Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on March 05, 2010, 01:06:55 PM

Title: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on March 05, 2010, 01:06:55 PM
Here's the start of things to come!  Neck and fingerboard:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77232.jpg)
  Ash body:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77233.jpg)
  Side of body and wood reserved to Nearest Neighbor wood plates:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77234.jpg)
  Quilted Maple:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77235.jpg)
  Test body half for electronics fit:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77236.jpg)
  Top and accent lams getting glued for the bookmatch to center:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77237.jpg)
  Fingerboard on neck, body on neck, ready for bookmatch to center top:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77238.jpg)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: sonicus on March 05, 2010, 04:08:06 PM
Very nice, An Essence with Anniversary electronics?
  A little point at the end might be sweet too !
 
     I like this idea , this will be a nice Bass.
 Will it have a sustain block ?
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on March 31, 2010, 06:16:06 AM
I am not sure what a sustain block is, but playing in the big band and at church I am usually muting to take out sustain, so I probably won't need it.
 
The goal of the bass was extreme lightness - I loved the sound and playability of a Mark King Deluxe I had but it was too heavy for me to play hours on end standing up, so Alembic is
making me the lightest bass possible.
 
We need Mica to post the inlays that are going to be on this bass - it is awesome!  The sun with solar flares is on the top fret, and then the planets for each marker down the fretboard.  Against a black quilted maple.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: rjmsteel on March 31, 2010, 08:43:52 AM
Wow.... Anniversary with what sounds like really cool inlays...Great idea for the inlays!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on March 31, 2010, 02:15:10 PM
The funny part is that I ordered the guitar from Tony at Planet Bass.  I have bought and sold basses through Tony a few times and I can't say enough good things about him - he is excellent.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: rjmsteel on March 31, 2010, 03:07:37 PM
Are you planning on running the Anniversary electronics package in stereo to two amps, into a F-2B Preamp or SF-2 Superfilter and then summed, (mono output), to a mono bass head or other configuration?  
 
The sustain block is the brass block recessed into the body and under the bridge. Look at examples of plenty of other basses on the club - under their bridges. Needless to say it adds some weight but not a lot. I think Southpaw had a thread referencing the total and subdivided weight of all the brass parts on his bass. The thread is under Alembic Basses/Guitars... How much does the Alembic brass bits add... if your curious.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on April 05, 2010, 02:20:13 PM
Here's the mock up of the inlay design:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/78438.jpg)
I don't have the details in the Earth as we were deciding which view to show when this was created.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: artswork99 on April 05, 2010, 02:36:35 PM
Nice!!!!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: gregduboc on April 05, 2010, 03:01:30 PM
Really really cool...
Amazing how perfectly everything fits, putting the biggest planet (Jupiter) right on the bigger space of the twelfth fret.
I want to see this one soon!!!
 
Greg
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: elwoodblue on April 05, 2010, 03:21:02 PM
Super idea,
 Having Pluto offset a little is a nice touch too.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: bassjigga on April 05, 2010, 03:22:21 PM
I think this is my favorite inlay design to date...
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: keith_h on April 05, 2010, 03:58:34 PM
I like that. Can't wait to see the finished neck.  
 
Keith
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: jon_jackson on April 05, 2010, 05:06:34 PM
Amazing idea!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: rjmsteel on April 05, 2010, 05:07:52 PM
Also like the stars out past Pluto, 21st fret and beyond...
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: grok on April 06, 2010, 07:31:39 AM
I actually was talking to Mica about a solar system bass just the other day, and she told me there's already one in progress now, pointing me to this one.  She did mention that past Pluto is the Oort cloud, rather than stars.  Nice!  So now I've changed my dream bass idea to deep space objects -- galaxies, nebulae, etc.  Now if I can only come up with the astronomical amount of cash....
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: FC Bass on April 06, 2010, 08:06:10 AM
Awesome! (http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/78466.gif)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: serialnumber12 on April 06, 2010, 09:49:59 AM
love that fingerboard!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: 12stringwilson on April 06, 2010, 11:27:28 AM
Very creative and artistic! I dig it!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: chrisalembic on April 06, 2010, 01:27:21 PM
wow amazing.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: dadabass2001 on April 06, 2010, 02:39:30 PM
Superb! I'm looking forward to the construction process.
MIke
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: pauldo on April 06, 2010, 04:25:21 PM
That is REALLLLY cool!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on April 16, 2010, 07:30:24 PM
Spied a little more progress today. Look! Actual carving:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/78833.jpg)
   And the whole thing coming together:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/78834.jpg)
 Looking great!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: jacko on April 20, 2010, 04:22:02 AM
Wow! those inlays are superb. I bet Ron's showing alot of interest in this one too.
 
