Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:14:45 PM

Title: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:14:45 PM: Got the first few photos gathered up. I'll post each in a separate message so that there's a sort of caption along with each one.

So first up, Kris is cutting the Ebony accent pinstripe on the little bandsaw.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:21:01 PM: Gathering up the body wood...
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:23:20 PM: Got the top laminate of Flame Maple picked out and the veneers for the peghead front and back.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:24:22 PM: Just getting everything ready for the glue up.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:25:42 PM: We have clampage! Getting the right amount of pressure is a true art.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:33:17 PM: Outta the clamps and rounded over. That pinstripe is so smart looking.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:36:10 PM: This sequence of three goes together. Here is the lower body half getting ready for the second glue up. First we get the body to the accent pinstripe, then route out the cavity and shield. Then it's time for the top to get glued on, which is what is actually going on in these photos.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on June 06, 2017, 02:37:19 PM: Last one for today, the neck woods gathered up and ready for glue up.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on June 06, 2017, 04:02:14 PM: Thanks, Mica. Looks great!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on June 06, 2017, 04:05:24 PM: Just a reminder for anyone interested here's the final spec copied from the "Dreaming" thread. Maple and ebony.

Standard polyester clear gloss finish
Concealed hardware bridge

Standard bridge block
No lacquer/finish on any brass

Essence 4
Short Scale
Flame Maple Top
Maple Body
Essence Body
Tummy Contour
1.625 Nut On Fretted Ebony Fingerboard
Center Ebony Neck Laminate
Silver Dot Side Position Markers
Orion Inline Peghead
Ebony Framing Veneer Between Top And Body
Ebony Framing Veneers Between Body And neck as on "Refinement"
Silver Logo No Script
Brass Truss Rod Cover
Brass Backplate For Model Electronics
Polished Alembic Brass Hardware
Polished Bar Tailpiece Rounded Ends as on "Refinement"
Black Alembic Gotoh Tuners
Black Strap Locks
Essence Electronics
2 Position Q Switch 3 DB Boost
Side Mounted Jack
Plain Pick-ups NO ALEMBIC LETTERING
Case For K4
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on June 06, 2017, 05:44:18 PM: Looks like it's well on the way Keith. Looking good! 8)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: David Houck on June 06, 2017, 07:32:03 PM: Great pictures!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: moongerm on July 21, 2017, 06:05:17 PM: Looking great, can't wait to see the progress.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on August 01, 2017, 07:01:50 PM: I'm sure there's some more in-between images, but here's your bass in carving recently. Looking so very good!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on August 02, 2017, 06:09:24 AM: Those framing veneers are suh-weet! :D
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on August 02, 2017, 06:28:36 AM: Thanks Mica, looking awesome! With just the two wood species not a typical Alembic look but I love the result so far.

I'm looking forward to seeing it with the wood finish and hearing it!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: David Houck on August 06, 2017, 12:53:14 PM: The Ebony accent veneers and neck laminate look great with the Maple body and top.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: jacko on August 14, 2017, 02:46:52 AM: loving the Black and White vibe.

graeme
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: moongerm on August 19, 2017, 07:14:00 PM: Wow this is really looking sharp!!! I dig it!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: jazzyvee on September 11, 2017, 04:36:03 PM: You are gonna love what all that maple does for your sound.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on September 12, 2017, 04:29:16 AM: I hope so. I'm a roundwounds, all harmonics present kind of guy.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on September 18, 2017, 06:58:25 PM: I've been meaning to share a picture of your bass with some finish on it. It's absolutely stunning!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on September 19, 2017, 04:51:58 AM: That maple top is spectacular. 8)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on September 19, 2017, 10:02:07 AM: Thanks Mica! What a striking piece of flame. It certainly deserves to be "framed."
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on November 30, 2017, 09:02:32 AM: Mica, any pictures for the group? I need a fix! :)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 05, 2018, 01:35:41 PM: Just heard this bass is done!

Mica, hoping you'll post the archive photos here. Can't wait to hear and see my new Essence!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: germansal on April 09, 2018, 03:48:15 PM: OMG
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 13, 2018, 05:10:46 AM: Quote from: kdh on April 05, 2018, 01:35:41 PM
Just heard this bass is done!

Mica, hoping you'll post the archive photos here. Can't wait to hear and see my new Essence!

Pretty please Mica? The anticipation is killing me!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on April 13, 2018, 12:23:38 PM: I will have photos ready today. This has been a crazy good week, punctuated with things like PTA meetings, etc. Anyway. I'm off to photoland and will post the results later today :)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on April 13, 2018, 08:32:20 PM: Got a couple of images processed for you tonight. The bass is amazing!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: David Houck on April 14, 2018, 06:02:06 AM: Congrats, Keith!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: jon_jackson on April 14, 2018, 06:40:56 AM: Beautiful bass. Very nice combination of woods.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on April 14, 2018, 07:23:08 AM: Congratulations & Compliments, Keith. Very nice appointments. :)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 14, 2018, 08:38:42 AM: Quote from: mica on April 13, 2018, 08:32:20 PM
Got a couple of images processed for you tonight. The bass is amazing!

Wow. Thanks, Mica. It is more than I'd hoped it would be.

