Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on July 01, 2010, 06:57:54 PM

Title: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: mica on July 01, 2010, 06:57:54 PM
Nice looking bass starting up here:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/82096.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/82097.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/82098.jpg)
  Love the Coco Bolo!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on July 01, 2010, 07:56:22 PM
Wow! I know most everyone on here already knows the feeling of their first post with the first photos, but I am SO excited to see her finally! The wood looks remarkable...and I know it's gonna be unbelieveable with the first sealer coats done.
Mica...THANK YOU!
Michael
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: David Houck on July 02, 2010, 06:32:57 PM
Very cool top!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on July 06, 2010, 12:57:49 PM
Thanks Dave...I think the top came out great, and I'm sure the back did too. It will have a heart omega with the ebony center stripe, which will look nice and sound great. The fun part is going to be doubling the size of my rig so I can play in stereo...woo hoo!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: mica on July 27, 2010, 06:36:20 PM
Partway through finish, getting the frets installed:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/83368.jpg)
 Really great color on that Coco Bolo!  Plotting the inlaid logo position:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/83369.jpg)
  And the inlay materials themselves:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/83370.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: artswork99 on July 27, 2010, 08:38:59 PM
Another fabulous top. Wow, and what a headstock!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: sonicus on July 27, 2010, 09:14:27 PM
Another beautiful Alembic Logo  in progress
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: andbassforall on July 28, 2010, 12:51:56 AM
That is some awesome Coco
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 17, 2010, 02:17:44 PM
So, Mica...any pics yet of the NEW Series II? I know the neck is done and the last time we talked you said the body wings were about to get put in the clamps....
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 17, 2011, 01:46:46 PM
OK guys...I'm gonna hijack my OWN thread. We had to start over due to a change needing to be made, so here are a few photos of the new and improved Series II...(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/116799.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 17, 2011, 01:48:58 PM
Another one....(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/116802.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 17, 2011, 01:51:35 PM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/116805.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 17, 2011, 01:57:03 PM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/116810.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: artswork99 on November 17, 2011, 02:12:37 PM
Sweeeeeet!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: rjmsteel on November 17, 2011, 07:11:45 PM
When should I pick up my jaw off the floor.
 
That\s going to sound incredible.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 18, 2011, 10:26:26 AM
rjmsteel...I'm just hoping Mica puts a towel in the case so that I'll have a way to catch all the DROOL when I open it for the first time!!
AND...I'm gonna have an OUT OF BOX experience...all on video tape, of course!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: pierreyves on November 18, 2011, 10:33:09 AM
your bass is splendide = wonderful, the sound wpuld be at the same altitude... the out of box experience is somthing so personal, so unique, so private, keep it for you. IMO of course
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: oddmetersam on November 18, 2011, 08:22:13 PM
No matter how many Alembics I see, my salivary glands always go into hyper-drive. Absolutely stunning.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: crobbins on November 19, 2011, 09:29:46 AM
Your bass looks great. Is the 1st one still under construction?
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on November 21, 2011, 07:37:17 AM
Crobbins...I assume that they completed it, and probably offered it to their dealer base, although Mica and I have never discussed it since the new one was started.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 09, 2011, 07:06:07 AM
WAITING FOR THE BROWN TRUCK....and not pacing the floor...TOO much!!!!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: jay_r on December 09, 2011, 07:11:28 AM
This truly is the hardest part! Congratulations, beautiful bass!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: peetee on December 09, 2011, 07:54:15 AM
It is the hardest part!! Congratulations!!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 09, 2011, 09:08:27 AM
No need to tell this guy about it . . .
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118022.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 08:58:36 AM
She's HERE!!  
And the funny story is, I actually did have to chase down the Brown truck!! He dropped of the overnight packages and left, so I jumped in my car and caught up with him down the street!!
I'll get all the pics shaved down so I can upload them...the files are all too big.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 09:34:07 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118083.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 09:51:54 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118086.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 09:54:04 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118089.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 10:03:05 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118096.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 10:06:56 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118100.jpg)
At a gig last night...
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 10:09:04 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118103.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 10, 2011, 10:10:48 AM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/118106.jpg)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: peetee on December 10, 2011, 11:21:21 AM
That's a fantastic set of photos! You can really see how happy you are
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: artswork99 on December 10, 2011, 11:52:52 AM
Michael, Beautiful top (and so much more), Congratulations!  It looks great on you.  Play it Healthy!  Art
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: flpete1uw on December 10, 2011, 12:16:12 PM
Now That is what dreams are made of! Merry Christmas!!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: edwin on December 10, 2011, 03:54:22 PM
Stunning bass!  
 
