Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 31, 2007, 05:10:50 PM
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In carving already:
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/45465.jpg)
Wait until you see this with finish on it - whew!
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That is beautiful Bill! The top is really nice, great bookmatch figuring! Look forward to seeing progress.
Play it healthy!
Art
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Mica: Is this mine??? It's going to be beautiful with finish. What nice figuring, with a bit of flame toward the bottom.
Bill
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Love the grain on the top. This one's gonna be purdy!
Bill, tgo
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How many other folk put the neck pickup in the proper place? ;)
Amazing Bill, Alembic does it again.
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You're the very Bill this bass is for, bassman10096. This is from a neat little stack of wood we've had here for many years. It's really got a little of everything: color zones, flame figure, directional grain shifts... YUM!!
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Mica: Thank you. I was already in love. This is going to be lots of fun!
Tom: Art tipped me to the neck pu location. I always favor a bassier neck pu sound and am not much of a slapper - I didn't have a second's hesitation about asking Mica to move the magnet north.
Bill
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I did? LOL - Don't know enough about their configuration or the affect thereof.
You must be talking about another Art...
Loving to look at the build of your bass! Have a blast Bill.
(Message edited by artswork99 on November 01, 2007)
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Holy cow, Art - It wasn't you who suggested 70's pickup spacing? I'm truly embarrassed and must apologize to whoever from among the 5 or 6 members who've contacted me in the past month actually made that suggestion. I really had not thought about the spacing being different on Stanley's basses and some of the older BB's from the newer ones. Personally, I'll do all I can to deepen the bass on my neck pickup, so shifting it closer to the board was a no brainer.
I can't find the Email from the kind soul who made the recommendation, as my wife just cleaned out the inbox. Thanks for all the kind words on the bass, everybody (he said, muttering to himself...).
Bill
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No problem Bill. I'm going to derail for a moment. Please excuse me... Alembic has created and maintains this great forum. It allows all of us to share in the incredible artistry that goes with the Alembic name. Even better a place to discuss it and meet one another! Many members contributing a plethora of knowledge. Thanks to all involved!
This Factory to Customer area is just phenomenal. I don't know any other company that provides this type of open to the public environment. Being able to see the stages of your own instrument and then look back on it at anytime. Speechless Euphoria...
Enjoy it Bill along with the many others here at Alembic.com who are kind enough to share the experience.
Art
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Hey, Bill!
A Classic Brown Bass in the workz! Enjoy the process, and good luck!
Mike (the 'Ho).....
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Yes, it was me Bill. I saw how you put the pickup farther up on your other bass so I thought I would make the suggestion. Anyway, great wood!
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Hey Tom: Senior moment's over. Thanks again for the good advice. I would not have thought of it, but I love the idea.
Bill
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OK, So I'm turning 50 next month... things to look forward to, eh - LOL. Take care Bill.
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...and that's just the tip of the iceberg, Art.
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Yes, I've actually been introduced to some of the icy waters in the past 4 - 5 years. Neck surgery, heart attack... glad to say that I am now on a daily regiment on the treadmill. I've lost about 60 pounds and have actually been able to keep it off somehow. I guess I would say that I am somewhat familiar and fortunate, maybe I can steer clear for a while now. Of course, wishing you the same Bill.
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Art: It's a sign of ambition to get an early start, ain't it? LOL
Sounds like you've taken care of a lot of maintenance and repairs already. Hope it leads to some clear sailing. I've been somewhat blessed so far, though I notice the brain farts do come more often, lately.
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When is the finish to be applied? Any other pictures?
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I've been letting Mica get on with life and work for a while, so I don't know the answers. As I understand it, assuming carving was complete, it looks like the body needed some finish sanding before the oil finish starts. During that process, I believe the frets and inlays are installed. Once the finish is completed, on to set up and then to me (I think that's how it goes...).
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Nice! Can't wait to see your finished bass.
Regards for a nice Thanksgiving to you and yours Bill.
Art
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Congrats, Bill, I'm glad to see you're getting the Brown Bass you wanted... after the recent unpleasantness.
