Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: mica on August 13, 2009, 05:16:00 PM

Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mica on August 13, 2009, 05:16:00 PM: We're working on it!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: bluplirst on August 13, 2009, 05:22:48 PM: Looks nice! I like the 2 on the far left.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: keith_h on August 13, 2009, 05:33:33 PM: Agree with the two on the left. The far right also looks interesting.

Keith
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: David Houck on August 13, 2009, 06:02:51 PM: I like the deep color of the far right. I also like how the different colors will compliment different top woods.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 13, 2009, 06:15:20 PM: Agree with Dave, you must have a sort of colors to find the perfect match with the woods being used.

Does Alembic makes wood caps for its PUs?
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: David Houck on August 13, 2009, 07:04:33 PM: Mario, there have indeed been a number of custom orders with woods covers for the pickups.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: David Houck on August 13, 2009, 07:13:33 PM: Mario, there is a good example here (http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_bop.html).
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: tom_z on August 13, 2009, 07:17:18 PM: Beautiful - very sophisticated palette.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 13, 2009, 07:47:35 PM: Nice Earth tones for the nice tones they produce...
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: lidon2001 on August 13, 2009, 08:48:31 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/68720.jpg)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: jazzyvee on August 14, 2009, 01:28:55 AM: Great idea and I think It would be interesting if they could also be sprayed and tinted in line with the variety of Alembic body finishes.

Jazzyvee
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: dadabass2001 on August 14, 2009, 06:23:15 AM: Very, very nice! These really bring that old school look back. I agree with Dave's comment regarding variety to match the top laminates.
Mike
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: bsee on August 14, 2009, 06:57:03 AM: I think a skinny guitar pickup that looks like the purpleheart stringers would be cool, as would bass pickups that color match the maple neck.

Are these going to provide color matching/contrast options with some advantage over the wood covers?
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 14, 2009, 07:16:25 AM: Wow, Dave. THAT is nice!

* Can we see one with a darker cap option?
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: jseitang on August 14, 2009, 07:55:22 AM: im liking these new colors... i may have to get mine redone as well.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: lbpesq on August 14, 2009, 11:01:13 AM: What happened to the Clown Vomit pickups?

Bill, tgo
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mica on August 14, 2009, 11:17:01 AM: You can still get 'em. But those are old experiments, these are new experiments, see? I actually saw a pair of AXYs in the drawer yesterday in the Clown Vomit finish.

There's still more experimenting to go for sure. Exact color matches are probably not possible, and because of the nature of the material, these all darken somewhat over time.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 14, 2009, 05:04:06 PM: Clown Vomit???? LOL
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: edwin on August 14, 2009, 05:15:11 PM: I love the dark ones!

Edwin
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 14, 2009, 05:31:57 PM: Are they related?

http://www3.alembic.com/img/hist_1978vermilion.jpg (http://www3.alembic.com/img/hist_1978vermilion.jpg)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: hieronymous on August 14, 2009, 08:02:37 PM: Would it be possible to get replacement covers or would these only be available as full replacement pickups?
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mica on August 15, 2009, 10:12:06 AM: There's no cover on an Alembic pickup, so there isn't one to be replaced, sorry.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: terryc on August 15, 2009, 12:18:04 PM: How much to replace MK Signature pick ups with ones that go with my bubinga finish either the middle one or the soapbar in from the right???
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: dadabass2001 on August 16, 2009, 10:03:41 AM: Sunday midday, the image of the pickups has gone awol.

pesky software!

Mike
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: David Houck on August 16, 2009, 10:07:23 AM: Thanks Mike!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: terryc on August 16, 2009, 04:11:47 PM: yep I can confirm that colored pu's have disappeared.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: David Houck on August 16, 2009, 04:41:16 PM: Yes, that could be a problem with the new pickups if after you install them they become invisible after a few days.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: dadabass2001 on August 16, 2009, 08:25:24 PM: Well at least the cream ones are still virtually installed in someones vermillion custom (or is that real?.....)

Mike
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 17, 2009, 04:34:43 AM: What about the Vomit Clown, where can I see it?

*(Hope they're not the invisible type either... ha ha ha)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: dadabass2001 on August 17, 2009, 06:39:37 AM: Mario,
Here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7636) are the clown vomit pickups.

Mike
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: sonicus on August 17, 2009, 07:25:38 AM: Remember the CLEAR AMBER design? I thought those looked cool . I used to have CLEAR AMBER TRAPEZOIDAL pickups on a Bass.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mica on August 17, 2009, 10:31:25 AM: One more try on the magical disappearing pickup picture:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/68854.jpg)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 18, 2009, 06:39:52 AM: Great, Mike!

May be they're not the best suit to a copious wood top, but would be funny to see one of those in a solid painted finish Bass. To my personal taste I still prefer darker PUs (the black looks great to me already), but it's good to have more choices.

If Mica wants us to vote, I would pick both darker at far right...

Thanks Mike and Mica.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: terryc on August 18, 2009, 08:23:34 AM: As reuested before..prices for replacement for MK Signature Standard or will they be on the main site soon??
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mica on August 18, 2009, 09:50:14 AM: Pricing isn't yet available, we're still experimenting. I'll be sure to announce the availability at the Club first of course!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: jseitang on August 19, 2009, 03:23:21 PM: i like the dark color ones. the lighter ones would be nice for like a wenge top im thinking...what do yall think is the best suited for coco bolo? maybe more options?
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: lysosome on August 20, 2009, 10:19:30 PM: I am in love with these new colors. I'd take any of 'em. I've oftened wondered if you guys would ever bring these old school colors back.

