Is this a bargain?

Someone mentioned that the "pre-owned" sample at LP Gear was sold.

Yes, without looking at the AT website, you have the ART7 and ART9, formally discontinued but still available if you look hard, the ART9Xa and 9Xi, the OC9XL, and the ART20, etc.  All probably more expensive than the AT33, but for a reason.  I like my ART7, especially moreso after it was corrected for zenith error. Every time we go to Tokyo, I am tempted to buy an ART1000, but it is not much cheaper over there than it is here. Also, cleaning the stylus tip would be a bit scary.

Deals like this get my attention. It's  the only way I like to acquire such extravagance.

The buyer  would be able to use AT's rebuild service.  I believe  ART1000 is the only model eligible?

AT33SA(the top model) to my ears is nice, but not ART series performance. 

Longtime ART9 user.

How can one dream of the AT33 competing with the AT1000 without having auditioned both? AT make several LOMCs that lie on their product spectrum between the AT33 and the AT1000 in both cost and performance. Of course one is free to prefer the AT33, but with open eyes is best. And I’m sure the AT33 is excellent in its own rite.

The ART1000 with its coils mounted above the stylus tip is what JVC did with the MC-1 mc cartridge back in 1980. Nothing new here!

Interesting... I have a buddy who has had one in daily use for a couple of years without any issues at all. Of course he's careful with it but does nothing out of the ordinary. Its performance is really quite stunning.

@bill_k Very correct. It is also a very delicate setup that will not survive any misstep. My tendency would be to avoid it. 

Apparently it's been sold, but I've heard the AT-ART1000 and it's in an entirely different tier of performance compared to their AT33PTG/II or their other carts in that range. The ART1000 uses a unique magnetic system with the moving coils positioned more directly above the stylus tip rather than at the back end of the cantilever, giving it a more direct drive system and much better dynamics.

Never saw or heard one. I'd like to compare it to my AT33PTG/II. Significant cost difference, 

Of course it can be removed from the headshell, but that doesn't make it your best choice, their AT33PTG/II has channel separation 30db and channel balance 0.5db performance specs that are identical, thus stereo imaging capabilities are matched, yet the impedance/output is quite different

ART1000 says impedance 3 ohms, (recommended load 30 ohms: the 10 x coil impedance guidance formula); signal strength 0.2mv;

AT33PTG/II impedance is 10 ohms, 0.3mv, thus guidance says try for around 100 ohm load.

always check the specs, see if your SUT or phono MC stage has the right combo of xFactor and perhaps separate impedance settings.

my SUT, 4 optional xFactors with resultant impedances: to keep impedance near 30, you would use the input which is an xFactor of 36, resulting in a load of 37 ohms, thus it would output very high, too strong 7.2mv signal strength into my RIAA Phono input.

Using it's optional xFactor of 21, signal strength would be 4.2mv, but the resultant impedance load is 110 (ideal for my AT33PTG/II), 

Yes, I noticed..someone got a heck of a deal or it's a call in to order?

What about my query- can the cart be dismantled from the headshell?

ART1000 $5K  "lightly  used" for half is a steal.

To my ears, on a proper setup it's in the uber cart league.

I see the page but there is no Buy Now button so perhaps someone bought it already?

Hmm...

Something amiss?

Click on link, goes right to page 5.

Does not show up on the LP Gear website. So either gone, or was a scam