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Thanks, guys, and Mark - I'm excited. This bass is something I've always wanted. When I ordered my cocobolo Balance K, I had to choose against quite a few design options I really liked. This bass contains so many of those things that it's really just as much the bass I wanted as the first one. Unlike the Bal K, which was fashion-model beautiful, the Brown Bass will be comfier (short scale and oil finish) and a bit warmer (mahogany, myrtle, etc). The Brown Bass is really best suited to the styles and music I've been playing lately.
As to the unpleasantness, my heart still goes out to anyone who loses a bass. I hope the resolution of things goes well. Actually, I couldn't be more surprised to find myself awaiting delivery of a new Alembic at this time. I had always planned to get another Alembic at some point, but things only got hot and heavy when I picked up a very used Spoiler at NJ Guitars in late August. From there, I found what looked like a nice deal on a used Brown Bass (too good, it turned out). Then, when that situation blew up, I was blessed to have a wife who said, You never should have let go of the first custom Alembic. Don't let this one get away. Order it now. I am very, very lucky.
So, here I am. Somewhere down along the road on the proverbial long, strange trip.
Bill
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Hi Mica: Any updates or pictures? Thanks Bill
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Hi Bill
Good to see the pups in the right place!
Can't understand why others choose the normal position.
Enjoy her to the full when she arrives.!
G
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Thanks, George. I can officially taste it.
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It's officially getting mighty close:
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/48198.jpg)
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Wooow! That walnut has fantastic action, details and exactly the colors I like best. Thanks, Mica. I know it's a pain making time for updates, but seeing a picture like this one just reminds me how pleased I was to be looking forward to a Brown Bass in the first place. I can't think of any other musical instrument as nice to receive as a new Alembic.
I can hardly stand the wait (so Christmas, don't be late, in the words of the rodents...).
Bill
(Message edited by bassman10096 on February 01, 2008)
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Congratulations are almost in order Bill. It's beautiful!
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That is stunning! Very beautiful woods and design. I've played a few Brown Basses and they really are something special. I really like the short scale Alembics. You are a lucky man!
Edwin
Hm, looks like my bass in the background there......
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Mica: Any estimate on when my bass will be ready? Thanks
Bill
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Last thing: waiting for the gold plated hardware to come back. Other than that, the bass is done.
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Can't wait. Must regain patience...
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Finishing touches:
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50616.jpg)
Tailpiece is ready to fly onto bass:
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50617.jpg)
Nice goldplating! Should be out of setup today or tomorrow. I'll finish up documentary photos and testing so that we can ship on Monday. Will contact you before then to review shipping details.
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Yow. From what I can see it's beeoooooteeeful! I can't wait. Thanks Mica!
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Go Bill!!!
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I love the look of the brown basses with no accent laminates- just Walnut on Myrtle.
Really nice looking bass Bill!
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Yeah, I'm pleased you see that too, Toby. The understatement of just the walnut and myrtle, finished in oil, but dressed up with gold hardware was pretty much what I wanted. I love the hippie sandwich under a gloss finish, but I really wanted a more retro-Alembic look for this bass. Looks like that's how it's working out. Plus, frankly, an understated look will carry me through more of the places and people I play with than a movie star bass (surprising how easy it is to upstage a Strat, huh?). But, sort of stealthy, too, I hope. You know, super powers in a mild mannered guise (LOL).
I can't wait. I've got a couple of basses at home who've been working on their resumes when they think I'm not looking...
Bill (the other one)
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That's looking great, Bill-I love the vibe it throws off.
I can't wait to see it completed!
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Here's a 100% completed shot:
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50799.jpg)
Enjoy!
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Great picture! I like how the top seems to bring all of the elements of the completed bass together.
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It came out really nice- enjoy it Bill!
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Holy cow - it's beautiful!
Mica: Contact me about shipping. I will be away next Mon and Tues, so we should coordinate.
Thanks
Bill
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Bill,
Congratulations! It is really a beautiful bass. Play it Healthy!
Art
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More later.
