would be to again maximize the tone and playability and just refinish it. No not like it was but just the best you can do given the condition. If that means spray painting it blue so be it! The "tone wood" is still there under the paint!

One problem with the past is that it's past! If you try to go back there it just interferes with what you are doing now!
 
#43
lowphatbass said:
At any rate, it's very likely that the need to disassociate himself with this group(out of fear for his physical well being) was the springboard he needed to get his life back on track, get clean and become productive again. For this I'm thankful and I think a lot of us would trade a mere bass to see loved ones suffering from illness get well.
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You, sir, are someone worth knowing. I hope that he's kept on track and all the best for you. I still think talking to Alembic would be the best thing, then you could get the bass back on track too. I think if you got it cleaned up per their suggestions, you might take a renewed interest in that bass.
 
#47
lowphatbass said:
Sure,
It all started with the bass having very low output suddenly. A relative of mine(through marriage, not blood)suggested that I have his friend fix it, which I flatly turned down based upon my knowledge of proprietary Alembic electronics and the fact that there was bound to be some shady people involved. My plan was to set-up a day and drive up to Santa Rosa and do it right, I loved this bass.
This relative took the bass from my house without my permission, his claim later was that he was doing me a "surprise favor", sort of like that show where they "steal" somebody's car and complete restore/customize it and give it back to them. From there it appears that his "friend" took control of the bass and split town, making an attempt to disguise it so he could sell it, pawn it or trade it for drugs. The Alembic badge and serial number plate was removed, there was actually a block of wood placed in the neck pick-up routing slot with double sided tape and a 4 string split-coil pick-up was screwed into the block, it was atrocious.
I still didn't have the bass and was unaware of the trauma it had sustained, or was currently sustaining. I couldn't bring myself to involve the police as it would've ruined my relative's life which was already in pieces, and after all it was only a bass. He probably would have been charged with a felony and prison does not help people get well.
Several weeks passed and he got the bass back, laying a lot on the line to do so. Because he had basically stolen a week or two worth of drugs from this guy he had to lay low and end associations with quite a few people, he had a lot of people looking for him after that. It's possible he may have actually sold/traded the bass to this person and stolen it back for me.
At any rate, it's very likely that the need to disassociate himself with this group(out of fear for his physical well being) was the springboard he needed to get his life back on track, get clean and become productive again. For this I'm thankful and I think a lot of us would trade a mere bass to see loved ones suffering from illness get well.

I appreciate all the comments and advise I've received, this has been very therapeutic for me and I thank you.

If I end-up selling the bass I'm thinking I will sell it as it sits, that way whoever were to buy it has more options available to them.
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I applaud your capacity for understanding and forgiveness.
 
#48
You sir, have a much bigger heart than I. I applaud you for that. Goes to show you that you can't pick your family.

Good luck with your sale. Looks like you'll have your pick of buyers.

-Cheers

lowphatbass said:
Sure,
It all started with the bass having very low output suddenly. A relative of mine(through marriage, not blood)suggested that I have his friend fix it, which I flatly turned down based upon my knowledge of proprietary Alembic electronics and the fact that there was bound to be some shady people involved. My plan was to set-up a day and drive up to Santa Rosa and do it right, I loved this bass.
This relative took the bass from my house without my permission, his claim later was that he was doing me a "surprise favor", sort of like that show where they "steal" somebody's car and complete restore/customize it and give it back to them. From there it appears that his "friend" took control of the bass and split town, making an attempt to disguise it so he could sell it, pawn it or trade it for drugs. The Alembic badge and serial number plate was removed, there was actually a block of wood placed in the neck pick-up routing slot with double sided tape and a 4 string split-coil pick-up was screwed into the block, it was atrocious.
I still didn't have the bass and was unaware of the trauma it had sustained, or was currently sustaining. I couldn't bring myself to involve the police as it would've ruined my relative's life which was already in pieces, and after all it was only a bass. He probably would have been charged with a felony and prison does not help people get well.
Several weeks passed and he got the bass back, laying a lot on the line to do so. Because he had basically stolen a week or two worth of drugs from this guy he had to lay low and end associations with quite a few people, he had a lot of people looking for him after that. It's possible he may have actually sold/traded the bass to this person and stolen it back for me.
At any rate, it's very likely that the need to disassociate himself with this group(out of fear for his physical well being) was the springboard he needed to get his life back on track, get clean and become productive again. For this I'm thankful and I think a lot of us would trade a mere bass to see loved ones suffering from illness get well.

I appreciate all the comments and advise I've received, this has been very therapeutic for me and I thank you.

If I end-up selling the bass I'm thinking I will sell it as it sits, that way whoever were to buy it has more options available to them.
Click to expand...
 
