Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: edwardofhuncote on May 06, 2018, 01:14:23 PM

Title: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on May 06, 2018, 01:14:23 PM
Sounds comprehensive...  ;D


Obviously I'm a big fan; it's my favorite of all the styles. (and that's a tough pick...) When designing my Custom, I asked Mica to incorporate some features from a few mid-1970's basses, each with a unique shape. Seems kinda' weird somehow to think about the shape of the cutout, but that's part of what makes each one an individual. Lately I've been wondering when and how this distinctive feature came about.


I'll start with this question:


1.) Whose was first?


Several of my favorite bassists play, or have played Omega-cut Alembics... John McVie, Jimmy Johnson, Phil Lesh, and on. We can turn this thread into anything... pictures, discussion, or even pure speculation.





Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: David Houck on May 06, 2018, 02:47:27 PM
I kinda like this here Heart Omega.


(http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13885_omegaL.jpg)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: ltsal on May 06, 2018, 03:12:33 PM
If i would order a new Alembic it would be a Omega shape.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: lembic76450 on May 06, 2018, 03:27:02 PM
It is a simple Omega, but, I really like the dual strap post option.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: pauldo on May 06, 2018, 03:47:54 PM
Agreed, there is a beauty to the omega cut that is undeniable.  First one I saw was on a Led Zepplin poster...
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on May 08, 2018, 05:21:56 AM
I wonder if Phil's "Osage Orange/Mission Control" bass wasn't the first example...? If I recall correctly, it was #74-008, though that number in itself seems odd.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: dela217 on May 08, 2018, 05:33:16 AM
If the Osage Orange bass was 74-008, it may have been 74-o08.   Which is not that odd.   In 74 and 75 there was a run of serial numbers with alpha o's in them.   I have owned o13, o49, o62.    Go figure.   No clue with the o stood for.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: rv_bass on May 08, 2018, 10:21:18 AM
Something Old...Something New

Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 22, 2019, 06:03:04 AM
Rediscovered this thread while looking for something else... decided it needed a little bump.  :)

Haven't seen or heard from 'allgood' in a while, but here's #75-183, repatriated to the U.S. from Japan last year, she's a classic early Omega-cut if ever there was one. Medium-scale. Zebrawood. Vermilion neck lams. Awesome to the Mahogany core.

And to this day, I'm startled every time I open the case, at the perfect union of art and technology that is my own 2017 Custom fretless.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: pauldo on July 22, 2019, 09:25:01 AM
My first Omega sighting was back in the late 70’s/ early 80’s in my neighbor’s basement.  They had a giant Led Zeppelin poster and JPJ’s bass called to me.  Didn’t know who Alembic was back then but definitely knew I loved the shape of the cut out. 

Paul (who can’t remember  ??? if the poster was the triple omega - pretty sure it was just a  ‘standard’)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: gearhed289 on July 23, 2019, 08:25:48 AM
Probably around my junior year of HS, I took a hole saw and a jig saw to my first beginner bass tying to create an omega cut. I won't post pictures...  ::)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: hieronymous on July 23, 2019, 09:14:12 AM
Rediscovered this thread while looking for something else... decided it needed a little bump.  :)

Haven't seen or heard from 'allgood' in a while, but here's #75-183, repatriated to the U.S. from Japan last year, she's a classic early Omega-cut if ever there was one. Medium-scale. Zebrawood. Vermilion neck lams. Awesome to the Mahogany core.

And to this day, I'm startled every time I open the case, at the perfect union of art and technology that is my own 2017 Custom fretless.

I actually don't have anything to contribute omega-wise (though on Facebook someone was sharing an interesting double-scorpion with a non-standard omega cut) - but edwardofhuncote - could you talk about the way you have your strap connected with the cable going through it? I usually put mine through the strap as well but it doesn't really work with normal Schallers...
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: adriaan on July 23, 2019, 11:08:25 AM
I actually don't have anything to contribute omega-wise (though on Facebook someone was sharing an interesting double-scorpion with a non-standard omega cut) - but edwardofhuncote - could you talk about the way you have your strap connected with the cable going through it? I usually put mine through the strap as well but it doesn't really work with normal Schallers...
Harry, here's how I loop mine, with the newer Schaller S-Locks, that let you double up thicker straps.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 23, 2019, 05:32:46 PM
Nothing special Hieronymus, I just do it as a safety to keep a little bit of buffer there in case somebody gets tangled up in my cable. I always have this fear of jerking the jack clean out of a bass that way. I even had breakaway cables made up once with Switchcraft and Neutrik components. Worst that could happen is my bass would be unplugged. I loop it through my strap the same way.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: hieronymous on July 23, 2019, 06:03:03 PM
Thanks! Sorry for the thread-veer. I'll have to look into the new Schallers.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: glocke on July 25, 2019, 03:07:10 AM
this thread makes me want to take a jig saw to my std point series 1 and turn it into an Omega...
 8)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on July 25, 2019, 03:16:40 AM
Not recommended as a D-I-Y Greg,  :-X  but FYI, it can be done... Edwin's #78-1180 schedua-topped Series I underwent this operation.


