Medium-scale Series I in Japan

[edwardofhuncote]

https://reverb.com/item/69900781


I believe this is an early '77, I'm fairly certain it's a very close relative to my #77-621, possibly even one of her sequential 'sisters'.

[KR]

That's a clean one.

[edwardofhuncote]

I sent the store a message, asking as politely as possible what the serial number was. They probably think I'm nuts, and I am. But in a good, numerically obsessed way.


Just thinking of what numbers it isn't, with those features from that early in '77. Not; 595, 611, 613, 617, 619, 621, 624, 635, 637, or 640. Quite a few gaps to fill. I guess there's always the possibility of a duplicate number too.

[pauldo]

… and I am. But in a good, numerically obsessed way.

LOL. Yes you are, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

[edwardofhuncote]

Confirmed by shop; this is #77-623. Right between ours, Keith.


(now I can sleep again...)   

[KR]

Yes, I just saw this on ebay today and thought about your bass.

[edwardofhuncote]

The latest price drop on this one puts it closer to real-world... I see a couple details that need addressing, but nothing too serious. If I weren't the the current custodian of its sister, and another Series I being upgraded to Series II electronics... well, I'd have to repatriate this one.

I'm just too close to other things to feel the [twitch] anymore.


PS - for posterity and further searches... I have now identified #77-603 as a medium-scale guitar, purleheart top/back.

[rv_bass]

The latest price drop on this one puts it closer to real-world....

Looks to be below current market now…

[gtrguy]

Looks like a slight neck tweak from looking at the picture. If so, I think those little ones are harder to get glue into to repair than a bigger tweak but clean up nicer looking afterwards.

[edwardofhuncote]

Coincidentally, when I first got 77-621 from Moder-Dave several years ago, it had the exact same delamination in the exact same spot. Almost as if it got flexed a bit, and survived. The outer backstrap was also beginning to delaminate to the outer edge. I made a cork-lined caul to fit right over the volute first, then wicked some Titebond in with a piece of floss. Then clamped it up tight. The back of the headstock was easy; just a squeeze of glue and a flat caul there. After the clamps came off the next day, she was solid. I filled in the chipped-out finish with some yellowed CA glue, and polished it up. If you know where to look, you can still see it, but it is barely noticeable.


Weird, how 77-623 has the same traits, half a world away.

[pauldo]

I really like those clamps.

[gtrguy]

I wish I had a work bench that wasn't full of other stuff...

[DistillaMatto]

It's actually cheaper on Reverb than the Japanese Yahoo Auction site. That's unusual. I just noticed the shipping is free within Japan. No tax on the price either so maybe it evens out.