Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on April 09, 2004, 06:14:48 PM
-
I know you've been anxious to see the new recipe. I kno wyou're gonna flip...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9371.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9372.jpg)
Gotta zoom in on the striking colors.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9373.jpg)
Can' really see the veneer too well in the overall shot, so here's a closeup. I'm sure I'll have more updates for you next week.
-
I like that! I really enjoy necks with no maple in them.
-
Maybe said in another place but is this natural colored wood???
PTBO
-
Barry (BKBass),
I'm assuming this is your new baby based on our previous conversation. It looks sharp with all the purpleheart and mahogany (?) lams against the cocobolo headstock veneer. I'm psyched to see the rest of it unfold. I'm thinking that you were right on the money about needing to build upper-body strength before wrestling with this one, LOL!
BTW, I took your advise and got Susan to change the walnut stripes in my new custom Orion 4's neck to purpleheart stripes. It needed the contrast with the vast majority of the thing in all light-colored woods (excepting the fingerboard) and gold accents. I'm also persuing the use of custom hippie sandwich THG knobs made with all the woods used in the bass, a purple heart stripe, and gold inlay(s).
Cheers,
Kevin
-
Paul,
Yes Paul, these are natural colored woods. Isn't the orchid purple of the wood delicious?
BTW-Speaking of woods and I know you love to as noted on the wood bank. I am surprised you haven't posted something on the wood choice for Erik's custom Tribute, especially given your predilection for the nude female form. This board truly represents the wood nymph that must have inhabited the tree-she is complete with head, eyes, mouth, neck, shoulders/ breasts, waist, hips and legs. It's amazing how this piece looks and I can't wait to hear how she sounds (this guitar is definitely a female)
Check it out
-Susan
-
Moder Susan,
it's hardly believable ...really very ...well ...enchanting. And what's the grey???
About Erics tribute ...
I left you a message!
Take good care!
Paul the bad one
-
Y'know, those Maple peghead laminates are just too glaringly loud. We're stripping them off and replacing with dark ones.
Here's the first layout idea:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9508.jpg)
The little squiggle bottom is just a joke! You can see there isn't alot of extra room and options are limited to cram it all in the Rogue shape. In any event, it will require a custom backplate shape.
Gotta step out for a few minutes, then I've got a shot of the Coco Bolo to post later this afternoon. Stay tuned.
-
Here's the selection for the top and back:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9511.jpg)
Top Back
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9512.jpg)
This was one long board, I always think that's cool. There's alot going on in these laminates, it's hard to see it all on the unfinished surface, but look for the figuring that runs across to the grain lines, especially in the top picture. These are pretty unusual, and very different from your other Coco Bolo. I think you should hold off having the knobs made until the sealer coat goes on so we can get a better idea of the color.
-
Thanks Mica.Which set will be for the front?The top set I would think.Do you still have that butcher's paper cut out tracing of the Rogue shape that was on that lucky fellows buckeye burl Rogue?I'd like to see that part of the boards with the neck down the center overlaid with that cutout to get an idea of how it might look and /or if the grain patterns would look better thru the tracing in a chevron orientation etc.A wet look shot(acetone) might help to decide the front boards.As far as the figuring am I seeing a slight flame in there?Somethings happening for sure.Custom template?What makes this different from Rami's?It was his last 6 strg.that inspired me to get back to that sexy original Rogue shape.From the pix the rear routing looks to be the standard kidney size.I don't care for the standby switch so close to the strings.In the least,I would say exchange it with the stereo/mono position or better yet place both of them closest to the hip out of harms way.This would work the best for me.Is there enough real estate to do that?OR how about one 3 way switch on the hip?Stereo/mono/off?That would clean things up abit(Paul silence those bottles I can't hear myself think!)To answer Kevin's and Palembic's query the contrasting wood is walnut.I've built a bass with walnut that was completely grey,this on the other hand is sort of looking greyish because of the flouresent shop lighting.This should chocolate right out with the lacquer on it.Go down the road apiece in FTC to see a side view of the hippie sandwich.This was just to get an idea I'm hoping for more freakish purple for the center core(yes Mica?)Thanks again,God bless.B.
