I wonder what the Toma_Hawk been up to these days?
 
I can only imagine from the last picture, it looks great!
 
I can't wait to see the progress. But, I will probably have to wait anyway...
 
Have a good weekend everyone, and may GOD bless.  
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 02, 2009)

Got a sealer coat in place and we're working on the drilling template for the controls.  

 

  Nothing is drilled yet, and these are just set in place by eye. These match your custom control layout, but you still get a chance to see how everything lands in 3D and let us know if you need any adjustments before we drill. Email me with either your approval or request(s) for a change from the photo.   Enjoy!  (note the chalk line on the control side is a reference for the edges of the hollow core, it's a temporary, but necessary marking)

Oh My Lord!
 
My eyes are having a stroke!
 
I can't stop looking at this thing!!!!
 
Its a site to truly behold... I'll email you, but for right now, I got to smell that fresh new bass sealer coat smell

Sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me like , Me like Lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pieces just fall into place in total harmony. Words were never a strong point of mine.... Beautiful man. I can't wait to see it after it gets a buff job. The symetry of the grains in the top bookmatch or whhatever you wanna call it just stand out and say someting to me(order your own custom???), not quite sure what this spirit of the toma hawk is trying to say but I like it , lots.... Lucky guy you are, Bear :-)

The Five Spirits of The Toma_Hawk was 100% captured and transferred to The Toma_Hawk bass.  
 
The Spirit #5 (Blue Ship) had successfully left Earth's obit, heading home. However, just before leaving onward, The Blue Ship made a special detour-correction of a moral nature, his karma was damaged, and required repairing before 5th spirit could return home.  
 
After this was resolved, Spirit #5 (Blue Ship) happily left with the integrity it required to move through the harsh and dangerous environments of deep space.
 
With all the Spirits inside the Toma_Hawk, Alembic HQ uses it forces to calibrate, fine tune and permanently-irreversibility installs the elements of Alembic Legacy, and Integrity!  
 
The Awesome Power of a Fully Operational Funk Bass!
 

What a difference a few days make!  
 
The true colors of this bass is really showing with better clarity than ever. The wood, and color combination/coordinations are clearly depicted with no room for doubt:  
 
This bass is gorgeous and the proper knobs for controlling the Toma_Hawk...had to be big, bold and rendezvous and a salute to the classic Alembic Series basses.  
 
Keeping true to the classic Series Knobs, also esthetically gives this bass a very bold contrasts, and complements the colors in a very classical way.  
 
Thank you Mica for adding the knobs, and allowing me one more chance to make slight adjustments before drilling. In all honesty, having this last chance to make adjustments, never really occurred in my mind. It just goes to show, how very considerate you are to make this bass with the greatest satisfaction possible. You are absolutely GOLDEN!  
 
I followed up with an email, along with my very minor changes.

Here are my edits...
 
The black spot, represents where the knobs were originally positioned.
 
The white arrows, represents the new locations where knobs (A and B) to be suggestively placed.
 
There's a black arrow which is denoted as C, where the 3-position Q-Switch would suggestively  be placed...    
 
Easy as ABC... (Slight slides of the hands, makes it just right...)
 
It looks great!
 

I was just too tempted...
 
The Tail, Bridge, Strings, Pickups, Fingerboard, Frets, and (3) controls are simulated.
 

Hey Hal I love the slight change to the knobs, it totally matches the symetry of the rest of the bass now that you moved stuff around. It almost looked like the layout(minus the star inlays) of the mission control bass. I am so stoked for you, this has basically become my homepage of late, usually the first thing i look at on the web when I sign on!  Right on, right on!!!!    Peace& Low notes Bear

Smokeinbear,
 
Yea, I think things are really coming along, and I was really happy to had been given a heads up from Mica. That was great. Moving the knobs, gives appearance of a wider arrow shape and  bringing the Q switch aligned, and centered with the adjacent controls makes a great difference.
 
This bass is Magical.  
 
The wood colors of this bass, along with shape orientation, really moves the eyes to (5) magical locations:
 
1. The Top Horn
2. The Bottom Horn
3. The Top Wing (the area above the bridge pickup)
4. The Bottom Wing (the area below the controls)
5. The Pointed Tail-end
 
and you can see all five wood types, and colors in one camera angle.
 
Woods:
1. Vermillion  
2. Maple
3. Mahogany
4. Purple Heart
5. Ebony
 
I always believed less is a lot. If you remember, I was going to have some chic pattern on the fingerboard, but I had felt the ebony wood itself was the chic pattern. With the black pickups, control knobs and darker finger board is more natural, and also totally essential to the bare-bone statement this bass makes.  
 
On the other hand, if the bass was larger and a different theme, I probably would add inlays on the fretboard to complement the bass.
 
Maybe next time...
 
As for the ebony without inlays, it's more beautiful, and it contrast smoothly and seamlessly to the head, and down the body.
 
Bear, that was one of the best complement I heard about this bass. It was not to long ago, I had Stanley Clarke's Dragon Breath on my Windows computer; as a Desktop Background.  
 
Once this bass is released for production, not only will I create an archive of pictures, I will be on a personal journey to allow artist to play it and learn their reactions of the magic!
 
Thanks Bear!
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 04, 2009)

Here's a recreation of the Toma_Hawk based upon the body....  
 
I feel like an archeologist  
 

Very cool and amazing!

Hey Hal I know it's your baby so i am just asking not suggsting, have you thought about the possibility of side mounting the 1/4 jack(if possible Mica?) and just having the 5-pin on the top?Also have you photo shopped a black 5-pin jack, might look cool with the pick-ups and q-switches etc. Either way you do it I love this instrument, truely a work of art!!!     Bear

Thanks Wolf, its getting there...
 
Bear,
 
In the beginning, we kicked around the idea of having the 1/4 jack on the side, and I didn't like it. It looked hidden and took away from the nostalgia of the Short Body pedigree. I also didn't like the idea of drilling through the core where a cord could rest up against the basses and possibly and potentially fracture the area around the hole. I will personally never own a Alembic with a hollowed core from the perimeter walls. I hope this makes sense...
 
So, as far a a primitive hammer/axe goes, The Toma_Hawk must keep things basic and respect the past. Therefore, it was decided to keep the 1/4 on the front just like my 76 Shorty.  
 
As far as black 5-pin back plates goes, I think most of the new series basses have them installed. Again, I am old school with this bass. Don't get me wrong, I like the black plates, but I love the reflective virtues of a chrome metal shine my friend.
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 05, 2009)

Just 2 cents...
 
And what about moving the PU selector to the traditional place (on lower horn)? I'm guessing you are a slapper guy and thats why you choosed to move it first time, but seems a bit crowded there between bridge PU and Pots... Don't you think it could visualy balances better changing?