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On the Bay and -only- 16k

#21
basses with sustain for days can be really usefull for that one chord blues gig though, just in case you have to go to the bathroom or just want to mix yourself another drink. the audience won't notice as it never takes any notice of the bass player.
 
#27
Midnight Jazz said:
I never did get why Alembics are so high priced... and on top of that, they're visually unappealing, IMO. Do they practically play themselves or something?
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Well, there's no doubt that their craftsmenship is superb. All of the top luthiers have fantastic craftsmenship, but looking at some of the detail photos of Alembics really shows that they've got woodworking geniuses over there. Also, they were pricey from the get-go; Jack Cassady paid $4000 for the first Alembic back in '71 or so, so they haven't had to worry about their high prices, and thusly haven't had a reason to lower them. A lot of top guys had Alembics in the 70s, so they probably got the majority of their reputation (and justifiably high prices) then.
 
#29
Midnight Jazz said:
I never did get why Alembics are so high priced... and on top of that, they're visually unappealing, IMO. Do they practically play themselves or something?
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Well, it's all in who's buying. I love my Alembic, but it's not for everyone. Of course I have an Epic which is much more "standard" looking than some of the other models. Mine also plays like a dream, has very low action, impeccable woodworking and a tone to die for. They really are amazing basses. If you've played a bad one it's probably due to a bad setup, dead strings or poor care by a previous owner. I have to say, I went into mine with a little fear about them, but I was and continue to be amazed every time I pick mine up. I purchased it second hand, but it was only slightly used. New, it was $8000 "out the door" because it is totally custom, but I got it for $2000. To me it was worth it. To another it may be a waste of money, though every bass player that's played it drools over it. It simply has what I'm looking for in a 6 string fretted bass. As far a $16K for a bass? I wouldn't buy it, but if there was ever a bass worth 16K it would have to be an Alembic.
 
#31
If you have played an alembic, you can understand why there pricey. Maybe not 16k worth of bass, but once you look at the quality of parts, in house made pups, bridges, inlay work, all of it, it really shows.

Hell if i had 16k sitting around id pick it up just for a nice house decoration.
 
#34
3 things,
for that amount it should be at least 5 strings.
For 16k he could at least spell hippy right.
shipping is $400? It better not only play like butter, I want it to cook breakfast.
Honestly for that scratch you can get not only a decent custom by another maker that isnt trapped in the 70's. But still have enough left for [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#36
I sure wouldn't pay that much for it.

I don't like the look, in fact it's butt ugly. Alembic basses are nice, but WAY over priced. i don't think they are cutting edge technology like they were when they first appeared. I think Fodera, Smith, and MTD are cutting edge basses and they don't cost as much as a Alembic.
 
#37
steveb98 said:
I sure wouldn't pay that much for it.

I don't like the look, in fact it's butt ugly. Alembic basses are nice, but WAY over priced. i don't think they are cutting edge technology like they were when they first appeared. I think Fodera, Smith, and MTD are cutting edge basses and they don't cost as much as a Alembic.
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+1, Their designs are a bit dated.
 
#38
I would hardly call Fodera, Smith, and MTD "cutting-edge," but they're definitely more contemporary. Alembics are very much of-their-time. To me, they conjure images of a Modernist house on a hillside in Laurel Canyon or maybe pre-gentrification Silver Lake--I'm thinking a Neutra, or at least a Cliff May or Geoffrey Ain--with brand-new avocado-green appliances, walnut dinnerware, and a redwood-and-abalone coffee table piled high with Bolivian marching powder. :D
 
#39
I don't like the look, in fact it's butt ugly. Alembic basses are nice, but WAY over priced. i don't think they are cutting edge technology like they were when they first appeared. I think Fodera, Smith, and MTD are cutting edge basses and they don't cost as much as a Alembic.
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+1 They do look pretty horrid. I can't comment on them being overpriced though, I've never played one, but still, did someone say 30k earlier!? I'd love to see how much better 30ks worth of bass is than say, a fender jazz.
 
#40
phxlbrmpf said:
Calaverasgrande, I think "hippy" is an accepted spelling variant of "hippie", I don't like it either, though.
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NOt to start a flame war or anything, but being raised by hippies myself, and actually having lived at one point on a macrobiotic commune which raised sprouts, I prefer the "hippie" spelling to "hippy". But for $16k....
as an aside. Most young boys get busted by their parents with a playboy or a hustler. Hand wringing, tears etc. I got busted with a Soldier of Fortune magazine.

Ps what no comments about the phil jones T500 link? its a $10,000 tube bass amp with "silver wire for soaring highs and pure OFC copper for tight lows" I still want one. 650 tube watts!
 

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