US$ 31,000 Bass (is this for real?)

[Starbucker]

Even if I was loaded and had an extra $31,000 in the cushions of my couch, I'd probably spend it on a car than a bass.

But hey, that's just me.

 

[caruso]

Who's going to play that beauty on stage? Reminds me of the Bec-Var bass I saw some 20 yeas ago in SF. What if it gets stolen, damaged or destroyed? OK, there is insurance but this is like insuring Mona Lisa. No money will come close to its value.

 

[gilbert46]

If you look around at quality concert instruments, 30k is in the ballpark. steinway are 50k? Id rather buy an american p-bass deluxe and make a down payment on a house myself.


HOLY MOLY its got bids....

 

[WillPlay4Food]

way to many knobs I would be so confused, after about 5 things just get lost

Can you imagine being up on stage and thinking "OK, tweak the 3rd knob so I can get the right sound *twist*. Crap! that wasn't the knob! Set that back! Maybe it's this one *crank*! Nope, oh boy, which one was it again? Oh yea, keep playing the song, how many more times til the chorus??"

 

[doc540]

If I paid that much I'd want my money's worth in strings and bling:

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[xshawnxearthx]

that just gave me a chubby.

 

[tplyons]

Even if I was loaded and had an extra $31,000 in the cushions of my couch, I'd probably spend it on a car than a bass.

You're right... I could get a fully restored, fully loaded 1970 Chevelle with a pair or trio of Sadowsky's.

 

[Dan Lenard]

A little birdie told me that the Cocobolo was a $7,000 upgrade.

Is that reasonable, or what ?

 

[D.A.R.K.]

gorgeous, but imho those inlays wreck it.
woulda gone for the jpj vines-style inlay at that price level.
now it looks like a damn clock.
d

 

[throbgod13]

for $31000USD, i could have 240 SX basses...


sweet..

 

[Techmonkey]

Whoa, you could build a castle of basses with that... Even better, imagine how many gigs you could smash up your bass after playing!! People would think it was just the same bass that kept coming back, heh

 

[westland]

$31,000 will buy you a mediocre concert violin. You'd get a top-of-the-line (if Alembic's your thing) bass for that price. Where's the confusion?

... or in my case, pretty much the best piano that I could fit into my living room (my current rebuilt c.1953 August Forster which I dearly love retails for significantly less than $31,000, and I would guess uses even better wood than the Alembic, and certainly a lot more of it ).

Violins are another matter. I have two friends (they will go unnamed) who are builders of Strad replicas. Their tests suggest that buyers have difficulty telling the difference between violin tone once you get above around $15,000 purchase price ... though there seems to be a lot of 'anchoring and adjustment' above that ... exceptionally weird market.

There is apparently a robust market in Japan for the replicas. Buyers will buy a real Strad (~$1 million) and a replica (~$20K) put the replica in a bank vault with insurance, and sell the real Strad. The banked 'Strad' can now serve as $1 million collateral for loans, etc.

A lot of the vintage violins are 'rebuilt' ... which in the case of really expensive ones may mean splitting the front and back apart and building a violin around each. Viola! One Strad becomes two . Fortunately the bass market is not quite as irrational.

 

[westland]

steinway are 50k?

I think they are overpriced too. Steinways start at 50K. I think you can get a comparable Yamaha or Kawai for half the price (not the mass produced ones but their custom shop pianos).

 

[labrat]

i have seen a US 50,000$ conklin 11 string. ***

I believe Conklin has only made one 11-stringer to date. It belongs to the esteemed Mr. Jean Baudin. I saw his Bach and Mario tapping performances, he'll do that bass justice.

 

[FireAarro]

for $31000USD, i could have 240 SX basses...


sweet..

Man, Kurt would be happy.

 

[Starbucker]

for $31000USD, i could have 240 SX basses...


sweet..

My hat off to you, sir.

Good call.

 

[DannyB]

for $31000USD, i could have 240 SX basses...


sweet..

I second that. If I had $31k to spend on basses, I would be bugging the hell out of Kurt for more colour choices

 

[VinceLovesF]

31k$ for a bass!
I'm a high end fanatic, but not at that point, I think their prices are not reasonable!
Others could do the same...

Vince

 

[caesarbass]

What do you guys think the "real" cost to make a bass like that is? Is it even in the $10,000 range? Does the name Alembic add $15,000? Was I seeing things or did this bass have some bids?
I know, too many questions, I just can't believe the price they're asking.

 

[The Mule]

Visit the Alembic website, go to the custom quote generator, start with Series II, then add all the CQG-specified options (Triple O body shape, ebony neck laminates, special woods), then consider all unspecified custom options (custom electronics on top of the Series II package, custom inlays) priced individually and you'll see the big pricetag taking shape right before your eyes.

I know this doesn't say anything about wood, materials, craftsmanship etc. being too expensive when compared to other builders/luthiers, about how much the name 'Alembic' costs you etc. but all in all it's a very transparant process. You know what you want, you know how much all those things you want are gonna cost you, you know what you are willing to pay, and you certainly get what you pay for: Alembic - Beyond Custom