Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on September 24, 2002, 02:27:25 PM

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on September 24, 2002, 02:27:25 PM

Here's the top candidates for the top of your new bass:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/1811.jpg)
 Choice 1  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/1812.jpg)
 Choice 2  These tops are fresh off the bandsaw and the still look awesome. Wait until the paint hits 'em.   Here's a piece typical of our Burl Maple stock for the pickguard.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/1813.jpg)
  For the Coco Bolo back, can you give me some idea if you have any preferences (light, dark, red, etc.) or would you like us to surprise you?

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on September 24, 2002, 05:37:31 PM

I believe Jim will have sent the wood preferences to you by now.  Would it be possible to see a drawing of the pick-guard before the wood gets cut?  I'm sure that will be some weeks down the road.  Thanks.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on September 24, 2002, 06:16:41 PM

Absolutley! There's no way James is gonna drill holes in the top of a Burl Walnut custom Stanley Clarke bass before you both see and approve the design of the pickguard.  
 
Do you want it to wrap around one or both pickups? Any other guidelines you can give me before I start sketching?

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on September 25, 2002, 11:27:49 AM

I think you would be the best person to judge a proper pick-guard style that would flow with the body, though I prefer it wrap around only one pickup

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on September 26, 2002, 05:05:53 PM

Chip found this awesome Burl Walnut today and wanted you to see it:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/1854.jpg)
 
He also placed a suggested position for a Small Standard body on the right side - hope you can see it.  
 
Let me know if you want to switch to this super burl.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on September 27, 2002, 01:55:59 PM

Two questions before I make my final decision:
1) What would this new piece of wood look like after it leaves the spray booth (would the wood appear darker, etc)?
2) Could a get a closer picture of the right piece of wood (I would like to get a better view of the wood figure)?
I was set on choice 1 until you sent this....

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on September 27, 2002, 06:53:00 PM

1) It will look darker by a good bit.
 
2) Here is a closeup:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/1880.jpg)
 
The pictures I showed you at the top of this thread are successive slices from the same log, and upon closer inspection, aren't really all that burly. Let me know what you think about this wild piece.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on September 28, 2002, 09:47:09 AM

I believe I will go with your appraisal of the woods and pick choice #3, the newest piece of wood.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on September 28, 2002, 08:37:30 PM

I wasn't quite sure if you received my Cocobolo preferences; so just in case you didn't, here it is:
I would like the wood to be on the dark side with a bit of red.  The grain does not have to be very straight.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on October 03, 2002, 12:36:30 PM

Cool! I'll let Chip know you liked the wood he found - it's really very unusual.  
 
Jim did relate your Coco Bolo preferences to me. I'm glad you're not looking for straight grain - it's harder to come by. We've got just about every flavor of Coco Bolo, so finding a nice darkish-reddish piece won't be a problem. Do you want a preview of it or do you want it to be a surprise?
 
I've worked on the pickguard design, and so far I'm not happy with any of the concepts. I'll keep at it until I've got something I think you'll like.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on October 03, 2002, 05:56:08 PM

Please surprise me with the Cocobolo, you have my supreme confidence

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on October 04, 2002, 04:37:55 PM

Alright, Jon. I'm sure you'll like our selection and the excitement of the surprise.
 
Chip plans to assemble the body of your bass in the next run, which starts on Wednesday.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on October 29, 2002, 02:55:11 PM

Well, your bass is ready to put on the pickguard. There's one sealer coat on the bass, and all that's left is to decide on the shape. Here is our first proposal mocked up on another bass:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/2129.jpg)
 
We've come up with a couple of other related shapes, but I'd like to know if this is generally what you had in mind. Note that the truss rod cover will be continuous and the same shape as it is usually. This way you won't have to remove the whole pickguard to do a truss rod adjustment.
 
Let me know what you think!

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on November 01, 2002, 07:54:14 AM

This is pretty much exactly what I was looking for.  If you have another suggestion, I'm still open to ideas.  I was wondering if you could post an in-progress picture of the bass (after the pick-guard is attached).

