Congratulations Dennis!  If it seems neck heavy to you, use a 4 strap and try pressing in with your right elbow.  There are threads on here about tricks to playing the short-scale basses of the Alembic persuation.  Please hurry up and do a build history request on it.  I am dying to see if the lams are ebony or what?  The head stock definitely looks like zebrawood, and back in those days they mixed and matched woods for body lams and headstocks.  My Walnut 84 has a flammed koa headstock, front and back.  I hope you really like the bass, but if later on . . . .

Congratulations !

Hey Tom and all,
 
Thanks for the support.  I'll order the build history soon.  But I'm still waiting on the build sheet for my 1981 Series one.  Looks like Mica needs some backup!  Bass arrives tomorrow and I'm anxious to see and play the bass.  I did get the seller to agree to a 48 hour inspection period.  So, I'll be investigating the situation Mike mentions above about serious Neck Dive.  Can anyone shed some light on what this is and if it can be compensated?  I also recall seeing a thread on adjusting the neck, but can't locate it now.  All help and support is appreciated.

The neck dive is only a balance issue and may be slightly different on each of our shape, stance (or sitting) and posture.  As Tom recommended above a 4 strap would be good... as wide a strap as possible with a slip free surface (I found a 5 ergonomic Levy's). Other than that I'll bet it's going to be a real gem!  Enjoy!
 
(Message edited by artswork99 on March 11, 2010)

I've always been curious if the slider guitar straps would help with the neck dive issue here.  
 
http://www.music123.com/Slider-Straps-Dual-Shoulder-Strap-365260-i1130765.Music123

Never saw that before but it's intriguing.? Can't figure out whether it would also solve the excrutiating pain that I feel in my left shoulder after a long rehearsal or gig, or just make both shoulders hurt.Anyone here use it?? And (so I'm not totally hijacking the thread), anyone solve neck dive with it?
dw

Congrats Dennis!  
 
please post some pics.... the specs sound amazing, and I missed it on the website.

Dave,
I knew a bass player back in the early 80's that used a similar strap for his bass. He said it really helped him with back pain since it distributed the weight across both shoulders.
 
Keith

Tom, I was reviewing your showcase on the 5 string Europa and noticed you have a Macassar ebony bass, which gives credence to your comment about this bass being of the same wood.  My request is in to Mica for the build sheet on this bass.  I bought the bass the same day I saw it and I am anxious to confirm her wood.
 
Your 5 string is outrageous!  
 
If anyone has a Macassar Ebony bass on this site, let me know.  I'm interested in comparing the look of the wood with my instrument.