Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on February 29, 2008, 05:17:11 PM

Title: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on February 29, 2008, 05:17:11 PM

Here's a picture you've already seen of some of the wood for your bass:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/49037.jpg)
  And one you haven't seen of your neck in the glue press:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/49038.jpg)
 Yours is indicated by the red arrow.   More to come!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on February 29, 2008, 06:54:08 PM

Thanks Mica!  My dream coming true...
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: bassman10096 on March 02, 2008, 06:09:07 AM

Hey Andy.  Nice looking cocobolo.  What are the specs going to be for your bass?
 
Bill (the other one)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on March 02, 2008, 08:37:54 AM

Hey Bill-
 
Let's see:
 
Europa II Body Style
Series II Electronics
4 string
32 scale
2 Purpleheart and 1 Ebony Neck Laminate
Coco Bolo Top & Back
Continuous Wood Back Plates
Chrome Hardware
Silver Logo & Script
and all the other standard spec's...
 
In short, my dream bass.  I have a Europa 4 string 32 scale with Europa electronics, coco bolo top and back, and other standard spec's that I had built a few years ago, which I love more than anything (that body style and 32 scale is ***perfect***).  So this custom is to take that to the next level in terms of options and electronics.
 
Who ever said that you can't buy happiness never owned an Alembic!
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: bassman10096 on March 02, 2008, 11:42:00 AM

Sounds cool, Andy.  I like the chrome and silver along with the coco bolo.  Best luck.  I'm looking forward to seeing it take shape.
 
Bill (the other one)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: David Houck on March 02, 2008, 06:06:18 PM

Great specs Andy!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on March 28, 2008, 09:57:53 AM

Fingerboard getting glued in place:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50106.jpg)
  The Coco Bolo continuous wood backplates coming together:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50107.jpg)
  And the body halves in the spray booth, ready to get the hollow interior surfaces sealed:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50108.jpg)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on March 28, 2008, 05:00:59 PM

Sweetness... thanks Mica!!!
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: David Houck on March 30, 2008, 07:31:29 PM

I like the grain pattern!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on March 31, 2008, 10:37:40 AM

Your bass, doing an arabesque:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50249.jpg)
It's such a party animal when it thinks we're not looking.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on March 31, 2008, 01:00:59 PM

Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!  I am freakin' out - awesome, thanks for the update, Mica.  I didn't expect it to be this far along.  Thanks!!!
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on April 15, 2008, 06:47:59 PM

Carve carve carve:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50822.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50823.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/50824.jpg)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on April 15, 2008, 08:56:45 PM

Nice, nice, nice!!!  I am loving it.  Thanks for the update and pix, Mica!
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: David Houck on April 15, 2008, 09:37:41 PM

Really nice!!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on April 29, 2008, 08:24:53 PM

In preset, which is still a good ways away from being finished, but it almost looks finished:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/51330.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/51331.jpg)
  It's still a good 2 months away, but it's looking really pretty!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: David Houck on April 30, 2008, 09:38:00 AM

Wow!!  I love this bass!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: jazzyvee on April 30, 2008, 12:23:55 PM

me too it looks gorgeous..... a true supermodel...

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: deburgh on April 30, 2008, 01:35:53 PM

Very very nice!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on April 30, 2008, 05:46:58 PM

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...  Coco Bolo you could almost eat for desert!!!
 
Thanks Mica, looks sooo great!
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on May 12, 2008, 10:59:03 PM

Mica-
 
Can you please confirm that you got this last email about not placing the bass on hold and proceeding with construction?  I just want to make sure that there is not any miscommunication or hold ups on the bass.
 
Thanks,
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on June 20, 2008, 08:44:42 AM

Mica-
 
Any updates or progress on the bass?
 
Thanks,
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on June 20, 2008, 09:26:22 AM

It's in the final curing stage for the finish now. It will likely be in a state for my dad to begin the  electronics calibration in a couple of weeks.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on June 20, 2008, 05:40:25 PM

Pretty much looks the same, but here it is curing:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/52864.jpg)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: bassjigga on June 20, 2008, 08:08:00 PM

Beautiful. This web site is really bad for my GAS.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: tbrannon on June 20, 2008, 09:06:46 PM

I really like the grain pattern on that top.  Even with all the crazy quilted coco bolo that's been showing up on instruments lately I think that this is my all time favorite top.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on June 21, 2008, 06:28:36 AM

Thanks for the compliments!  As Mica can assure you, we spent a lot of time finding the top and back that were just right.  She did a great job and I am really excited to see this baby completed...
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: bonesrad on June 25, 2008, 01:11:12 PM

Andy,
 
That's going to be one very cool bass.  I really love my Europa/Series bass.  A picture of my bass is in the Showcase section.  Your bass is going to have a few more goodies compared to mine but I think it will give you an idea of what the finished product will look like.
 
I look forward to seeing your finalized bass.
 
