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Why are Alembics so expensive?
- Thread starter supremo
- Start date
Great point!
I bought an Alembic Elan/Europa from GC back in '93 or '94. I think the relationship between the two companies was deteriorating or something because they really wanted to move them. List price $4300, paid $2000 out the door with case and some extra swag.
Here's a more recent page with Alembic headstock styles: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
And more neat custom options: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
And more neat custom options: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Oh I definitely get it
I've been buying handcrafted USA built basses (Not Alembic) for the last 5 years. You receive what you pay for. 
I say, I must try Alembic some day. 
Alembic will make you play better. Your technique will improve. You get one in your hands for the first time, and realize there's nowhere to hide.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
When considering the cost of an Alembic it's important to consider the R & D costs that must be defrayed by the purchaser of each bass. Unlike many high-end bass makers, nearly everything used on their instruments is designed by them, and made either by and for them. Alembic pickups and electronics are designed by Ron Wickersham (one of the original owners) and are still made today wither by Ron or in-house, under his supervision.
Doesn't include my Dragon Wing body or its "Claw" headstock either. Also does not include the Bird of Prey body and headstock.
While I never played Alembic, I of course were drooling at them a lot at one point, checking how they make them and all - BUT:
One of most if not the most expensive basses out there and then this early 90's website design...a crime...
It's Alembic, not Wishbass...
One of most if not the most expensive basses out there and then this early 90's website design...a crime...
It's Alembic, not Wishbass...
I don't believe in the value argument; anyone can sell anything at a price for which there will be buyers - it is what the market wants to bear as a price, fuelled by desire, history, technology, association whatever..... Alembic were early innovators and when that technology was 'new' they could command that price, and still do. Can you buy 6 new top of the line Carvins for one custom Alembic yes. Can you re-sell the Carvins for as much as half of their purchase price? No.
Hold it....
Car Manufacturers used to produce their own parts... Ford, Mopar, AC Delco now they outsource. A great percentage of post repair failures these days are the outsourced replacement parts.
Does Alembic use outsourced parts these days? Ken Smith (at el)?
I love zombie threads!!!
The reason Alembic is expensive in case the old posts didn’t say this:
Very small company, all the instruments are handmade, built to order with the customer’s choice of features and they sell in small quantities. Basic economics.
The reason Alembic is expensive in case the old posts didn’t say this:
Very small company, all the instruments are handmade, built to order with the customer’s choice of features and they sell in small quantities. Basic economics.
Plus, they're legendary with original designs used by many of our favorite players. Very unique features, and a meticulous attention to detail. They are lovely to see tho' I am not sure if they're right for me. IF I had the resources, I'd love one of those Entwistle Explorer models. They look so cool.
Well...
The fact that Alembics are all hand made - from wood taken from their "lumber yard" - , has been discussed. The fact that they make all their own electronics, and all their own hardware (except for the tuners) needs to be factored in, too. Add in the fact that Alembic will make your instrument just about any way you want - out of just about any thing you want (their headstock emblem cast out of platinum is a sight to behold, by the way)? Yes, their instruments can be very, very expensive...
As for the comparatively low resale value? As the maker- and owner - of custom firearms; cars; motorcycles; and basses, I have to tell you - a custom made anything is almost always sold at a loss. Unless you can find that one person that likes - and wants - exactly what you like? You're going to sell that thing at a loss. And, sometimes, a big loss. That's just the way things are...
The fact that Alembics are all hand made - from wood taken from their "lumber yard" - , has been discussed. The fact that they make all their own electronics, and all their own hardware (except for the tuners) needs to be factored in, too. Add in the fact that Alembic will make your instrument just about any way you want - out of just about any thing you want (their headstock emblem cast out of platinum is a sight to behold, by the way)? Yes, their instruments can be very, very expensive...
As for the comparatively low resale value? As the maker- and owner - of custom firearms; cars; motorcycles; and basses, I have to tell you - a custom made anything is almost always sold at a loss. Unless you can find that one person that likes - and wants - exactly what you like? You're going to sell that thing at a loss. And, sometimes, a big loss. That's just the way things are...
Ummm...
In the automotive industry, low volume is 100,000 per year.
I rather suspect Alembic's volume doesn't exceed 100 UNITS per year.
Maybe in the big manufacturer scene, but there are plenty of small manufacturers like Koenigsegg that make orders of magnitudes less than that, and even larger brands like Ferrari make limited edition models in small numbers.
And they're damn expensive.
And if you look under the hood I'll bet you'll find all their switches, sensors, ball joints, bushings, fasteners, tubing, wiring connectors, and a whole host of other stuff is straight from the Chrysler, or Mercedes-Benz, or Volkswagen parts bin.
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And Alembics aren't? Looked at the published price lists?
I've seen Christian Von Koenigsegg state that they make many of those parts, and having worked in electronics for decades, it's not hard to get a specialist manufacturer to make what you want. Won't be cheap, but you can get exactly what you want made - this is SOP in aerospace and military as many of the things you want simply haven't been considered for other applications. Even for something a bit oddball, I'd rather go to Bourns to have them make a custom value, taper, tolerance and rated cycle pot, then try to make it in house. But if it turned out they also made that part for say, a freezer unit, why not take the cost savings? I've done a lot of this sort of custom parts over many years.
For generic parts like ball joints, who cares? If the part meets your spec and is off the shelf, why reinvent the wheel?
For Alembic, their bridges need to be custom because many use a special tailpiece for aesthetics and the the spacing etc is so customisable. However, they don't vary that much and I could have almost all of them whipped up on the new CNC in no time and no one would ever know. Alembic sell a lot on them being hand made, so it would be a mistake to CNC as it could affect brand cache more than the ease of manufacturing and reduced cost.
Alembic also use OTS Gotoh tuners with just a custom Alembic cover.
I've owned several Alembics, including Series, but have never custom ordered one. Apart from the artisanal creation, the electronics package is all I see that makes them special. Don't read this as me hating the instruments or owners, just not for me any more.
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