Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: jlpicard on November 04, 2004, 10:28:32 PM
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Val, It was great talking with you today. I appreciate the real hands on advice that you were able to give. Ok, here's my latest ravings. How much extra for these variations?
1. It seems like everyone has caught on to the one Ebony/two purpleheart neck laminate thing that you've started, so..How about we still go with that idea except make the maple laminates FLAME maple?
2. I like the idea of the extra laminates under the carved top( 1/8 maple/purpleheart accent stripe/maple accent stripe next to the core of mahogany or vermillion) but I would have to see a photoshop rendering of that in order to make a decision.
3. Would a stinger omega look weird on a balance point or K 4 string? If I'm going with bookmatch to center I want something of the beautiful neck laminates to be seen from the front.
Here is some cocobolo tops that I really like:
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sorry, can't seem to get my photos to upload
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Valentino, Please check out Barry's Custom Cocobolo Bass and Ian's Cocobolo Lefty in Factory to Customer. That will give you some idea of where I'm going with this. Thanks Michael
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Sorry, I meant Bill's Custom Cocobolo Bass(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/14230.jpg) I think this is Ian's
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Here's a few more from my photo collection that I like
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/14234.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/14235.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on March 14, 2005)
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Val, Had a strange thought. Don't like the balance K for one reason..Too narrow of a body for my taste .I like curves (must be my heritage ;) I find the Balance K 6 body width more appealing. Is it possible to have a body the same external width as the BK 6 but with a 4 string neck? Would that be considered a custom body with an appropriate upcharge or are we now approaching the width of a full Balance point body? I'm begining to feel that my ideal is somwhere beteen the two. It's hard to tell from the pictures. Could you post some comparison shots side by side or superimposed on each other of a Balance K 6 and a full size Balance 4? It would be extremely helpful to me. Please pass that on to Susan. Thanks so much, Michael
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Hi Michael,
exactly the question I would ask once. Ditti for me: I don't like narrow bodies. Though I think there is a Standard body with a balanced point.
So I guess we can have a Standard body with balanced point and extended sleeker upper horn?? Basically the Balance K (refering to Kevin, the first who put the designing wheel to run)is a 3/4 Standard body with extended balanced point.
OTOH ...I never got the FEEL of a Balance K. But from what I see it is to small, I played a Rogue 4 and 5 once and they made me nervous, ditto for the 5s Essence I Got in my hands for some hours.
Rory's 6 string Bal K is well proportioned.
PTBO
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Hello Mike,
I was real busy at work today (really all week) and did not get a chance to really look at the club until now that I'm home, so I just read your last post.
Rory's Balance K 6 is well proportioned indeed, but I do believe we'd have to make a new template for the modifications you suggested, which gets expensive. And you are correct, at that stage you're pretty much going back to the original Balance point, which is definitely an option; it sounds like the width of its body would be more to your taste, and lenghtening that horn would be easier to do. Although if you're going to go with a 33 inch scale that might not be necessary either.
I'll pass on your request, though I warn you that poor Mica is pretty swamped these days, so please be patient.
Valentino
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To Val, Mica, Susan and Ron, Good things come to those who wait. I understand and appreciate what is involved in making my creation come to life. I am in no hurry because finally, after all these years, I am going to receive the one bass that, to a great extent, defines who and what I am, both personally and as a musician. I want it to be right in all aspects. A heavy statement I know, but I wish to convey to you and all concerned at Alembic the reverence, respect and admiration that I have for what you continue to accomplish especially against the backdrop of this generic, disposible, mediocre profit driven society. You bring joy to so many people and then we in turn use our instruments to bring joy to so many more. I can think of no purer pursuit, no loftier goal, no higher compliment.
I have waited 27 years. I think I can manage a few more months! Thanks, Michael
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Hi Paul, I know what you mean about the smaller body. The large bodied basses that I have played
just make me feel more anchored in a musical sense,( I'm definitely more anchoredin the physical sense;) if you know what I mean. My Distillate gives me that feeling more than my Europa.
