Greets!. I don't know if this post really belongs here, but anyway.
 
I was browsing thru eBay, and found this Epic for sale. But I am somewhat amazed, I find the body shape is not the same as my Epic, or any other Epic I've seen anyway. It seems like the upper horn is somewhat shorter...  
 
Is it me, or is there really some sort of mod to this body shape?
 
 
CHeck the auction (and pics) here:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-EPIC-4-STRING-BASS-GUITAR-GREAT-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ200434513860QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2eaad3f7c4#ht_11471wt_1026

I think it's the weird camera angles.  The Vermillion is a nice touch.

No, the horn is most definitely shorter than normal:

If it's a refinish, it's a pretty good one.

Looks like someone was going for the look of a singlcut.I can't decide if they succeeded or just maimed a gorgeous bass!.

Reminds me of the top horn of a Thunderbird. Still feels organic to me.

It doesn't look like anyone has done anything to it. It's always hard to see the shape at an angle - look at the picture of the back on the listing - it looks right.  What I don't like is his obscure remark about not including the hard case unless the price goes up a few hundred dollars - makes it hard to know what you will actually get for your money.

The top horn is definitely shorter than standard.  On the regular Epic, the end of the top horn is roughly at the 11th fret up from the bottom.  On this one, it is at the 8th fret from the bottom.  Still, it looks like it may have come like this from the factory.  If this was an aftermarket job, it looks like a very good one to me.
 
Bill, tgo

This bass was not born with the present shape. It was on ebay a few years ago with this same modification, I remember it.

It looks awkward.  At least to me.

It's possibly had an accident sometime in the past, maybe the straplock ripped out and someone reshaped the ripped wood instead of filling it.
 
Graeme

Bo Diddley would have liked it...

Now at Bass Northwest for (GASP!) $1999!

It seems that it's now for sale @ Bass Northwest
for $2K.

I am very disappointed with Bass Northwest. As an Alembic dealer I find it disturbing that:
1) They do not mention the modification, the ad says This bass is in beautiful condition, except for the large chunk of wood missing from it. There is no way that bass will balance correctly, the strap button is now at the 17th fret on a 34 scale bass.
2)$2K?? it was recently purchased for $1085 for it from EBay. I hope they update their ad to mention the modification, after all it says Alembic on it. What a shame on so many levels. Profit or reputation...hmmm...  
 
(Message edited by southpaw on February 19, 2010)
 
(Message edited by southpaw on February 22, 2010)

I agree southpaw.
 High prices aside, the mod should be in the first sentence of the description.