Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on November 04, 2014, 02:44:14 PM

Title: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on November 04, 2014, 02:44:14 PM: I know you've seen a sneak-peak of your bass with the sealer coat of finish on, but here's a little catching up for the build record...

top wood freshly sanded:

back wood freshly sanded:

peghead veneer placement:

flitch o' peghead veneers:

plotting backplate placement:

rough neck blank:

ready for peghead veneer glue-up:

peghead veneers clamped and drying:

fingerboard glue-up:
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on November 04, 2014, 02:50:58 PM: Body halves saying hi to the peghead:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/200109.jpg)
neck to body:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/200110.jpg)
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on November 04, 2014, 06:03:44 PM: It is so interesting to see the stages of guitar construction. From the conceptualization in my mind to the reality of these pics, my bass is now alive for me!
Thanks, Mica for posting these.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: jazzyvee on November 04, 2014, 10:55:03 PM: The eyes in the body and grain around them make it look animalistic. It's as though you are being being watched by a stalking predator. It's certainly gonna be a fantastic looking bass.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: jacko on November 05, 2014, 02:58:21 AM: Fantastic patterns on that wood. Can't wait to see the finished piece.

Graeme
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: edwardofhuncote on November 05, 2014, 05:39:20 AM: I see an owl... or maybe a Roswell-esque alien.

Excellent looking wood selection, and that Balance K body is really beginning to grow on me.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: hammer on November 05, 2014, 06:17:57 AM: Love the wood. No question you've got to work owl in to whatever name you use for this bass.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on November 05, 2014, 06:30:13 AM: Thanks, Gentlemen.
I'm desiring the finishing processes to darken the piece and the reds to become more prominent. This will make the wood less contrasty (I learned that word from Mica).
It should be darker to match those owl and Rosewellian observations!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on November 12, 2014, 02:23:07 PM: Mica,
Did the wood selected for me ever get a name from you? Since It Was a Dark Stormy Night is already taken (lol), I've been thinkin'...
Nocturnal Vigilance
The Night Has Eyes
Watching You etc...What ya think?
Steal away to the production area and take and send a new pic...I won't tell!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: slawie on November 22, 2014, 03:45:16 AM: It's a WOMBAT.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: rustyg61 on November 25, 2014, 11:14:14 PM: Watcher Of The Skies!

Genesis - Watcher Of The Skies - Midnight Special - 20/12/1973 ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETFh4eRdM8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETFh4eRdM8)
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on November 26, 2014, 10:01:56 AM: I do see the resemblance...
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: dadabass2001 on November 26, 2014, 01:23:14 PM: I was thinking I see Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, trying to hide behind the neck (with minimal success).
Mike
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on November 26, 2014, 07:43:43 PM: Steve - I know asked me for a picture of the peghead earlier in the week, but I am just finally getting to the image I took for you.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/201728.jpg)

It's a fantastic piece of wood!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on November 26, 2014, 09:20:15 PM: Through the years I have always been excited when a new bass came into my possession. But my first Fender bass when I was 14 years old (blue psychedelic flower Tele) made me feel I could now start to belong to the bass fraternity. Now, the excitement is just as it was years and years ago as I await my first Alembic. I am a kid again, and I thank Alembic!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on December 19, 2014, 02:40:22 PM: It's a bass!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/204380.jpg)

More pics in a few...
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on December 19, 2014, 02:43:19 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/204383.jpg)
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on December 19, 2014, 02:48:48 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/204387.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/204388.jpg)
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: David Houck on December 19, 2014, 03:24:35 PM: Amazing wood!! I love the contrast, and how the front and back are aligned.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: moongerm on December 20, 2014, 07:18:37 AM: (Message edited by moongerm on December 20, 2014)
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: moongerm on December 20, 2014, 07:20:14 AM: That is some insane book matching! Wow, beautiful!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on December 20, 2014, 01:18:46 PM: Not only do I think this bass is beautiful, it's being shipped as I type. I will be the envy of the universe! I will rule all I survey! Now, back to Earth, it is nice, isn't it?
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: David Houck on December 20, 2014, 01:24:22 PM
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mario_farufyno on December 20, 2014, 03:09:40 PM: Wow, and we all know pictures doesn't makes justice to the wood in person...
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mica on December 21, 2014, 09:10:21 PM: So true - the only Photoshopping I did was straightening/cropping and vacuuming the carpet!

This is an amazing bookmatch - what the pictures don't really show well is the layered effect that this wood has - there's like a watercolor wash that intersects all the grain lines. I think it was Don visiting on Friday that said the grain looked like magnetic domains emanating from the treble pickup.

Stunning in every way, especially in the tone department.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: sonicus on December 22, 2014, 01:02:12 AM: Yes ! Magnetic domains emanating from the treble pickup :

Very similar to the visual effect produced when a magnet is held directly on the viewing surface of a Cathode Ray Tube !

Incredible looking wood ____ . Sheer Alchemy !
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: rustyg61 on December 22, 2014, 07:54:34 AM: That wood is spectacular!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: rustyg61 on December 22, 2014, 08:02:32 AM: That wood is spectacular!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: tubeperson on December 22, 2014, 08:13:58 AM: The bass could be named Big Eyes, since the front has those lovely rounds. Quite an awesome piece of Alembic tradition!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on December 22, 2014, 02:20:07 PM: I drive to Atlanta tomorrow (Tuesday) to see it, admire it, touch it, smell it, hold it, play it, caress it, have my picture taken with it, then carefully put it in it's case and take it home with me. Then I will plug it in to my Eden Traveler 550, let the sound come alive through two Eden XLST 2x10 cabs, and bask in it's ...
(I will let y'all's imagination complete the thought - it's the least I could do)

(Message edited by wick5 on December 22, 2014)
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: mtjam on December 22, 2014, 03:12:26 PM: Congratulations! That will be a very exciting day for you!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: s_wood on December 22, 2014, 06:01:46 PM: Gorgeous!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: dead_head on December 22, 2014, 08:19:31 PM: Congratulations! That's some beautiful wood!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: edwardofhuncote on December 23, 2014, 03:54:34 AM: I still see an owl. =)

That's a beauty Steve. Congrats & Compliments!
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: elwoodblue on December 23, 2014, 06:36:02 AM: An archer fish checking out it's reflection ?

totally amazing ...congrats !
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: wick5 on February 21, 2015, 08:18:06 AM: I want to add a closing message to this FTC thread. I want Susan, Mica, and all to know that this thing, this work of art that functions as an electric bass guitar, is meeting all my expectations. The sustain is sustaining, the low end is thunderous, the mids cut through, and the highs are crisp and accentuated. And Mica was right...the tone is wonderfully incredible. Am I gushing?
There is one thing I don't think I can do...name it Charlotte as Susan suggested. I just can't get wrapped around that one.
Title: Re: Steve's Custom 5-string Signature in Coco Bolo
Post by: rustyg61 on February 21, 2015, 02:05:46 PM: I agree with Gregory, I also see an owl, so how about honoring the heritage of Alembic & call it Owsley?