-
The top image is what I envisioned for the top. Yeah, there's a little bit o'flamey action there, it's not knock-yer-socks-off deep flame, but there's a good hint, and it gives it a really unusual look.
Custom plate meaning the larger size like we did on Rami's Series Rogue, not the standard Rogue plate.
We could group both switches down where the stereo/mono one is in the pic. Talked with dad and he said he's got a couple of switches that would work for combining the functions on one switch. It's a bit larger as you'd expect, but there's enough room where the stereo/mono switch is on the plan. It's a more expensive part, and it's slightly clunky compared to the 3-position Q switch feel.
So, not like I need to ask at this point knowing your taste, but do you want 2 switches or one?
-
Barry,
While it won't make any more room on the face (top), and may actually limit pot/knob and switch space a little more, did you consider having the 5-pin and 1/4 jacks relocated to the side bout and recessed? It looks super trick and cleans up the control knob area. Ck out Almost Twins on the Custom O' Month Archive. Those are even gold plated!
Kevin
-
HI Mica thanks for getting back to me so soon.AHH...let's go with the two switches down at the hip.This way,if either one would fail repair is just a phone call away.I think I'm familiar with the 3way Dad's talking about and clunky is right.Originally I was thinking a series 1 style switch.Switches and knobs to me are just the opposite of childrenthey should be heard and not seenLOL!Mica please don't forget the wet look photos and tracings in your spare,spare time.Since we're planing on the top piece as the front,I'm musing what the orientation should be..The dark areas in the forground at the bottom of Saturns rings to be in the bridge/tail piece region,the outer darker rim of the rings to follow the forward sweep of the upper horn(ditto the lower half)with the overall ring patterns opening up into the cut aways?I need to see a horzontal wet look shot with the neck and the tracings as decsribed above.I think your choice in the overall blend in the wood color temperments really compliment each other the strongest being the purple.The walnut becomes a nice referee between the PH and the Coco.The Coco will have a busy yet understated look but the visual success of this piece lies in the center core being the same shade of purple as the neck.Waddaya think Mom? Kevin I believe thou hast Alembicidis.The cure?It can never really be cured but it can be controlled with the careful selling of your old non-alembic gear and the purchase of more alembic gear.A superfilter is your next purchase as this is one of the only things that'll cure a high alembic fever until elective surgery(series 2)can be had.In the mean time take two essence'and call me in the morning.LOL!Thanks for suggesting the bottom jacks,however side jacks take up alot of room on the front side as your shifting from depth(top to bottom with only a smaller diameter hole on the front)to the length of the depth of the jack hidden below the front's surface leaving less room for knobs and switches.The Rogue shape is really a very tiny tight body at the hips leaving very very little room to pull this off.As it is Ron will have to use a shoe horn to get the electronics to fit.Thanks Rami for leading the way!
-
Yeah, I've got the sickness pretty good. I don't have my current order yet and I'm thinking of the next one already. Next time it'll probably be a six-string guitar: either a hot-rod strat-style with a neck-through figured-top body, or some kind of Jerry hippie-sandwich. Too bad Alembic doesn't make Arch-top Jazz boxes or acoustic guitars...I'd love to see their take on a Gibson L-5CES or Super 400/4000 or Citation. If you think Alembic prices are stiff, check out Gibson's Custom Shop Arch-tops....whew! You need to rob a bank, LOL!
-
Congratulations Barry, it looks like a real beauty in the making.
What are the rest of it's specs?
Cheers, fellow Rogue afficianados!
