Hi all,
 
I'm in Vancouver, Canada, and after playing the same Elias bass for over twenty years, I figured it was time to upgrade. So I had been looking for an Essence for about 18 months, combing the Alembic forum, Craigslist, eBay, etc. I was looking for a five-string, but was ok with a four-string if it was the right one.
 
I found a lovely four-string koa Essence in Florida, about as far away as it could be and still be in North America. I bought it, had it shipped up, and within two weeks of receiving it at the end of July, its five-string koa sister popped up on Craigslist, not a half-hour drive from my house.  
 
It was listed as a 1992, but when I went to check it out, I found that it was a 1993, and in fact, the serial number (93K7699) was only 31 away from my four string! It's identical in every way that I can see, except for the gold hardware on the four-string.  
 
Turns out that they were born one day apart! April 7 and April 8, 1993. I'm guessing they're from the same tree... even if they're not, it's a good story :-)
 
So I started out looking for one, and now have two... I guess the obvious question is:
 
Does anyone have a six-string koa Essence made in the first week of April 1993 for sale? Or maybe a three-string? :-)
 
Anyway, these are beautiful instruments; they're everything I had hoped they would be, and I'm looking forward to playing them for decades to come.  
 
Brian
 

Congrats again!  Cool story, and very nice twin Alembics!

Thank you! Sorry for the duplication... I thought I should post an intro in the appropriate place, rather than leaving it as part of the Serial Number requests discussion.
 
(Message edited by bungalowbill on August 31, 2009)

That's really cool that they are a day apart.
I can see where a 3 string and a 6 string would really complete the family. :-D

Hello from Vancouver!
 
Koa is so pretty, what a lovely pair of basses...
 
Enjoy and welcome to the club! Tony

Nice couple, love this body shape...

You are very lucky to have a 5-string and a 4-string together and from the same era and wood too?
 
Man, that is wonderful, and what are the odds of this happening?  
 
No doubt, that is a great thing for you to look back on, when life has it's moments of difficulties.

Koa is king
 
 
I love them both