Bass Direct is the New UK Alembic Dealer

[jazzyvee]

Just saw it on their web site.

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/brand_page/alembic/

Hope that means we start seeing more of these basses on gigs.

[Lozz196]

They’re not the basses for me but well done Bass Direct, a definite feather in their cap, great to see this.

[oldslapper]

2 hours ago, jazzyvee said:

Just saw it on their web site.

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/brand_page/alembic/

Hope that means we start seeing more of these basses on gigs.

Only if you watch bands with barristers and dentists in. 🤣

[Wolverinebass]

Alembic have been without a UK distributor for almost 20 years. The last one was The American Guitar Centre down in Ashford Kent and they hadn't done anything for years before they ceased trading.

 

However, this may be a good thing, if of course Bass Direct can ever get the peeps at Alembic to answer the phone or email.

 

Whilst I got the issue I had sorted out, trying to get hold of them (I appreciate the time difference before anyone says) was really frustrating. It all got sorted out really quickly when I did and they are lovely people who honestly couldn't do enough for me. Just they don't seem to reply to emails or answer the phone very much at all.

 

Which reminds me, I have had something I've been putting off sorting with my Stanley Clarke for more than a year because of fear of this happening again. But, we can see how that pans out.

[dudewheresmybass]

This is great news for the second mortgage 😉

[binky_bass]

A 6 string Classico Deluxe with front and back buckeye is $62,000 according to Alembic's current price list. 

 

That's £51,000 without shipping or import taxes, WITH those it'd be £64,000.

 

Sixty. Four. THOUSAND. 

 

A Series II under the same basis as the above would be £45,000. Pocket change really...

Edited Sunday at 21:13 by binky_bass

[jazzyvee]

5 hours ago, Wolverinebass said:

Alembic have been without a UK distributor for almost 20 years. The last one was The American Guitar Centre down in Ashford Kent and they hadn't done anything for years before they ceased trading.

 

However, this may be a good thing, if of course Bass Direct can ever get the peeps at Alembic to answer the phone or email.

 

Whilst I got the issue I had sorted out, trying to get hold of them (I appreciate the time difference before anyone says) was really frustrating. It all got sorted out really quickly when I did and they are lovely people who honestly couldn't do enough for me. Just they don't seem to reply to emails or answer the phone very much at all.

 

Which reminds me, I have had something I've been putting off sorting with my Stanley Clarke for more than a year because of fear of this happening again. But, we can see how that pans out.

What is wrong with your SC Deluxe. I have one maybe it's something I can help with?

[chriswareham]

Kicking myself that I passed up the chance to get a black Alembic Spoiler that was for sale on evilBay for an affordable price a bunch of years ago. I think the black finish must have made it less desirable, since it hid the no doubt lovely wood the bass was made from. Always wanted one, as Peter Steele of Type O Negative used a Spoiler - it was his main recording bass even after it was retired from live use thanks to its fragile state from years of abuse.

[Hellzero]

12 hours ago, binky_bass said:

A 6 string Classico Deluxe with front and back buckeye is $62,000 according to Alembic's current price list. 

 

That's £51,000 without shipping or import taxes, WITH those it'd be £64,000.

 

Sixty. Four. THOUSAND. 

 

A Series II under the same basis as the above would be £45,000. Pocket change really...

You forgot to include the price of the case that is not included and mandatory for shipping...

 

Now time to get a second job! 

[binky_bass]

2 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

You forgot to include the price of the case that is not included and mandatory for shipping...

 

Now time to get a second job! 

Time to get 10 clones, each of which has 2 jobs. 

[Bass Direct]

We are really really excited about this! 

 

Big fans of Alembic here, always trying to get in pre-owned instruments where we can, and to have the opportunity to open some Alembic sized parcels from the USA is a bit of a dream come true.

 

If you guys ever have any questions at all, just drop us an email/call

 

Hope everyone is keeping well!

[LeftyJ]

13 hours ago, binky_bass said:

A 6 string Classico Deluxe with front and back buckeye is $62,000 according to Alembic's current price list. 

 

That's £51,000 without shipping or import taxes, WITH those it'd be £64,000.

 

Sixty. Four. THOUSAND. 

 

A Series II under the same basis as the above would be £45,000. Pocket change really...

 

Well what are you waiting for? 

[thodrik]

This is great news for me.

 

Now when I really want to get a custom Spector or Warwick I can justify the price on the basis that it will be about 1/4 the price of an Alembic. 

[chriswareham]

6 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Now time to get a second job! 

 

As Baldrick told Blackadder, there's good money to be made down the docks. Doing favours for sailors.

[jazzyvee]

6 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

We are really really excited about this! 