Graeme
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on May 07, 2010, 06:21:45 PM
After routing:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/79639.jpg)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: David Houck on May 07, 2010, 06:27:53 PM
That's looking really nice!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on May 07, 2010, 06:50:33 PM
It's looking even better after the black dye:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/79669.jpg)
  You need to see this a little closer:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/79670.jpg)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on May 07, 2010, 06:52:08 PM
Ok, a little closer yet:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/79673.jpg)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: David Houck on May 07, 2010, 06:52:34 PM
Wow!  Very cool!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: David Houck on May 07, 2010, 06:57:49 PM
Still staring at it; I love that effect!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: wylie_j on May 07, 2010, 07:24:30 PM
I Luv This fret board an the black color must have one!
coz i'm that D.O.G. on a Mission
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: sonicus on May 07, 2010, 09:43:22 PM
Nice
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: bassjigga on May 08, 2010, 08:14:02 AM
wow!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: artswork99 on May 08, 2010, 09:04:42 AM
Beautiful top!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: dadabass2001 on May 08, 2010, 09:28:42 AM
Indeed a beautiful top. What's the electronics package, Anniversary with LEDs?
Mike
 
(Message edited by dadabass2001 on May 08, 2010)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: dannobasso on May 08, 2010, 09:58:29 AM
beautiful and striking in the black finish sir. congrats!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: alemberic on May 08, 2010, 10:58:54 AM
To quote others here, wow!  This instrument is shaping up to be  a unique yet fully integrated package. It isn't about just one or two cool features, it's that every design element is both awesome by itself and in combination with the others to form an amazing total result.  I really like the black finish on this one, as well.  
 
Eric
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: alembixxx on November 10, 2010, 01:46:08 AM
Hey!!! Another black dyed quilted maple! Welcome to the club! ;-)
Very nice bass! Beautiful quilt! Wow!
Congrats!!!
Cheers!
Didier
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on November 23, 2010, 06:21:15 PM
The Oort cloud is taking shape on your bass:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/90174.jpg)
 
There's this bag of random circles here, must be yours  
 
Hope the belts of Jupiter survive. If not, we'll try again. This bronze mother of pearl doesn't have the figuring very deep. I sure hope it works, 'cause it looks awesome.  
 
And the Sun has started to take shape in the fingerboard:
 
Sorry for the general cruddy quality of this pic. It's hanging a little high there and I almost missed it.  
 
This is gonna be so cool!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: bassjigga on November 23, 2010, 09:42:52 PM
my favorite inlays so far... those look so cool... and they're not even on the bass yet!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: FC Bass on November 24, 2010, 09:30:53 AM
Wow! They have a trained woodworm over there? :-)
 
Looks awesome, way to go!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on November 30, 2010, 06:46:00 PM
So the sun is shining!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/90604.jpg)
 This will brighten up more when the rest of the sanding is done - there's still some traces of glue on there, but it looks really, really cool. Or is it hot?  Also an in-process shot of the inlay material during the first sand down.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/90605.jpg)
 Some solar wind there!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: jacko on December 01, 2010, 12:48:32 AM
That is so cool.
 
Graeme
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: briant on December 01, 2010, 08:41:43 AM
So very cool.
 
Can't wait to see finished pictures of this.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: skyboltone on December 01, 2010, 10:40:37 AM
Just needs to be said again. Stunning neck inlay idea and execution.  
 
Dan
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: rjmsteel on December 01, 2010, 03:28:50 PM
And again... Great inlay idea!! (where no inlay of this type has gone before...).
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on December 23, 2010, 03:47:08 PM
So close to finishing the inlays:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/92288.jpg)
 
Just that pesky Earth to go! As I said on the phone, I'm hoping for some inspiration regarding materials this weekend so we can finish this up for you.  
 
I'll send an email in a few minutes with some of the materials tests we completed.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on December 23, 2010, 03:49:28 PM
Oh and a closeup of Jupiter without the light flaring out the lower half:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/92292.jpg)
 
It really looks like the banded clouds.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: David Houck on December 23, 2010, 04:03:32 PM
Wow!  This is looking great!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on February 08, 2011, 07:49:02 PM
So we had to work on this idea a while. How to make the Earth inlay look like Earth when it's only 5/8 across. After some experimenting with a new material for us, I'm extremely happy with the results:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/96351.jpg)
 
I have to say thanks to Eric for having confidence that we would get this tricky part worked out. As a result, we have a lovely, watery looking Earth with some recognizable continents in malachite. We decided to make the view have mostly Pacific Ocean, since it's the water features that sets our planet apart from the others.  
 
And like I always am saying around here, it looks MUCH better in person, and remember it's not as big as you see on your screen in real life. Hope you like it.
 
All together, this is a super cool inlay!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: cje on February 08, 2011, 09:31:21 PM
Wow - the clever decision to make this mostly water really makes it look spherical.  It looks like a marble that's about to roll off the table.  I love it.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: sonicus on February 08, 2011, 11:21:02 PM
THe Earth inlay is fantastic! It nearly looks 3 dimensional  or  is that just the clever lighting of the photographer ?
 