http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8399.0



Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: jazzyvee on July 25, 2019, 04:20:06 AM
I bought the new shaller straplocks earlier this year and it's much better with the longer threaded section. I haven't though tried looping the end of the strap like Adriaan & Ed do I tend not to leave my instruments plugged in on-stage when they are on the stand after seeing far to many fall victim of stage crew tripping over leads. Probably why we see so many Les Paul's with broken headstocks.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: jwright9 on July 25, 2019, 12:35:19 PM
My MK Deluxe 5

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--CF2fsHZG--/f_auto,t_large/v1564081882/wwk70mdbs67c0hktmak2.jpg)

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--fIro_9Ee--/f_auto,t_large/v1564081881/klvr5b5b3nqv5af9bjib.jpg)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwin on August 12, 2019, 05:39:17 PM
Here's the front of my old bass.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on August 13, 2019, 11:50:34 AM
That bass sure was a looker Edwin.  :)  Whatever became of it? The almost-twin sister to it now resides with the fellow that I got my '67 Starfire from. It was for sale a little while back but he decided to hang onto it.

*this one: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24456.0



Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: goran on August 13, 2019, 11:54:57 AM
I'm fan of Omega and Heart shape, here is my MK5 and Series 1 1980
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: pauldo on August 14, 2019, 12:40:08 AM
The heart shaped/ stinger is a beauty. 
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on August 14, 2019, 07:21:30 PM
I don't like picking favorites, but Goran's bubinga-topped Series I Omega-cut gets my heart rate up.  ;D
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: goran on August 15, 2019, 05:10:26 AM
I don't like picking favorites, but Goran's bubinga-topped Series I Omega-cut gets my heart rate up.  ;D

Thanks you, I really wish my Balance K was actualy same shape as my Series 1, kind of like more that shape, more comfortable...
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwin on August 15, 2019, 08:43:54 PM
That bass sure was a looker Edwin.  :)  Whatever became of it? The almost-twin sister to it now resides with the fellow that I got my '67 Starfire from. It was for sale a little while back but he decided to hang onto it.

*this one: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24456.0





It's now residing with my friend Nick Haas in Portland, OR, who plays the heck out of it. Makes me feel better about it not being here!
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: jwright9 on August 22, 2019, 02:18:54 PM
2016 Darling
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: pauldo on August 23, 2019, 01:18:19 AM
That is like wood porn...
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: jwright9 on October 09, 2019, 01:02:49 PM
2010 Darling
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: David Houck on October 09, 2019, 01:32:02 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 11, 2019, 06:37:21 AM
I wonder; has the Darling, or Little Darling ever been done with a 'regular' omega-cut, as opposed to the heart-omega? I seem to remember one of Dr. Jonathan's guitars being a Point variation on the Darling. (might be all wrong on that...)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: adriaan on October 11, 2019, 10:07:35 AM
I wonder; has the Darling, or Little Darling ever been done with a 'regular' omega-cut, as opposed to the heart-omega? I seem to remember one of Dr. Jonathan's guitars being a Point variation on the Darling. (might be all wrong on that...)
Here you go...
(http://www3.alembic.com/img/DET_JL_cocoboloL.jpg)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 11, 2019, 11:16:59 AM
Ooooh...  :o  That's really nice.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: eruby on October 21, 2019, 11:13:26 AM
I kinda like this here Heart Omega.


(http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13885_omegaL.jpg)
Damn that's my favorite. My '82 SII has the point which I love but the Omega is a Love+1 and the Omega Heart is a Love +10 :)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: David Houck on October 21, 2019, 07:04:30 PM
I kinda like this here Heart Omega ...
Damn that's my favorite. My '82 SII has the point which I love but the Omega is a Love+1 and the Omega Heart is a Love +10 :)


Thanks; mine too!
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: jwright9 on October 24, 2019, 11:46:25 AM
Custom Scorpion Omega

Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on April 24, 2022, 06:37:53 AM
While looking for something else, found this old thread... seemed like a good place for this snippet.


(now, where is that dadgum thread about stereo/mono jacks on Series basses...?!)
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: eruby on May 05, 2022, 08:20:33 AM
Whoa, I like that heart omega.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: jazzyvee on May 05, 2022, 08:48:47 AM
Stereo/Mono jacks try searching for JimmyJ's threads on the subject as he has chipped in a number of times about them.
Title: Re: All Things Omega.
Post by: pauldo on May 05, 2022, 10:09:11 AM
Hmmmm, jig-saw and a router with a radius cutter… I think I can. 

😂

The shape and contours of omega cuts are very pleasing.