I'm not fluffing this EBay ad for this guy, but here is another rare bird bass from the 80's explosion of Alembic-influenced Japanese axes. Genuine Japanese ESP, this was a hair-band special, but it's really another sleeper like the Daions. And possibly even a bit more rare. These rarely come up, so I thought since this guy had so many good pics, I'd bring it up.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ESP-HORIZON-5-MIJ-TopoftheLine-ARCHTOP-NECKTHRU-BASS-Made-in-Japan-EMGs-/121198408669 This Horizon 2 (the guy doesn't realize there was a preceding Horizon 1 bass, a virtual TUNE Bass Maniac clone) is a neck-thru five string, although interestingly the body/neck joint features a heel-like shape. The back features absolutely the craziest tummy-cut I EVER saw. Gumby headstock. Slash cut end of the fingerboard. Arched, carved maple top over an alder back with countersunk knobs (reminiscent of the PE Aria guitars). A nice EMG P/J setup, with an ESP tone network, 9v, vol/vol/bass/treble. Rosewood fingerboard, and the neck dots remind me of a Chet Atkins layout.
http://www.espguitars.co.jp/original/horizon-bass/index_end.html#hrzb2 This particular axe was sold out of Nashville, and I played it in a store here, and I really liked it. Will have one some day . . . . but again, one more Japanese bass from the time of the BB Yamahas, Ibanez Musicians, TUNE Bass Maniacs, Aria SB's, the Daions, and the ESP pictured here. What an amazing time.
J o e y
