Author Topic: 1983 Exploiter/Spoiler For Sale (Read 920 times)

ox_junior · « **on:** April 29, 2004, 01:49:05 PM »

Upon my purchase of Spyder #17 today, I'm offering up this fine '83 Exploiter/Spoiler for sale. Offering it here for my Alembic friends before going to E-Bay.

Exquisite quilted maple top, walnut back, maple headstock. Spoiler electronics. Near mint condition, just some wear on the neck position pickup and one slight scratch on the headstock. Original case has a couple of wear & tear dings on the bottom, interior is mint. Will give you the SN if you need it, just e-mail me. I believe I am the third owner of this bass. I've had it for almost a year and have babyed it, protecting it with my body when my singer comes twirling his microphone! Just oiled the fretboard and installed a ferrite bead to eliminate noise. Comes strung with a (nearly) fresh set of Rotosound RS66s.

More photos available on my band's website, www.thewhoshow.com.

My e-mail is theox@thewhoshow.com if you're interested.

Thanks, Mike Bisch

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2004, 04:05:56 PM »

Looks just like my old bass. Ah, the stupidity of youth. It didn't come with a Hamer case and funky off-white nylon strap with strap locks, did it?
If I were a rich man...

ox_junior · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2004, 04:12:39 PM »

Ha! No it comes with an Alembic case. No strap came with it but I found a nice suede tan strap with black piping around the edges at - of all places - Guitar Center! Matches the bass very nicely. No straplocks. Chrome hardware.

I tell you, I wish Alembic or somebody made a soft case for these Exploiters! I know they don't offer as much protection - but when you gig/rehearse as much as I have been and have to schlep the bloody thing up and down stairs and elevators....it could be worth it ONLY IF you KNOW you're the only one handling it.

Product Development team, are you listening??

Mike

bsee · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2004, 05:32:34 PM »

The one I 'borrowed' for a few weeks didn't have a case. They gave me a soft keyboard case to carry it around in. I don't think I'd try that with a Spyder though, the V headstock would make me nervous.

ox_junior · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2004, 05:37:46 PM »

I'm already nervous about that headstock, and I don't even have the thing in my hands yet! My only complaint about the Spyder 4-strings is that I wish they had the cone-shaped headstock instead of the potentially unwieldy V-shape.

Alan, Oliver, anyone else - does that V shape give you any problems in a live environment?

My singer better watch where he twirls that microphone! He's likely to get jabbed with that V headstock!

Oh and the tan strap I mentioned in my previous post - it's not included in the sale of the Exploiter here.

Mike

ajdover · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2004, 06:01:24 PM »

Mike,

This is a large instrument, make no mistake. The neck and body shape lend itself to respect in a space sense. I don't take it to rehearsals since I literally don't have enough room (I use my '73 Fender Jazz). At gigs, if there isn't enough space, it doesn't come out of the case (not so much out of concern for dings as it is for injury!). All I can tell you is to plan for gigs and space. I do, and I don't have any problems. I will say this, though: everyone who's heard it loves it. To me, it's more than worth the size!

Best of luck!

Alan

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2004, 07:39:21 PM »

Those nice leather or nylon gig bags in our store can be custom ordered in ANY shape. I'm sure it will cost a teencie bit more. Since it's a custom make, Adolpho can add accessories pouches in specific sizes, keep or omit the backpack style straps, whatever you like. He's got more colors besides black too. Just a little food for thought.

ox_junior · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2004, 08:56:27 PM »

Mica, I should have known that your team could make something up for me. I'll look into it after my wallet is able to recover from this teencie initial hit.

Why'd you have to mention food though? Now I'm hungry. Dang it.

Thanks Mica, you are the best. Mike

senmen · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2004, 12:31:27 AM »

Mike,
of course you need to take care with this baby.
It is very huge and the V-head protrudes immensly.
But Mike, when ox-posing, there is no need to mind about this or?

Oliver (Spyderman)

ox_junior · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2004, 06:34:01 AM »

Oliver,

The only concerns I have are the small stages we seem to end up playing on, and the unbridled zeal with which our Roger swings his microphone.

I'm not above stabbing any little git who gets too close to this baby, the two-pronged V could come in handy for that. You know I'm kidding.

I've put in a request to Mica to see if one could be made with a cone peghead. I'd run the risk of upsetting Beaver by cancelling the transaction, and of course he'd probably charge me more for this, although theoretically Alembic wouldn't charge him (as the dealer) or me (as the buyer) anything extra as you and several have pointed out. All I can do is ask. Plus there's the wait...but worth waiting for.

We'll see what everyone says. I'll be more than happy with this one though!

MB

bsee · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2004, 10:27:52 PM »

Mike-

I was at Bass Central today (yesterday) and it appears that you've made your decision as they say the Spyder was shipped!

I tell you, those guys run a class operation!

ox_junior · « **Reply #11 on:** May 04, 2004, 01:56:47 PM »

Yes I did decide to go with Spyder #17. I had a conversation with Valentino, who suggested that although I could possibly wait for Alembic to make me a 4-string with the cone peghead, it would take at least 4 months and Beaver would undoubtedly charge me more for it.

Too bad you didn't get to see it. I was hoping you'd get a chance to eyeball it before it left. Oh well!

I wish they would send me the tracking # though. I'm such a little kid, I want to follow this every step of the way!!

hollis · « **Reply #12 on:** May 04, 2004, 02:38:54 PM »

Give 'em a call, I'm sure they'll supply you with the tracking #.

The only thing that kept me sane.....okay, sane is a stretch.... while waiting for my Alembic was tracking it along the way.

Nothing wrong with keeping the little kid alive...

ox_junior · « **Reply #13 on:** May 04, 2004, 02:52:33 PM »

They just now sent it to me. My bass is in the air as we speak between South Carolina and LA.

The little kid in me lives! Wheeeeee!

MB

willie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 05, 2004, 12:55:38 PM »

That sure doesn't look like a V head to me, looks like a cone peghead. I had a 83 Spoiler Exploiter just like it but with birds eye maple front laminate and it had a cone peghead just like that one. Nice bass.
Willie