Mystery 8-string

[Kent Kangley]

My roommate has a red 8-string bass he bought about 30 years ago from a music shop in Seattle. The head is from an Epiphone 12-string guitar with 4 of the peg holes filled in. The back of the head has a serial number stamped in: "521564". The body is a double cut with a single pick up. It's just a flat piece of wood with square edges. On the back of the join plate is a different serial number, "L770100 Made in Japan". Any ideas?

[JimmyM]

Never saw anything like that. I'd say custom job. I kind of like it. Looks cheap as all getout. An 8 string bass with a guitar scale...lol! Why not?

[IPYF]

Ugly, in a cute way.

It's a bitsa! (say that in an Italian accent for maximum racism effect)

[Meddle]

Can see plugs on the headstock, so the neck is from an Epiphone 12-string guitar by the looks of it. Bolt on AND zero fret, so nothing they made recently!

[Kent Kangley]

So no ideas on the body? Dang. Its been bugging me for thirty years. Thanks for checking it out, anyway.