Hi Frank,
It's got to be 816 since both 810 and 818 are long scale basses. You should probably write this number in the electronics cavity or under a pickup as a backup.
Here's what's in the file:
top and back: Cherry
core: Cherry
neck: Maple and Purpleheart, 30.75 short scale
fingerboard: Ebony with mother of pearl inalys
originally made for: Rothchild
birthday: September 9, 1977
It's been here a couple of times. First, in September 1977 Rothchild returned it stating
the neck was too thin by 1/8 at the nut. There isn't a record of the remedy (none?)
Then in November 1977, they returned it again, stating: noticeable blemish on the peghead to the right of the logo and a crooked 5th fret inlay. There is a repair order from November 1977 staing the zit on the peghead was fixed, and the inlay was redone.
It was sold to Vic Zinn Music (our first dealer!) in 1977 and they sent it to us at their customer's request to make it fretless. Also it was refinished under warranty (the dreaded polance checking incident) at the same time.
There's another note from Vic Zinn Musicn from July 1980, where they returned it to us to have it returned to a fretted bass. There is just a quick handwritten note on their letter that states done.
Wow - that bass has been around! Now that you know the serial number, you should get it
registered to you.
With all that Cherry, do find it's pretty heavy? My bass has a Cherry body, and nobody can believe how heavy it is. I also find it's pretty thunky sounding compared to Mahogany. How does yours compare?
