http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-Alembic-Series-1_W0QQitemZ220017468274QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Very nice.  Your opening bid is a good test of the market.  A year ago, we wouldn't have been sure that the final price would be that high but now I would gladly pay that or more if I were in the market.
 
So, what does all that purpleheart do to the tone (and the weight)?
 
dw

It is comparable to the weight of other older Series 1's which I have played. From the standpoint of tone, the bass is awesome - its natural tone is almost piano-like, but with the controls and Qs there is tremendous flexibility.  My only reason for sale is a growing emphasis on my part on 5-string basses.  The purpleheart has also aged well and is uniformly darker than a that on newly-built bass. I only have room for so many basses and recently acquired a beautiful MK5 from another member of this forum.
 
Regards.
 
Bob Brown
hasadari