Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on April 11, 2012, 07:15:23 PM
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Lots of pictures of the neck taking form...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128531.jpg)
glue drips
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128532.jpg)
ears so the machine heads have a place to live
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128533.jpg)
getting ready to veneer the peghead
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128534.jpg)
veneers in clamps
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128535.jpg)
a peghead is born!
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Oh yeah, and about that shamrock:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128539.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/128540.jpg)
My son Erik was here today, and he asked me, "Is that like a shamrock, mommy?" This is a test carving for the proof of concept.
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The shamrock is very cool!
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That's what I'm talking about!
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Love the shamrock to be sure to be sure.
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So glad to see my axe finally taking shape. This is the first time I've seen the neck and headstock pictures. Just wait until you see the top, guys. I saw the raw samples. They are gorgeous!!
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Here are the pics Mica took of the top laminate blanks. Stunning.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129475.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129476.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129477.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129478.jpg)
[edited for picture alignment] (Message edited by adriaan on April 23, 2012)
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Birds eye Maple and a clover
Another unique work of art in progress
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OK, there's lots to share! Top lam getting ready to glue for the bookmatch to center:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132073.jpg)
and getting that center seam glued:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132074.jpg)
Getting the top ready to glue to the body and neck:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132075.jpg)
In the "big press" waiting for the glue to dry:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132076.jpg)
Out and ready to cut that shamrock:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132077.jpg)
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And now the "cutting of the clover" First, trace the template:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132084.jpg)
A little nip here:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132085.jpg)
Starting to cut with a sharp new tool:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132086.jpg)
A little deeper now:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132087.jpg)
And complete:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132088.jpg)
This angle really exaggerates the roundness factor. I'll gather another more straight-on shot for you soon. EVERYBODY that visits here flips out over your bass.
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Beauty!!!! Cant wait to see it all completed!!!
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Wow. That sweet Birdseye is gonna pop like crazy when it's done. I'm on the edge of my seat and can't wait to see what comes next!
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Beautiful cutting of the clover!
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The picture of the shamrock halfway through carving is amazing. It looks like an organic version of something M.C. Escher would have produced on a good day.
(Message edited by tbrannon on May 30, 2012)
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Beautiful!
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Wow, what an amazing build!
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Brace yourself...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132678.jpg)
Are you still breathing? Up close:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132679.jpg)
and the back view that you haven't yet seen:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132680.jpg)
I'm working out the control pattern we discussed earlier, so ignore the Sharpie pen marks on the front.
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Wonderful!
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I'm pretty sure I just had an eye orgasm. My bottom jaw is around here somewhere...
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Burl/Birdseye front, quilted back and some amazing flame in the neck.
Maple trifecta achieved!!!!
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Love your bass, especially the neck recipe and how all those wonderful woods can be viewed in the shamrock.
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Brian - I'm certainly happy with it. Most of how it has turned out was expected, and a few really nice surprises have showed up too. It's really cool to work with a place like Alembic, because the people there are true craftsmen and artists. I just showed up with a vision and they are making it happen. My respect for their professionalism and courtesy is really high. I was expecting the clover cutout to look really cool, but I agree that when all the neck woods show through, it TRANSCENDS cool. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for more things to come as the build progresses. Thanks for the compliments!
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Jerry: I hope your bass continues to progress as quickly as it has so far. When my son and I visited a few weeks ago to take a look at the further guitar they are building for him (it should arrive Friday) your bass was still in pieces with the neck glued up, but the body remaining to be put together. Mica showed us your top laminate which looked incredible as an unfinished, uncut board, and the practice cutting they were doing to get the shamrock just right. To see everything all put together and an initial finishing coat this quickly is amazing. And you couldn't be more correct about the professionalism and courtesy. We got a 3-hour plus tour from Mica who stayed late so my son could play his new instrument. The trip was so inspiring that I'm now in the process of trying to figure out what I want to order for myself. (Thinking of a short scale signature in Koa).
Here's hoping that the remainder of your build goes as well and as quickly as the initial phases and that you're enjoying your bass in the near future.
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You're getting your son an Alembic? Whoa - that is some seriously high praise. I'm pretty sure my kids will only see mine from a distance until they're well into their 30's.
