thanks for the info, adriaan. i didn't know that about the horns and purpleheart laminates. have you gone on ebay and checked out item #7339519680? it's an orion and seller says it has purpleheart laminates, but i can't see any purpleheart in this bass. can you? i found this same bass in a 2003 listing when the buyer,who purchased it new from an alembic dealer, posted the same pics that are on the ebay ad here on the forum in 2003, so if ebay seller is the same as that original buyer, he didn't keep it very long. the pics are the same, though. also, in your opinion, which is superior in a general sense and not really concentrating on sound, but more from a materials/quality of construction/details perspective------an orion or a rogue? i'd love to know your opinion since you clearly know more about alembics than i do and i'm always wanting to know more.