I especially like the two on the far left.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: FC Bass on August 21, 2009, 09:21:50 AM: Great stuff!!

Can I have black pickups on my Elan? :-)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 08, 2009, 04:01:01 PM: Just was on the phone with Mica today.... HOW DID I MISS THIS THREAD?!?!?!!

After talking to her, I believe that two new carmel S1 pups have been installed on my guitar!.... Im anxious for pics Mica!!!!!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 09, 2009, 06:45:58 AM: Here it is!!!!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 09, 2009, 06:49:49 AM: Here it is!!!!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71301.jpg)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: dela217 on October 09, 2009, 12:56:38 PM: That really looks great! Is that a true 70's model or is it a new retro instrument?

Michael
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 09, 2009, 02:47:19 PM: Dela, that's 75-137.

She went to the mothership for a refinish and tailpiece repair (the original tailpiece was literally hanging on by a thread). While there, I asked Mica for Ron's opinion on a possible electronics upgrade, and before I knew it, she told me they were working on epoxy pigments etc etc!!!!.... Compared to my '76 MSB this guitar had a very high noise floor and the treble pup had a noticeable squelch, so more power to Ron and Tony for taking the time to get the pups right. I'll probably put a band-aid over the dummy coil so it matches

-Mike
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: hieronymous on October 09, 2009, 03:57:33 PM: I think it looks cool as is, even if the dummy coil isn't the same color. Fantastic!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: David Houck on October 09, 2009, 05:15:36 PM: Very cool!!!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: sonicus on October 09, 2009, 05:37:18 PM: I like it too !
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: southpaw on October 09, 2009, 06:37:19 PM: Hey Mica, Don't forget the green pickups! Like the ones on my old Distillate that spent too much time in the sun supposedly. I am sorry I do not have a picture of them but a few old timers here know what I am talking about. Although I am not sure if the discoloration is do to UV rays; as the coco bolo wood under the bridge, truss rod cover and other places is not lighter in color, so I am open to other theories.

(Message edited by southpaw on October 09, 2009)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mica on October 09, 2009, 07:42:16 PM: After seeing your bass in person on more than one occasion, I'll state here my educated guesses about your bass:
1. It's a naturally very dark Coco Bolo and
2. It spent some amount of time in the sun

I would sooner forget about green pickups, Paul. Sorry, they just are not my taste, and since I've seen plenty of pickups turn green in the sun, with heat exposure or with highly acidic sweat, they look to me like Foghorn Leghorn says, Two miles of bad road. If you ever need a replacement, I recommend 2 new matched pickups I don't think we can color match the particular aged green yours have achieved.

Back to the experiments in color, mom has agreed that the next Brown Bass we make for the showroom will have brown pickups. Yay!

I also like the color combo on Mike's guitar. There's so many nice browns in the wood, the 2 tones on the pickups work really well with the laminates, without being gaudy. I love it.

The brown pickups can't really be matched except for the casting batch. Each group will come out slightly different, so it's sort of fun to see what hatches.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 10, 2009, 04:08:58 AM: I was just joking about putting a Band-aid on the hum-canceler. But, the tailpiece doesn't look like it's on center
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: lbpesq on October 10, 2009, 11:09:48 AM: What's wrong with green pickups? I LOVE green! hehehehe.

Bill, tgo
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: toma_hawk01 on October 11, 2009, 09:20:58 AM: Mica, I would prefer pickups to match the stripe color(s) used for the neck. Here's an example of Purple Heart stripes with Burgundy pickups. This could really bring out the colors of the strips... Before and After.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71357.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71358.jpg)
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 11, 2009) (Message edited by mica on October 14, 2009)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: sonicus on October 11, 2009, 09:52:13 AM: Clear Amber for me !
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: toma_hawk01 on October 11, 2009, 12:06:58 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71367.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71368.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71369.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71370.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71371.jpg)
(Edited to make sideways scrolling evaporate) (Message edited by mica on October 14, 2009)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: sonicus on October 11, 2009, 01:57:59 PM: NICE !
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: southpaw on October 13, 2009, 09:52:15 AM: Thanks Mica, I love the Foghorn Leghorn reference 2 miles of bad road! Remember, a beat to hell Fender is vintage, a beat to hell Alembic is... just beat to hell!! (making fun of the vintage market folks...)
Actually the green is not noticable unless you are up close and there is good light, I simply could not resist mentioning it in this thread jokingly... Forgive me. Most of the time they look brown. I have no intention of changing the pickups or anything else, your gang did a great job cleaning it up and it sounds great, and the sound is what really matters. I love all the dings, whacks, scratches and green pickups on my Distillate and that is how it will stay. So green will not be a future option, sorry Bill... Thanks again.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on October 13, 2009, 06:42:07 PM: Well, I liked the darker dummy coil, Pace...
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 13, 2009, 08:21:56 PM: Thanks Mario.... me too!
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: mario_farufyno on October 14, 2009, 05:59:58 AM: Really keeps the whole sandwiche's contrasting color concept in great way.
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: pace on October 18, 2009, 05:58:53 PM: Going thru the showcase, I don't feel so alone anymore....

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71632.jpg)
Title: Experiments in Color
Post by: hieronymous on October 19, 2009, 07:18:30 AM: Yeah! And actually, the colors of your new pickups and the hum-canceler are like a reverse sandwich of the colors of the body and top! I still think it looks amazing.