Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 01, 2008, 07:25:15 PM

Title: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: mica on October 01, 2008, 07:25:15 PM

I unearthed this fantastic grafted Walnut piece from our wood pile:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/56898.jpg)
  After bookmatching, mom, Mary, Kris and I conferred to pick the top:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/56899.jpg)
  and the back:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/56900.jpg)
  And the simple sandwich with Walnut top and back and Cherry core on the first shaping fixture:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/56901.jpg)
  Sweet!

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: David Houck on October 03, 2008, 05:16:20 PM

What a cool piece of wood!

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: mica on October 07, 2008, 12:19:27 PM

Neck to body attachment:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57121.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57122.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57123.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57124.jpg)

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 07, 2008, 12:54:52 PM

I like that Walnut.
 
Grafted Walnut?  Is that two species?

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: mica on October 07, 2008, 02:01:39 PM

It's a common practice for orchards here in California. They use the native Walnut as the rootstock, since its adapted to live in the clay soils we have. Then a European Walnut is grafted on since they tend to make larger and tastier walnuts. At the grafting boundary, really interesting things happen.

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: dualtonality on October 14, 2008, 09:45:17 AM

looks fantastic!!  beautiful top wood.  shaping up nicely.  thanks for the updates!

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: dadabass2001 on October 14, 2008, 06:24:11 PM

Congratulations Tom.  
That walnut is just incredible! I see a Spade suite for cards ... or perhaps something more intimate. But what amazing figuring. Mica, did you use it all, or is there enough for another top?
 
Mike

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: rushfan on October 14, 2008, 06:29:48 PM

that is a nice bass!! i really want to see it completed.
 
(Message edited by rushfan on October 14, 2008)

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 15, 2008, 05:35:21 AM

So, what I'm wondering is this: is there a tonal reason for using the Black Walnut side for the bass bouts & the European Walnut side for the treble?    (While I am being facetious, would any of us be surprised to find out that Alembic  did take like something into account?)
 
Peter
 
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on October 15, 2008)

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: mica on October 22, 2008, 06:00:01 PM

With some finish:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57619.jpg)
It's so pretty.

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: jacko on October 23, 2008, 04:33:57 AM

WOW! That is stunning!
 
graeme

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: georgie_boy on October 23, 2008, 05:44:24 AM

Stunning!!
Funny....I was just reading about grafted walnut yesterday, and fall upon this today.
Nature can be cruel, but so beautiful as well.
 
george

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: dualtonality on October 23, 2008, 06:12:48 AM

Wowsers!! absolutely gorgeous.

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 23, 2008, 11:05:09 AM

Beautiful

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: mica on December 16, 2008, 05:36:34 PM

Most of the finish now:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/59354.jpg)
 
Just getting preset, which means the stainless steel frets are now in place, and the hardware is going over to the chrome plater tomorrow.

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: altgrendel on December 16, 2008, 06:21:22 PM

Beautiful!
 
The flames radiating from the bridge pickup route remind me of cats whiskers.

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: mica on February 20, 2009, 07:23:26 PM

Rubbed out and back in the setup room:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/61557.jpg)
 
This is a really cool bass!

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: dlbydgtl on February 22, 2009, 05:50:54 PM

Beautiful bass!  this confirms that my next Alembic will be walnut. You are going to have an amazing bass. john

Title: Re: Tom's Walnut Signature Deluxe
Post by: dualtonality on February 23, 2009, 09:23:29 AM

Wow! Absolutely stunning. I can't get over how gorgeous the top is. Thanks for the update Mica!