Series II 8-String Graphite Neck on eBay

[811952]

Sting had a fretless 8 Hamer, if memory serves, and used it in the video for De Doo Doo Doo De Daa Daa Daa...
This is one sweet looking bass!  My '81 didn't have any writing or other identifying marks on the pickups, so this looks original to me...
John

[senmen]

Guys, John,
wow what a sexy headstock!
John, you are right. Sting used a custom Hamer 8string bass with a maple fretless board. The bass was painted red and had the Standard (Explorer) body shape.....
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

[valvil]

Here's what we have on file:
 
1982 long scale 8 string series II bass
walnut top & back
mahogany body
maple accent laminates
graphite neck
phenolic fingerboard
schaller tuners
 
Completed Feb 3 1982.
 
That's it.
 
Valentino

[mica]

The logo doesn't look inlaid. The nut has V-shaped slots, which would be typical at the time. No mention of the nut material in the file, so from that I'd assume it was made with a brass nut, but that's not 100%.
 
If the bass was played alot, they may have restruck the numbers, or we may have before it left if we felt they weren't deep enough. I'm not entirely sure it is double struck - they certainly aren't on a straight line, but the steel punches are just handheld. Anyway, it seems the file information matches. Let's hope the next owner contacts us and we can get them to scribe the serial number in the electronics cavity for safe keeping.  
 
Fretless 8-string... In my imagination it sounds so cool but... how can you possibly have the intonation right on every set of notes?

[dela217]

That looks like a bone nut to me.  I had an Alembic fretless in the early 80's too.  It also had the bone nut.  Perhaps that was something that was put on the fretless instruments at that time?

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

[poor_nigel]

Opps, double post.  Might as well use the blank space.  
   
Wouldn't this bass go great with this bass:  
   
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/8234.html?1078784061  
   
Same colors in the walnut and one a point and the other an omega.  Maybe I will sell a couple of basses . . .  
 
Off topic, but interesting side note - Bass NW sold that 5-String Series II today.  Bummer, but not for who bought it.
 
(Message edited by poor_nigel on September 02, 2004)

[poor_nigel]

As usual, Michael is correct about the nut being bone.  A blury shot, but it makes it plain on the nut and the thinness of the logo.  Bass looks to be in near mint condition, as are the power supply and cable.  A little time with a wire wheeled dremel would have the case looking fine for a 22 year old one.  
 
After this great bass finds a new home, I will e-mail a moderator suggesting that this thread be removed.  If a member buys it, I will happily burn all pre and post processed images to a CD and mail it to them so they can use em in the Showcase section, if they want.  I do hope this bass finds its way into a good home.
 
Idle goosip/rumor:  Bass is reportedly owned by a 68 year old bassist that played on either the Tonight Show or Letterman.  He ordered this bass custom and went to the factory to pick the woods out for it.  If I find out who the owners is, and he does not mind us knowing, I will post that information.  Parting thought - I was told he also kept his 'good one,' in case he was called up to play again.  Wow, I wonder what his 'good one' looks like!

[jimbobv]

Ebay lists reserve at $7k;  I see flatwounds at E, D, but a roundwound A pair...