Rami
-
I hope these are more useful to you:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9588.jpg)
top
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9589.jpg)
back Chip does a great job figuring out where to place the top - always considering the electronics, pickups, bridge, etc. to make sure that some meaningful relationship exists between the parts. I think if we tell him which piece to use, and the parts of the board that you particularly want to keep or lose, he'll do a great job with the exact placement. Mike found the nicey-nice Purpleheart for your body, and he's read this thread and our emails so he knows what you're looking for very well. Hope I caught all the details in your responses, if not, just let me know. (Message edited by mica on April 19, 2004)
-
Thanks Mica!The coco looks great.Certainly the highly figured parts are what I'm interested in seeing with the cutout tracing as previously mentioned.The back piece of coco with that evil looking Pac Man needs to be on the back of the bass with Saturns rings and the darker rim on the front.Now I don't want to set the forest on fire but,on the back set of wood on the lower corner that is sort of cut off by the picture size sort of the 5 o'clock position would make a mighty fine oval wood sample as it will become scrapwood after the shape is carved and I'm thinking that this with a standard logo embedded in optically clear epoxy might make a purdie belt buckle ala excellent industries.Are they still around?Please call to discuss.Rami it's a series 2 electronic package sans the 4way selector and master volume but including a standby switch.Kevin as far as Gibson goes theres an old saying that simply saysya can't polish a turd foreverLOL!Actually I'm pretty sure that an Alembic guitar with 2 filters in it will allow you to dial in just about any sound your after including a jazz box sound(s).Think about it,a bass company,clean clear sounding electronics and unlimited wood (tonal choices)= A dimensionally stable eyepoping solidbody with everything from a strat-gibson sound to the warmth and clarity of a jazzbox!Is it exact or authentic well no BUT It's one guitar to carry with enough of those signature sounds to pull off the club or studio gig and BTW can sound like a Alembic too.
-
Hi Barry,
Are you going for the continuous wood covered pickups? I'd love to see that on such a gorgeous Coco-Bolo Rogue.
Rami
-
Understood. Unfortunately, the general populace doesn't know Alembic from Schmendrick. If it doesn't say Gibson or Fender Custom Shop on it, nobody wants it. Personally, I'm not impressed with either Fender or Gibson's quality, or lack thereof (I own both). Alembic is the cream of the crop, but try convincing the Guitar/Bass Player Magazine crowd of that. If you can't find 'em at Garbage Center or Sam's Ass, it doesn't exist, LOL!
(Message edited by kmh364 on April 20, 2004)
-
Yes Kevin I agree,it's easier to sell crap than quality.That is why both the F&G can be sold with no problem to get your next fix.Ahh the general public silly mortals!LOL!Got your phone message and I'll try to call tommorrow.Rami sorry no wood covers this trip.It would make perfect sense if it where book matched to center besides,I just took delivery on a fretted Rogue series 2 with a continous truss cover.That's enough spending for now(look honey how much money I saved you as I said to the boss).My two Orions have plastic,my two spoilers have brass so I thought I'd trade up on the last one with wood.This one will also have a wood truss cover and continuous backplates but alas no PU covers.The next one will have booked matched to center on the front only and similar wood features as the last so by the time I get to having wood PU covers I'll be dead three years!BTW,where's your latest lady,is it done yet?
-
Hi Barry,
Your Bass is going to be spectacular nonetheless. I thought by how the boards were displayed that it would have been bookmatched to center. Can't wait to see it! Will it have a purpleheart body???
P.S. My two are back at the shop for some cosmetic retouching, and the Black Byrd (I assume) should be ready soon.
Cheers,
Rami
-
Rami,yes it will have the same funky purple for the body.It should visually pop.BTW your twins are truly spectacular as is the BB.Kevin you out there?Did you get my phone message?
-
Barry,
I got your message. Sorry I haven't been able to return your call as I have been extremely busy at work. We'll talk after the weekend. I hope to be out on the Harley all weekend, assuming the weather holds like last weekend.
Kevin
-
Okay, we need some more info on this purple stuff.
First time I saw it, I switched over to look at it on a Windoze laptop (instead of my Cinema Display); also copied one of the images out and looked at it in a graphics program on my Mac, reviewed my monitor calibration - and yeah, the damn stuff really was purple (well, more bluish on the laptop...).
We've seen a lot of purpleheart here, but none before that I would really describe as purple - is this a really exceptional piece, or what?
I'm making gradual progress on being comfortable wearing clothes that involve purple, and am probably not ready for a bass like this - but it is really striking. What do you think it's going to do over time?
