Just saw this, and did a double take.
 
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/1786105556.html
 
Joe

wait... let me check my coin purse...
 
Mike

I'll never be able to afford that with what's happened to my 201K.

I know it's not nearly as off the charts as that $18K S1, but on ebay right now there's an old '80's Distillate with a starting price of $4500.  I can almost smell the crack in the air these folks are smoking...

I adore my 1978 Series I, but I will sell it today for the best offer of $18,000 or more.

I emailed the seller suggesting the price was a typo.....we'll see

Flag it

I asked for some photos and the seller replied:  
 
 yes i have plenty including it being photographed and included in Tom
Wheelers American Guitar book.this bass was one of the first extra long
scale basses built and built/designed by rick turner. it has all the
original cords/power supply/case and bass is mint. i toured and did
session work with it for 34 years that included commander cody/peabo
bryson/the flock/buddy miles/zack brock/ronnie rice projects and a lot of
session work.i've already sold the ata case but do have a rack of high
end gear and bag end cabinets also for sle. i'm retiring. a new custom
orderd bass with these specs runs $18 to 22,000. i have had plenty of
inquires and as to date one real offer from gruhn guitars who knows me
and the bass.i'm not sending photos out to photo coolectors they can see
the bass in the book.
 
UGH!!!

That's very interesting. Oddly, I actually own that book. There is one pic of three Alembics, one of which is a long scale. I wonder if that's the one he owns.
 
Joe

So... did he REALLY mean $18,000???

...bass is mint. i toured and did
session work with it for 34 years...
 
Sounds a little contradictory to me.

here's the email reply I got when I asked if the price was a typo ....................
 
 
no it is $18,000 and i have much interest. it is one of alembic's first
long scale bass . it was custom built for me by rick turner and included
in tom wheelers American Guitar book. i have toured /recorded with it for
32 years with acts that include the flock/peabo bryson/commander
cody/ronnie rice/buddy miles/zach brock and many-many recording sessions
as a side man. the price is firm and it has all original
case/electrics/cord and power supply. the bass is mint.

The fact is after the discounts I can get a new custom Series 1 for less than this. I also highly doubt Gruhn's offer was anywhere close to 18K.  
 
Keith

We've seen lots of instruments with some sort of pedigree come across the board... it just doesn't seem to add much (if anything) to the value.

Like to hazard a guess at what kind of premium there would be on Clarkee's Dragon's Breath if he ever put that up for sale?
 
Maybe Victor Wooten would get that one as well.
 
Jazzyvee