About the apparent speed of which the bass is coming together - it was in a really long queue after I put in the order. I think from the time I submitted it until things started getting cut was 6 or 7 months. There was a good bit of dialogue happening in that period, but it was still agony not to see any tangible result (not that I was in a hurry. I'm not). On top of that, Mica and I are still discussing some other details that have yet to be set in stone. Also, I'm told that the bass will go into a sort of hibernation for a bit while it's in spray. Not a delay by any means, but it's a lengthy process: spraying, drying, sanding, repeat ad nauseum and then rub out. It may be a couple of months before any new progress pictures show up on the thread.
I'd love to take that tour someday, but alas - I'm n the east coast.
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One word.....WOW!
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(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/135242.jpg)
Steal Your Shamrock
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...this turns out to be a future classic.....
Oliver (Spyderman)
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I don't think you've seen the peghead with some finish yet, have you?
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/136565.jpg)
This was from a while ago, just sealer coats, but still looks great!
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Sweet!
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I just noticed the flame maple around the edges. Wow. Nice surprise. As Nigel Tufnel might say - How much more maple can this bass get? None more maple.
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Spotted this in setup when I visited the shop yesterday. It really is a unique instrument. You really are going to be very happy with it.
graeme
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Nice, Graeme! It sounds like you are more up to date on it than I am.
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Can't wait to see the finished product. I just love the whole concept.
Just heard from Susan that mine is in spray now so I have a long time to wait, but yours would appear to be showing up shortly.
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Glad to hear yours is moving along, even though it's in hibernation mode. We still have quite a few details to work out on mine. Hopefully I'll be hearing something soon.
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Jerry:
How is your bass coming along? I assume its been finished by now since it was in set-up back in September. We'd all love to see photos of the finished product.
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No such luck. The last I heard, the hardware for the bass was being sent to the plater the week of January 21st. There was some delay due to the fact that the metal plating I am using (ruthenium) is something Alembic has never done before, so it had to go to a new plater. Then they had them plate some samples and then send them on to me for approval. (It's gonna be sweet.) So that was really the last I heard and was told it was pretty much done other than that.
In the meantime, I sourced some knobs with a celtic design to go along with the theme of the bass. I purchased some stuff from qparts.com. They sucked. The knobs matched the color, but were poorly cast so I decided not to use them and sent them back. For a $12 knob, I got what I paid for. So, I placed an order with Roger at tkgknobs.com. That guy does some brilliant work. My knobs should be done in a month and hopefully they will coincide with the finishing of the bass. I'll keep you posted!
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Curious as to why you selected ruthenium for your metal plating. I'm no metallurgist but isn't that from the platinum family.
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Yup. It's just as rare so I understand but the market for it isn't there like it is for platinum or iridium, so it's a lot cheaper. I wanted a gunmetal finish to the hardware, so I did some research. The color falls in between nickel and black which is exactly what I was after. Plus the stuff can take a beating without getting all scratched up which is why it's a popular plating metal for gun enthusiasts.
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I'm impressed. You REALLY thought this one out through and through. I can't wait to see photos of the finished product.
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Bump...... Happy St. Patricks Day!
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Slainte!
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Ack! I know you have been patient since I promised to send you a snapshot TWO WEEKS AGO! Anyway, here's your pretty, waiting for her jewelry to come back:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/154825.jpg)
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Whoa.
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Of course those knobs are gonna change when I receive the ones you ordered.
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Ruthenium en place:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/157352.jpg)
Pretty freakin' awesome!
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Sweet.
Who's strings are those? Look like the old rotosound superwounds but they're not flat :-)
Graeme
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Those are Rotosound PSD's (piano string design). I've been using those for years. I needed to send them to Mica to make sure that the tailpiece was routed out enough for those big ball-ends. Those actually come loose in the package and you have to measure and cut them yourself in order to make sure the exposed core of the string sits on top of the saddle correctly.
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Same as the superwound halfwounds then. I never realised Rotosound made them in roundwounds too. I still have a set of the halfwounds on my homemade fretless.
Graeme
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Yeah, a little difficult to see without comparing two pics side by side, but the coils on these are fatter than a regular roundwound string, so there was some getting used to them. If I remember correctly, they tore up my fingers pretty well the first couple times I gigged with them. I will add that this will be the first time I've used these on a 5-string, so I imagine there will be another learning curve because of those fat coils on the low-B.
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those chrome hardware are so neat!
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Not chrome - it's ruthenium. Next to chrome this would be much darker.
