Hey BeenDown139: Sorry your initial experience here hasn’t been a good one.
As David (Gtrguy) has suggested, purchasing an Alembic is not always the easiest thing to do. You’re investing a lot money, often need to wait a considerable length of time to find something that you like, and unfortunately people sometimes put things up for sale here and then take them down. As David suggested, however, another Series bass will inevitably come along that has your name written on it and is a better deal than those you have missed (whether it’s $5,500 or $6,495 and people can list their instruments for whatever they desire, those prices are on the high end for a Series I of that age). Unless you’re looking for a pristine collectors item, you can find less expensive options. I have three series basses all of which are that age or newer and didn’t play close to those prices for any of them.
The guys and gals on this forum are good people. They are typically more interested in what they have listed going to someone who will play and enjoy it than squeezing every last dollar out of what they are selling. Typically if something is listed and then withdrawn, the person has decided they just can’t live without the instrument. I’ve made several purchases from forum members and have always felt I got a fair deal or better.
If you provide contact information as suggested by StephenR, people here will take the time to notify you when they see something come up that they know you might like (Two of my Alembics were purchased this way). If you haven’t done it already, post exactly what you’re looking for in the “Wanted” section of the forum. Although I know it’s not easy, your patience will, in the long run, be rewarded.
