Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on September 22, 2006, 01:55:00 PM

Title: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on September 22, 2006, 01:55:00 PM: Here's the nominations for the top and back of your guitar:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/31700.jpg)
With the rough positioning of the pickups sketched in. We thought that this piece would look better for the top, since it's a little plainer along the center where the strings, pickups, and hardware would obscure the figuring.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/31701.jpg)
This one is prettier overall. It's probably a better choice for the back ince it will be unobscured to fully appreciate it. If these look good to you, Chip can start getting the body made.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on September 25, 2006, 05:45:23 AM: Mica these look lovely. Thank you!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: pace on October 04, 2006, 11:00:58 AM: Is this going to be a Skylark w/ Series electronics?!? Or is it a Small Standard body template? Either way, should be sweet!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on October 04, 2006, 03:27:42 PM: Hey Pace: it is a Series I with a Small Standard boady.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: dela217 on October 04, 2006, 06:22:00 PM: Oh boy! I hope that one can come over to visit!

Michael
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on October 05, 2006, 11:55:44 AM: Hey Michael: As long as she doesn't stay out too late.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: pace on October 07, 2006, 09:56:24 AM: It'll be nice to see a SS body in spalted maple... I dont think there's too many of 'em!

Is it going to be the old SS template or the newer one w/ the rounder bottom?!?

-Mike
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on October 09, 2006, 02:36:39 PM: It is actually based on a very old template. Here is the link: http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonmagic.html (http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonmagic.html)
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: pace on October 18, 2006, 10:54:45 AM: Thats the same template I used for my bass.... Good taste, jorge!!!!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on October 20, 2006, 05:49:38 AM: Cool! Do you have any pictures posted?
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on December 14, 2006, 04:09:52 PM: Here's the body cut out in assembly. First, the whole stack (not in order):
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34402.jpg)
Then the top:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34403.jpg)
And the back (plates are cut, but still in place in photo):
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34404.jpg)
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on December 15, 2006, 05:33:31 AM: Thanks for the pictures Mica. It's very early in the morning as I am looking at them but it has already made my day.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: bassjigga on December 16, 2006, 09:41:38 PM: Beautiful
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: bigideas on December 16, 2006, 11:04:08 PM: my word that's gonna be a lovely little instrument.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: dela217 on December 17, 2006, 05:11:46 AM: I like the way the grain on the top is laid out. To me when it fans out toward the horns, it makes them more noticible. Nice!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mtnst8 on December 18, 2006, 01:27:40 PM: Wow. I am loving that wood you're using on the top and back. Beautiful!

Brad
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on December 18, 2006, 02:57:33 PM: Thanks guys. Mica and the gang sure know how to pick out the wood. To be honest I was taken aback when I saw the cut parts. I had not noticed how prominent the flame was in the original wood samples.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on February 20, 2007, 03:51:07 PM: Some more parts to your guitar:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36516.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36517.jpg)
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on February 21, 2007, 05:26:57 AM: Looking great! Thanks Mica.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: olieoliver on February 21, 2007, 05:59:42 AM: Very cool Jorge.

Does this mean we'll have guitar player at our next Alembifest?
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on February 21, 2007, 11:44:36 AM: Yes Olie! I'll be glad to bring it when it is finished. Although bass was my first instrument (well actually I started on cello) I have picked up guitar along the way. I am really looking forward to this.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on February 27, 2007, 07:08:57 PM: Rough carving is complete now, getting ready to route:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36773.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36774.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36775.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36776.jpg)
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on February 28, 2007, 05:29:59 AM: Wow Mica! This is so cool!. Thank you for the pictures.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mikedm on March 01, 2007, 07:55:46 AM: Jorge, way cool. Biting the bullet for continuous wood backplates? You are, right?
Ah, it's so easy spending other people's money...
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on March 01, 2007, 08:37:10 AM: Hey Michael. Unfortunately I am not going with continuous wood on this one. It is a Series I which comes with the brass hardware.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: olieoliver on March 01, 2007, 08:54:13 AM: Looking great Jorge. If I were to have a guitar built this is the body I'd use too.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mikedm on March 01, 2007, 12:21:40 PM: Well, I guess since you're ordering a Series you wouldn't need to have the wood backplates (TIC).
Spalted Maple...nice.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on March 05, 2007, 05:47:46 AM: It would have been nice but I am having other options done and they took priority in the budget over the continuous wood. What is TIC?
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mikedm on March 05, 2007, 06:52:05 AM: TIC = tongue in cheek. Great choice on the small standard body.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: bassjigga on March 05, 2007, 09:12:37 AM: This would look killer with black hardware.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jahnahisti on March 05, 2007, 12:03:04 PM: the dark spalts look really nice!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on March 06, 2007, 05:38:08 AM: Thanks a lot guys. I can't believe how quickly the good folks at Alembic went from gluing the body laminates to having the carving done! Thanks again for the updates Mica.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on March 13, 2007, 04:34:54 PM: Sealed up:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/37481.jpg)
Lots more coats to go, but you can get a good idea of the colors in the wood now.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on March 14, 2007, 05:50:37 AM: Wow Mica! The sealer really brought out the character of the wood. I am seeing yellow, amber, orange, and even some purple. I think it would be a shame to mask these colors. I think that the overall appearance is yellowish enough to keep with my 3 color theme (purple, green, and gold). So therefore no tint. Thank you Mica.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: bassjigga on March 14, 2007, 09:06:45 AM: Yeah spalted maple always has a lot of nice colors. Not as white as flame or quilt. Lookin good!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: edwin on March 14, 2007, 10:41:42 PM: Is that quilted and spalted? Squilted? Qualted? Or just flamed?

