From the Kawai web site information: Kawai bass guitars sold in the US from late 1985 until 2000.
• FIIB - Neck-though bass with active electronics. The through-neck is 5 pc. laminated Maple and Mahogany with a 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard. The bodies were 3 pc. laminated Maple/Maple, Mahogany/Maple, Maple/Koa and Maple/Zebra. There were also a small number of FIIB basses that came in Black, Pearl White and Candy Apple Red. In the early 1990's, FIIB basses became the FIIB110KS and were available only with a Maple/Koa body although other finishes were available in Japan. Other changes included the elimination of the heavy brass bridge in favor of a Schaller 3-D4 bridge with the strings attaching at the end of the bridge rather than coming through the body as before. The electronics remained the same on all FIIB basses. The pickups are a Kawai design P-Bass type with built-in pre-amps and require a 9 volt battery for each. The pre-amps control the "tone character" switches for each pickup. In the center position the bass is essentially "flat." The other two switch positions provide combinations of cut and boost at various frequencies. The amount of cut and boost and the frequencies are set by the factory and can not be changed as the pickup is sealed. The tone controls are passive. Most FIIB basses have a traditional 3-way toggle pickup selector although, some early 1985 and 1986 FIIBs used a 3-way rotary pickup selector. As you can see by the bridge this is one of the later ones. I love these Basses and this is the second one I have owned. Having had the pleasure of actually owning and playing an "Alembic Series One" Bass for a few years I can tell you that this Kawai captures the essence and the Alembic quality and punctuality of sound. I am not saying it has "ALL" of the Alembics spectrum but it nails a real clean useful tone. It is not dated at all and can be very modern or old school. I remember regretting the loss of the other one I had and this one was "New Old Stock" when I got it recently. So the only thing from keeping it from being new is the fact that I am having too much fun playing with it! This Bass is SOLD!
