Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on December 14, 2006, 04:03:43 PM

Title: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on December 14, 2006, 04:03:43 PM: Parts are brewing in assembly:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34395.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34396.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34397.jpg)
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: the_8_string_king on December 15, 2006, 03:52:57 PM: Wow!!!

Yet another really cool and unique Alembic neck!

I've been seeing a lot of other really cool necks recently. Yours is also a special inspiration to me 'cause my next custom is gonna have the same woods in the neck -plus vermillion.

It looks awesome!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: inthelows on December 22, 2006, 05:58:32 AM: Nice combo on the neck! Sustain for days!
NLP
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: get_a_neck on January 25, 2007, 07:05:04 PM: Thanks- I have thought about that neck combo for so long- it is great to see it exist. The miracle of life.

There actually is Vermillion in the neck- the pinstripe between the maple and mahogony.

The body stack will be: walnut top/ vermillion accent/ mahogony pinstripe/ vermillion pinstripe/mahogony core/ vermillion pin / mahog pin /vermillion accent/walnut back with walnut/vermillion in the headstock.

This is going to be fun
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: the_8_string_king on January 25, 2007, 07:28:18 PM: Wha... wha... whaduyuh mean, Vermillion in the neck...!

Yuh... yuh beat me, pardner!

I thought I was the first person to come up with that combo!

Oh well! Both our necks look awesome!

Sounds like you've got a pretty well thought-out recipe, there! Look forward to seeing it!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: bassjigga on January 25, 2007, 08:03:06 PM: Don't worry 8SK... his is just a pinstripe ;)
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: lbpesq on January 25, 2007, 09:16:15 PM: Mark:

My in-progress custom Further has vermilion lams in the neck, as well as a vermilion core. The PH next to the ebony framed in maple on this one looks especially classy.

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: the_8_string_king on January 25, 2007, 09:22:09 PM: I've been watching it, Bill, and pretty freaking impressive would be a massive understatement. Very tasteful combination of woods. It strikes me as a formidable contender for COTM!!!

Should be almost any day now, eh?
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on February 15, 2007, 02:53:19 PM: Hey Jeff, Bob got that new Superb Walnut sliced up and chalked out some references for your bass. These are the pieces you selected. For the top:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36298.jpg)
and for the back:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36299.jpg)
Let me know if these selections look good or if you we need to make any adjustments.
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: get_a_neck on February 16, 2007, 10:11:12 AM: Thanks Mica,
I have to admit, I have been checking this thread a few times a day, and boy is it worth it.
Bob did a brilliant job laying out the wood. Both top and back are exactly what I hoped would work when I first saw the blocks of wood, not knowing the exact scale.

So, Approval is Given for the top and back- they are wonderful.

I couldn't help but mock it up in Photoshop, and it is beyond perfect. Perfection will look like crap next to this bass. While mocking it up, I became more sure than ever that I do not want the elbow contour- I want to see more walnut. Tummy countour stays- I am not changing anything from our last conversation.

I can't wait to see what the next update brings, and how the inlay idea works out.
I had asked for a tulip end to the fretboard. When would you need to know if I want to add block inlay to the last fret and scroll, like Rio or Little Bear?

Can you tell I am loving the process?
Thanks all,
Jeff
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: lbpesq on February 16, 2007, 10:20:29 AM: Jeff:

Love the wood. This one's gonna be a stunner!

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on February 20, 2007, 03:56:13 PM: Here's the body parts getting ready for glue-up soon:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36522.jpg)
Vermilion and Mahogany accents with Mahogany core.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36523.jpg)
Top lam rough cut.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36524.jpg)
Back lam rough cut.
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: get_a_neck on February 27, 2007, 09:07:02 AM: Looks great Mica,
The vermillion/Mahogany Lams look great- I was worried my quest for subtlety would be too subtle. There are some amazing optical illusions in that photo of the stack of wood.
The top and back look awesome.

