Lots of Alembics especially the Series are $40k or more.
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Oteil Burbridge's Dire Wolf Bass
- Thread starter BassicJazzy
- Start date
Yes, and I think they are a larger shop than Sadler's. My friend is one of the Dire Wolf and Wolf's builders, a woodworker, and I've seen what it takes to make them, start to finish. Lot of work.
Saw my friend, the Dire Wolf builder, at gym today. He said Dire Wolf #2 just sold at auction for $100k. Proceeds benefited the Grateful Dead Foundation, and a related foundation. So for the folks who balk at the $40k price of these basses, how about $100k?
Meanwhile he said they are building some five string versions right now. I asked him about fretless and he said "Not yet, but when do you want yours?"
Meanwhile he said they are building some five string versions right now. I asked him about fretless and he said "Not yet, but when do you want yours?"
Not questioning the quality, just mentioning that new Alembics are in that price range.
In the late 90s, early 00's I paid less than $3k (ea) for 3 Series SS in great condition.
That's a rich person donating to charity.
Where I used to live they had an annual auction for the first harvested box of cherries for the season which would get a very large number relative to the actual value of the cherries, so this has nothing to do with the value of the bass.
Yeah, I know. I'd gripe about inflation but would probably go off the rails and end up getting banned.
Dire Wolf #2 is probably going to be mounted on someone's wall. Who knows, I'm guessing here, but the buyer might even end up donating it to a museum, somewhere it can be displayed. Certainly enough Dead fans out there who would appreciate it. That's what often seems to happen with things like this.
I told the builder I didn't even want to hold the thing, for fear of dropping it. I am perfectly content right now with my Chinese version of a Sadowsky. I don't need nor want a "Bass God-level" instrument.
I'm glad that the craftsmen and women that makes these instruments are able to do so. The value of 'art' and who can afford to experience it is a whole other topic.
It's nothing to do with inflation. Back then for a period, Alembics were the red headed step child of basses. What I was buying used for $3k then will be $10k or more now.
Not sure I understand? Are you saying they were out of favor? The only player I ever saw with one was Stanley, and I never gave a thought to acquiring one. I have seen prices flow up or down with the periods, based on whatever style of music was popular then, and been burned by same. Payed twice what it was worth for a Bass Collection 310 back in '92 because metal and techno had made that design popular. On the other hand, got a great price on a '90 Jazz Plus 4 string because people only wanted 5's at that time.
Yes, and substantially undervalued in the market and I had no difficulty buying them for those sort of prices - on ebay, I seldom had anyone else bidding against me on them. They weren't 'trendy' then.
