(x) 81 D 1986 USA

[edwardofhuncote]

 Mica, since I was fortunate enough to have gotten all the supporting paperwork with this Distillate, I’m mostly interested in any history you may turn up on it. With exception for a modification from a 4-position pickup selector switch, to a Pan with center detent, (see pics) it seems to be standard Distillate specs.

Another oddity... the serial number as stamped into the end of the fingerboard and written on the build sheet (81 D 1986 USA) I think would indicate a 1981 build, however the date on the build sheet shows December 11^th, of 1986. The blue warranty card shows the bass wasn’t sold until May 17^th of 1990. Seems like a long time between those dates... just curious if any of that means anything, other than just a numerical coincidence.

As with my Persuader, (whose files are missing) a little mystery isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I LOVE the bass! Anything you turn up is much appreciated. 
~GH
 

[StephenR]

I used to own 82D 2349 which showed a "birthdate" of 11/23/82 so the serial number on your bass seems consistent with one made in 81. Perhaps it sat at the factory until it was sold in 1986 and the birthday reflects when it left?

[FC Bass]

Looks like one of the previous owners filled in the purchase date (they're left blank) And 1986 is most likely a typo after staring too long at the serial number  ... I guess

Great score!

[mica]

I think these are easy mysteries to solve.

Clearly, when the setup guy filled out the warranty card, the "1986" in the serial number was simply recorded as the year as well. This bass is in fact a 1981 build.

As for the purchase date, the bass was not originally sold to the dealer listed on the warranty card (I also have that on the part the customer returned). I figure the actual anonymous original purchaser never filled out the warranty card, and a subsequent owner filled it in. Who knows? Maybe even the store sold it as a new bass in 1990.

[mica]

Oh, and the details you have on the wood card are correct. About the pan modification, there's no record of it, but at least from the photos I can see that the pan pot is one of ours, however, electrical tape NEVER is.

[edwardofhuncote]

Thank You for checking Mica... I thought maybe it was a simple explanation along those lines.

ps, the electrical tape didn't make it through my inspection.