Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 21, 2004, 01:46:56 PM

Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on October 21, 2004, 01:46:56 PM: Here's some necks I hear are for your next set of Europa customs:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/13604.jpg)
This was taken last week - the necks have pegheads on them now and are ready for veneering. And the body laminates are getting cut from this billet:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/13605.jpg)
This is hot all the way through - the back is just as amazing. We're pretty sure we can get all the slices from this barring any internal defects. If there's any problem there, we'll be using this as a backup:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/13606.jpg)
It's no slouch either, but the figure fades away a bit on the underside.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: hollis on October 21, 2004, 03:46:40 PM: It's hard to believe that quilted maple is smooth.

It's unreal!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: rklisme on October 21, 2004, 04:22:10 PM: Hollis

I could not believe how great that quilted maple looked. You are going to be sooooooooooo happy with that as a choice. The depth is unreal!

Rory
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: hollis on October 21, 2004, 04:40:48 PM: Rory,

I wish those pieces were for me, but, alas they belong to Steve. But I'm sure Steve is very happy indeed!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: the_mule on October 22, 2004, 05:30:15 AM: Well, that's .... simply .... UNBELIEVABLE! I always wondered why you don't see many maple Europas. They look wonderful and this one may very well be a trendsetter. That quilt is out of this world! Another FTC thread I'll be following with great pleasure...

Wilfred
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on December 03, 2004, 07:34:31 PM: Here's Chip fitting one of those amazing tops:

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/14857.jpg)
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on December 07, 2004, 08:10:12 PM: Here's one with the top in place:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/14917.jpg)
There's a line that Tony just drew for slicing off the butt end of the neck lams.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/14918.jpg)
And here's the bass after cutting the extra part off.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on December 08, 2004, 07:25:52 PM: You can kinda see in the pictures from yesterday that the heel is still real chunky. Well, no more:

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/14948.jpg)

Tony says you are really gonna love the neck carving.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: flaxattack on December 09, 2004, 05:34:24 PM: tony is to carving as what eric clapton is to guitar playing
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on December 15, 2004, 05:50:31 PM: Now with sealers!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15111.jpg)

Chip got the other one's top fitted today, so it will catch up with the others soon. I told mom that you guys need to talk again about the colors.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on December 16, 2004, 07:01:41 AM: Wow!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: jeff on December 16, 2004, 09:49:21 AM: Mr. Steve Wood,

Are these your basses, or is this another lucky Steve?
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on December 16, 2004, 09:51:14 AM: That would be me, Jeff.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: jeff on December 16, 2004, 10:51:25 AM: Steve,

You have, once again, reinforced my opinion that you are one of the most fortunate Alembic owners alive. Isn't it great to see yet another masterpiece come to life? And you have at least three in progress!

Mica states at the top of this thread that this is your next set of Europa customs. Does that mean that you already have a first set? It appears that you have opted for the ebony neck lams on this set. Nice choice. What electronic packages will these Europa's have? Please share details.

It seems like things may be getting crowded at the Wood household so, I again offer to take the Burl Rosewood or Quilted Coco bolo basses off your hands.

Jeff the Envious One.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: bigbadbill on December 24, 2004, 09:08:38 AM: Next set??????? Wow....I am not worthy. I also second Jeff!!!! Now THAT'S how to make an American Quilt....
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on January 12, 2005, 11:39:15 AM: Here's a check of the amber tint:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15812.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15813.jpg)
If you like it the way it is, we'll proceed with the clear top coats. We can also add another coat of amber if you want the color more intense. Either way, the wood will look great.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on January 12, 2005, 02:27:50 PM: And the blue-ish one:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15816.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15817.jpg)
I think we need to add one more overall blue coat and an outside shot of dark blue for the very edge to look like the picture you supplied. Bob's got both of these on hold until we hear from you. Let us know if you like them the way they are or if you want to add more color.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: hollis on January 12, 2005, 02:39:14 PM: Oh! These are breathtaking!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: jeff on January 13, 2005, 06:21:45 AM: Holy S#*t Steve!! The tint adds even more of a 3D effect to the basses and enhances the puffy-cloud like quality of the quilts. The bluish-green tint looks especially awesome! I'm guessing that you are one happy camper right now. Congratulations, my friend.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: the_mule on January 13, 2005, 09:33:48 AM: Wow, love the blue one! Very attractive finish, if one day I'm able to custom order this will be something to seriously consider!

Wilfred
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on January 13, 2005, 05:26:07 PM: Whoa....

Y'all/youse guys really nailed those 2!!!!! The amber bass is perfect, and I will defer to you about adding the last coat of blue on the blueburst. If it will turn the interior color a bit more toward turquoise (while mellowing out the greenish tint) I say do it, but only if it won't obscure the quilt. Your call.

