What are people thinking when they take a saw to the headstock of a good instrument?  On the other hand, lefties - take notice:  http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=103912345

cut the headstock down in order to reduce weight???  WTF!?  That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Only at Guitar Center

I don't buy that it was done to reduce weight.  There's really not that much of the cone cut off.  Here are my own theories to explain the modification:
 
1. The last owner always wanted a PRS
2. The bass was once owned by Euell Gibbons (fiber    man, fiber!)
3. The last owner pointed it at the wrong woman (a whippet's dinkle type?)
4. The last owner always wanted a Jewish bass.
 
Bill, tgo

LOL - hmmmm, a moyel for basses.

The moyel had hiccups...

AAAAAAAAAAAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA.  Bill.  You are a riot man.  
 

4. The last owner always wanted a Jewish bass.
 
i've just had one of those leg-crossing moments
 
graeme

If, other than a broken headstock, it's in great condition, I'm wondering why it appears to be missing a knob.
 
On a standard neck-through, if I recall correctly, a headstock replacement is not unreasonable.  However, on a neck with a volute it may be more involved.  You would lose the volute and get a standard scarf joint with front and back laminates.  For a lefty looking to get into a five string Alembic for relatively little money, it might be worth checking out.  If you could talk them down a good bit and if the case is included.  Don't remember how much the headstock replacement would be, you would definitely check with Alembic first.  On the other hand, you could just wait around until a lefty 5 string shows up with all the parts.