Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Nope... copy and paste don't do it either!

Aye, I tried that as well.

Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 07:58 am:

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I for one would LOVE to see exotic wood options, and 24 frets! I'd pay the extra money for these options! Oh a Ric with purple heart & ebony stringers!

I know about the back log at Rickenbacker, but a custom shop would be a dream come true. Alembic does it and usually run about an 8 month wait. Granted, they don't sell as many basses as RIC, but they seem to keep selling these 5-8K basses without a problem!

I own 2 Alembics and the same could be said about them. They had a lot of exposure with the Dead, ELP, Stanley Clark, Victor Wooten, and the list goes on and on. They seem to have made a transition into a STUDIO instrument, not too many of them seen on stage anymore.

My only "dissapointment" with RIC is their customer service. I don't want to go into it here in a public forum, but very frustrating.

I agree, I'd love to see RIC get some more limelight, but they seem to know what they are doing. I'm sure if sales slacked off, Mr. Hall has something up his sleeve to keep them in the black.

Off topic: Resale. Funny thing, used RICS bring the same if not MORE than their new instruments. Alembic, on the other hand, used basses sell for about 1/5 of the new cost. I love them both, they are the only basses I own. Any other Alem-Ric owners out there?

Here's another Alem-Ric!

Alembic resale value is a crazy thing. My Persuader retailed at $3500.00, best cash for a new Spoiler in 97'was $2600.00 and I got my 90' Persuader from Bass NorthWest for $1200.00 with case. I'm not going to cry about that!

Alembics are a totally different world. They are wonderful instruments but the used ones sell for far less than the new ones. There is apparently very little vintage Alembic collecting. Some people like to collect the older Series basses.

"Any other Alem-Ric owners out there?"

I am, however the poor resale value of Alembic basses really makes it hard to accumulate any more.

Hi Dave - I must admit I've sneaked a couple of Alembics in amongst my Rick collection - a Spyder 4 string John Entwistle model and a very crazy looking triple omega 4 string bass - what with the prices we in the UK pay for ANYTHING, however, I just can't see that collection growing by much. Rickenbackers ALWAYS come first in this house, though!!

Yes Simon, when you have a Ric collection like yours', I am sure that the Alembic's are thrown in out of boredom (to break things up a bit).

I also have the John E model, but not with the series I electronics. I never could duplicate the piano string sound that John E. had.

getting the piano string Entwistle sound is more a method of playing than a brand name bass ...

I'm still looking for a Series 1 fretless or fretted in good playing condition.

Only a matter of time...

Here's a nice (but pricely) early Series 1 in Toronto:
http://www.12fret.com/used/index.html#BASS

Hi Dave, another Alembic admirer here. Got an old 1980 Zebrawood point body Series I. She is back at Alembic getting the electronics update. Also picked up an 04 Coco Bolo Balance K Series II. Still struggling with the complicated electronics on her. She can sound amazing one moment, just touch a knob my mistake, and you are off the map. Biggest problem with them is me. If I were a better player, and spent more time practicing, there would be no complaints. They are another example of how America can produce excellence if she so desires.

I find a Rick easier to live with, plug her in and go. Although I am an tech fan, I would approach drastic changes to the 4000 line with caution. There is something magical about the totality of their components that makes them very different from anything else, great tone, and they fit like a glove.

Jeff, as I understand, Entwistle played and recorded as a finger player rather than using a pick. On some of his recordings it almost sounds like he used a pick. Am I being too picky?

Sorry to drive this thread more off topic. Here's the beast.

Nice set you have there Dave. Basses are cool too!

That's two beasts.

That's one Alembic I don't mind.
Check out the prices in the link Steve posted!
$2000 US for a '75 P bass with no case! That's nuts.