(Message edited by sonicus on February 08, 2011)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: dadabass2001 on February 09, 2011, 07:03:06 AM
I love it! What a fantastic job.
MIke
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: artswork99 on February 09, 2011, 11:25:02 AM
Awesome, one of my favorites!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: rjmsteel on February 09, 2011, 11:27:56 AM
That looks awesome!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: briant on February 09, 2011, 12:29:45 PM
Absolutely fabulous.  I saw the rest of the instrument minus this inlay in person.  It's really incredible.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: briant on February 09, 2011, 12:29:53 PM
Absolutely fabulous.  I saw the rest of the instrument minus this inlay in person.  It's really incredible.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on February 09, 2011, 02:21:49 PM
That is way nicer than anything that I imagined.  This is going to be an incredible bass!  I can't believe the attention to detail that you all put in at Alembic.  You have put incredible thought into this beautiful piece of artwork.  I am going to be afraid to play it!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on February 09, 2011, 02:24:05 PM
I just want to add thanks for the call from Mica today.  She has been incredible keeping me up to date on her ideas for this bass.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on February 10, 2011, 05:25:55 PM
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/96509.jpg)
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: David Houck on February 10, 2011, 06:00:21 PM
Very cool!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on February 10, 2011, 06:12:44 PM
Mica from Alembic called tonight.  Mica, Susan, and Mary have treated me like family through this project.  The bass is stunning and way beyond anything I was expecting.  It took a while to make but that was because they took so much time thinking about how to make everything perfect.  They studied the shape of actual solar flares, with their experience in astronomy caught the unique thing about Earth - that it is mostly water - the blue planet.  They got the tilt just right on Saturn and added an Oort cloud.  Mica spent a ton of time thinking how to make Earth look good and was inspired while watching a movie with her Mom.  I hope I get a chance to meet the crew at Alembic in person sometime to personally thank them for their efforts and kindness.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: artswork99 on February 10, 2011, 06:18:40 PM
Luscious!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on February 10, 2011, 06:30:01 PM
Mica from Alembic called tonight.  Mica, Susan, and Mary have treated me like family through this project.  The bass is stunning and way beyond anything I was expecting.  It took a while to make but that was because they took so much time thinking about how to make everything perfect.  They studied the shape of actual solar flares, with their experience in astronomy caught the unique thing about Earth - that it is mostly water - the blue planet.  They got the tilt just right on Saturn and added an Oort cloud.  Mica spent a ton of time thinking how to make Earth look good and was inspired while watching a movie with her Mom.  I hope I get a chance to meet the crew at Alembic in person sometime to personally thank them for their efforts and kindness.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: moonliner on February 16, 2011, 04:33:18 PM
Wow, that is a stunning bass. I love the planetary theme. Perfect!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: jon_jackson on February 16, 2011, 04:58:51 PM
There are certain designs and inlays I see and wish I had thought of them.  This is definitely one.  Beautiful.
-Jon
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: hifiguy on February 18, 2011, 03:37:30 PM
Lordy Lu, that is one for the ages.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on April 22, 2011, 08:30:09 PM
It's in final cure, should be getting the rubout and buff within a week or two. Got a picture of the logo for today:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/102662.jpg)
 
I can't wait to see this whole thing all done.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on April 27, 2011, 08:18:40 PM
I was told that Susan didn't like the initial finish so the guitar was delayed while they made it perfect.  I have had my own business so I know that this costs them time and money, and I don't mind the delay at all.  Thanks to Susan and Mica and the group for the outstanding effort on this guitar and all the extra time you spent agonizing over every detail - especially on the design, finish, and inlays.  You are truly artists and I will remember how much I enjoyed working with you on this project every time I play the bass.  Eric
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: rustyg61 on April 30, 2011, 01:54:35 PM
That headstock is awesome! It looks like buffed metal!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: mica on August 12, 2011, 06:59:36 PM
We all know what it means when the bass is reclining on the sofa!
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/111153.jpg)
 
Space is folding all around this one. Sounds fantastic too! Excellent attack.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: David Houck on August 12, 2011, 07:10:28 PM
Wonderful bass!  I love the finish; beautiful.  And amazing inlays.  Just an overall wonderful bass!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: sonicus on August 12, 2011, 11:42:52 PM
Awesome Bass !
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on August 28, 2011, 10:25:27 AM
I can't say how much I have enjoyed working with Mary, Mica, and Susan on this bass.  They have ordered black strings to put on it which will give it a different look. Thanks again to everyone at Alembic for being so picky about this bass!
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: nitro3 on September 12, 2011, 08:37:11 PM
Thanks to Mary and Mica, who put special black strings on the bass.  It looks really cool - I hope they put a picture of it up on the site.  In a way I am sad that my bass is finished because I enjoyed talking to Mica, Susan, and Mary, and now I don't have an excuse to call them any more.  Alembic has a great group of people and thanks again for making such a beautiful bass.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: bigbadbill on October 07, 2011, 05:07:14 AM
That is absolutely unreal. The inlays are staggering; the Earth in particular, but I love the way the sun has been realised too. Oh, I pray for the day when I can get another custom Alembic.
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: 811952 on October 07, 2011, 05:44:44 AM
Oooh yes.  It looks stunning in-person!  I was afraid to even touch it!
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/114392.jpg)
 
John
Title: Re: Eric's Custom Essence
Post by: bassjigga on October 07, 2011, 09:08:42 AM
WOW! Definitely one of my favorites!