if anyone can help me out that would be great. a
 used will suffice, just not sure if anyone will want to part with one.  . understandable

There's one on ebay right now:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330094161946&rd=1&rd=1
 
Bill, tgo

thanks bill,living in canada my ebay doesnt show,u.s. shipping only things. i was expecting 21 items found and there was 38!!! it looks like it has been up there before. this is prolly a silly quiestion, but is the 1978 model just as good as a new one? i think it should be close

John,  
AFAIK the F2-B from today have the same circuit than in the beginning. So it should not be much different in sound. I have an old one (#799 Sebastopol), should be around 1976 as my Series 1 bass. The sound is warm and wonderful!
Harald

thanks for the heads up bill. i snagged after the following day. my bid wasnt enough then, but the next day he reconsidered.
 
i hope you make it out to the get together
thanks so much

John:
 
Congrats.  AFAIK the only difference between this one and the newer ones are the red knobs.  You got 'em, the new ones don't.  Personally, I like the red knobs.
 
Bill, tgo

Also the newer ones have an IEC computer style removable power cord.