We just got back well from the hospital with our 9lb5oz Erica Jean. She is our third child and this is my third Alembic.
what a country
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: jags on February 28, 2007, 07:20:59 AM: then you should name this one, erica, or maybe EJ
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: jacko on March 01, 2007, 04:22:44 AM: Congratulations on your new arrival Jeff. Not even an Alembic can compete with the birth of a child.

Graeme
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on March 01, 2007, 05:28:12 PM: First off, congratulations - that's wonderful news! Some builds have all the luck. Every time I'm go in the shop with camera in hand, your bass is up to something interesting. The tulip end of the fingerboard:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36887.jpg)
Peghead veneers stacked up very nicely:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36888.jpg)
The neck as a whole:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36889.jpg)
Inside of the top and the core readying for the glue-up:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36890.jpg)
Backplates cut from the back laminate:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36891.jpg)
Your future battery cover:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/36892.jpg)
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on March 06, 2007, 07:21:00 PM: First day in carving:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/37143.jpg)
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: get_a_neck on March 07, 2007, 01:02:46 PM: Wow, thanks Mica, it looks great.
I really appreciate all of the photos.
Valentino and I had discussed carving the neck a little thinner than usual for you guys, but I don't want to compromise tone or stability. I love the fat/narrow neck on my Spoiler 4, but am used to a thinner neck on a 5 string.
What do you think?
Thanks again,
Jeff
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: bassjigga on March 16, 2007, 09:45:53 AM: Jeff/Mica,

I'm curious about the accent laminates since I'm also going to have vermillion. With age, will the vermillion and mahogany lams/pinstripes on this blend together as the vermillion browns? How pronounced an effect will age have? Right now that orange in the vermillion has such a nice contrast with the mahogany.

Beautiful bass btw Jeff.

Dave
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on March 16, 2007, 02:15:28 PM: There's not alot of contrast right now. Here's the peghead veneers with the hue removed:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/37606.jpg)
I tried to see if I could approximate the browning. It's not really that successful, but maybe it will help some:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/37607.jpg)
If you keep the bass out of direct sunlight and other strong UV sources of light, you'll minimize the amount of browning the Vermilion goes through. But it always darkens and gets less orange, more "bricky" with time.
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on March 23, 2007, 06:08:42 PM: Got some attention from Cody in carving this week:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/37924.jpg)
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: David Houck on March 23, 2007, 07:11:38 PM: That looks nice!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mele_aloha on March 24, 2007, 05:36:38 PM: I can't wait to see this, gorgeous! This is a beauty! Wow!

Alembicsville all the way. Congrats!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on April 11, 2007, 04:41:42 PM: Got a little finish on it now...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/38613.jpg)
Looks really sharp!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: tbrannon on April 11, 2007, 05:52:25 PM: Seriously awesome with the finish on it!!

Mica: inquiring mind(s) want to know- what's the deal with the blue one in the background with the angled pickups?
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on April 11, 2007, 06:05:27 PM: It was ordered that way, I never asked why. It's going to be refinsihed in black.
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: the_8_string_king on April 11, 2007, 06:28:38 PM: WOW!!!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: tbrannon on April 11, 2007, 06:47:58 PM: Mica wrote, It's going to be refinished in black.

Must be Danno's. =)
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: artswork99 on August 15, 2007, 09:26:32 AM: Wow, this sure is impressive work!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on August 15, 2007, 09:58:13 AM: What a lovely walnut instrument!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: mica on January 16, 2009, 08:14:22 PM: Fell off the radar for a while, but with a custom inlay now complete:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/60191.jpg)
and getting ready for dad's final calibration:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/60192.jpg)
it won't be long now.
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on January 19, 2009, 08:23:21 AM: Spectacular Bass
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: deburgh on January 19, 2009, 09:30:39 AM: Absolutely stunning!
Title: Re: Jeff's Custom Bass
Post by: robinc on January 19, 2009, 01:34:59 PM: O.O

another stunner!