In any case, it's amazing!

Edwin
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jazzyvee on May 24, 2009, 12:59:13 AM: Whatever happened to this Series Guitar?
Jazzyvee
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on May 26, 2009, 12:55:11 PM: I need to check with Mica but I believe Ron is working on the electronics.
-Jorge
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jazzyvee on May 26, 2009, 02:30:30 PM: wow you must be very patient since this has been in construction since 2006.

Jazzyvee
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: ajdover on May 26, 2009, 06:12:34 PM: As I have been too - ordered on 3 December 2005, in construction since October 2006. Getting real close, though, from what I know.

Alan
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jazzyvee on May 26, 2009, 11:02:42 PM: Is that the normal turnaround time for an instrument?
Jazzyvee
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: tbrannon on May 27, 2009, 05:49:28 AM: Jazzy,

I ordered my Elan in March and received it in November. I'm pretty sure the long wait times on instruments come when there are extensive inlays, custom electronics, a custom body shape or a combo of the factors I listed.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on May 27, 2009, 06:41:31 AM: My custom Further, Woody, was ordered in December of 2004. I took delivery in June of 2007. Much of the wait was due to the inlays, particularly the writing surrounding the peace sign medallion. Alembic tried several methods before they figured out how to do it as no one had done something like this before. I can tell you this: since I got it, the wait hasn't bothered me at all! lol

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on May 27, 2009, 08:42:40 AM: I'm with Bill. I think when I finally get it I'll completely forget about the wait. I am patient. I did request and inlay and some non-standard electronics.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jalevinemd on May 27, 2009, 08:45:57 PM: Bill and I had similar timelines. I placed the order for Stubby in October 2004 (asked that the build not start until my son was born, which was January 2005). We did a custom body shape which always adds time. I finally received it in June 2007. Yes, the waits are long, but the time fades as soon as you open the case.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jazzyvee on May 28, 2009, 01:06:01 AM: Well although I didn't have a personal custom made guitar, I had the next best thing. Someone else's custom (Dragon Magic) that was so close to what I wanted I may as well consider the originator, ( with respect), as the middle man between me and Alembic. It was finished in 2002 and I got it last Friday so that is about a 7 year wait. I'm still trying to get to grips with the tonal spectrum.
Jazzyvee
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jazzyvee on May 28, 2009, 01:08:06 AM: (Message edited by jazzyvee on May 28, 2009)
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on May 28, 2009, 07:00:54 AM: Wow! You have Dragon Magic? That was the inspiration for my guitar. You have a beautiful instrument.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on June 04, 2009, 07:45:46 PM: Nearing the end:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/66001.jpg)

