Jason:
Welcome to the club! I also live in the Bay Area (Montclair/Oakland), though at the moment I'm in NY. If you haven't played a Skylark before, my advice is head up 101 to the Hearn Ave. exit in Santa Rosa and go visit the factory. You'll get a chance to play a Skylark, as well as a few other instruments. The folks at Alembic are VERY friendly and helpful. Just give them a call and they can let you know what's hanging in the front room at the moment, give you directions, etc. I'd offer to let you play mine, but I don't have a Skylark. I have an '83 Electrum, a '76 Series 1 on the way from L.A., and a custom Further being built. If you decide on the Skylark, keep an eye on this site. Used ones come up every once in a while, and more often than on eBay.
Bill, the guitar one