Alembic Value

[Rockmusician]

First of all, if you do not currently own or have never owned an Alembic, please do not respond.

I have posted this question on the Alembic website many times but have never received an answer that I am satisfied with.

Why is it that the cheapest Alembic is $5,800 new yet you can get them on ebay and other sites for and average of $1,200? They seem to be the best sounding bass that holds their values the least. Out of all the "boutique" basses, the seem to have the biggest problem with resale value. Sadowsky, Lakland, Pedulla and even Fender, Ibanez and Musicman always seem to retain a good percentage of their value. So why not Alembic? Is it because so few bass players have ever heard of them? It is defintely not a quality issue. I have owned several. The most I was ever offered was $800 in trade and $1,000 from a private buyer. I don't get it.

 

[Tarfinger]

They do seem to fetch wholesale at the used retail level. I got my Epic "lowly" at @ $900in 2000. You can generally get around 25% off of new retail through the proper dealer channels. But I can tell you this, they are the greatest basses ever made especially when put in the hands of the right player. The unfortunate thing is that most are purchased by people who could merely afford them. That has cluttered up the market. They require consistant adjustment. Alot over the years have come in all out of wack.
Lastly, they are a name that many of the younger crowd just never heard of. Like Roy Harper... sad really

 

[jazzyvee]

Times are changing, there have been far more alembics trading at respectable prices in the past 3 to 4 years that I have noticed. Still a hefty drop from the new price though. I have seen basses like mine sold on eBay for twice the price I bought mine ,used, for about 10 years ago. Tar finger, haven't found mine need much adjustment at all generally if I use a different brand of string i may need to make truss rod adjustments or due to climate when travelling abroad.