| Author | Message | ||
| ox_junior
Junior Username: ox_junior Post Number: 36 Registered: 3-2004 |
Upon my purchase of Spyder #17 today, I'm offering up this fine '83 Exploiter/Spoiler for sale. Offering it here for my Alembic friends before going to E-Bay. Exquisite quilted maple top, walnut back, maple headstock. Spoiler electronics. Near mint condition, just some wear on the neck position pickup and one slight scratch on the headstock. Original case has a couple of wear & tear dings on the bottom, interior is mint. Will give you the SN if you need it, just e-mail me. I believe I am the third owner of this bass. I've had it for almost a year and have babyed it, protecting it with my body when my singer comes twirling his microphone! Just oiled the fretboard and installed a ferrite bead to eliminate noise. Comes strung with a (nearly) fresh set of Rotosound RS66s. More photos available on my band's website, www.thewhoshow.com. My e-mail is theox@thewhoshow.com if you're interested. Thanks, Mike Bisch  | ||
| kungfusheriff
Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 80 Registered: 8-2003 |
Looks just like my old bass. Ah, the stupidity of youth. It didn't come with a Hamer case and funky off-white nylon strap with strap locks, did it? "If I were a rich man..." | ||
| ox_junior
Junior Username: ox_junior Post Number: 38 Registered: 3-2004 |
Ha! No it comes with an Alembic case. No strap came with it but I found a nice suede tan strap with black piping around the edges at - of all places - Guitar Center! Matches the bass very nicely. No straplocks. Chrome hardware. I tell you, I wish Alembic or somebody made a soft case for these Exploiters! I know they don't offer as much protection - but when you gig/rehearse as much as I have been and have to schlep the bloody thing up and down stairs and elevators....it could be worth it ONLY IF you KNOW you're the only one handling it. Product Development team, are you listening?? Mike | ||
| bsee
Junior Username: bsee Post Number: 39 Registered: 3-2004 |
The one I 'borrowed' for a few weeks didn't have a case. They gave me a soft keyboard case to carry it around in. I don't think I'd try that with a Spyder though, the V headstock would make me nervous. | ||
| ox_junior
Junior Username: ox_junior Post Number: 41 Registered: 3-2004 |
I'm already nervous about that headstock, and I don't even have the thing in my hands yet! My only complaint about the Spyder 4-strings is that I wish they had the cone-shaped headstock instead of the potentially unwieldy V-shape. Alan, Oliver, anyone else - does that V shape give you any problems in a live environment? My singer better watch where he twirls that microphone! He's likely to get jabbed with that V headstock! Oh and the tan strap I mentioned in my previous post - it's not included in the sale of the Exploiter here. Mike | ||
| ajdover
Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 59 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mike, This is a large instrument, make no mistake. The neck and body shape lend itself to respect in a space sense. I don't take it to rehearsals since I literally don't have enough room (I use my '73 Fender Jazz). At gigs, if there isn't enough space, it doesn't come out of the case (not so much out of concern for dings as it is for injury!). All I can tell you is to plan for gigs and space. I do, and I don't have any problems. I will say this, though: everyone who's heard it loves it. To me, it's more than worth the size! Best of luck! Alan | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1611 Registered: 6-2000 |
Those nice leather or nylon gig bags in our store can be custom ordered in ANY shape. I'm sure it will cost a teencie bit more. Since it's a custom make, Adolpho can add accessories pouches in specific sizes, keep or omit the backpack style straps, whatever you like. He's got more colors besides black too. Just a little food for thought. | ||
| ox_junior
Junior Username: ox_junior Post Number: 43 Registered: 3-2004 |
Mica, I should have known that your team could make something up for me. I'll look into it after my wallet is able to recover from this "teencie" initial hit. Why'd you have to mention food though? Now I'm hungry. Dang it. ;) Thanks Mica, you are the best. Mike | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 278 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mike, of course you need to take care with this baby. It is very huge and the V-head protrudes immensly. But Mike, when ox-posing, there is no need to mind about this or? Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| ox_junior
Junior Username: ox_junior Post Number: 44 Registered: 3-2004 |
Oliver, The only concerns I have are the small stages we seem to end up playing on, and the unbridled zeal with which our "Roger" swings his microphone. I'm not above stabbing any little git who gets too close to this baby, the two-pronged V could come in handy for that. You know I'm kidding. I've put in a request to Mica to see if one could be made with a cone peghead. I'd run the risk of upsetting Beaver by cancelling the transaction, and of course he'd probably charge me more for this, although theoretically Alembic wouldn't charge him (as the dealer) or me (as the buyer) anything extra as you and several have pointed out. All I can do is ask. Plus there's the wait...but worth waiting for. We'll see what everyone says. I'll be more than happy with this one though! MB | ||
| bsee
Junior Username: bsee Post Number: 45 Registered: 3-2004 |
Mike- I was at Bass Central today (yesterday) and it appears that you've made your decision as they say the Spyder was shipped! I tell you, those guys run a class operation! | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 53 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes I did decide to go with Spyder #17. I had a conversation with Valentino, who suggested that although I could possibly wait for Alembic to make me a 4-string with the cone peghead, it would take at least 4 months and Beaver would undoubtedly charge me more for it. Too bad you didn't get to see it. I was hoping you'd get a chance to eyeball it before it left. Oh well! I wish they would send me the tracking # though. I'm such a little kid, I want to follow this every step of the way!! | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 165 Registered: 11-2003 |
Give 'em a call, I'm sure they'll supply you with the tracking #. The only thing that kept me sane.....okay, sane is a stretch.... while waiting for my Alembic was tracking it along the way. Nothing wrong with keeping the little kid alive... | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 55 Registered: 3-2004 |