-Bob
-
Bob,overtime it'll have the living s- -t played out of it!LOL.Seriously,hard to say,I have an all purple heart w/ vermillon accents spoiler(pre purple princess)that sort of has the temperment of that PH Rogue 5 that's threading around.It has a glossy finish and so far has not changed in appearance over the last 12 years the vermillon on the other hand has oxidized to a brick red.Still a very purdie plank all in all.I remember being told that at the time Ron had used the UV light of their blueprint machine to get the woods(cut at different angles from different boards)to cosmetically blend.If this is so then I would guess that if this or any bass where to have more exposure to the sun things might change in appearance and that different woods will react faster than others etc.I think Mica mentions this thoughout the threads.Paduk(vermillon)sapwood gets it's color from the sodium sulfide(rusty looking,oxygen scavinger that darkens as it takes on more oxygen) presnt in the soil.I think purple heart comes mostly from India which is a large producer of indigo hence the aforementioned process for Purple Heart.Are there any Indian, wood working,bluejean wearing,soil tilling,bass playing chemist's out there to confirm or refrute these claims?Mica you should be able to contribute something here for the group.
-
Hi Barry,
Check out this website:
www.durablewoods.com/purpleheart.htm (http://www.durablewoods.com/purpleheart.htm)
You'll find that Purpleheart actually comes from South America. The tree can grow up to over 170ft high and have a 4ft diameter.
Rami
-
Rami,thanks for the correction and the info.One would think that with that much wood in just one tree we would see a tad more flame and other interesting figuring coming our way.
-
Miek wants to position the top to catch the most of the weird flmey-sorta-reflecting parts like so:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9782.jpg)
He also had to reveneer the back laminate on the peghead. That peskity Coco Bolo split when sanding:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9783.jpg)
Now the only Maple on your bass are the small little sidelines. Chip insisted I send you a shot of the neck witht he rough shaping. He specifically picked this piece with some good reflecting-flamey looking parts. Will be great with the particular Coco Bolo, dontcha think?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9784.jpg)
Let me know if the plan for the cut on the top meets with your approval and I'll pass it on to Mike so he can get a gluin' and a cuttin'.
-
Thanks Mica,the coco bolo looks great with that orientation.After finally seeing it this way,I realize we would have lost the dark streaks if it were flipped around.Please proceed with the game plan.Once again a great job.Where did that scuzzy lookin' knot hole come from?Is that the front of my neck in the photo,and if so,will that be routed out for the sustain block?I ask because in the first photo of the neck there is no knot and related swirl that can be seen.Mike gonna put that twin evil pac man pattern in the back orientation?Please tell Mike to start a gluin' and a cuttin'.Hi Kevin,Hi Rami,you guys like the orientation are you diggin the program so far?
-
That's not your neck in the photo with the inked in shape-it's a scrap off of it about as thin as a veneer. We are just messin' with your mind, Barry!
I have to confess I don't quite see the evil pacman pattern, but the iea is to orient the back as show in the proceeding photos (the bottom of the photo is the bottom of the bass). I'll let Mike know and he'll probably get your body in clamps before he goes home tonight.
Have a good weekend, will probably have more updates for you next week.
-
It'll be Monday or Tuesday when your body is glued together, but here's where things are today:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9848.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9849.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9850.jpg)
-
Hello Barry,
it's good to be back. I do not have my camera with me today, but I'll see what I can do later in the week. I am currently wrestling with the mountain of paperwork which has accumulated in my absence.
Valentino
-
It won't be long now Bro...Mica let it slip that you're on the test bench with her Dad currently, so start salivating now, LOL! (see Nik's 33 Scale 6-String FTC thread).
-
Barry
Got a chance to check out your bass today and it is stunning. When I first saw it I thought it was one of Rami's with all the dark selections of wood. You have really put together some nice choices and I bet you are counting the days!
Rory
-
Thanks,Rory.Hey Val did you remember your camera today?If not how about borrowing Mica's?
-
Nothin' new, but I found one from a couple of weeks ago when the hardware was fitted:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/12622.jpg)
Hope that helps the waiting. Dad is finishing up an engineering task that requires his attention, then he'll be back on your bass next.
-
Thanks,it was good speaking with you today.I know we had to cut it short but,I forgot to ask about the strings.Did you get the brand I asked for?In the gauges I requested? I hope you noticed that this is my first perfect paragraph ever on this site.LOL
-
Thanks Mica,it was good speaking with you today.I know we had to cut it short but,I forgot to ask about the strings.Did you get the brand I asked for?In the gauges I requested?
-
Mica?Val?Susan?Where are we?
-
Mica/Barry: Any progress on this bad boy? I'm dying to see how it all turns out!
