Moonstone with Alembic electronics

[honkylips]

This is an interesting one:


https://reverb.com/item/94339107-moonstone-m-1-80s-custom-5-string

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm thinking another Club Member here has the twin to that one.

[honkylips]

Seller claims you’ll never find another, but based on the looks of the background I bet you could find a few more if you root around a bit

[edwardofhuncote]

It is a bit of a squalor... does say it's an estate situation. Sad.


You seeing this Brian? Another M-80 five-string.

[honkylips]

Sad indeed.  I didn’t catch the estate sale part.  Anyway, it’s a cool bass. 

[flavofive]

Seller claims you’ll never find another, but based on the looks of the background I bet you could find a few more if you root around a bit

Agreed that this may possibly be a sad situation.  But I gotta admit - this one made me laugh out loud (at work)...

[hammer]

I'm not sure what made you "laugh out loud" about this posting. As the owner of a twin to this bass (I purchased the blue 5-string several years ago) I can verify that Moonstone basses are of extremely high quality. In addition, the seller is correct that there were not many made with Alembic electronics. I believe Steve Helgeson made most of his basses with Bartolini electronics. Steve passed away a few years ago so Moonstone guitars and basses are in fact no longer made and these hollow bodies are relatively rare. I would agree, however, that the asking price is laughable. I purchased one that had a quilted maple front and back for a bit over $3,000 in 2023. That's about $4,500 in appreciation in 3-years which represents a 134.4% increase over its original price. THAT is what I would suggest is laughable (though it is not out of line with what people are asking for when selling Alembic basses which are still being produced). 

[hammer]

I agree that the seller might profit from picking up a bit or at least finding another background to use when photographing something he/she is trying is sell.