Mike
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OK Val, just to keep things organized:
Series II 33 scale Balance Point w/Omega variation in COCO
Pistol grip horn
Vermillion bodycore with center pinstrips of maple/purpleH/maple
K crown headstock
Purpleheart inner laminations on headstock
beveled edge on Headstock
Abalone ovals
initials cut into Abalone oval at 12th fret
classic taper
neck lams;Flame Maple/PurpleH/Ebony/Vermillion/Ebony/PurpleH/Flame M
Satin finish on neck
red LED fret markers
red laser LED's on fingerboard
on/off switch for laser LED's
LED's under logo ( color to be determined )
Cocobolo caps for collet knobs ( THG Knobs )
Coco/Maple/Coco tuners ( also THG )
Series II electronics
Mono/Stereo sw. for 1/4 out
Whew! I'd better stop there before my wife throws me out in the street!
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Val, Any chance we could dig up something like this?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/15501.jpg)
Or this?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/15502.jpg)
Especially this!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/15503.jpg)
To be honest I love the coco on your latest but with a bit less black in it!
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Val, One thing that we didn't discuss was the placement of the mono/stereo and LED on/off switches. any suggestions? Also, there was no mention of a wood truss rod cover.
(Message edited by jlpicard on February 06, 2005)
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Val or Mica, I know you guys are busy and I don't want to bother you, but I would like to request an FTC when it's appropriate. Also since I don't know when you go about selecting the cocobolo for the top, I was wondering if you could fill me in as I am thinking of paying a visit when the time is right. Thanks, Mike
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be patient it will come
take deeeeeeeeeeep breaths.. i did the same thing and know how you feel, thats a great looking list for your project, trust me they will post you a winner- maybe 2. looking at your details post date i would say your wait shouldnt be too long- look at your fingers.. thats about how many people work there... lol
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Oh I totally understand and I'm not getting getting impatient. I would just like to know as much as I can about the whole process. I remembered reading somewhere that you have to request an FTC, so I though I would do the polite thing and ask nicely by saying to post when it's appropriate. I figure when the the time is right I'll be hearing from them and sure enough, a few days later I was contacted! I have total faith in Alembic and their ability to deliver above and beyond expectations.
This is so exciting! Not only do you get the ultimate instrument but you get to be so involved with the creation process! As someone who has built a few basses I am extremely interested in how Alembic performs it's magic! I loved it when they posted that series of photos showing the various steps in their process of building a several basses and I have been to the factory twice over the years. This is the first time I've ordered a custom, however.
I also would like to say thanks for the emotional support and guidance that everyone so freely gives in this club. It makes the wait that much easier to bear.
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Mica/Val/Chip, How about something like this? The middle board is what I'm after. MikeD(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/17564.gif)
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That middle piece of wood looks fabulous!
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Wow. An undulating slag of molten inferno. Can you say magma? Wood like that could change my opinion of cocobolo.
Mike, congrats on the build, sounds like a wonderful project. Your enthusiasim is infectious.
Mike
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I'm really excited, yet I'm trying to be controlled about it so I don't make myself a nuisance ( OK not TOO big of a nuisance! ) to any body at the factory. Maybey too late for that? Mike
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Here's the acetone swipe on 3764:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/17920.jpg)
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and 3752 with fumes, I mean acetone:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/17922.jpg)
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3752 looks like it could turn out the same colour as my rogue.
graeme
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Oh my God!! VAl/Mica/Chip, Found a new favorite! Johnathan's Custom Guitar. THIS is what I have in my head. This is the kind of Cocobolo I envision for my bass. RED!!!with just enough highly contrasting grain, ( It is very critical to me that the instrument not appear too dark overall )that swirls around and complements the body shape and very little straight grain anywhere on the bass except at the bottom where it frames the bridge and the omega splendidly! Graemes Rouge runs a close second. I love the various colors in his wood too! Michael
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/18538.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/18539.jpg)