#49
AltGrendel said:
The only reason I keep suggesting Alembic is because the electronics seem to need work too.
I'll stop now.
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I've conversed with Mica(via email or forum, I've been sitting on this bass for 15 years at least)in the past and have always been aware that a proper restoration could be equal to, or exceed the sale value of the bass. I appreciate the link over to the Alembic forum, when you get to know them, even if only a little you really start to understand the passion and love they have for their art. They are true crafts people and artists, not just builders or business people.
Ironically enough, even though I've been able to realize a sense of piece and even a new level of closure with this bass I think I'm still back at square one. I don't need the money enough to have to sell it, nor do I have the money to restore it. While it's "out of the rafters" so to speak, it's still on the back burner and will probably go back in it's case, but hopefully not for another 15yrs.
In some ways I have some trepidation about selling this bass as is. If a new owner were to give it a really bad paint job, or further "modify" the bass in a distasteful way it would bother me to a certain extent. Normally, I'm happy to express my personal feeling of disgust, yet defend a person's right to disfigure an instrument. For some reason I would feel differently about this bass receiving this type of treatment and being on display, not because it's an Alembic, but only because of my connection with it and the fact that I may find myself feeling responsible in some way. I know it's odd, I'm not a "bass snob" in any way, I play the heck out of my instruments, taking care of them but being careful not to play them any differently(or not play them)because they happen to be beautiful or expensive.
Hopefully this makes sense!
 
#52
Sometimes physical objects can hold/represent the unresolved emotions surrounding life's complicated events. Refinishing this bass would transform a sad story and sad bass into an object of great beauty, visually, musically and emotionally. To me this bass represents a personal challenge to engage in a transformative event for you, the bass and your family. Forget resale value. Here's an opportunity to bring back to life a once beautiful thing.
 
#54
powerbass said:
Sometimes physical objects can hold/represent the unresolved emotions surrounding life's complicated events. Refinishing this bass would transform a sad story and sad bass into an object of great beauty, visually, musically and emotionally. To me this bass represents a personal challenge to engage in a transformative event for you, the bass and your family. Forget resale value. Here's an opportunity to bring back to life a once beautiful thing.
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I can certainly appreciate that powerbass, thank you. As far as I know all the emotional stuff involving this bass is in the past. There still is part of me that would like to see the bass "live again", as well as not see the bass further disfigured but I believe those feelings are current ones, not tied in with the events in the past.
As far as a personal challenge to transform the bass, unfortunately I'm personally challenged to log 70+ hour weeks between working and gigging full time just to stay afloat. I'm very grateful to be in demand and have work but it can be tough waiting 3 weeks for a day off. If I could could take a few extra gigs a month and save-up for such an event I would, but I'd have to "slow the Sun down" to get a few extra days.
Hopefully things will change for the better soon, as for now I'm really happy for a lot of reasons, just wish a had more spare time and more spare money!!
 
#56
You're overwhelmed with work and survival issues. Since the sale of the bass isn't critical to your survival, put it away. Chew on the generous and plentiful advice in this thread and the Alembic thread. It's all good advice with the possible exception of the recommendation to ram the bass up your relative's arse. Get back to it in a year. You'll have time to think about what YOU want to do with it. You may come back to it excited and ready to revive it either refinished, as-is, or somewhere in between. If you sell it now just to put closure to a bad episode in your life, that is OK. If you can live with it underfoot for another while, box it up and give it careful consideration. I think you'll be glad you did at the end of it all.

If you must sell it, sell it as-is. Once a bass of this caliber is un-original, the value drops. You will struggle to recover time and money spent to restore the bass. It will never be good enough to command top dollar and will be a disappointment. If you sell it as-is, the buyer takes it at face value and everybody moves on.

FWIW - I think the shaded wood looks cool. I wouldn't try to strip it back to bright wood. I would even the finish out and seal it. And play the wheels off it!!

Good luck with your decision.
 
#58
I think you should put a little more thought into weather you should sell it as is, or after a restore. I would at least get a quote from Alembic, for the necessary work, then research value/selling prices before and after a restore. I didn't see any Elans on Alembic's site to see what new would cost, but its safe to assume thousands.

The only reason I'm saying this, is because you don't want to end up banging your head on the wall, years later, realizing you left big bucks on the table, because you were distracted over an emotional issue.

Good luck
 
#59
I think the only way to do this instrument justice is to keep it an Alembic by having Alembic refinish it. I'd do that and then keep it. Alembics are what heirlooms are made of and you shouldn't get rid of it. Just consider this another chapter in your bass' fantastic history.

I'm not trying to say another person couldn't refin this thing and make it look fantastic, but I'd hate to see a beautiful bass like this require a footnote that wasn't *body refinished by alembic*
 
#60
If it were me, I'd put it right..when you bought it you did so cos it was a thing of beauty (partly) - you stopped playing it cos it ceased to be - put it back into original condition and I bet you start playing it again..I bet all the good memories will come back and it could help with some closure..anyway sometimes money isn't what matters..
 

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