Ok folks, As promised, here is the Osiris Bass Document in progress. This is a labor of love. I do not claim or presume it's 100% accurate, but it's pretty close. Additions and corrections are welcome. Enjoy!
Osiris aka Mission Control Bass Document by : Jason Scheuner
Alembic Custom Bass Guitar called “Osiris” aka “Mission Control” aka “Osage Orange” aka “The Omega”, built by Rick Turner for Phil Lesh not just for, but as part of the Grateful Dead’s legendary Wall of Sound. Started in 1972, completed in mid 1974. Serial Number 74 00008.
The Osiris bass debuted on stage June 16th 1974 and was played at almost every show until
7-1-79, but was occasionally spelled by the Alembic modified Guild Starfire known as “Big Brown”
250+ shows
Additional Notes:
Featured in Rolling Stone article about Alembic Sept. 27th 1973
6 Channel Bass. Neck pick up, Bridge pick up, Quad pick up (individual output for each string)
Part of Legendary Wall of Sound 1974
Featured in Grateful Dead Movie 1974
Played at Grateful Dead’s return from hiatus show (by invitation only) at GAMH 1975
Day on the Green 1976
Played at GD’s most famous show 5-8-77 Barton Hall, Cornell University
Played at the Great Pyramid in Egypt Sept. 1978
Played at first performance of the Grateful Dead at MSG in NYC 1979
Still has original Guild Starfire guitar case that was used from 1974.
With the bass are also the Metal plates, Aluminum Receptacle block, Pickup and two knobs added by Tom Smith as well as the last strings played by Phil Lesh on the bass. And from the first stage of restoration; Gruhn shop built pickups, and jigs, Alembic Series I tailpiece.
Features Alembic Superfilter installed by Gruhn guitars (confirmed by George Mundy to do the exact same thing as the original electronics with a lot less noise, and each knob still does the exact same thing it did in 1974)
One of the first instruments ever built with LED dot markers on the neck, and they are still all original and functional.
Original groundbreaking electronics were by Ron Wickersham and George Mundy that lead to Parametric EQ’s and Alembic Superfilter, etc.
Materials:
Top and Back: Koa
Core: Mahogany
Neck-Thru: 7 piece Osage Orange, Walnut, and Maple
Brazilian Rosewood Headstock veneer overlays front and back sandwiched over Koa, Osage Orange, Walnut and Maple.
Accent Stripes: Maple and Walnut
Fingerboard: Ebony
24 Frets
Scale Length: 32”
Inlays: Mother of Pearl, Abalone, Brass, Opals, Lapis Lazuli, Hashish.
Nut: Scalloped Brass
Bridge: Brass Alembic
Tailpiece: Brass and Walnut “Batwing”
Tuning Machines: Schaller
10.75 pounds (heavier in the 70’s due to the weight of the electronics of the era)
Timeline:
Started in 1972 at Alembic “Chicken Ranch” workshop 9850 Old Redwood Hwy. in Cotati, CA.
Played from 6-16-74 thru 7-1-79
Modified by Tom Smith 1981 (pick ups and electronics removed)
Returned to room #4 Front St, studio 1982ish
Moved to storage Unit in Windsor, CA. by Kidd Candelario 1995 (after Garcia’s death)
Storage Unit default sometime between 2012 and 2014
Sold to Gruhn Guitars 2014
First stage of restoration by Gruhn 2016-2019
Purchased by Scheuner Family Dec. 2019
Original Neck and Bridge pick ups found an acquired from Fred Hammon Jan. 2020
LEDs in the Koa top replaced by Rick and Eli Turner 2-20-20 (signed inside by Rick Turner and Eli Turner)
Last stage of Restoration completed ?/?/20 Original Neck and Bridge pick ups installed, historically accurate hum cancelling coils built and installed, historically accurate batwing tailpiece built and installed, historically accurate quad pick up built and installed.
Sources: Rick Turner, Jason Scheuner, Mica Thomas, George Mundy, Stu Nixon and Deadbase, Fred Hammon, Gruhn Guitars, Warwick Stone, Andy Logan, Grateful Dead Gear Book, Rolling Stone Magazine September 23rd 1973, Videos, Photos,
