What a contrast from Alembics and something that looks like braces on teeth.
 
Alembics are much more Organic Natural. The Norton basses appearance looks very esthetically mechanical in nature. Cyborg like. I am not saying its ugly, it's just an extreme and very radical looking for me. But it solves an issue for people, so in my book, that's cool.  
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 30, 2009)

That's really interesting  from a mechanical engineering angle , I agree that the wood in this Bass design is not allowed to reveal the spirit of the beautiful tree prevail for human appreciation .  The projection of spirits from the earth prevail and the beauty of the wood speaks to you in the ALEMBIC product. I do indeed prefer the Alembic way. I think  that there is a way that a progressive technological  approach can be mastered as Alembic does already in the SERIES I & II with the addition of a new improved sliding pickup design . I completely agree with your statements regarding the aesthetic nature of the NORTON product. Thanks for showing these images . I am intrigued by the technological exchange in this thread between us, Very positive _ as it should be . Thanks .
               
 Wolf ____

The Gibson Grabber PUP was on an adjustable rail wasn't it?

You are correct .It was adjustable,   however ; I will leave it at your discretion as to any critique of it's design, The picture tells the story.
 
(Message edited by sonicus on October 01, 2009)

Wolf, I think I like the rails covered, but I never been a fan of pick guards with or without sliding pickups. I like a naked looking bodied guitar and bass (no pick guards please...)
 
However at the same time, I like the Gibson design better that anything I seen so far.  
 
According to this picture, I still don't see where Gibson resolved the problem of pickup height adjustments. Maybe it can, but I can't see it...  
 
All I can see, are (2) screws holding (mounting) the pickup in place. I am sure there are (2) additional screws (not shown in the picture) serving the same function..
 
With the Norton, the solution is evident and very clear (Yes, you can adjust the height of the pickups...)but make sure you don't having hanging objects that might get caught in the gaps of the pickup system...  
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 01, 2009)

Agreed NO pick guards!  Imagine a facsimile of the Norton rail system in an ALEMBIC design Bass with ALEMBIC pickups and SERIES
II electronics. How about in a Standard Point or any other body shape of your dreams ? I know that you have pointed out that you do not care for the opened design of he Norton . I think that one could limit that some what .

I totally see your point.
 
All Alembic Series electronics...on a Norton and with red lights on the neck?
 
Now, that's a thought.
 
The Terminator Bass!
 
I would have to go to sleep with my room lights on, if I had a bass like that!
 
Seriously, I think it would be great, and totally awesomely interesting. I do think its worthy of a serious thought. There's this metropolis sterile vibe that is cool. I think if any object could get me to look twice, it's good. This would be a looker for sure. But I think, the acoustics might pose a problem. With all that metal, you might also have problems with bad RF.  
 
These are the things that I would question and must be pursued, and answered. But I think a cyborg looking bass, is what you'll get, but be ready to answer on-lookers same questions of intrigue every time you take it out of the case.  
 
Hey, with lights in the pickup cavity flashing too -- would be a must!    
 
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 01, 2009)

A bass with movable pick-ups?  What's wrong with this one?
 
 

 
Peter

Peter, this bass was already factored in the discussion. If you go back a few posts (on this thread) we have the same picture.
 
However, being that this picture was shown again, it feels like, we'd come full circle. It would be nice to see this bass in a close-up.

Wolf, check out this one...
 
The rails are smaller and almost unnoticed. The wood pickup, is a lovey touch without all the steel.
 
With a very flat pickup(s), this works the best.
Seeing a huge hollow rectangle on a guitar, is scary. But this design is much more of my taste if I was interested.
 
It looks like something like this would be more suitable for a more fingering style bassist. I am too buck wild for delicate basses of this form.  
 
But, it looks good for what it does. It's the best I seen so far. But I am sure, my words are short lived. There's always a better ways to skin a cat, and I can't wait to see it!  
 
However, when Mica jumps in with more pictures of the Toma_Hawk, it would be as if, sliding picks never happened, or I ever seen one... LOL  
 
This is a great discussion.
 
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 01, 2009)

Yes ,____I agree a Bass for a  finger style player with a some what light touch. Subtle harmonics , glissandos . two octave arpeggios. senior jaco perhaps ( Who loves you Jaco  ) We DO !!!!    
 
   Hey you are right,   it's not a bad 'LOOK check out that tail piece man ! like a Double  Bass. I am just concerned about that bridge.
 
 Who makes this instrument ?

Hi Wolf,
 
This is why I love this site so much... I got this in an email and I wanted to share it...
 
I just had an epiphany...  
 
For me, the best sounding bass for natural fingering, and finger sliding, is a fretless bass. So, if the fingers are able to slide smoothly, why enable a sliding pickup(s)?
 
This is truly the best tracking pickup sliding system I ever seen to date. In fact, it was built so well, you hardly noticed the rails at all. The builder used a clear plastic rail system which clearly looks better than metal rail systems. The flat plastic used, is very subtly applied not to take away the beauty of the wood. WELL DONE!    
 
The bridge, the tail piece is absolutely gorgeous, for it holds on to the spirit and legacy design of all grand upright basses.  
A very smooth touch in deed!
 
The decision to use a system like this one, on a fretless bass makes so much more sense, because fretless basses are more geared toward fingering forms and styles of playing. Unfortunately, I believe a system like this for a fretted bass, would not work. Fretted basses are built, and should be built to be played HARD, and I question whether something like this would be stable enough.  
 
***A fretless pickup system emanates a new style of playing.  
 
I can purely envision someone holding a note on the fret board, and simultaneously sliding the pickup just like a trombone player. Mark my words...    
 
Again, I could be tempted for something like this on a fretless Alembic, if Alembic engineered a flat pickup system, I would remove theirs, and slap on the Alembic pickups. But even better, I would have a full fledged Alembic fretless bass made for the system. Now, that's the ticket!  
 
 
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 02, 2009)

One more thing Wolf...
 
You could tighten the pickup on the rails while at the same time, adjust the height from within the pickup cradling system or container.
 
This concept to me, is almost impeccable!
 
GO WEST YOUNG MAN!
RUMBLE YOUNG MAN RUMBLE! (meaning: Keep on moving forward...)
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 02, 2009)

I think that is a cool concept and design, Thanks for sharing that Hal.
 
It is definitely a more Earthly design then the Norton.
 
This thread is becoming intensely creative with this showcase of progressive concepts. At this time I would also like to thank ALEMBIC   for giving us this platform of creative communications between minds . I am enjoying this quite a bit.

Well said Wolf!
 
I couldn't agree with you more.
 
Alembics (all Alembics) are the ultimate basses. Alembic basses are the best in the world.  
 
Simply World Class [period].
 
Wolf, I had learned so much from your initial questions (challenge) of concern, and together we plowed through to see where it would take us.
 
And what a ride!  
 
 
Not too long ago, the Toma_Hawk was only a concept too. I drawn this bass in my sleep and while wide awake. (You heard me say this a million times in a million ways...)
 
I believe designing something for yourself, can be torching, and extremely daunting. Heck, (I am laughing while I write this...) I could had just made my life easier, and simply walked and whistles happily to our friendly neighborhood Alembic dealer, pay the toll, be done with it...  
 
Well, honestly I did this before, now it's time to take this life up a notch...      
 
Alembic was there for me, and I am so proud of them for helping me reach closer to this goal.
 
Thank you Alembic!!!