Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: welovecats on May 09, 2022, 07:31:08 AM
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I’m very close to (maybe there?) finalizing a build of my dream bass. I’ve spoken to the Goddess atop Mount Alembicus, and I’m pretty clear on my specs. I’m gonna add a pic of somebody’s bass I found here as well, for visual guidance.
The bass:
It’s a series 1 in original body style, with omega tail cut and omega headstock cut.
Brass hardware with inset strap locks.
Zebrawood top and back. I like a somewhat golden zebrawood look, and will use an amber tint. Mahogany core. Caramel pickups and hum canceller. Neck laminates are purpleheart/birch/purpleheart/birch/purpleheart.
Fingerboard: purpleheart with abalone inlays.
Now, on the headstock I currently have purpleheart front with zebrawood back.
Here’s one of my main aesthetic questions: I WOULD use zebrawood for the front of headstock, but I have my heart set on going all out and getting an inlaid Alembic logo, with mop cloud, abalone Alembic, and color fire opal rays. My concern has been that zebrawood may be too busy with this
incredible logo. I’m imagining with amber tint the purpleheart might be slightly brown-ized and work well. But is it possible zebrawood might work with this logo?
What do you all think?
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Has anyone ever tried to Illuminate that beautiful logo with LED's?
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Whether it is too busy or not would depend a lot upon the pattern in the zebra wood. My thought is you will lose some of the contrast that helps the logo stand out in the picture with the lighter color of the zebra wood.
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Has anyone ever tried to Illuminate that beautiful logo with LED's?
Took the words right out my mouth. That is something i have on my spec list if i was buying a new series bass. It would certainly prevent the zebra wood dominating the headstock.
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Maybe it should be illuminated AND stay purpleheart.
I’ve shot off an email about the idea of illumination.
Don’t worry, I made sure to blame you guys for putting it in my head…
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Oops I meant “give you credit!”
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Why not go all out and have an array of them under the inlay and sequenced to start with a white glow under the cloud then down the rays moving down to the circle which could then glow. :-)
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Your build idea sounds nice. Zebrawood front and back with mahogany core is a nice tone combo. A walnut/maple combo for the neck (or maple Purple Heart) is really nice as well, both provide some contrasting clarity to my ears. :)
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Why not go all out and have an array of them under the inlay and sequenced to start with a white glow under the cloud then down the rays moving down to the circle which could then glow. :-)
Jazzeeeeeee! (squealed with glee)
This sounds like a job for a true electronics genius…I haven’t met Ron. Can one of you please call him before anyone else on high says no?
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Your build idea sounds nice. Zebrawood front and back with mahogany core is a nice tone combo. A walnut/maple combo for the neck (or maple Purple Heart) is really nice as well, both provide some contrasting clarity to my ears. :)
Thanks RV. I don’t know if you guys can tell, but I’m having the time of my life!
RV—should I have an accent layer of purpleheart between the zebrawood and the mahogany or no? I’m kind of leaning no, but clearly easily um influenced
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Your build idea sounds nice. Zebrawood front and back with mahogany core is a nice tone combo. A walnut/maple combo for the neck (or maple Purple Heart) is really nice as well, both provide some contrasting clarity to my ears. :)
Thanks RV. I don’t know if you guys can tell, but I’m having the time of my life!
RV—should I have an accent layer of purpleheart between the zebrawood and the mahogany or no? I’m kind of leaning no, but clearly easily um influenced
Well, I don’t have any basses with an accent layer, so I can’t comment on that other than they do look nice :)
I can comment that I have a couple of basses with zebrawood front and back and mahogany core and I really like the way they sound.
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And if you like the lighter zebrawood, flat sawn is not a bad look…
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So to take Jazzyvee’s idea one step further, why not have the strength of illumination tied in to either the frequency and/or the decibels at which you are playing. Hey, if your going all out really go all out.
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Or have the fret markers pulse with the rhythm….or install tiny LEDs (single and multiple color arrays) in the grain of the zebrawood of the body top that would then pulse and flow with the rhythm…that would be cool. :)
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Or better yet, have the bass top made out of one of these and have the colors lit up, pulsing, flowing, and swirling to the rhythm…that would be crazy. :)
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Gentlemen..... This is a tasteful alembic with a bit of personality, style and flair we are talking about, not a fairground attraction.... :-) ;D ;) ::) 8) :-X
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Jazzyvee, my thoughts are along the lines of expanding on the concept that Mike Gordon has on his bass with the body that lights up and pulses with the music, which is kind of cool. :)
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About an accent layer. I personally like to have accent layers. Purpleheart would look good. Macassar ebony, vermillon or maple should look nice too. Another thought is to sandwich the accent layer between pin stripes of maple to help show the various woods off more. I suspect Mica or Susan could stack some of the various woods or already have photos that would let you see how the different combinations look together.
