This looks... ummm... interesting. 


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Series-II-Fretless-8-string-Bass-w-Graphite-Neck-w-LEDs-Walnut-1982-2-/312200102077

There is a recent thread here with a bit more history about the bass...

http://club.alembicguitars.net/index.php?topic=23874.0

I wonder if it could be converted into a fretted 5. It's really lovely but a fretless 8 string seems like a narrow niche.

It's off eBay, and is now on Reverb. There's also a new demo video on YouTube.

https://applink.reverb.com/item/14017912-alembic-series-ii-fretless-8-string-bass-w-graphite-neck-w-leds-walnut-2-1982

I think that bass's listing was just re-posted once or twice as its price changed about $2K since the initial offering.  This auction still has another day and change to go (ends Wednesday afternoon, PST).

Auction #: 312202526011

Love this bass. Wish it had wood fingerboard like my other graphite neck Alembic basses. Those with phenolic fingerboards sound sterile and have a less musical character. I've owned two phenolic fingerboard basses over the years. Never again!!   

Big price drop...

https://reverb.com/item/14434686-alembic-series-ii-fretless-8-string-bass-1982-walnut

Wow nice price

I wonder if Blue Cross / Blue Shield accepts barter for coinsurance? I mean... I could really enjoy this thing for a few weeks until the wheels came off the wagon, euphemistically speaking. Then I'd be like- well, no, I don't have the $5000 copay right this second, but here's a vintage Alembic Series II 8-string graphite-necked fretless...  rarer than... I don't actually know what. How'd that be? And the Harwell-Grice guys would be like- Dude... what in the cat-hair is that thing?! And I'd just giggle a little as I twisted the CVQ's counter-clockwise...


One of you guys needs this thing. I would say Jimmy J, but it needs either 3 less or 2 more strings. That leaves you, Brother Elwood. <twitch>

Well..yeah..your right...that was me thinking loudly 


3 or 4 closet queens set free should do it.


...deep breaths...

SOLD

Quote from: J9 on August 18, 2018, 11:10:38 AM
SOLD

FYI - the Reverb and updated eBay ads are still active. 

Aw man... for a minute there, I thought Elwood broke bad and bought a big bad sister for Ol' Eleven-Hundred. 

Update:

The bass is still for sale.

The reason that I said the bass had sold is that I did have a buyer lined up and he even sent a deposit to hold the bass but he was unable to follow through.

Sorry for the confusion. I was too quick to say that it was sold. Live and learn.

Thus, the Bass is back up on ebay and Reverb and I am considering all reasonable offers.

Thanks and sorry for the false alarm.



*I have been using the bass as a 4 string for the last week and it is working out very well and sounds brilliant.
I just wish I were a better fretless player.
See picture.

Quote from: edwin on July 28, 2018, 08:14:31 PM
I wonder if it could be converted into a fretted 5. It's really lovely but a fretless 8 string seems like a narrow niche.

Yes, indeed, it certainly is a narrow niche. No doubt about it. I think the only bass that has an even narrower niche is the John Judge double neck.


I have been having a blast playing it and trying to improve as a fretless player. Admittedly, I am not that good at fretless.
A big part of the challenge for me is that I have short scale basses, medium scale, long scale, and an xl scale (36'').
If I were to really want to get good at fretless, I'd just need to stick to one scale length and instrument for quite some time.
I am a big fan of fret markers.
The Series II fretless 5 that I used to have was pretty easy for me to play because of the fret markers. I understand that some people don't like the way they look but they certainly are helpful!