Does not give much info about..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181742554396

He probably doesn't even know what model is, some people is just like that.

any idea why it's so rare?

Because the ad says so?

savuok, that appears to be an Elan model, finished in wine red. The color is not common, but they do turn up. Elan electronics are a nice entry into the realm of filters... a simple but very adjustable package. I actually have Elan plus on my Persuader... just like this with an added 3 position Q switch.
 
I believe the seller is probably using the term rare generically... in the sense that secondhand Alembics are generally rare by comparison to say secondhand Fenders. Or on the other hand, they may not have a clue. At $1400 opening bid, it's neither outrageously priced nor a great deal. If you're still looking for your first Alembic, I'd suggest you might watch this one educationally.

We forget, here in this place, that they are QUITE rare.  I live in Nashville, a town absolutely crawling with every kind of stringed instrument (we can go get you a six-string banjo, a five-string violin, a late 50's LP or original V, or a harp guitar, right now, 10 minutes from my house) and some of the best-known vintage guitar stores (George Gruhn's and Carter Guitars) and even a bass-only store (The Low End) and I've been here now 25 years.  
 
I've seen less than a dozen, and me and Will Gunn own(ed) 6 or 7 of them.  Elsewhere in this here USA, they may as well come from places no one speaks of in Nevada, you never see them.  So for the other 99%, they are VERY rare.  He's right.
 
Although I'm really beginning to think Alembic got a deal on Wine Red paint on the Elans !
 
Joey

Thanks a lot for the wise suggestion Edward, I will just watch the auction. Moreover, I emailed the owner to ask for the serial number and he responded that he does not know it. In Elans the serial number is in the electronics cavity?
 
(Message edited by savuok on May 13, 2015)

It is just below the 24th fret. It can be partially seen in one of the pictures.
Jon

Yep. And the H letter code confirms Elan. Can't decipher the whole number sequence but it appears to be 51??. That bass may actually be late-1980's rather than 90's. Pretty early production for Elan IIRC...
 
savuok, there are a few wine red Elans in the showcase thread here, for comparison. You might even find this one in there.  
 

Did Alembic do a run of Elan's for Guitard Center in the early 90's like they did with Essence basses?  I previously owned one of the GC Essence basses and this Elan looks very similar in configuration/options.

It looks quite a bit like the one in the Showcase section from July 28, 2004.  The s/n is  88H5107,  it looks pretty close...
 
(Message edited by lembic76450 on May 13, 2015)

Sharp eyes Kenn, this one:  
 
http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/411/11515.html?1311574707
 
Surely could be the same one... definitely plucked from the same bush. =)

1988 fits the numbering sequence according to Flip's data base. 88H5107 was in the U.K., at least at the time of the Showcase posting. It looks similar, but the quilt pattern appears a little different to me, along with a plastic versus brass electronics cover difference. Of course, the only real way to tell is through the s/n. Fun to speculate however.
Jon

Brian,
 
I own (Serial# at home) my (1989) Elan 6 string which I purchased at GC back then.
 
Bubinga top, lots of Maple and a 13 ply (Purpleheart/Maple) neck!
 
Killer bass.

People love to toss around the term rare on seller sites. Used Alembics pop up almost daily on eBay. I know, I get the e-mails every morning. =)