 

Big fans of Alembic here, always trying to get in pre-owned instruments where we can, and to have the opportunity to open some Alembic sized parcels from the USA is a bit of a dream come true.

 

If you guys ever have any questions at all, just drop us an email/call

 

Hope everyone is keeping well!

Well done guys, it's about time we had a UK Distributor, looking forward to seeing some tasty basses and testing the strength of my willpower. 👍🏾 😂

[Bass Direct]

3 hours ago, thodrik said:

This is great news for me.

 

Now when I really want to get a custom Spector or Warwick I can justify the price on the basis that it will be about 1/4 the price of an Alembic. 

but is it 1/4 of the bass, thats the question ;), 

 

Seriously though, each to their own, and if you can afford it great, if not then get a pre-owned example

[Bass Direct]

36 minutes ago, jazzyvee said:

Well done guys, it's about time we had a UK Distributor, looking forward to seeing some tasty basses and testing the strength of my willpower. 👍🏾 😂

We cannot wait, we have a couple of Stanley's and a Mark King to get us underway, then no doubt we will have some series basses etc down the line somewhere

[Russ]

Alembic make Wal look cheap. But they probably have slightly better lead times.  

 

They are absolutely stunning instruments though, and sound like nothing else. But I have yet to play one (with the possible exception of the little Stanley Clarke model, which isn't particularly heavy but balances awfully) that wasn't a complete boat anchor in terms of weight. It's all that brass and maple. 

[prowla]

8 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

We are really really excited about this! 

 

Big fans of Alembic here, always trying to get in pre-owned instruments where we can, and to have the opportunity to open some Alembic sized parcels from the USA is a bit of a dream come true.

 

If you guys ever have any questions at all, just drop us an email/call

 

Hope everyone is keeping well!

Can you sell me one for a couple of hundred quid? 🙂

[jazzyvee]

2 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

We cannot wait, we have a couple of Stanley's and a Mark King to get us underway, then no doubt we will have some series basses etc down the line somewhere

Wow holding series basses in stock is a serious commitment, and my thoughts would be that a buyer spending that kind of cash on an alembic bass would most likely want it custom made for them rather than off the shelf. I know i would. That said i guess long lead times at alembic might work in your favour. All the best.

[itu]

2 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

We cannot wait, we have a couple of Stanley's and a Mark King...

Well, if I may not have the funds to either of these guys, but how about their hands that would certainly be an upgrade here?

 

OK, some finger, maybe?

[Bass Direct]

Just now, itu said:

Well, if I may not have the funds to either of these guys, but how about their hands that would certainly be an upgrade here?

 

OK, some finger, maybe?

Very good

 

[three]

On 13/01/2025 at 00:07, jazzyvee said:

What is wrong with your SC Deluxe. I have one maybe it's something I can help with?

Same here, I have one so have some understanding of possible idiosyncrasies (beyond terrible strap balance for anybody of average body size).  The troubleshooting pages on Club Alembic are also an incredible resource with very knowledgeable and helpful users and frequent interventions from Alembic staff (especially Mica Wickersham)

[Bass Direct]

On 12/01/2025 at 18:26, Wolverinebass said:

Alembic have been without a UK distributor for almost 20 years. The last one was The American Guitar Centre down in Ashford Kent and they hadn't done anything for years before they ceased trading.

 

However, this may be a good thing, if of course Bass Direct can ever get the peeps at Alembic to answer the phone or email.

 

Whilst I got the issue I had sorted out, trying to get hold of them (I appreciate the time difference before anyone says) was really frustrating. It all got sorted out really quickly when I did and they are lovely people who honestly couldn't do enough for me. Just they don't seem to reply to emails or answer the phone very much at all.

 

Which reminds me, I have had something I've been putting off sorting with my Stanley Clarke for more than a year because of fear of this happening again. But, we can see how that pans out.

Drop us an email if you ever need help, I have an amazing tech here who has done lots of work on Alembic over the years

[Misdee]

There's something very special about Alembic basses. They've got a history and pedigree no other custom bass builder can match. 

 

Alembic have always been a bit more expensive than most other custom bass makers. Unfortunately nowadays they are proportionately much more expensive than they've ever been. Even allowing for inflation, by any metric you use to measure it, Alembic basses have become even more costly than they used to be. The terrible exchange rate for the pound against the dollar doesn't help either. It's a shame, but it would be even more of a shame if Alembic had ceased trading, like so many other bass builders have. That's the alternative.

 

It's testament to the prestige of Alembic basses that they are still in such demand. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the instruments Bass Direct have on order are sold before they actually arrive in the UK. Kudos to them for adding Alembic to their roster. I'm really glad there's a UK dealer again.