Love the simplicity the concealed hardware bridge and the rounded bar tailpiece give it. Ebony and maple combination is awesome. Can't wait to play it.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: dead_head on April 14, 2018, 11:00:52 AM: Congrats, Keith! It's a real beauty! :)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 15, 2018, 09:01:07 AM: Here are some photos of the headstock Susan sent me.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: David Houck on April 15, 2018, 10:27:32 AM: The black tuners go well with the Ebony.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: rv_bass on April 15, 2018, 03:41:34 PM: Very nice bass. :) Are the headstock veneers walnut?
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: growlypants on April 15, 2018, 04:51:23 PM: Yikes. (Beautiful!)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mavnet on April 15, 2018, 06:25:11 PM: Wow - simply beautiful!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: sonicus on April 15, 2018, 11:54:31 PM: I love it !
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 16, 2018, 04:31:49 AM: Quote from: rv_bass on April 15, 2018, 03:41:34 PM
Very nice bass. :) Are the headstock veneers walnut?

I believe so; walnut is the usual, I think.

I was aiming for a not-too-flashy good sounding short scale bass. I'm blown away by the beauty of the instrument. The look exudes "quality" to my eye.

I'm thrilled. Can't wait to play it!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: gearhed289 on April 16, 2018, 08:25:10 AM: Clean, classy, and unique!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: ed_too on April 16, 2018, 09:21:12 AM: the dark accents against the maple are really classy - enjoy!

Ed
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: soflbass on April 16, 2018, 09:29:27 AM: Beautiful bass Keith! Simple, yet elegant.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 23, 2018, 06:05:17 AM: So excited!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on April 23, 2018, 09:39:59 AM: I remember that day too... ;D

Hang in there!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 23, 2018, 12:20:49 PM: It's here! Can't plug in as I'm at work.

First impressions: 1) The quality and workmanship is just outstanding. Light years away from any other electric instrument in my experience. 2) The sustain is unbelievable.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: David Houck on April 23, 2018, 04:20:28 PM: Congrats!!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 23, 2018, 05:41:34 PM: I've been playing the bass and am completely blown away. It's all I hoped it would be.

I've got the pan switch slightly emphasizing the neck pickup, the filter open.

The bass is just so musical. With just playing technique I can get so many sounds out of the instrument. What completely blew me away was chords. What was mush on my old bass sounds beautiful. So much to explore.

I'm certain I'll never play another bass. My 1976 Precision Bass that I bought new will be sold or given away. Though I'm sentimental about it I won't play it again. It's a toy to me now.

There is merit to simple fidelity--aiming for an accurate characterization of the vibrating string. Let the musician color the sound.

I bow at the altar of the Wickershams and the team at Alembic. Bless you!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: jwright9 on April 23, 2018, 05:53:39 PM: Excellent!
That is great to hear how much you love it!

If you are serious about selling your 76 Fender, let me know.
I’m interested. Especially if is all original.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on April 23, 2018, 05:56:03 PM: Worth every minute, wasn't it? ;D

Congratulations & Compliments, Keith.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: David Houck on April 23, 2018, 06:18:24 PM: :)
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: mica on April 23, 2018, 07:04:22 PM: Keith - so glad that you're happy with your new bass. It's a real beaut and boy does it play nice! You're going to have so much fun exploring your new tonal palette.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: growlypants on April 24, 2018, 06:16:21 AM: ...and trust me. It actually IMPROVES over time!!
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: bigredbass on April 24, 2018, 11:35:50 AM: As you are finding out, an Alembic will MAKE you a better player: Playing and hearing your first one is as if up to now, you heard music thru 25 dollar portable device headphones, and someone suddenly handed you thousand dollar AKG's. The difference is stunning. Past all the wonderful craft and top shelf execution of the build and finish process you're holding in your hands, this ability to hear everything and respond accordingly is the great masterwork and genius of these instruments.

Now you know why there is NOTHING ELSE like an Alembic, in large part as there's no one like the people who build them.

Many Congratulations.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: slawie on April 24, 2018, 06:28:04 PM: Congratulations Keith.
Oddly I have a 77 Jazz Bass that was usurped as primary bass a number
of years ago by my Essence.
The Essence get played every day and and the Jazz Bass hangs on the wall collecting dust.
Play it healthy
slawie
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 25, 2018, 05:37:36 AM: This is only the 3rd bass I've ever owned, actually. I learned on a Musicmaster, bought the P-bass in the 70s, then went back to a short scale with the Essence.

Not sure what to do with my P-bass, but I know I'll never play it again. I went hunting for all the parts yesterday. I seem to have everything, even the bridge and pickup covers, except the original pickups.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: jwright9 on April 25, 2018, 07:38:17 AM: Keith,
If you decide to sell the Fender, let me know.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: kdh on April 25, 2018, 10:55:56 AM: Quote from: jwright9 on April 25, 2018, 07:38:17 AM
Keith,
If you decide to sell the Fender, let me know.
I will. Thanks.
Title: Re: Keith's Custom Essence Bass
Post by: moonliner on May 09, 2018, 12:12:21 AM: That’s a beautiful bass. Clean and elegant!