Cheers,
Kevin
-
Whoa, that is awesome!
-
No news yet? Inquiring minds wanna know!
-
Nada,zip....
-
Barry's bass had to take a short diversion to the spray booth. Here it is getting rubbed out take 2:(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/14062.jpg)
Will be back with dad by Thursday, hopefully he'll be able to finish that peskity upgrade. As I told you yesterday, Nik's 6-string with the extra wide pickups and your bass are being difficult for him.
After I finish with UPS tomorrow, I'll call your cell phone, should be about the right time (3:00 or so pacific).
-
Mica,thanks for the update.If you tried to leave a voice mail.I'll never get it as the phone is a loaner and I don't have the pass word.Let's talk this week.
-
Mica,forget my previous e-mail.The bridge CVQ will have to go under the the neck postion CVQ.I hope we catch this in time.
-
There isn't any room to put the bridge CVQ under the neck CVQ - it will make the control impossible to use, especially if the switches are in the up position. No, the only way to add a master volume is to put the bridge CVQ right by the bridge. Otherwise, I think we'll have to abandon the idea of adding the MV unless we add it close to the HX pickup. Let me know how you want to proceed.
-
What is it about these dark Rogues that makes them so cool? The wood combinations just seem to bring out the best in that body shape...gorgeous!
-
Here's the preflight pics:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15808.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15809.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/15810.jpg)
"Jelly" as we call her, is stunningly beautiful and has a great voice. It's an almost haunting wood combination with all the dark woods melting together. I'll be curious to see your knobs and tuner decorations added, so please do post an updated picture later.
-
barry
it's been said before and no doubt it will be said again, because it's true: this is a gorgeous bass. i gather from your profile that it will be joining several other alembics in your collection. congratulations!
the look is striking, very elegant, and your wood choices work together perfectly. with the coco and all that purpleheart, i'd expect it to have a clean (almost bright, but not 'maple-bright'), full, well-articulated voice, all the way from low E to high G
play it in good health
marc
-
Just beautiful!! I see that you're in competition with Rami and Val for most incredible fretless of the year.
Congratulations & best of luck with her.
Chris
-
YEAH! Awesome fretless. Striking!
(Message edited by tom_z on January 12, 2005)
-
It's been over a year for this project to come together.I can't wait to play her!So starts a new journey.I'll post some pix at a later date.
-
Here's to her safe passage, and many years of enjoyment!
-
That is stunning barry. congratulations.
graeme
-
Really really nice, I guess we won't be hearing from you for a while ...... you'll be too busy playing !!
-
Barry:
WOW! I love the neck. With all the dark wood it almost makes the bass look ominous, like rolling thunder on the horizon. I bet it sustains until next Tuesday. Enjoy it, I have no doubt that you will.
Bill, tgo
-
Barry, many congratulations with that stunning bass!
Wilfred
-
I'm with Bill....Love that neck!! Beautiful project altogether, but the purpleheart neck is most impressive.
Peace,
James
-
Barry,
Congrats on the Custom Of the Month honors! See that....good things come to those who wait...and you did wait, LOL! Now, if you wait a little more, you can buy the coffee cup with your bass on it!
Cheers,
Kevin
-
Well ...I am not quite sure it is the CUstom of the month.
I SEE this bass as custom of the month but when clicking it I get the article of the Egg-guitar, so the custom of january.
Hup-hup Dave ...moder around a bit!!!!
Paul the bad one
-
Dave is not done having fun with us....Barry's Dark Custom has morphed back into Gregg's Egg...what gives?
-
Well I don't know any more than you guys; I guess we can all wait with great anticipation together .
-
I got Barry all worked-up about his COM honors, and now the thing disappears! If Dave isn't the culprit, that leaves Mica and Val, LOL!
-
Hold on everyone, Barry's custom is going to be up again later today. Mica had to make some corrections.
Valentino
-
Barry: Are we gonna get a report card for the new addition to the family? How is your new baby?
