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Alembic owners ?'s

#21
@ topicstarter: Your original questions were "How much did you pay for your Alembic and did you get it new or used?" and "...how does one justify paying that much?" and you got those answered. Don't tell me you expected to hear things like "they have a neck other builders could only dream of" because that just isn't true.

After reading your second post I can't help to wonder if you've actually bought something for $1,000-2,000 and donated the rest to the Make-a-wish Foundation or Secret Santa or the Red Cross? And come to think of it, how much did you car, house, wedding ring, holiday etc. etc. cost? Imagine yourself standing in the Soudan or Ethiopia trying to justify or rationalise any amount of money you've spend on luxury goods... :scowl:
 
#22
The Mule said:
@ topicstarter: Your original questions were "How much did you pay for your Alembic and did you get it new or used?" and "...how does one justify paying that much?" and you got those answered. Don't tell me you expected to hear things like "they have a neck other builders could only dream of" because that just isn't true.

After reading your second post I can't help to wonder if you've actually bought something for $1,000-2,000 and donated the rest to the Make-a-wish Foundation or Secret Santa or the Red Cross? And come to think of it, how much did you car, house, wedding ring, holiday etc. etc. cost? Imagine yourself standing in the Soudan or Ethiopia trying to justify or rationalise any amount of money you've spend on luxury goods... :scowl:
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+10000 (passes the secret Alembic handshake to The Mule) :)
 
#23
I'll tell you what; If I ask "What makes this bass worth $10,000, it had better be a $10,000 answer. In other words I KNOW I aint gonna pick up this bass, play it, and go, Yeah!! now THIS is worth ten grand!!! Even if I CAN afford it. I dont care if the wood comes from....MARS, if it dont do for that bass what other woods cant do, then where's the logic? You are giong to have to pay for beauty and some different tonal textures, but at the end of the day most people are gonna swear an alder J bass is the best bass they've EVER owned, and its certainly not a 10 grand instrument. So it all winds down to what you WANT or have the ability to pay.
 
#24
Lo end PUNCH said:
I'll tell you what; If I ask "What makes this bass worth $10,000, it had better be a $10,000 answer. In other words I KNOW I aint gonna pick up this bass, play it, and go, Yeah!! now THIS is worth ten grand!!! Even if I CAN afford it. I dont care if the wood comes from....MARS, if it dont do for that bass what other woods cant do, then where's the logic? You are giong to have to pay for beauty and some different tonal textures, but at the end of the day most people are gonna swear an alder J bass is the best bass they've EVER owned, and its certainly not a 10 grand instrument. So it all winds down to what you WANT or have the ability to pay.
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At the end of the day, I think, it all boils down to what one likes (and perhaps wants because they do like it). If a $10K bass has the sound, feel, look, etc. that one is looking for, then it's worth 10K. If a $200 bass has it, it's worth $200. Price, IMHO, isn't the issue. People will pay whatever price something costs if, in their mind, it is worth it. How else can you explain people paying $300 a ticket to hear Barbra Streisand sing? I mean, I wouldn't pay $3.00 let alone $300, but others will, and happily so since it's worth it to them.

As I've stated before, I personally haven't run across a Sadowsky that I felt was worth the asking price, but many other here have, and more power to them. It works for them, and that's what counts.

BTW, I have a '73 Fender Jazz, Ash body, that I think is probably the one bass I couldn't live without. If it were Alder, I could. Alder isn't worth it to me.

My two cents,

Alan
 
#26
abngourmet said:
As I've stated before, I personally haven't run across a Sadowsky that I felt was worth the asking price, but many other here have, and more power to them. It works for them, and that's what counts.

BTW, I have a '73 Fender Jazz, Ash body, that I think is probably the one bass I couldn't live without. If it were Alder, I could. Alder isn't worth it to me.

My two cents,

Alan
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Right on.

Nothing like a nice piece of ash.
 
#29
OK, I first posted this sad story elsewhere, but decided to move it to this thread, which seems more appropriate:

I used to have fantasies about owning an Alembic. Then in 1979 I found a pre-owned Series I in fine condition, going for the (then) equivalent of $1000, and I couldn't believe my luck. Applied for a loan, got it, bought my dream bass. Guess what... it turned out to be the biggest disappointment of my playing life. The worst and most mysterious thing about it was that it WOULD NOT stay in tune on gigs. Fifteen minutes into the set I'd be reaching for my spare, because the Alembic would be off constantly and need retuning during and after every song. It also suffered from severe neck-dive, the sound was hi-techy and kind of brittle, with little bottom to it, the big hardshell case was so heavy it was a pain to lug around (with the hefty power supply in it), and the whole thing was basically more trouble than it was worth. Alembics may be gorgeous showpieces, but that particular one at least was not worth even the bargain price I paid. I was happy to get rid of it and find a more practical instrument.

Come to think of it, the previous owner must have drawn the same conclusions.
 
#31
Okay, I can understand that, for some of you, an upscale bass like an Alembic is not worth the money. That's fine, and God bless.

But what I can't understand is the apparent anger seething below the surface for anyone who's made a different decision.

You don't like 'em, fine.

Someone else does like 'em, also fine.

