Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 22, 2008, 07:03:28 PM

Title: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on October 22, 2008, 07:03:28 PM: Body in the big press:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57644.jpg)
Neck ready for the body:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57645.jpg)
And the logical next step, neck joined to body:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57646.jpg)
Lookin' good!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on October 27, 2008, 08:13:01 PM: Heart Omega detail carved:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57829.jpg)
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jalevinemd on October 27, 2008, 08:39:44 PM: I've never been a big fan of the cone but I have to admit that it looks great on this guitar! I opted for a mini knobby peghead on my Little Darling. I think these tapered headstocks really compliment the natural flow of this particular guitar better than the standard crown. Just one man's opinion. Great choice!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on November 19, 2008, 05:49:50 PM: Routed:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/58715.jpg)

Soon with finish - this wood will look seriously fantastic.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: adriaan on November 20, 2008, 01:44:35 AM: Series electronics with a whammy bar? Sacrilege!

Nah - looking mighty fine. And then that quilt ...
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: hydrargyrum on November 20, 2008, 06:32:35 AM: This is going to be interesting. . .
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jalevinemd on November 21, 2008, 08:08:29 PM: WOW!!!!

I think I just wet myself...
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on November 22, 2008, 06:15:32 AM: Series on a Darling? I suppose it could be a prep for Series, so we'll have to wait for confirmation. But they are certainly some interesting looking routes.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on December 03, 2008, 02:51:28 PM: Indeed, it is Series electronics in a Darling (though it's ever-so slightly modified). Now, there's sealer coats. You knew it was going to look gorgeous, but the difference with some finish is truly remarkable:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/59038.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/59039.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/59040.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/59041.jpg)
Now is the time for us to have the "to color or not to color" talk. I left you a message today, please call me back when you have a chance.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: artswork99 on December 03, 2008, 03:24:00 PM: Wow, that's beautiful! Joe, Play it Healthy!
Congratulations,
Art
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jacko on December 04, 2008, 04:29:43 AM: Yet again, Alembic have produced an amazingly contoured Quilt!. I hope it's getting continuous backplates.

Graeme.
p.s. don't hide it under colour!!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on December 05, 2008, 05:08:41 PM: The dreaded to color or not to color talk! Just remember to breath deeply.

This is a really cool guitar!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: white_cloud on December 06, 2008, 06:14:45 AM: For me its simply a case of do not cover at any cost - highly figuered maples are my very favourite.

Stunning piece of craftsmanship!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: tbrannon on December 06, 2008, 06:45:05 AM: I vote for color Joe- I think the color really makes that figuring stand out- especially if you're not going too dark. I loved the flame top they picked for my Elan without the amber tint, but it really pops with the color.

You've got a winner either way!

Toby
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: 3rd_ray on December 06, 2008, 02:01:09 PM: If you leave it as is, will the maple get darker on it's own as it ages? I've seen that on some basses, but I don't know if maple always ages like that.

Either way, I'm sure it will turn out great.

Mike
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: hb3 on December 06, 2008, 09:10:45 PM: Make it like a reddish/orange burst -- it'd glisten like dark fire....
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jalevinemd on December 07, 2008, 11:45:50 AM: The flame on that neck is beyond words! The only regret I have with both of my Alembics is that I didn't get necks like those.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on January 12, 2009, 04:15:11 PM: Drilled for electronics and awaiting color:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/60038.jpg)
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on January 14, 2009, 04:50:00 PM: Very, very, cool!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on January 16, 2009, 07:49:54 PM: Inlaid logo alert:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/60178.jpg)
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: pace on January 22, 2009, 02:20:07 PM: Wow......

Congrats Joe!
It's really nice to see Series guts going into the newer body designs.

I'm not familiar with that tremolo rout~ is it a Kahler?!?
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on January 22, 2009, 03:32:32 PM: The color sample is almost ready. Here's a peek before it gets one more coat of color:

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/60404.jpg)

All the hardware will be goldplated and will look great with the finish color.

The tremolo is made by Skyway (http://www.skywaymusic.com/). It's a clever design with beautiful machining.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: tbrannon on January 22, 2009, 04:08:22 PM: I love that color- it looks very similar to the finish you folks shot on my Elan.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on January 23, 2009, 03:17:45 PM: Here's the last coat of Guild orange:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/60425.jpg)
There's a blend so you can select the area that gets the color you're most interested in.

