Entwistle one of your big influences?  Me too...
 
House shopping so, I'll make your day:
1983 Series I  in Birdseye over hollow Walnut (dragon is an easily removed decal)
1986 Series II in Flame Maple over solid mahogany
 
Both mint with all the toys plus an extra Series 20' cable.
 
$10,000 for the pair.   Almost half the list on ONE new one !  No fighting, kids!  Haha!

 
(Message edited by davehouck on May 07, 2007)

Oh dear.

Wow!
 
Wilfred

Stunning!
 
Bassbeest... Dutch roots?

Sorry, I'm having a replica built, with a few mods, but closer than what you have.  You can view it in the factory to customer section, under Alan's Custom Exploiter.  It will have the note inlays, Series II electronics, and also bird's eye maple, which is what John's Exploiters had.  The neck will be to my specs, but other than that, it will be the only replica I'm aware of of John's Exploiters.
 
Alan

For any with interest, that Series I looks like it has an added master volume and deluxe neck (3 PH stringers).  It also has the older style pickup positioning where the neck pickup is closer to the end of the board.  Also, I don't see strap pegs on the Series I.  Have they been removed, or was it built with those inset strap locks?
 
When you say Both mint with all the toys plus an extra Series 20' cable.  Do you mean two DS-5 boxes and three cables are included?  Are they the little blue boxes or the rackmount versions?  
 
How about the cases?  Are they regular hardshells or flight cases?
 
Are both basses 34 scale?  I can't tell for sure if they are the same or a trick of the perspective.
 
Just trying to pre-ask the questions you are likely to get from any interested parties.  Also
 
-bob
 
PS - Alan, did you notice that the shapes are slightly different on these two?  I remember you going around several times to get the shape right on yours.

Also note the reveral of 5 pin vs 1/4 jack comparing the two. I've never really compared S1 and S2s ... maybe that was normal at the time, or a user request, or...?

Guys,
two really stunning basses but as Alan and me beeing 300% JE fans, unfortunately not close enough to the originals.
The upper one has a similar body style than the reissue Spyders or to Johns original Spyder with the V-head.
The lower one has the typical Exploiter shape where the front horn is too narrow, to my taste.
And, sorry to say, both headstocks are wrong.
Attached plse see a pic of the exact shape of Johns No.1 or No.2.
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

Well, I wouldn't say the headstocks are wrong - Bobby's not saying these are replicas of JE's basses. These basses have the typical headstocks for the time they were built.  
 
Where's that picture from, Oliver? I haven't seen it before.

Mica,
sorry, I meant about the headstocks that they don?t have the right shape for us critical JE fans. Sorry.
As for the raw Spyder this is NO Alembic. Sorry to say, a good friend of mine who is luthier of guitars and me have created this.
It has the exact shape and dims of John?s Spyders but is still in this raw stage as I dont?t know yet how to finish it electronicswise etc. I wanted to have a spare bass on stage besides my DW until I am able to order also an exact Spyder like Alan did.
So hopefully I win the lottery this weekend....
But:  as for the bass I take it as a compliment !!!
 
Oliver (Spyderman)
 
(Message edited by senmen on May 04, 2007)

Those are 2 beautiful basses at a great price.  I think you should have no trouble finding a home for those babies.  I am a small standard kind of guy, so they are not for me.  Now if those were a matching pair of small standards from '75 or so....
 
Maybe I should post this in the dreaming section.
 
Michael

Bob,
 
   Yes, as Oliver has noted the body shapes are different.  Even John Entwistle's Exploiters were each a bit different.  The one I'm having built is much closer to JE's than the Exploiters above, but that doesn't tarnish what fine instruments they must be.  
 
    For me, I didn't want my pickups placed as close to the end of the fretboard as with the first Exploiter above, so mine are going to be more like where the pickups are placed on my Essences, which I find very comfortable for slapping and popping (I'm not great at those techniques, but I do throw a few in occasionally).  JE used to pop in between the pickups, one of the things that I think made his technique so unique.
 
    Oliver and I have discussed the body shapes at length, and it looks like the one he posted above is pretty darn close to JE's Spyders listed in his book, Bass Culture.  I think mine is too - the folks in Santa Rosa have done a great job from what I can tell at this point.  JE's were much thinner at the waist, and the cutaway on the lower horn went slightly below the end of the fingerboard from what I can tell.
 
Alan

The scale on both of these basses is 34.  The Series I has had the straploks turned down to 5/16 diameter and sunken into the body (turned 'em on the lathe myself) and included are TWO DS-5 small versions, and yes THREE 5-pin cables as well as the original PERFECT form fit hardshell cases.     The Series I was actually my first Alembic I ever owned and the number is currently at 7 out of my 72 basses total.  My last one purchased was the 2003 MK5 in Buckeye Burl and is my 17th Alembic that I have owned.   Anyway,  I never intended these to be replicas, which to me are second-best, at best....these are contemporaries to the Exploiters (Spyders) which my dear departed friend John once owned and he commented that my birdseye Series I was the finest he had ever held.  How come none of you detail freaks (lovingly & respectfully, I call thee) noticed the Maximua 24 Karat Gold strings on both of these ( also on my 6 Warwick Buzzards ) which NONE of your replicas will EVER have...haha!  
Thanks for all the great feedback

 
(Message edited by davehouck on May 07, 2007)

Please forgive the typo on Maxima and sorry Flip, no Dutch roots...Bassbeast was loooong gone, so I had to settle for the seemingly Dutch spelling bassbeest!  I do certainly enjoy my Heineken and Konigsegg CCX's ! ! !

I loved Jeremy Clarkson's raving review of the Koenigsegg on Top Gear ..it sounds like Thor gargling a hammer...
 
Gorgeous car. How about some pictures of THAT? I bet lots of us would love 'em.
 
Valentino