Cheers,
Kevin
-
Excellent!She's bright and pingy like a Pedulla Buzz with much,much more sustain,certainly dead quiet,balanced perfectly,weight is very,very good and all the punch,clarity and variety of tones that the Alembics are famous for,overall 1000%triple A+ bar of Platinum rating(in my mind).Absolutely one of the best in my brood.I've never played an Alembic that I didn't like the sound of or looks of.Some however just seem to hang together a little better than others for whatever reason(s),this is certainly one of them.
-
Another satisfied Customer! Five stars for Mica and Co. Now I just gotta talk Barry into letting me hear the thing in the flesh. I won't bother asking to play it as I can barely play FRETTED instruments, LOL!
-
Barry,
Looking good, man. I dig the Europa/Orion headstock instead of the standard cone. I have to admit that I'm with Mica: I can't find the evil Pacman either, LOL! The flame purpleheart in the neck looks awesome as well.
-
Alright,alright the PacMan is in the wet acetone shot of the back wood planks just look at the that dark circle about 60-70% down from the top at the seam.It actually has some sort of orange dot near it's right eye(the smaller almost concentric circle within the larger darker one)which facing us would be on the left.He's not gobbling anything,his mouth is closed but his other eye has sort of a scowl to it.Thus evil.I dunno maybe I'm crazy.Mica,I'm very,very pleased the way this is coming together,can't wait to hold her and play her(yep she be a lady).
-
Using your best Dr. Evil voice (pinky held up to mouth is optional): Does that Pacman on the back lam make this an.....EVIL Rogue?
-
I think Rami's Evil Twins are so far the only real evil Rogues out there right now.They got that Darth Vader thing happening.Anyone got any pix of other Rogues that might be considered evil?I guess they should be posted elsewhere under showcase or something.But you never answered the question do you see the PacMan?
-
Now that you point it out I do. It's a book match so now you'll have two mirror image evil Pacmans (Pacmen?) on your bass. As an infamous nitpicking, anal, detail-oriented Engineer/Inspector, I should be ashamed of myself for missing that. I hope my Contractors aren't reading this, LOL!
-
Caught the body halves in the glue-up clamps this week:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10050.jpg)
Hope you can tell how purple that wood is.
-
That is some purple sandwich!
-
Everytime I was taking pictures this week, I couldn't help but notice your bass. The purpleheart is almost shocking. Here's what I collected over the last week:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10192.jpg)
In the pipe clamps with the vestigal tail.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10193.jpg)
That tail's gotta go.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10194.jpg)
Side after rough shaping, lots of sanding left to do.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10195.jpg)
Side of peghead after rough shaping. Don't be worried about the color of purpleheart, it's dusty from sanding. It will be restored to that crazy bright color once we clean it up and hit it with the spray.
-
That's like a jelly donut....where's the coffee?, LOL! Seriously, the purpleheart is almost gonna glow in the dark when it gets hit with the poly finish. It's looking good...the contrast between the cocobolo and the purpleheart is awesome.
-
Great shots Mica!I'm worried about losing the dark streak on the upper hip once the forearm taper is sanded in.I cannot visualize the proportions of the taper.If possible,I would like to see the taper start just at the threshold of the top of the dark streak(or partially into it)so the peak of the mountain(so to speak)pops visually with the neck lams.The darker streak will make the PH explode!I'm guessing that Roger doesn't have any of this purple heart on hand to make my knobs.Wood(pun intended)it be possible to send him some table scraps?I'm going for the tripple decker looking knobs on this one.One of the teardrop CVQ knobs will be all purple heart with the inlaid bass clef the other cocobolo with either nothing or a treble clef.Visually the eye will always be drawn to the PH bass clef knob but from a distance it should visually create a balance between the neck lams and upper hip PH at the edge.
-
Shortly after I took those pictures, Tony proceeded with the carving. I think you'll be happy with the result:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10287.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10288.jpg)
In these pictures, your bass is prepped for the next coat of finish, so while you can't see much detail, you can probably tell enough that the figuring you wanted to preserve is intact.
-
The top is starting to look really nice.
-
Very nice!
-
First, an oldie of Tony sanding I found while cataloging May photos over the weekend:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10480.jpg)
And one where we're ready to drill the holes, but I caught it before the sanding:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10481.jpg)
Hopefully this will give you and Roger a clear idea on the wood color for the knob design.
-
Spectacular livingening up the colors.
ooooomygooooood.
What a BASS!