Everybody's happy (or should be).

What am I missing?
 
#32
lmoh said:
OK, I first posted this sad story elsewhere, but decided to move it to this thread, which seems more appropriate:

I used to have fantasies about owning an Alembic. Then in 1979 I found a pre-owned Series I in fine condition, going for the (then) equivalent of $1000, and I couldn't believe my luck. Applied for a loan, got it, bought my dream bass. Guess what... it turned out to be the biggest disappointment of my playing life. The worst and most mysterious thing about it was that it WOULD NOT stay in tune on gigs. Fifteen minutes into the set I'd be reaching for my spare, because the Alembic would be off constantly and need retuning during and after every song. It also suffered from severe neck-dive, the sound was hi-techy and kind of brittle, with little bottom to it, the big hardshell case was so heavy it was a pain to lug around (with the hefty power supply in it), and the whole thing was basically more trouble than it was worth. Alembics may be gorgeous showpieces, but that particular one at least was not worth even the bargain price I paid. I was happy to get rid of it and find a more practical instrument.

Come to think of it, the previous owner must have drawn the same conclusions.
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Lmoh,

I've heard more than one person on TB say they were disappointed with Alembics. Maybe the expectations were so high given the price that when it came to playing it, it didn't give you (or other players) what you expected or wanted? I don't think that's limited to Alembic. I know I've played quite a few relatively expensive basses I was thoroughly disappointed with (think Warwicks), but I know others like them.

For me, it's Sadowskys, but I'm going to keep on trying them. Who knows? Maybe I'll find the one I like and if I'm able, buy it.

I gotta agree with you on the cases and weight. Alembics aren't for the faint of heart and weak of back. My Spyder case barely fits in the back seat of my Dodge Ram Extended Cab. Most folks think it's a keyboard when I take it out in public. The weight of the instrument doesn't bother me, though. I've been playing an ash bodied Fender Jazz for years, so I'm used to it.

Like I said previously, Alembics aren't for everyone. Obviously, the one you purchased wasn't for you. Don't stop trying them, though. You might find one you like someday.

Alan
 
#33
Lo end PUNCH said:
HEY!!!.........ilikebarbrastreisand..... :mad: :eyebrow:
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Well, I'll agree she's an obviously talented woman (I really liked her in Meet the Fockers). Her politics I can do without. But hey, if you like her, it's cool. I like Alembics, and some folks think I'm nuts! :-)

Alan
 
#35
Jure the second said:
I guess people who get their own custom made Series II are not young. I'd say it's a middle-age crisis. Some get themselves a Mercedes, others a high-end bass.

Jure
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Hey, when you think about it, the Alembic is *much* better deal. A Mercedes will lose more value in a year than the Alembic costs. If you take good care of it, you can use the Alembic for hours everyday for 10 years and then sell it for nearly as much as you paid for it new. Try *that* with a Mercedes! :p
 
#36
vacman said:
We get off easy, I know a Cello player who payed $40,000 for his Cello.
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True, but then again the cello player probably doesn't play in dives to rowdy audiences either. If I owned an Alembic (and I wouldn't mind having one either :D) I'd be paranoid about bringing it to a club.

I think you could justify a $10,000 bass if it cured you of GAS for good. Yeah, right...
 
#37
abngourmet said:
Maybe the expectations were so high given the price that when it came to playing it, it didn't give you (or other players) what you expected or wanted?
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At a bare minimum, when it comes to playing I'd expect and want any professional-quality bass, especially one with the reputation of Alembic, to hold its tuning pretty well under real-world gigging conditions (think hot and damp clubs). If it doesn't, then there's something structurally wrong with it, and all the green abalone in the world won't help. It's just not worth bothering with. That was the lesson I learned from those gigs where my $150 spare bass saved my a55.

I do have some speculations as to what the matter was with the Alembic, but I guess they belong in another thread.
 
#38
My other question is how does one justify paying that much?[/QUOTE]

Hey,
I like to help you with the answer on this.
It's very similar to what you pay for a watches. With the same price for 3 different classic watch maker, one give you a solid gold case, one give you the complication mechanism and the other give you the relaibility.
I would say Alembic gives you a solid gold piece which is a best handcraft and high quality components. They are not best for sound since its has it's own charector (too charactorized). It is not a class of Rolex either where you likely getting a higher future re-sale price but its a matter of taste.
Bottom line is .. check the sound and if you like it .. trust the quality and go for it. I think for new entrant to Alembic and if you can affort get the Essence.
Good luck
 
#39
Bass Viking said:
True, but then again the cello player probably doesn't play in dives to rowdy audiences either. If I owned an Alembic (and I wouldn't mind having one either :D) I'd be paranoid about bringing it to a club.....
Click to expand...


In the picture below I'm playing my Mark King / Series II 5 string in what can only be described as a hick bar. When we were bringing our stuff in, I called my wife from my cell and said "Remember that bar scene with Eddie Murphy in '48 Hours'? Well, that's where I'm at now"

Played there 4 or 5 times. Always took my Series II and my Hanewinckel 6 string fretless. Too bad you can't see what was going on on the dance floor that had me CRACKING UP



Peace,

James
 

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