http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alembic-Distillate-Custom-4-String-Bass-with-Factory-Bigsby-Star-Inlays-/151776388105?hash=item235693e409
 

Pretty cool! Love those Bigsby's

Pretty wood too! We've seen this one before... I remember the custom body shape. It's a shame someone routed out for those EMG's. Fixable, but still...
 
FWIW, it's the same seller with that beautiful Spoiler with the convertible fingerboards. http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=151762982718&alt=web

The Spoiler I would do, but not that Bigsby Axe . I could see getting and sending the Spoiler to the  Mothership  for a new lined fretless fingerboard with hard finish treatment. .

That distillate would be good as a tenor bass.

I have been wondering about the Spoiler for a while.  I sent an email to Alembic to get a ball park price on a new fret board, but I didn't get a response.

I can tell you that it will be pretty much impossible to quote for a new fingerboard without having the bass in hand - I'm certain this was modified after we built it, and so I don't have a frame of reference for the work.

Found it... here's the last thread we had on this Bigsby-equipped Distillate. It seems to have appreciated some. =)
 
http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/395/207826.html?1427463114

HA!!  
I knew it looked familiar!

Thanks , and there we have it . Yikes , (again ). I still cannot understand why someone installed those pickups . I can forgive that Bigsby , but why the pickups ?

Thanks , and there we have it . Yikes , (again ). I still cannot understand why someone installed those pickups . I can forgive that Bigsby , but why the pickups ?

In the pictures  (and kudos for extreme detailed pics) it doesn't look like the Bigsby was a retrofit. I don't see an extra set of holes for a bird tailpiece... and indeed it does *say* the tremolo is factory. Since this was obviously someone's custom, it seems plausible.  
 
I wouldn't personally have any use for a tremolo either, (it'd be super-funny to watch that!) but as Jazzyvee pointed out, this would be a perfect candidate for a tenor or piccolo bass.  
 
The bigger issue for me would be justifying the $3k price tag knowing what work it'll take to replace those EMG's and leave the bass looking somewhat aesthetically presentable.  
 
I'm a sentimental sap, and having been on the receiving end of the harsh realities of life and economic circumstances, I just hate seeing someone's custom Alembic up on the block. Hopefully this one eventually finds a good home.

I would love to do the restoration on this bass.  Unfortunately, it was originally a one pickup model, and most likely a piccolo bass to start out.  I would end up having to add a second pickup, and the circuit would have to be modified for the second pickup.  The top and back are walnut.  At $3K, the price tag is way too much a for a butchered Distillate, but if he cuts that by at least a third, it may be worth saving.  It has plenty of dings dents and worming, so a lot of elbow grease has to go into the restoration, but it would be a fun project.