Paul the bad one
-
Yes, the bass is stunning, and I hope that purple lasts for a good while... but I can't help wondering what wood was used in the side panel of the stand for the sander?
Almost looks like a very coarse grained coco bolo. I bet it sounds terrific.
-
Thanks Mica,everything looks great!I'm surprised that the walnut didn't darken up as well and glad too.Like I said in an earlier post,the walnut will act like a referee to the other woods and it's doing just that.Yes this shot should do nicely for the knobs.I would ask(next time you get around to it)for a shot of the headstock so he can match the tuner buttons as well.Also I'm curious as to what the back looks like,did the evil pacmen make it onto the instrument?Did the clear coat make them diappear?Stayed tuned for the next exciting episode of.....LOL!Thanks again.Hey where's my Rogue bro's?You guys diggin on that purple?Bob the answer to your wood question is PALISANDER yuk (that hurt)!
-
Barry,
It's definitely looking awesome.
-
Astonishing how well the colours of the neck laminates and the top go together. Beautiful instrument.
About palisander - I thought that was what you English speaking folk call rosewood?
-
Here's the peghead picture you requested:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10552.jpg)
and the back with a good amout of finish on it:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10553.jpg)
It's looking good!
-
Barry,
I can't find your evil twin Pacmen. I think they got eaten by the ghosts, LOL!
Kevin
-
Thanks Mica that's all I / Roger need.Kevin, it's perfectly allright if the pacmen didn't make it on the bass.The theme has morphed into the YinYang bass.The QVC knobs will be walnut barrels with yinyang(cocobolo/glow-in-the-dark purple heart)caps from the cuttings of this bass and ditto for the G-string tuner button(CB/PH)with the rest of the tuners being solid cocobolo.The volume and filter knobs will be solid cocobolo barrels with the same purple heart skirts and walnut markers.Who knows,in the following weeks the pacmen may reappear on the wood back plates.I'm very pleased with the way this one is turning out.Hey Rami where are you?
-
That bass looks good even before spray.I like the look of a no gloss finish.Wish I could hear it after it gets compleated.Another true work of art.
-
Barry,
Ck the upper horn back ...is that a Pacman (evil) eye?
Seriously, this project only becomes more stunning as time goes by. It should look incredible with all the little THG embellishments you're doing. I'm surprised Rami isn't all over this thing as well. It appears to be right up his alley. I know he likes incredibly high weight and extended scale, but he likes all his basses to be dark, dense woods like this one.
Kevin
-
Yeah Kevin,I thought the same thing at first then got distracted by the absence of it's brother on the other aide of the pond and then further absorbed by the flamed PH on the neck next to it and then further up the neck from there.Like I said I don't mind.As one thing diappears two others take it's place.Definitely one of God's many,many gifts though nature.Another of His gift's are the skills and passion the folks at the bigA have in bringing it all together.Rami's probly got a girlfriend and that's why we haven't heard from him.We'll just have to wait for him to sneak in a comment when she's not around!LOL!
-
Some new shots while we wait for calibration:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10892.jpg)
Didn't think you got to see this part up close yet.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/10893.jpg)
Hey - these are complete with installation fingerprints and everything!
-
Man o Man,these baddass Rogue's just keep popping out.That is brilliant wood selection.You must be chomping at the bit as well as David.Very lucky people.And dig those install fingerprints.
-
It's just a matter of Ron the Wizard's magic wand being waved over your bass, with a little faerie dust thrown in for good measure, and this puppy's done! It looks awesome, Barry!
-
Thanks Kevin,I guess the finger prints make it an anointed bass LOL.I got a nod of approval from my oldest which is same as getting the oscar,a lifetime achievement,winning a grand prix etc.It'll be nice when she's here next to her brother.Has yours got a gender yet?After these latest pix I'm more towards a female.I guess we'll try for a date once mine comes in,say 1st or 2nd week in August.
-
Hey Val welcome back!The bass was supposed to be on Ron's bench a week ago but who knows.I also promised Mica I wouldn't bug her for two weeks.I never said I wouldn't bug you!LOL!I'm looking for some more pictures although,Mica's response would be there's nothing else to see until it finishedI disagree I haven't had any action on this post in two months.How about some new pictures to pass the time?