I've been worried that the bass wouldn't survive, having heard so many stories of broken headstocks, etc. Well, it made it just fine, in large part to the fact that the case it's in is made out of old armored car parts. It's HEAVY! Stenciled on it in red is "Blast" which I supposed was a band's name.
The guy packed it very well, packing the bass in on all sides with extra styrofoam (including egg containers. The parts were all wrapped up by item, ie the TRC screws were in their own container, PG screws in their own, etc. The TRC, which I'm not sure is original (was the Gibson logo in gold or white in those days?), was wrapped with the cavity cover and both were wrapped in a blue flyer for an NYC music venue and is dated 1981. The whole she-bang smells musty! Apparently it's been in storage for many years, so it's really surprising that it still had all the original parts.
The neck below the headstock seems really smooth with no odd lumps or seams, so until I can confirm no neck breaks by removing the paint, I would bet it has no breaks. The neck seems pretty damn straight.
The holes for the original bridge posts were filled in long ago in order to mount the replacement black bridge currently on it.
The black PG is original but was painted at one point. Other than a little distortion and an area on the back corresponding to where the big pickup cover screw is which seems like some glue affected it, it's in okay shape.
The bass is surprising light and has a thin body and thin neck as well. I can easily see that one just like this was the model for the Series II BaCHs.
This week and over the weekend I'll check for serial number and see if I can get any sound out of it.
Only one of the four original acorn nuts for the original bridge saddles have survived. Anyone have any?
As I said, I'm not sure the truss rod cover is original and at one point the bass has had another one mounted on it.
Missing for sure is the mute assembly, but I'm sure that was commonly removed. There's one on eBay and I sent a lowball offer for the hell of it but it was declined.
So far, I have to say I'm pleased with it and am looking forward to rehabbing it.