Can't wait to see the cherry sunburst!!!

Unbelievable!!!!!!!

(Message edited by s_wood on January 13, 2005)
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on January 13, 2005, 05:35:41 PM: So I take it you just want us to start adding clear coats?

Two people that visited today called your blue bass Ocean. One guy said, that looks just like rolling waves in the ocean.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on January 13, 2005, 05:39:39 PM: Cross-posting caught us

Yes, another coat of blue will tone down the greenishness from the yellow of the wood, it won't obscure the figure. I'll let Bob know to add it. How about the dark shot around the edge? The picture you supplied went nearly opaque, but only at the very edge.

I haven't seen the cherry sunburst yet (I've had bad timing with the spray booth), but Mary said it was drop-dead gorgeous.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on January 13, 2005, 05:55:52 PM: It's so hard to judge color this way...I think I like the dark edge, but only at the last 1/2 or s
so, like in the photos I sent...but it's really your call...I trust you to do the best thing. Another coat of blue to tone down the greenishness is the way to go, though.

She sure looks beautiful...
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: the_mule on January 14, 2005, 06:03:09 AM: Personally I would definitely want to keep 'Ocean' the way she is, but (unfortunately) she's not mine... She's my personal favourite of this entire FTC-section, what a fabulous bass!

Wilfred
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on January 18, 2005, 06:14:43 PM: It is hard to tell on computer monitors with different color profiles. Even though, it's still possible to get a rough idea. Here's one with the additional blue across all:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15947.jpg)
In person, the center looks much more blue, almost no green at all. I'm sure you will love it. I didn't take a picture, but the back of the body, neck and peghead are also in the burst pattern. Thanks for your vote of confidence, Steve. Bob will make the decision about the dark edge - he's so good with color/wood. Here's the cherry sunburst, but it's already back in spray to get a more amber-y center:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15948.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15949.jpg)
You can see the lighting in the drying room shows a bit yellow (those walls are almost white). When I took these pictures, the center was nearly clear, and Bob and I both agreed that some more amber at the center was needed to look more like these pictures do.
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on January 18, 2005, 06:48:25 PM: Wow, again!!! The sunburst is really beautiful. Is the grain in the quilt less distinct than the wood in the blueburst, or is it the photo, or the finish?

I think I would be tempted to leave the blueburst bass as is, without the dark edges, but I would like to hear what you and Bob recommend.

You guys are GOOD!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: mica on February 04, 2005, 09:07:57 PM: Amber is getting dressed up with the gold plated hardware:

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/16331.jpg)
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: almost_mingus on February 04, 2005, 10:06:46 PM: Steve
I am now thoroughly convinced you are the luckiest man alive :]
I would think these three basses should keep you occupied long enough to let the rest of us catch up to your collection... lol. I love the quilt on all of these basses... and the 'ocean burst' is beautiful.
Austin
Dont you have the alembird on the way too?
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on February 05, 2005, 01:10:47 PM: Yep, the long-awaited Alembird is nearing completion, too. It never rains but it pours!

Them folks at Alembic sure make some purty basses!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: s_wood on June 13, 2005, 08:06:10 PM: Within the last 2 weeks I have received the cherry sunburst and the blueburst basses. They are both amazing - the build quality at Alembic keeps getting better! Every Alembic I play is better built than the last one, and every time I think they have achieved perfection I am blown away again.

These basses are also beautiful to look at, especially the blueburst bass which seems to change colors depending upon the viewing angle. The pictues above do not do them justice. I will try to get some decent photos and post them soon, but Mica is pretty good with the jpegs so I don't know if I can do better.

I have also posted my review of the ebony neck laminates here http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/18726.html (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=3265)
Short version: they make a BIG difference, and are absolutely worth the money!

I am a very lucky player!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: johnnybassboy on June 14, 2005, 04:11:16 PM: Pennies a day eh? I'm thinking this is starting to appear a lot more like Pennies a minutes!

Congratulations on some Super Cool basses!
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: dubalbal on June 15, 2005, 03:34:17 AM: Hi Steve ,

...no discussion possible : great basses go to great bassists...no discussion possible : we're all great here !!!...and once more : congratulations for your magnificent instruments , enjoy !!!

ALAIN
Title: Steve's Super Quilted Maple Custom Europas
Post by: jeff on June 16, 2005, 10:51:06 AM: Steve:

Excellent and comprehensive review of the ebony neck lams. I remember when you were agonizing over this decision because you love the sound of the purple heart lams but it sounds like there are no regrets. These last two basses are an awesome addition to an even more awesome collection. I look forward to seeing more pictures of the family.