Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 22, 2008, 07:10:36 PM

Title: Sam's Custom 5-string Bass
Post by: mica on October 22, 2008, 07:10:36 PM: Here's your beauty in the pipe clamps:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57655.jpg)
Next stop is shielding the cavities and then the bookmatch to center top gets glued in place.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on October 24, 2008, 09:38:12 AM: Mica, thanks for the shot. I'm salivating already!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 24, 2008, 09:56:44 AM: As am I
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on October 24, 2008, 06:26:07 PM: Front laminate out of the clamps:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57708.jpg)
The wood you selected is going to look great with this body shape.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on October 26, 2008, 01:51:30 AM: Thanks! Do my eyes deceive me, or is that an elongated hour-glass shaped wood grain running down the center? A friend reminded me that I better start practicing extra hard to do this baby justice...!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: rushfan on October 26, 2008, 12:54:29 PM: I like that bass.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on October 27, 2008, 07:21:19 PM: A little more shapely today:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57822.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57823.jpg)
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 28, 2008, 07:03:18 AM: I see another masterpiece in the making
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on October 28, 2008, 02:41:10 PM: God, she's so beautiful! Can't wait to hold her.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on November 20, 2008, 07:50:49 PM: You need to see this with some finish:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/58766.jpg)

Your bass has got great color and grain. I love what's happening on the upper horn. The whole thing is just looking amazing.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: jacko on November 21, 2008, 06:14:36 AM: Wow! I'm always amazed at how Alembic keep surpassing themselves but this one is going to be hard to beat.

Graeme
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on November 21, 2008, 10:20:10 AM: Is that Coco Bolo or Bocate?
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on November 21, 2008, 10:38:32 AM: Thanks, Graeme! I have to remember to put on my bib before going to this site. Coincidentally, I see you live in Scotland. I'll be in your beautiful country on a self-guided single malt scotch tour in May, 2009. What a small world!

And, Mica, you and your crew are simply phenomenal. Thanks a bunch.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on November 21, 2008, 01:55:47 PM: Hi, funkyjazzjunky
She's a 35 scale Mark King deluxe. The wood in question is BTC Cocobolo w/continuous wood truss rod cover & back plates. I've opted for 3-position Q switches and a bird of prey tailpiece. Recessed strap locks will keep the body outline unbroken and there's no inlay on the fretboard except my mother's initials at the 12th fret. String spacing will match my Spector NS2000 Q5. I play with the fingernails on my right (plucking) hand and decided on the ebony neck lam to add more deep bass punch.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on April 09, 2009, 05:12:10 PM: The inlays are in the bass, but I only got a chance to photograph 2 of the letters, sorry!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/63427.jpg)

These are in the fingerboard now, along with the M. The bass is getting the last few coats of finish, and once in the drying area, I will take another picture with all the letters in situ.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on May 12, 2009, 05:47:04 PM: Last couple things coming together now:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/65117.jpg)
It just keeps getting better and better!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: David Houck on May 12, 2009, 06:27:25 PM: That's gorgeous!!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: elwoodblue on May 12, 2009, 06:36:05 PM: Wow, that tailpiece just flows right around the omega cut. Congrats Sam, this leaves me a bit speechless : )
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hendixclarke on May 12, 2009, 09:12:36 PM: THE WORLD IS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS
BUTTERFLY WINGS, FAIRY TALE KINGS
AND EACH NEW DAY UNDOUBTEDLY BRINGS
STILL MORE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

THE WORLD ABOUNDS WITH MANY DELIGHTS
MAGICAL SIGHTS, FANCIFUL FLIGHTS
AND THOSE WHO DREAM ON BEAUTIFUL NIGHTS
DREAM OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS

That is a beautiful thing my friend...
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: deburgh on May 13, 2009, 11:54:45 AM: Wow, that looks amazing!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on June 19, 2009, 08:38:29 PM: One of it done, too!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/66468.jpg)
Sweeeeet!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: sonicus on June 19, 2009, 08:45:04 PM: Nice Bass______Awesome color!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: David Houck on June 21, 2009, 03:55:38 PM: Nice picture Mica; beautiful bass!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on June 25, 2009, 10:40:31 PM: Today I took delivery at the Mothership (I live in Oakland, so the drive isn't too far). Of course when I first saw her I was practically speechless. I had band rehearsal almost as soon as I got home and my bandmates immediately commented on her robust, room filling sound.

She's already awesome but once I sit down and really learn the Signature electronics, this thing is gonna attract alien visitation!!!!

Much thanks to Mica, Susan, Ron and the entire crew as well as to Beaver Felton and his team at Bass Central. Everyone involved made this go as smoothly as possible.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: sonicus on June 26, 2009, 12:08:42 AM: My sincere congratulations to you !
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: David Houck on June 26, 2009, 05:19:43 AM: Congrats Sam!!!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: jacko on June 26, 2009, 06:12:40 AM: Looks fantastic Sam. I envy you being able to pick it up from the workshop.

Graeme
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hieronymous on June 28, 2009, 06:36:25 PM: Hey Sam - now I can put your face (and playing) together with the bass! Sounded great at the NorCal gathering!!! Looking forward to hearing it again...
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on June 29, 2009, 10:33:59 AM: Harry, likewise! A pleasure meeting you as well. Both your basses are exquisite. Great tone on your 5-string thru that SVT....We should definitely jam and trade licks!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on July 11, 2009, 11:19:26 PM: I'll post a series of detail shots:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/67268.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/67269.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/67270.jpg)
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on July 11, 2009, 11:27:48 PM: A few more shots:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/67274.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/67275.jpg)
I'm running my bass through a F1-X, Crest LT-1500 power amp and 2 Aguilar GS-112 enclosures. I'm having a blast learning the Signature electronics and the 3-way Q switches on my own but I'm open to any favorite settings you other Signature owners may have (hint, hint!) Thanks!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: chrisalembic on July 12, 2009, 03:00:16 AM: Nice pictures man!! Your bass looks awesome. The ebony fingerboard without the oval inlays looks great too, really simple and elegant.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on July 12, 2009, 09:30:09 AM: Thanks, Chris! All but one of my other basses have position markers and I was secretly afraid I'd be lost without them. I usually sit kinda' hunched over when I play and have never relied on side dots because the visual angle is off center, if you know what I mean. It turns out those worries were unfounded. She plays more easily and intuitively than my previous #1 bass of 10 years....
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: David Houck on July 13, 2009, 06:56:20 PM: Nice pics of a beautiful bass!!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: oddmetersam on July 14, 2009, 01:15:29 AM: Thanks, Dave. Your Essence basses are killer -- especially that lethally beautiful 6. I'm amazed at the girth of that great Alembic tone (or should I say tones). I'm in heaven.
Title: Roland V-bass interface
Post by: oddmetersam on November 03, 2008, 10:36:53 AM: Hey, Mica!
My maniac Chapman Stick/Z-tar/Guitar playing bandmate insists I look into the possibility of including an interface on my bass that will work with the new Roland V-bass. Any thoughts as to the 1) Feasibility 2) Cost 3) Are we too far along already in the construction process to even consider this? Just curious....