Any Starcastle fans?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:38 am

This was apparently Gary Straters Alembic bass.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Alembic-Bass-beautiful-Starcastle-Gary-Strater_W0QQitemZ270143750365QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:01 am

This is one for either Dave Pascoe or Tony Cabibi!

byu · Post by **byu** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:44 am

Huge Starcastle fan here. I have all the reissue CDs + the live one and all the vinyl. Saw 'em warm up for UK in '78.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:18 am

I saw that one on the bay. Very nice but with the DW on the way, the funds are low.

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:57 am

Nice bass, but you would imagine the sticker has to go...

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:20 pm

I've been wanting another Alembic, I just may bid on this.

What kind of value do you guys put on it?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:24 pm

Is it long scale or medium scale?

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:59 pm

Scott to my eye it looks to be a short scale.

If you purchased it new, I bet ya that it would run $13K-ish. I think that you could get her for under $5K.

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:01 pm

If it is approx 32 inches, that should make it medium scale. In most Alembics, long is approx 34, and short is approx 30 (if it is a Stanley Clarke it is medium-short at 30.75)

If Dave Pascoe says he thinks it is short, it probably is

Ask the seller to measure or verify the distance between the bridge notches and the nut to be sure.

This 1985 Series I model has a really nice figured maple top

It is very similar in shape and layout to my 1990 solid ebony Series II 34 inch long-scale 4-string in design. The positions of the brass hatches in the back are different, that is about all.

I think it would be a nice acquisition, Scott, you really should go for it all-out

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:52 pm

Nice bass! I would not be surprised if there are no bids on it. Alembics have a bad resale record. They cost a bundle new and I have never seen anybody break even on one, including myself. Definitely NOT a short scale. Usually that's reserved for the Stanley Clarke model. I have only seen 34" scales. Are you sure they make 32" scales, Elys? Great sounding basses and the 1976 I had played like a dream. If you're interested in this one -- remember -- they're heavy!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:34 pm

Mike, I used to have two 32" scale Alembics, and I did break even on them when I sold both of them!

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:06 pm

Lucky you!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:48 pm

I dunno. I think I'd rather order a new Larado or maybe a "C" something.

If one of you guys are interested go for it.

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:57 pm

Most Series 1 basses seem to be 30 or 34.

The Persuader Series were all generally a medium scale 32.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:07 pm

I had a Persuader and a Exploiter/Spoiler, both 32" scale. I bought both of them second hand and traded the two into Guitar Center for my first Zon; what GC gave me in trade is what I had paid for the two of them. Little did they know!