I'm sending this out today, so you should see it by the end of next week. We'll talk once you see it in person.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: hifiguy on January 23, 2009, 03:45:17 PM: Gorgeous. One doesn't want to cover grain like that with anything more than a transparent orangey or amber burst. What a stunning instrument.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on April 02, 2009, 02:59:11 PM: Working on the color like we spoke about on the phone. Here's the darker than we expected state it's in now:
[img">http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/63208.jpg[/img]

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/63209.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/63210.jpg)
The color is more of a mild cherry sunburst. And while there's plenty of nice orange, there's also some red. The color and the figure of the wood always look better in person - just ask Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: robinc on April 02, 2009, 03:06:24 PM; the figuring on that maple... Oh my god.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: olieoliver on April 02, 2009, 03:11:37 PM: MILD CHERRY!? Play that funky music.....
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: lbpesq on April 02, 2009, 03:59:14 PM: ... might boy? hehehehe

Joe: LOVE that quilt!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: briant on April 02, 2009, 05:16:03 PM: That maple in beyond gorgeous.

Every time I see an inlaid logo w/ shell I regret not getting that option when I had my Rogue made. :-(
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on April 02, 2009, 06:48:36 PM: I think it looks amazing the way it is. I keep staring at the pictures; it's captivating.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on May 05, 2009, 06:54:45 PM: Just about everyone has said, "orange" when asked to identify the color. The one exception was "tangerine."
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/64854.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/64855.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/64856.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/64857.jpg)
The color is perfect to me, but I want to see some more coverage at the centers. It's hard to tell since our monitors are not all calibrated the same, but this is a wonderful color and it's going to look soo good with the Skyway tremolo on it. I'd also like another blast of orange around the edge to slightly intensify the color. Hope you like it!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: robinc on May 06, 2009, 12:34:04 AM: that is so frikkin cool
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: artswork99 on May 06, 2009, 05:56:59 AM: Really nice!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jalevinemd on May 06, 2009, 07:37:55 AM: I need to call my mom...I haven't pissed myself since I was 3!

That is simply beautiful.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: senmen on May 06, 2009, 09:44:47 AM: Wow,
that one is way cool.......
Oliver (Spyderman)
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: hydrargyrum on May 07, 2009, 06:22:05 AM: This is really turning out to be a interesting guitar. I look forward to seeing it with the hardware.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: hendixclarke on May 15, 2009, 06:58:32 AM: This guitar is beautiful and almost look like it needs parental or guarding permission because its so sexy.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jerico on May 26, 2009, 06:57:23 PM: Niiice! Love the colors - great taste!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on June 04, 2009, 07:26:27 PM: Your guitar is now rubbed out:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/65987.jpg)
Next step is polishing to the high gloss. Lovely!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: dadabass2001 on June 09, 2009, 08:56:01 PM: I luv to pop bubble wrap as a stress reliever.

Mike
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on June 19, 2009, 01:37:53 PM: Getting close:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/66451.jpg)
And even a little closer:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/66452.jpg)
Still fine tuning this first installation of the Skyway trem. Still needs the humcanceller pickup and the Series electronics (just some test controls in there now). Still needs the final calibration by Ron. But, we are getting close to the finish on this one!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: bassjigga on June 19, 2009, 02:07:08 PM: Love the color on this one!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on June 19, 2009, 04:56:26 PM: The Skyway looks very nice!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: hendixclarke on June 19, 2009, 05:04:25 PM: My Devon guitar is boiling from the ideas here... Oh my goodness!!!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on August 11, 2009, 06:57:58 PM: Getting oh so very near:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/68590.jpg)
Love it!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on August 11, 2009, 07:15:43 PM: That's just a great guitar!
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: trekster on August 12, 2009, 07:47:34 AM: That guitar in the background.. are those Star Trek arrowheads?? *drool*
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: jazzyvee on August 12, 2009, 09:11:54 AM: I see this is waiting for Ron to Calibrate. Is Ron the only person at Alembic who Calibrates the Series instruments?

Jazzyvee
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: senmen on August 12, 2009, 09:38:37 AM: Cool guitar, the tint is gorgeous...

Oliver (Spyderman)
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on August 12, 2009, 10:17:37 AM: Jazzyvee; I believe that is indeed the case.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: mica on August 12, 2009, 10:59:48 AM: This one actually is not awaiting Ron's calibration (humcanceller is not held in with tape), but yes, Ron exclusively calibrates the Series I and Series II instruments.
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: tmoney61092 on November 13, 2009, 02:20:00 PM: does Alembic use locking nuts on guitars with tremelos?

~Taylor Watterson
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: David Houck on November 13, 2009, 04:51:36 PM: Taylor; like this (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=9232)?
Title: Re: Joe's Custom Darling
Post by: tmoney61092 on November 13, 2009, 05:24:55 PM: YES!!! thanks Dave

~Taylor Watterson