Should I sell my Alembic?

[jazzyvee]

I put up my two all maple alembics for sale a couple of times. One is a 4 stringer with two P-style pickups and the other is a 5 stringer with MXY pickups. At the time I didn't play them much as I didn't think the sound was right for the odd few bass gigs I was playing at the time, bearing in mind I was a guitarist moonlighting occasionally on bass.

The P-style sound was hard to get used to and the tight string spacing on the 5 stringer was awkward at the time too.

However once I started gigging more with both basses on different kinds of music I started to understand them more and now the 5 stringer is my main gigging bass and the other makes guest appearances where that sound is needed.
In hindsight I know I would have been crazy to have actually sold them.

So my advice is if you circumstances where you have little choice and 'have' to sell it then yes go ahead but if you have any uncertanty then I'd suggest keeping it.

 

[Pedullist]

Keep it

 

[Gormsgade]

All depending on how you look at it.
Is it an Alembic or bass guitar? And does the value
of your inventory has to stay the same irrespectively of
what it consists off.
If the pride in owning an Alembic is the dominating factor
then keep it. If it's a bass used for playing (and alot) then consider
what the value of the instrument can get you from a different
brand and whether that'll bring more fun/joy/pride.
I'm personally going through the same considerations with one of
my instruments and will probably end up swopping it for something else,
as putting more money into instruments won't make me a better player.

 

[cnltb]

sell it , if you want to.

 

[ELG60]

I wouldn't.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I think that if the bass doesn't get play time the OP doesn't like its tone but the bass is aestethically pleasant so he can't make a decision on whether he should sell it or not ... I'd sell it frankly speaking ...

 

[Smooth_bass88]

If you think you might regret it, definitely do not sell it

 

[lfmn16]

It's a crappy market right now, I wouldn't sell unless I had to.

 

[Root 5]

I know we have all sold basses and regretted the sale. I have had a 1986 Alembic Persuader cocobolo for years and love it. It plays so smooth but I never play it out. So, my fellow bass constituents....should I sell or just hold on to it. It has Fretfx lights and a flight case

Yes you should sell it. To ME for $100.

 

[Root 5]

You should sell it to me for $200 plus a quart of my homemade matzoh ball soup.

We think alike but your price is outrageous

 

[lbbc]

you say you love it and it plays so smooth. those are strong reasons to keep it.

you also say you don't play it out. do you play it at home?

Definitely!

 

[tlc1976]

I'd keep it. It's yours fair and square. You don't have to play out with it to justify keeping it. You don't even have to play it at all. But considering you do enjoy playing it at home, you'll likely regret selling it. I'm sure there are reasons the Alembic doesn't fit the current gig, but gigs can come and go.

I haven't played out in over a decade due to concentrating on family, but I never once thought I should get rid of my gear.

 

[lbbc]

The question is, why don’t you ever play it out???

I used to when it was my only bass. After having a custom bass built, I left this bass at home. I still love and play it at home....just not in public

 

[mikecd1]

If you don't play it, sell it. If you are satisfied with the sale price you can always consider buying another someday. You did not say how much you play it away from gigs. If you play it a lot just not out, then its a keeper. Good luck!

 

[AngelCrusher]

I, for one, would sell it. If you're not playing it, why keep it? Then again, I'm a "one bass" kind of guy (my hoarding problems are reserved for pedals).

I agree. I am totally fine with having 1-2 basses max.

 

[Pirate Captain]

You should sell it to me for $200 plus a quart of my homemade matzoh ball soup.

I'll take a quart of that soup if you've got any left over

 

[punchdrunk]

Sell that sucka

 

[pcake]

Definitely!

so you love it AND you play it.

that being the case, imo keep it and keep playing it at home.

 

[milesdavisblue]

I sold an Alembic once and regret it. lesson learned!

 

[petrus61]

If you do, don't sell it here. I get tired of looking at basses I can't afford gumming up the works and languishing in the classifieds section for months or years at a time. Sell it on Reverb with a $4000 shipping charge and really blurry photos to go with it. Don't forget to mention that Jaco owned it.