I just have to ask, with a logo like that on the kick drum, is this a band of attorneys?
 
Edwin
Who just had his Intro to IP final on Thursday.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: sonicus on December 10, 2011, 03:56:18 PM
Congratulations , all of the contentment is really nice to see . What kind of tunes did you play at the gig ?
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: sonicus on December 10, 2011, 04:02:37 PM
The Bass is AWESOME !!!!!!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: poor_nigel on December 10, 2011, 08:45:25 PM
Merry Christmas, indeed!  It surely doesn't suck to be you this Chirstmas.  I do hope you have a happy new year, too.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: dadabass2001 on December 11, 2011, 05:19:36 AM
Congratulations, Michael!
May your new new series 2 beauty bring you years of playing enjoyment and sonic bliss!
Mike
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: lbpesq on December 11, 2011, 09:00:12 AM
Michael:
 
BIG FUN, isn't it?  
 
Congrats, and LOVE the band name.
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: cje on December 11, 2011, 09:18:23 AM
I'm so happy for you!
 
Of all the pictures that get posted here, the ones that make me smile the most are those that document the big day.  I've already retained my best buddy to document mine!
 
That bass is truly beautiful.
 
So... how was the gig?  How did you and your bandmates enjoy the new bass?
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: crobbins on December 11, 2011, 09:59:46 AM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 11, 2011, 10:38:26 AM
Great photos!  Congratulations!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: jazzboy621 on December 11, 2011, 01:39:16 PM
Great Photos!!!!! You look very pleased!!! Awesome!!!! Congrats!!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 12, 2011, 08:20:09 AM
Thanks to everyone! It was a LONG haul, but worth every minute of it...she's as beautiful to listen to as she is to look at. Par for the course, everyone at the Mothership has gone above and beyond to create a stunning instrument.
To answer a couple of other questions:
Glad to hear you guys like the band name! We're a classic rock cover band in Colorado, so I suppose the band name is appropriate! We play tunes mostly from the 60's, 70's and a few from the 80's-90's. I've been with the band for just over 5 years.
The guitarist and drummer are husband/wife, and my wife does just about everything else with the band except play an instrument: Lighting, merchandise, and of course, lugging equipment. Being I'm a casuality of GAS, she has her work cut out for her!
My band mates were STUNNED at the Alembic...the sound is SO EVEN across the entire neck, that they can hear some things I have been playing all along that they couldn't hear before. Obviously, I'm still tweaking the sound...I go between fingerstyle and a pick, and I'm trying to figure out the best eq settings for both, and how to get to it quickly. Sometimes we go straight from one song to another, and I'll have to change to/from a pick and make the adjustments quickly.
Also, if any of you are looking for the BEST strap available, the MOODY'S 4 strap is it! As we all know, Alembic's are pretty heavy, and I played 3 gigs this weekend (2 of them were4 hrs. each), and had NO shoulder pain. That's why Alembic uses them, and while there are none available on the store website(and the Alembic logo on them is COOL), there are many retailers who carry the non-logo versions. Got mine through Ebay.
So thanks again to all for sharing my happiness and excitement! I appreciate all of you who love our instruments and I look forward to being a part of this community of friends.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: edwin on December 12, 2011, 08:57:31 AM
Where in Colorado are you? I live in Boulder.
 