My dad needs to talk to you about some particulars in the electronics wiring, but other than that, you can see pretty much everything else is done. Everyone that has seen this guitar LOVES it. In person, you will not believe how gorgeous the wood is.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on June 05, 2009, 07:20:06 AM: Wow Mica that is awesome!!! When I spoke to Valentino he had said we may need to leave out the 1/4 jack so this is a nice surprise! Let me know when it is a good time to talk to your dad. -Jorge
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mica on December 29, 2009, 01:55:27 PM: Jorge already has this guitar, but it's only fair to post a completed picture:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/74764.jpg)
I so love this guitar!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: sonicus on December 29, 2009, 03:22:12 PM: Nice!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 30, 2009, 06:52:23 AM: That's a real beauty. Spalted maple always seems to make nice guitars.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: artswork99 on December 30, 2009, 07:33:37 AM: Wow! A fine instrument indeed.
Jorge, Congrats and Play it Healthy!
Art
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: mike1762 on December 30, 2009, 04:12:20 PM: Whatever happened with this guitar? The last I heard, it was for sale.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on December 30, 2009, 06:01:34 PM: Is that a fleur-de-lis on the headstock?

Peter
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: andbassforall on January 01, 2010, 02:21:33 PM: More Alembic couch porn! Sexy.
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: David Houck on January 02, 2010, 08:50:04 PM: Absolutely wonderful guitar!
Title: Re: Jorge's Custom Guitar
Post by: jorge_s on January 04, 2010, 07:02:26 AM: Thank you all for the kind comments. I just want to thank all of you that worked on this instrument. I know that I echo all the comments that others say when they receive an instrument from Alembic but this guitar truly surpassed all of my expectations.
I don't know if anyone else has had the experience of getting an instrument that feels right. I have been to music stores and played a lot of guitars that look exactly the same as each other but when you play them you can tell a lot of difference. Some feel way off and some just feel very good. Although I can't explain exactly what it is I believe that it goes way beyond just a good setup. It is the spirit of an instrument that was well built by people who love what they do. I am truly honored to have this guitar.
It is true that I had to put it up for sale. Sometimes life slaps you in the face a little. As I told Mica, I will do all I can to be able to keep it. I hope 2010 is a great year for all of us here. -Jorge
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: jorge_s on February 28, 2007, 05:32:26 AM: Dear Mica: When I first talked to Will Gunn we discussed the posibility of making the finish a bit yellow to give the guitar a bit of an aged look. Do you think this is possible?
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: jorge_s on March 06, 2007, 10:51:54 AM: Hey Mica: Looking at Jim's Custom Signature Deluxe page, that is what I am looking for. It is the Amber tint. Do you think it will look OK with the Spalted Maple?
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: mica on March 06, 2007, 02:06:03 PM: I don't think we've done an amber tint over Spalted Maple before, but it should look nice. Are you looking for light amber or do you want it darker to loook more like it's been around for 20 years? Those Skylarks have the darker tint. Let me know your preference and I'll change the work order.
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: bassjigga on March 06, 2007, 02:07:54 PM: That spalted maple has nice colors in it already. I think they will come out more when finish hits it. You might reconsider leaving it natural. But of course it's your guitar. Just my opinion.
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: mica on March 06, 2007, 02:16:22 PM: We'll be sealing the wood with clear no matter what color (or not) goes on. I can supply you with a photo before the color would go on to evaluate the color of the wood first.
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: jorge_s on March 06, 2007, 03:01:57 PM: Yes, if you could take a picture I would appreciate it. I may take David's advice. Since it will probably look different as the finish goes on. Thank you!
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: dela217 on March 06, 2007, 03:59:28 PM: My vote is for the tint! I am sure it will look great with just clear too. I am just partial with the tint on the lighter woods.

Michael
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: jorge_s on March 07, 2007, 05:38:29 AM: Hey Michael. Actually I did get the idea from you. I remember you saying how you wished you would have put a tint on one of your basses. I believe it was one with quilted maple. I'm going to wait and see how it darkens with the sealer. It looks as if the spalted maple is already a bit more yellow than other maples. Also thank you so much for playing with the Moonlighters!
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: mica on March 13, 2007, 04:36:37 PM: Sealer coat is shown inthe build record too, but here it is again for reference:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/37484.jpg)
Let me know if you still feel like tinting the bass witha little amber or not.
Title: (x) Finish tint [no tint]
Post by: dela217 on March 13, 2007, 07:24:50 PM: Jorge - No problem! I am willing to play with them any time you can't make the gig. They are fun. Great horn section, and Ian and I hit it off well. The musicianship in that band is incredible. Chuck is really amazing too. On the tunes I did not know, Elizabeth (I think that was her name) was telling me the notes. She is like a human chart with her perfect pitch.

The guitar is really looking great. I can't wait to see it in person. Chuck will be ruined for life with this piece.