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Absolutely stunning! Looking forward to seeing more pics when you receive that beauty.
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The metalwork took me by surprise too.. this explains it all
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenium)
Sounds like an expensive metal as Wikipedia states it is extremely rare!
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and extremely gorgeous...
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I absolutely love the clover cut. Next time I pull the trigger, I will order the Yiddish cut, which may be a knish or a sour pickle.
Plus that birdseye maple, a very under appreciated wood top! Oye Vey!
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Don't forget the ever-popular Gefilte fish cut.
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and the Menorah inlay...
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It's a bit lo-fi, but I thought I'd post it anyway. DONE.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/159030.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on April 22, 2013)
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Congrats!
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Beautiful. Can we get a close up of the knobs?
Graeme
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Spectacular. And the intriguing hardware color provides the perfect contrast to the gorgeous top. Congratulations!!!
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Here are the knobs. Mica is taking better pictures of the bass on Wednesday when it ships, so I will post them here when that happens (unless she does first.)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/159098.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/159099.jpg)
[moderator's edit for picture alignment] (Message edited by adriaan on April 23, 2013)
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Yeah, Jerry, you really made it. This is an astoundingly beautifull bass, congrats!
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All I can say is WOW! Incredible bass in every way. From whom were the knobs outsourced or did Alembic make them up themselves? And are all those knobs for your bass so you can change them as as the mood strikes you?
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thgknobs.com I only got the birdseye/ebony ones. The others were for someone else, but I'm certainly not opposed to buying some more so I can have options later. He made them really quickly, but the turnaround time was about 6 weeks because of pending orders. I was put in a long queue.
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I think these look better than the other set I made. Nice contrast.
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Thanks, Roger!
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Here's the latest.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/159488.jpg)
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Ah, the sofa shot, beautiful!
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That's a gorgeous instrument! Have years of fun!!
Michael
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Here's what I came up with for the control layout:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129892.jpg)
So you know what I'm thinking about geometry:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129893.jpg)
And without any markup so you can see if you like it:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/129894.jpg)
Well, the ghost of the output jack interior still shows up there, but I think you can imagine it away. Let me know what you think. Once we get the control layout done, all the wood pieces are ready to glue together and it will look like a real bass within a few days of approval.
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Bass = neck pickup and treble = bridge pickup, correct?
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Correct. I should probably say neck and bridge pickups like everyone else, but my dad trained me for bass and treble pickups
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Layout looks just fine. Permission to proceed granted!
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OK, I'll print this out before I go home so the shop can start on it first thing Monday. Woo hoo!
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Ugh!
I do this all the time. It will probably be like 10 more years before I get used to switches for LEDs.
It does mean we need to pick a place for your switch still. Here's 2 options with the approved layout:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/130090.jpg)
Please let me know if you like #1 or #2 for the LEDs, or if you want me to start over.
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I was kind of hoping to see it slightly apart from all the other controls, like due east of the pickup selector in the picture above, but I wasn't considering that getting into the area where I tend to play more (neck pickup or in between the two). If I had to go with one of the options you outlined, I'd go with #1.
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I came up with another idea. Swap the positions of the stereo/mono switch and the LED switch (option 1) and then move BOTH switches due west (toward the bottom of the bass when held upright) so that the stereo/mono switch is in line with the output jack. Will that work?
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Plotting it out on the bass:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132913.jpg)
I didn't consider that little dark spot so we tried this (green controls are moved slightly from the original layout):
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132914.jpg)
which covers 90% of the dot, unless you use the hat knobs, then all will be covered. But then we need to move the switch to the small red dot or the 1/4" output to the large red dot to make them stack the way you want:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132915.jpg)
Do you have a preference?
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Nope. Fire at will.
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We keep finding new and creative ways to avoid drilling holes in your bass! Actually, we just probably overthink, but that's what makes us Alembic. Ok, here's the layout done as I originally designed for this custom body shape:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132989.jpg)
You can see the little dark mark, but it may or may not bug you. Here's things rearranged slightly to concel that "beauty mark" under the skirt of the knob:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/132990.jpg)
Just wanted you to have a look at things with knobs in place before Swiss-cheese time. Let me know if you have a string preference one way or the other.
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The mark doesn't really bug me, but option 2 bugs me slightly less, so let's go with that one. Thanks.