Author Topic: Looking for a short or medium scale four (Read 971 times)

bsee · « **Reply #30 on:** November 18, 2004, 08:40:30 AM »

Well, one just popped up on eBay that looks very appealing. Too bad it didn't come here first, or I would probably own it already. I hate eBay. Undoubtedly someone will set up their proxy-bidder program to outbid me by $0.37 with four seconds to go...

bsee · « **Reply #31 on:** November 18, 2004, 03:17:49 PM »

Okay, I got a buy-it-now on the Spoiler and closed the deal! I should have it by Wednesday (I hope!!!) or so of next week. I suspect this means that there will be a plethora of short/medium scale basses on the market over the coming weeks at ridiculously low prices. Happy buying to the rest of you!

It is an '82 Spoiler upgraded to signature electronics in '99. If the s/n was reported accurately, it is the unique 82 S 2345 (that almost sounds like a gag, but some bass had to be 2345). The neck pickup is right up against the neck, so it should have a lot of bottom available. I can't tell for sure on the wood, but the body wings look solid from the frontal pictures I have seen, either that or it's a very thick top. My guess would be koa. The neck is the then-standard three piece maple that should sound great after 22 years of aging and play. Pictures will appear in the showcase when the bass arrives.

And I'm not entirely out of the market yet, so I may still be bidding against you...

godoze · « **Reply #32 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:31:30 PM »

AH. he told me i could have that bass...!

lbpesq · « **Reply #33 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:46:54 PM »

Bob:

I checked out the e-bay listing. Very pretty bass. I really like the vintage look. Enjoy!

Bill, tgo

godoze · « **Reply #34 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:50:29 PM »

At least least you got a super deal on it...

bsee · « **Reply #35 on:** November 18, 2004, 07:56:26 PM »

I think I sent my first email to him moments after he listed the bass. I know his answer to me came about 15 minutes after the listing was put up, and I agreed to the purchase as soon as I got the email from him with the details. He did mention that someone else had offered to pay his price after he had agreed to the deal with me, was that you?

I am really looking forward to seeing what the Signature electronics can do! I'll have to see about doing the constant-volume adjustment to it, and then I'll let her rip.

Price wise, I think the electronics make the bass worth near the equivalent of an SC or MK standard, so I agree that it was a great deal. If I don't love it, I know I can get my money back on this one, which made the purchase decision easy. Hopefully, I'll really like it though.

Either way, I'll probably have an Alembic to sell within six months. Depending on where this leaves me in terms of a custom, I'll either sell this one or the Persuader 5, whichever I replace. I don't have the space for a Danno-style collection.

bsee · « **Reply #36 on:** November 18, 2004, 08:09:25 PM »

Thanks, Bill. It's really pretty and the seller's feedback has me convinced it is going to be in outstanding shape when it arrives. I started looking well before starting this thread, so it's been quite the frustrating wait to find a nice one.

godoze · « **Reply #37 on:** November 19, 2004, 05:48:39 AM »

Yep, that would be me... Looks to be a killer bass ! Enjoy !

jacko · « **Reply #38 on:** November 19, 2004, 08:02:35 AM »

Pictures, pictures! as the pauls would say ;-)

Graeme

bsee · « **Reply #39 on:** November 26, 2004, 12:29:58 PM »

Bass has arrived, but I don't love it yet. I'll play it a bunch this weekend and see if it grows on me like the Persuader did. I really prefer a narrower string spaceing, and have to get used to the electronics. There are a few pics in the showcase.

David Houck · « **Reply #40 on:** November 26, 2004, 12:48:48 PM »

Does the string spacing differ from the Persuader?

bsee · « **Reply #41 on:** November 26, 2004, 02:09:18 PM »

Persuader is a five, so it does differ. The standard five has narrower spacing than a four in those models. Both are 'standard' spacing for the respective models.

I would also say that the Spoiler body seems thinner, about like a distillate that I tried out.

David Houck · « **Reply #42 on:** November 26, 2004, 02:49:28 PM »

I had forgotten that your Persuader was a five string.

bsee · « **Reply #43 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:22:02 PM »

One thing here that seems odd to me. There appears to be a pinstripe veneer of walnut under the fetboard. I don't have the experience of some here, but I can't remember seeing that before. Maybe it's koa, it's hard to identify from looking at such an ultra-thin side veneer. It looks to be the same thickness as the headstock veneers, and about the same color, but that's pretty neutral.

So far, I wish it had a tighter fundamental, but I'm starting to get acquainted with what it can do tonally.

jagerphan84 · « **Reply #44 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:28:55 PM »

I think I remember reading that the walnut veneer is for the purpose of replacing a fingerboard without ripping everything to pieces. I think it was referred to as a 'sacrificial veneer.'