I´m looking for an Exploiter Bass (4-String, Longscale) perferably in Europe.

This one is in Italy:

https://reverb.com/item/85315649-alembic-exploiter-1983-natural

It's a bit overpriced in the US market but maybe not in the EU.

Long scale may be hard to find unless you buy a Spyder or someone else's custom job. The majority of Exploiters are Spoilers with a very small number of Distillates. Both those models come standard as 32'' medium scale, but you never know. Alembic is a true custom shop.

Quote from: gearhed289 on August 27, 2026, 12:05:41 PMLong scale may be hard to find unless you buy a Spyder or someone else's custom job. The majority of Exploiters are Spoilers with a very small number of Distillates. Both those models come standard as 32'' medium scale, but you never know. Alembic is a true custom shop.

This is the guy to talk Exploiter with.  Yup.  That one on Reverb is 32".  If you find a Spyder - expect to pay Double the Reverb price for that one.  Last Spyder (in Japan) went for $14K.  Last US one was a little north of $15K.  I'm watching the market too as I want a 4 with Cone headstock.

Quote from: garyhead on August 27, 2026, 09:24:44 AMThis one is in Italy:

https://reverb.com/item/85315649-alembic-exploiter-1983-natural

It's a bit overpriced in the US market but maybe not in the EU.

thanks for your reply.

Quote from: gearhed289 on August 27, 2026, 12:05:41 PMLong scale may be hard to find unless you buy a Spyder or someone else's custom job. The majority of Exploiters are Spoilers with a very small number of Distillates. Both those models come standard as 32'' medium scale, but you never know. Alembic is a true custom shop.

thanks for this Info!

Quote from: garyhead on August 27, 2026, 12:28:43 PM

Quote from: gearhed289 on August 27, 2026, 12:05:41 PMLong scale may be hard to find unless you buy a Spyder or someone else's custom job. The majority of Exploiters are Spoilers with a very small number of Distillates. Both those models come standard as 32'' medium scale, but you never know. Alembic is a true custom shop.

This is the guy to talk Exploiter with.  Yup.  That one on Reverb is 32".  If you find a Spyder - expect to pay Double the Reverb price for that one.  Last Spyder (in Japan) went for $14K.  Last US one was a little north of $15K.  I'm watching the market too as I want a 4 with Cone headstock.

Thanks, these are rare beauties!

got a little bored over breakfast.  went thru my ended listings.  the last spyder i've seen listed on rereververbb was over 3 years ago.    there's been a few exploiters here and then.  coupla dragonwings.  the good news is that they're not as rare as the fabled 5-string long scale unlined series fretless with LEDs of which i can't recall the last time i saw one up for sale.  my advice:  put a big lump o'cash where you can access it immediately.  search the world over.  maybe you'll find true love.  be ready to wait a lonnnng time and then pull the trigger at a moment's notice.  good luck to all!

obtw a dragonwing hangs on a strap and plays like a spyder just in case you were curious.

"The waiting is the hardest part..."

Yeah, I stalked this beauty since it appeared online around 2016 in pretty rough shape. The buyer sent it back to Alembic where it got a complete overhaul. Then it ended up in BeenDown's hands. He didn't bond with the medium scale, and I was able to purchase it in 2022. TOTALLY worth it!