As far as pick to fingers go, I find that the biggest problem I have is not that I want to change settings, I want to change strings! I love the pick sound with flat wounds and for finger style and slap, DR Sunbeams are unbeatable. So, I have several sets of rotating strings depending on the gig. Kind of silly, but it works.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: edwin on December 12, 2011, 09:04:32 AM
PS. Your wife must really love you. I had a Crest CA9 for a while and that thing is heavy!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 12, 2011, 09:28:09 AM
Hi Edwin!
We're in the Springs. You can look us up on the web...
www.tmiband.com (http://www.tmiband.com)
I used Ken Smith Rockmasters for so many years...then I bought a Dingwall about 6 years ago, so they wouldn't fit. I sent Mica a set of the Smith's to use duing setup, and I'll stay with them from now on. I love a piano-string sound with a pick, and so the agressive sound they give works well.  
I'm a BIG Crest fan! In addition to my CA9, we use CA12's for the PA (even heavier!!), and we have an X 20R rack mount mixer as well. It's so clean and musical, that we rarely have the tone control circuits engaged.
Which Alembic(s) are you playing?
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: edwin on December 12, 2011, 09:51:02 AM
Yeah, I'm a Crest fan from way back. My first up close and personal experience was when my old band was opening for Phish at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY in 1991. I played through Mike's rig, which was a Crest 8001 powered double 18/double 10 set up. When I heard the board tape I was dismayed that no one heard a note I played. When I heard an audience recording, I realized that the bass sound ruled in that room! So, my band bought a 5001 and a couple others for our PA. Consequently, the rack in which they resided was known as Ma Bitch (pardon my French, but that thing was heavy!). We even wrote a song about it (opening lyric: Every time I see you, every time I see you, every time I see you I want to cry. Well, it was actually about a girl, but you get the idea).
 
I've had a couple of Alembics. My first was this one, now in the capable hands of Afrobeat_fool: http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/4748.html?1290533942 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8399).
 
I miss it, but apparently my body can't handle a long scale, as it caused massive neck, shoulder and arm problems.  So, last year I took delivery of: http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/4748.html?1290533942 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8399). I should post some pix with the lights on.
 
And finally, the bass that gets the most play and is sort of an honorary Alembic, with early 70s pickups and Series electronics: http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/107063.html?1320105861 (http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/107063.html?1320105861 target=_top). I still have to install the filters, although I have to say it sounds amazing even without the filters. I'll hopefully be able to finish it all up in the next month.
 
Interesting that Trade Mark Infringement shares initials with another common phrase: Too Much Information!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: cje on December 12, 2011, 01:42:18 PM
Just a quick semi-hijack to say Port Chester '91 was my first Phish show as well as my first Shockra show.  I was also at your Wetlands '93 shows and taped them.  I should try to dig 'em up!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: edwin on December 12, 2011, 04:07:58 PM
Thanks for the link to TMI! Great playing and I really like the instrument head pix. It must be a pleasure to play with such a solid drummer!
 
So, how do you guys feel about copyright? :-)
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: David Houck on December 15, 2011, 06:36:45 PM
Great photo essay!  And gorgeous bass!!!
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 16, 2011, 10:11:11 AM
I've just seen so many cool photos of Alembics arriving at their new homes...I couldn't resist sharing the event with everyone! It was great that we had a full weekend booked so I got to play her all weekend with the band.
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: bonesrad on December 19, 2011, 04:39:06 PM
That is one stunning bass, enjoy it in good health.
 
I noticed something in the above picture of you playing.  It looks like you have all of your settings on the bass pegged at wide open.  Have you futzed around with backing off things a bit?  With my Europa 5 w/ Series I electronics, I find wide open too bright for my taste.  You might find it fun to back the neck pickup filter to around 30% and get that mid frequency growl.  Just a thought.
 
Have tons of fun with your beautiful bass.
 
Bones
Title: Re: Michael's Coco Bolo Series II
Post by: tmimichael on December 20, 2011, 11:21:17 AM
Hey Bones,
Yeah I do have them opend up. It's interesting that this bass is MUCH fatter(PHATTER?)than I expected. It's not really super-bright like the ones I've played before (nor like Stanley's bass). It's very full and round, and using a pick about 50% of the time, having the tone controls wide open seems to work. When I go to fingerstyle, it sure does help backing off the tone control to get some mid-high attack.
But I am still playing with the controls, and I think it will only get better as I experiment.