Best Wishes,
Bones

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: hifiguy on July 01, 2008, 04:12:45 PM

Love the Europa/Elan basses, and to see such a gorgeous instrument design fitted out with that absurd Coco Bolo and the full Series II package is just too much.  Andy, you are one lucky dog.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on July 24, 2008, 08:29:02 AM

Thanks all for the compliments...
 
Mica, any updates and/or idea when this bass will be completed?
 
Thanks,
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on August 14, 2008, 07:21:14 PM

Getting closer - the finish was rubbed out yesterday:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/54662.jpg)
That's why it looks sort of dull and chalky in this photo.  
 
Should get buffed within a few days. Then it's setup / calibration / inspection. If everything goes as planned (as sometimes it does), we should be shipping this bass by the end of the month.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: David Houck on August 15, 2008, 06:09:48 PM

Great bass!!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on August 26, 2008, 08:02:18 PM

Ooooh look - here it is all shiny and stuff:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/55265.jpg)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on August 26, 2008, 10:08:34 PM

Sweet!  Looks great Mica.  Are you still thinking end of this month?  Doesn't wiring, setup, calibration, & inspection take a while?  Are the electronics already built and ready to be dropped in, or do they still need to be put together?
 
Thanks,
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on August 26, 2008, 10:38:24 PM

We make the electronics while the instrument is being built. They should get dropped in by the end of the week. Your bass is next on dad's schedule for calibration. I told Chad on the 21st that I thought your bass would be ready to ship in the next week or two, and I'm still feeling good about that estimate.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: georgie_boy on August 27, 2008, 07:45:26 AM

What actually does calibration of the electronics involve???

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on August 27, 2008, 08:16:00 AM

It involves Ron putting the bass in a harsh environment (a large coil we made) that is far worse than any place on earth for noise. Then he uses a spectrum analyzer to observe each channel. He then has to engineer some subtle changes that differ for each bass to eliminate high frequency noise.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: altgrendel on September 02, 2008, 11:25:17 AM

Wow.
 
That's seriously impressive.
 
I really mean that, too.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ludwig on September 04, 2008, 04:56:07 AM

It's a so wonderful one...  
I'm waiting for the picture when the bass will be finalize !

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on September 25, 2008, 02:31:09 AM

Mica-
 
Any updates on the status of completing this bass?
 
Thanks,
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: rushfan on September 25, 2008, 03:39:38 PM

sweet bass! i want one!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on October 01, 2008, 07:45:12 PM

It's almost off dad's bench. Been a little harder to calibrate than some others, but we're thinking he'll be finished in a couple of days, and should ship next week. Here's a shot from last week when the first humcanceller was rejected:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/56911.jpg)
Looks funky, but it's just taped in place in case of just such an event.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: jakebass on October 02, 2008, 02:42:45 AM

I have been through the custom quote generator about a thousand times with exactly that spec but fretless.
It is absolutely beautiful I am sooooooooooo jealous.
But in a nice way.
Enjoy.
Jake

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on October 02, 2008, 08:15:34 PM

No pic today, but your bass is finished and should be leaving us on Monday or Tuesday.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on October 02, 2008, 11:07:22 PM

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Awesome... thanks so much Mica.  A final pic or two (front and back?) would be great to tide me over the weekend.  Man, I am so stoked - it looks exactly how I envisioned it to be from the day I placed the order.  Awesome, awesome, awesome...
 
Thanks Alembic!!!
 
Andy
 
(Message edited by ampeglb100 on October 02, 2008)

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: David Houck on October 03, 2008, 05:38:48 PM

As I said above, great bass!!!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ludwig on October 05, 2008, 07:37:31 AM

Just...wow !
It's a very lovely bass !  
Congratulations to Andy & Alembic !

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on October 08, 2008, 08:22:13 AM

Thanks everyone for the compliments.
 
Mica, can you confirm if this bass has shipped out or, if not, when it will ship out?  Also, can you contact BassNW as well - they are wondering what the status is...
 
Thanks,
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: mica on October 08, 2008, 01:30:56 PM

Shipped out yesterday, here's a look at the finished project:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/57192.jpg)
 
Should show up tomorrow!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: ampeglb100 on October 08, 2008, 01:35:36 PM

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks Mica and Alembic!!!  I looks perfect...
 
Andy

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: 3rd_ray on October 08, 2008, 02:19:37 PM

Yes! Congrats... looks awesome!
 
Mike

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: foth on October 09, 2008, 05:03:54 AM

Nice!  Congratulations Andy!

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: bassjigga on October 09, 2008, 08:14:35 PM

Beautiful

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: briant on October 09, 2008, 10:14:47 PM

Very nice.  Very nice indeed.

Title: Re: Andy's Custom Europa/Series
Post by: daveski on October 10, 2008, 09:09:59 AM

Superb bit of kit there,Andy.