The Alvarez AE 900 5-STRING bass was discontinued in 1993. I don't know when this model was introduced - I'm guessing the late 1980s. It was the 5 string version of the Alvarez AE-800. The AE 900 model came with solid alder body, Canadian maple neck, 24 fret rosewood fingerboard, active P/J pickups by EMG.and active EQ circuit with 2 tone and 2 volume controls. This model was called the Villain 5 String Bass Professional in the Alvarez catalogs and came in black and red pearl finishes.