Wow!

Extremely stunning!
 
You should be lucky with the Bartolini upgrade, be sure to keep her that way. ;-)
If there are more holes than controls, you can use them to build some effects or whatever directly into your bass.  
You can use the battery compartment for coins, so you will always have them in reach when you park your car/have to pay toll or whatever you need coins for.
 
I wonder why there aren't much more old basses with the Bartolini upgrade here...
 
Anyway, congrats!

Any news on this one?

I own 2 Alembics with Alembic pick ups and several other Bass's with Bartolini pick ups. I think the Bartolini's are good BUT personally my opinion is that they are do not compete with Alembic pick ups and electronics. This fretless Alembic is really beautiful!  if she were mine I would ask the 'Mother ship to restore her to pedigree status with Alembic pick ups and electronics and wood work as needed. This again is my opinion , just my 2 cents worth. My congrats to you on such an exemplary  
acquisition.This is just the kind custom creation that opens eyes  
and sparks compliments . AWESOME BASS!!!!!!!

I Love that shine what did clean it with?.......im gonna have to give mine a shine!

Well, I used 1500 then 2000 grit wet sandpaper and a sanding block to flatten it and then some swirl remover polish and a lot of elbow grease to make it shine up like new again, plus a good carnuba wax on top. The finish on this guitar looks more like a hard clearcoat than the usual finish.

[picture posted on another thread - way to pretty not to show it here!]

David:
 
That is gorgeous. What are the woods?

Awesome fretless !  I like_______

Why the Bartolini pick ups?!!

yeah thats definitely a sweet fretless!! I like the woods that were used and how the wood is much darker on the horns from the rest of the body.

The Barts are no more (I actually sold them on EBay for quite a good price) and I now have a complete Alembic series electronics setup and two sets of series pickups to try out in it, thanks to some great members of this forum! I hope to find time to get it all back together in the next 9 months.
 
top and back: Walnut  
core: Maple Walnut Purpleheart  
neck: Maple, Walnut, Beech, Purpleheart  
scale: 34 long  
fingerboard: Ebony, unlined fretless  
peghead veneers: Walnut  
birthday: September 20, 1977  
originally made for: Lee Dorman?
 
Lee Dorman is the bass player for Iron Butterfly.
 
I have no idea why the original guts were removed. It actually sounded very good with the bartolini setup but I wanted it to be more original. It is featured on Alembics history page.

David: That's one of the most incredible walnut tops I've seen on a bass. The distinctness of the upper and lower areas is so great at first I thought that they were from two different sources.

Awesome fretless! I like Bartolini pickups for fretless....but I'm sure that Alembic PU are more appropriate,and they sound good too!! Beautiful!!!

This is a personal favorite. Very unique and gorgeous.