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on November 05, 2002, 10:10:16 AM

Here are a couple of other ideas to at least eliminate before we cut the final design:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/2180.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/2181.jpg)
  The idea is the echo the shape of the omega in the design around the pickguard. The one on the left eliminates the left side-shape, but is otherwise the same to the picture on the right. This also covers up a little less wood than the first design.   Let me know if you like the first design, or the one or two- part from today's proposals. We'll get the pickguard cut and then get a photo of the result to you.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on November 05, 2002, 11:30:20 AM

I like the original design you posted (from the 29 Oct post) the most.  Please use this one.  Thanks.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on November 05, 2002, 11:46:53 AM

Mike will get started on the pickguard today.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on November 18, 2002, 12:39:44 PM

Here it is!
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/2317.jpg)
 
But of course now we want to change things. Mike thinks (and I agree) that this would look best without any screws holding it on, meaning, we'd permanently glue it in place (except the truss rod cover of course).  
 
Also, one thing we didn't think about was the knobs that are mounted on the Maple. These will either ride higher than the other knobs by thickness of the Maple or we'll need to cut holes big enough for the skirts of the knobs so the caps all wind up at the same height. I don't know if you have a preference, I think either way will look good.  
 
So to review, we need from you:  
1. Yay or nay on gluing the Maple in place, and
2. Knob heigh preference

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on November 19, 2002, 08:05:59 AM

First of all, the bass is beautiful!  If it isn't too much trouble, could I also get a picture of the Cocobolo on the back?
 
1) I would like the maple to be glued in place
2) I would like all of the knobs to be the same height (drill the larger holes for the knobs)
 
Many thanks!!

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Paul Lindemans (palembic) on February 11, 2003, 11:29:49 PM

WOW!

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on March 12, 2003, 07:47:49 PM

Mica, I just had the bass sent by UPS on Tuesday March 11.  I also noticed some damage done to the case (it wasn't immediately apparent because I was so concerned about my bass).  One of the casters looks like it has been pushed into the body of the bass; the latches also do not line up properly.  I will also send you an email with more details.  
Thanks,
Jon

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on March 13, 2003, 04:07:30 PM

OK thanks. I'm looking forward to repairing the shipping damage and getting this bass back in your hands. We'll be looking for it and your email.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Wayne McLemore (wayne) on March 17, 2003, 06:52:13 AM

Ok, y'all, what gives?  You can't post this teency little bit of info and not give us the whole story.
 
I understand how traumatizing it can be.  Sharing does help.  We're here for you.......
 
C-Ya........wayne

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Googe Endeveronte (goooge) on March 17, 2003, 09:59:56 AM

Jon-
incase you dont know- Wayne is from the been there done that DAMAGED section of the club- members of that club have had the misfortune of damage harming their axes in transit-Wayne put us all through a bad case of damaged custom Alembic trama with pictures he posted of a decapitated alembic (I am getting teary eyed here)But then he came back with another beautiful custom that left us all drooling and jealous-
hopefully your axe is fairing better than a complete head chop.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Jon Hirsch (ta2jon69) on March 17, 2003, 10:25:31 AM

The Omega tip on the left body wing broke off of the body during shipment.  Thankfully, the break was very clean (which is why I didn't notice the damage immediately after opening the shipping box & case, it took a few minutes).  I would have posted pictures a while ago, but I didn't want everyone to see a damaged Alembic.  

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: Paul Lindemans (palembic) on March 20, 2003, 02:30:03 AM

Hell ...is it something that happens often, those transport damages? BTW: I truly like to hear about it. Can you imagine we in EU ordering an Alembic with such a risk at hand??

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: ta2jon69 on May 08, 2003, 10:12:18 PM

I received the bass last week.  Perfect timing; I returned the day before.  It took me a week to actually plug it in and test it out (while Alembic basses are the best, I hadn't seen my daughter in two months).  The bass both looks and sounds outstanding.  Thanks to Mica and everybody in the shop, I can't even tell there was any damage.

Title: Johnathan's Custom Stanley Clarke
Post by: mica on May 09, 2003, 06:00:05 PM

Glad you received the bass (and the new case) in good order. I could not detect the repair either, and I am darned picky about such things.  
 
Damage like this is really quite rare, but the omega tips are considerably more fragile than the point body shape. Any time you ship an instrument, there is a risk for damage, but that is why we pack things very well and insure it to the max.