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Gentlemen..... This is a tasteful alembic with a bit of personality, style and flair we are talking about, not a fairground attraction.... :-) ;D ;) ::) 8) :-X
Kind of on the same page as Jazzy, Seems odd to spec a very retro looking Series bass and then get bogged down on how to create a "bass light show" out of it. On a more practical note IF Ron was even willing to give some of these ideas a try it has the potential to chew up a ton of his very valuable time. If I had an instrument in the shop awaiting his expertise I doubt I would cheer on such an effort.
Another vote for an accent layer, I was also thinking vermillion or purpleheart would look nice and the idea to sandwich it between two thin layers of contrasting wood is another great idea.
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A light show instrument? Mr. Rickenbacker says “been there, done that!”
hehehehe
Bill, tgo
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I think it’s cool, and a bit of a throw back to the early light shows…remember what Jerry said, “maybe they are coming for the lights…” :)
https://www.premierguitar.com/amp/mike-gordon-hooks-bass-lines-and-thinkers-2651045235
Different woods in the sandwich may change the tone, something to consider when choosing (i.e., ebony, vermillion, vs. maple, etc.)
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I do like a thick contrasting layer of maple between the top and core. Like this one belonging to Pierre-Yves. I don't recall seeing one on a long scale classic body though.
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/106642.jpg)
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Because you asked...
You won't find a much bigger krazee on these boards than me for vintage Alembica - ask Mica. My custom fretless bass is a weird-o-rama melding of vintage touches, curves and patterns, middle-era (20th Anniversary and Persuader), and modern ideas, and... my own nutty personality, all built into one bass. I even had them put the battery compartment between the pickups, like a pre-1974 bass. Hadn't been done since '74... they had to make a jig to do it. I know they thought I was nuts. We're all a little bit nuts.
Think this through... you already have the idea of what it looks like; Standard Omega, zebrawood top and back on a mahogany core. You've chosen a commonly seen, proven tried-and-true neck layup from the 70's. And you know it's a Series 1. That's your bass, right there... the rest is expression and ergonomics. The headstock is already going to draw attention with the omega-cut. Will an inlaid logo show up against the zebrawood veneer... sure, it's just about how to choose the right piece. Like Rob suggested, some nice slab-cut zebra is a thing of beauty. And when it comes to choosing a piece of wood, just trust Mica and Susan on that stuff. They are both freakishly telepathic at knowing how these things will look finished out. I asked for a birdseye maple top and back, nothing crazy, just a classic look. The first look I got at it, it had already been made into a bass, and I was floored. It was a marbled figure with a thousand little birdseyes looking back. I asked for a contrasting cocobolo headstock veneer. I didn't see it for almost two years, but when I did, it had just a little peek of birdseye figure in it too. Yeah - they meant to do that.
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=22859.0 (plenty of pictures here, if you want ideas...)
You are about to have 2,000 decisions to make. Breathe in. Take your time. And nevermind the lightshow.
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Despite frequently delightful humor here, “not a fairground attraction” lol, I fully appreciate where you are coming from Ed, and feel re-centered by your thoughtful post.
And so it is that I decide zebrawood for the headstock, and abandon the light show fantasies.
Gonna stick with my exquisite inlaid, color ray logo.
And for the light-trippers, I did forget to mention amber side leds are planned.
Thank you all for your generous thoughts!
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It's an exciting time and there are so many options available with alembic, also, if you aren't aware, please check the monthly specials as there are usually free or reduced price upgrades/options to benefit from enabling you to spread your budget further.
http://www.alembic.com/info/special.html
Are you going to have a "Factory to Customer" thread for the build?
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I don't know about the choices, that your business, but I'll tell you this: SKIP the inset strap locks. You will forget the strap sometime, and then, you're screwed !
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I don't know about the choices, that your business, but I'll tell you this: SKIP the inset strap locks. You will forget the strap sometime, and then, you're screwed !
I'm not a fan of those either, but I just bought an Exploiter that has them. I bought a cheap extra strap and locks that will stay in the case for emergencies.