(x) 791386 Series I short-scale Koa history request

[el8ed]

Dear Mica,
I have 791386 incoming and would kindly ask for build details and other historical info.


Supposedly the bass has “newer” Series pickups with gold Alembic lettering and the preamp card was rebuilt rather recently.


Thank you much,
Oliver

[el8ed]

Here is an older photo from a previous owner for reference.
Thank you!

[mica]

Hi Oliver,

Here's the details about your Koa bass:

ser number: 79-1386
model number: SBI4
model name: Series I
top: Koa
body: Mahogany (darker than Koa)
back: Koa
neck: Maple and Purpleheart
neck feel: standard tending toward thin
scale: 30.75" short
fingerboard: Ebony, fretless with Maple lines
inlays: none
controls: Series I with Master Volume
side markers: LEDs
originally made for: custom order for Harbert's Music, WV
birthday: July 17, 1979

[el8ed]

Thank you so much Mica!


Isn’t that interesting that I bought the bass to convert it to fretless, just as it started it’s life unbeknownst to me? She still has her frets though since I bought a fretless Brown Bass instead. I always suspected that the frets that came on the bass were not Alembic original. They were just plain horrible. Took my luthier a good while to get them back to level and finely dressed. Now she’s all good :-)
Cheers, Oliver