i think this is called a scorpion (?) shape.  
lifted from greg's website

and another with a 4 string this time.

Nice pic of a nice bass!

That second pic is a cool looking bass. What kind of top is that?

I'm guessing zebrawood, based on the really straight grain-- and the stage lighting produces the trippy look.
 
Brad

Video with the 8 string scorpion.

Cool!!

From 1978:
 
 

The four-string version of that Scorpion in the last picture is now my official Excalibur.  Time to start planning some sort of LA freeway armored truck heist.
 
Will, aka. Waynegrow

I was browsing YouTube earlier and saw this video.
 

 
He's playing the 8 string scorpion-style bass picture above. Not really any good shots of the bass in the clip, but you can sure hear it!

Love hear him singing!

Wait a second.  I recall that the Pirate 8-string bass had a hidden hum-canceller!  Are there two?  Or am I simply mistaken?
 
John

Bump.  
Just been watching some Emerson Lake & Palmer on you tube.
this bass is in use in these clips.
 
Fanfare for the common man.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q698uWIrWmU&feature=related
 
 
Jazzyvee

ELP..saw them in 1974 preforming the Brain Salad Surgery show at Wembley,  Carl Palmer had a Stainless steel drum kit made by British Steel, when he asked what thickness of shells he wanted he said 1/4..consequently it weighed about 5 tons and had to have a reinforced plinth for it to stand on plus his tympans, church bell and the huge chinese gong..70's excess rock eh??

However, when I opened for ASIA some months ago here in Caracas, Palmer (had to) play with a run-of-the-mill Pearl kit that was provided by the backline rental company. Times (and excesses) change, huh?.