They just now sent it to me. My bass is in the air as we speak between South Carolina and LA. The little kid in me lives! Wheeeeee! MB | ||
| willie
Junior Username: willie Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2003 |
That sure doesn't look like a V head to me, looks like a cone peghead. I had a 83 Spoiler Exploiter just like it but with birds eye maple front laminate and it had a cone peghead just like that one. Nice bass. Willie | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 58 Registered: 3-2004 |
Willie, The bass pictured here is a Spoiler, indeed a nice bass and indeed has a cone peghead. I'm selling it because I purchased a Spyder with the V peghead. Sorry for any confusion. Thanks, Mike | ||
| willie
Junior Username: willie Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mike I agree Exploiter body's do look better with the V peghead, congrats on getting 1. I miss mine but the Stanley Clarke I replaced it with makes it ok but my Europa is still the best. Good luck with the Spyder. Lets see some pictures. Willie | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 62 Registered: 3-2004 |
Willie, I disagree, I think the Exploiter looks better with the cone peghead. It's the only thing I can think of that I would change about the Spyder. The V is just too BIG! Just got the Spyder yesterday, pics to come. Any takers on my Exploiter? Come on, she's a peach!! Mike | ||
| kungfusheriff
Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 83 Registered: 8-2003 |
Would if'n I could, fella. Would love to be able to sport a certifiable Rock Star Bass again...nothing like hanging one of those beasts down below the belt and strutting onto a stage, is there? | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 256 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mike I agree on the peghead - the cone is much more my cup of tea. I always think of the fan as a "backwards arrow" and find it jarring visually. David | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2004 |
I like the cone too, for two reasons: Less unwieldy - having one bass with each design, the cone is easier to manipulate and keep under control. Nostalgia - I'm simply more used to seeing Entwistle play his Exploiters with the cone shape. I don't have any evidence of him using the V shape in a concert situation, only seen them in photo shoots ("Too Late The Hero" album cover). Oliver, can you shed any light on this? Ah, nostalgia for the early 80's...sheesh! Mike | ||
| ajdover
Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mike, Have to agree on the cone. If given the choice, that's what I would have gone with as well. The V, while attractive, extends the size of the instrument significantly. Given the fact that it's a long scale and the body is fairly large due the shape, a cone headstock would go a long way to making it more, shall we say, comfortable on a small stage. On the other hand, the V also adds to the mystique and intimidation factor. It just looks ... well ... imposing. I mean, nobody is going to #$%& with you onstage when you've got it strapped on! Alan | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2004 |
Alan, Agree on the intimidation factor. To paraphrase Townshend..."If any little git wants to come and try to take my guitar off me....you're bloody welcome to try!!!" | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 429 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mike, I was watching a live Stones video recently. Some little git did run on stage. Keith took off his guitar and swung it at the guy before security wrestled him off. Mick turned around once to look then continued with what he was doing. Interesting stuff. Sam | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 69 Registered: 3-2004 |
Sam, Pete Townshend did, in fact, whack someone with his guitar in two famous incidents. The first was at Woodstock, when Abbie Hoffman unfortunately chose to step on stage during The Who's set to preach about some drug-related cause. PT promptly whacked him into the camera pit with his trusty SG and carried on. Another occasion was when The Who were playing the Fillmore East and a policeman grabbed a mic to call for an evacuation because the building next door was on fire! Both PT and Daltrey were arrested the next day for interfering with the duty of a police officer. Funny Stuff. There is no evidence of John Entwistle using his precious Alembics to do bodily harm to another person. MB | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 348 Registered: 12-2002 |
yeah infact john never moved at all on stage,the only thing he ever moved was those FINGERS! | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 71 Registered: 3-2004 |
I suspect he was too weighted down by his Alembic! | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 532 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mike; no reserve?? no minimum bid?? Here's hoping you get a good response. | ||
| bsee
Member Username: bsee Post Number: 53 Registered: 3-2004 |
There's a reserve. I still want this bass, but my offer wasn't high enough to keep it off of eBay. I don't know where the reserve is, but I suspect that a winning bid will be closer to $2K than it will be to $1K. We'll know in a bit under a week. | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 77 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yep, she's up on E-Bay. She does have a reserve (I messed up the first ad and had to cancel/relist - my first time selling on E-Bay!). Most of you who have contacted me know pretty much what I want for this bass, and yes the reserve is a fair amount under that. But Bob is right - it is somewhat closer to $2K than $1... | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 534 Registered: 5-2002 |
Well the initial response is encouraging; but I'm glad you got it relisted with a reserve just in case. | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 78 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes I realized my mistake just in time to cover myself!!! The initial response is indeed encouraging. We'll sit back and see what happens! Mike | ||
| terry
New Username: terry Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2004 |
I'm the current high bidder. I realize it wasn't a very realistic bid, but that's my budget right now. My experience of ebay suggests not much will happen now until the last day of the auction... Hope you get a good price, Mike. --Terry. | ||
| ox_junior
Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 79 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi Terry, I did see you on there, thanks for bidding. True that it'll probably all come down to the last minute, so you never know. Best of luck! Mike |
