(x) SN 91K6383 - '91 Essence

[soflbass]

I just purchased a '91 Essence and am looking to get some history, materials, etc.  The serial number is 91K6383.

Appreciate your help!

[soflbass]

Here are some photos.

[soflbass]

Some cleaning, adjusting, strings and balancing pickup volume, and this bass is sweet!  Love it!

[soflbass]

More pictures after setup.

[mica]

Very nice Essence bass! This was from the early days of the Essence bass, when they were very limited in options. In fact, there were no wood choices, you could only pick 4- or 5-string, right or left handed, and fretted or fretless.

Here's the details from the instrument file:

model number: KLB4
top: Flame Maple
accent: Walnut pinstripe
body: Maple
neck: 3-piece Maple
scale: 34" long
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: none
pickups: MXY4
controls: "Essence" volume, pan, filter, mono output
originally made for: Thompson Music
birthday: June 4, 1991

The monogram engraved on the truss rod cover and the knobs were added by a previous owner. Cleaned up real nice!

[soflbass]

Thank you Mica! I'm really enjoying the Essence. It's  joy to play. And the tone I can get from it is phenomenal! With the maple on maple brightness, I am exploring the perfect strings for this bass at the moment. Next up will be pure nickle roundwounds for some additional warmth and mellowness.

[jazzyvee]

Maple gives a great sparkle, mid and low range punch on alembic basses. I have an all maple elan 4. Try some alembic strings they have enough brightness if you need that too, lovely mellow warmth and quite low finger noise straight out of the pack.

[soflbass]

Thank you for the suggestion Jazzy. I just received a set of new GHS balanced nickel light strings. They have a pure nickel outer wrap and are supposed to be balanced in volume and tone across the fretboard. If these don't work out, I'll definitely give the Alembic strings a try. What set would you recommend?