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50847.jpg)
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I think that look pretty much says it all.
Good stuff.
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Yeah. We're busy making friends. Thanks
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Congratulations Bill. That Brown is a beauty.
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Finally quit playing long enough to take a couple of pix. I am just marvelling at how well the fingerboard dimensions (a combination of standard and custom), vintage sized frets, scale fit me. I've never played a bass that felt this much like it was tailored to fit.
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50910.jpg)
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50911.jpg)
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50912.jpg)
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50913.jpg)
(http://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/631/50914.jpg)
(Message edited by bassman10096 on April 18, 2008)
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Nice pics! I like the effect the top has in the top left picture.
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Thanks, Dave. I'm going to have to get some non-flash pix in natural light - the flame is much more pronounced than these pictures show. Mica told me the top and back had been sitting in a pile for years, probably because they looked plain. Ironic.
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Congratulations Bill. That's a beautiful bass with an amazing grain pattern. Enjoy!
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Very nice! I like the myrtle core, it goes great with the other woods. Makes me want to get one, very tempting!
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The myrtle was the biggest surprise. It's got a lot of wild grain, coloring and burls.
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Beautiful bass Bill!!
Does it sound like Stanley's brown bass??
Albeit different amps/settings can change the sound dramatically--still you have what looks like a SF2, so that should make it sound like any bass you want.
Enjoy her----------she's the bizz
George
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Thanks George: I don't play enough like Stanley (not even remotely) to say for certain, but the bass has much of the tone capability of a Series bass (this I can say from experience) given separate filters and Q switches for each channel. Suffice it to say I've found a lot of sounds I like that really fit what I play.
The really cool things about it are the feel (very comfortable, easy to reach the whole neck, vintage Fender-sized frets) and the clarity of every note. The latter has been a characteristic of every Alembic I've played and is a mixed blessing -- On one hand, this clarity begs me to articulate more of the details I often think, but don't play (because who'd be able to hear them)...But, mistakes get heard - including little parts of grooves I never realized were not harmonically correct (Ouch).
I'm loving it.
Bill (the other one)
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Congrats again, Bill
A beatiful bass once again. I'm a real sucker for walnut, so I'm jealous as heck. A brown bass is somewhere in my future.
Mike
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Bill,
Another very tasty wood combination. Such a classic looking Alembic. Congrats.
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The wood choice was Mica's alone. She outdid herself. I'm stunned and can't thank Mica, Susan and the Alembic folks enough for this bass.
Bill (the other one)
(Message edited by bassman10096 on April 21, 2008)
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Hey Bill, how do you like the 2460 cab? I love my Alembics through a lot of different cabs but the 2460 really allows the nuances to shine through. Hooked up to an IFRA sub as well?
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I've been using the Dr Bass 2460 for about 3 years now and haven't looked back yet. It's a super-rugged, high powered cab that handles a broad spectrum of frequencies without undue coloration. Paired with the ELF sub, you get very clean, present lows and ultra lows - kinda what I was always looking for when I put a 115 under a cab full of 10s (only much better). The hoot about the ELF/INFRA technology is that it's not heavy (118 is about 60 lb), is smaller than conventional subs, and is pretty easy to run. It does require a dedicated power amp channel to run the rackmount integrator, but the 18 only takes about 450 watts to run.
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Thanks Bill, I also have some BAG End cabs. Dr. Bass has out some new subs as well. I also use a single 18 Dr.Bass with my 2460. I have a custom 3-way single 12/ 2x10 stereo cab with the 10's for the lows. Most recently my favorite setup is a single 1260 with a 12LF underneath it. Well... it's just silly great. So much clear articulate sound out of something so small and portable.
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Oh Geeze Bill!
I don't have time to type much right now but all I can say is-Oh MY God! Just Beautiful-Everything!, the BASS!, the pics-everything!!!!Man, awesome. I wish I had one, that's all I can say right now!!! WOWWWWW, Paul
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First rehearsal with the new baby last night. I almost forgot how solidly Alembics sit in the mix; how each note sounds distinctly, with even harmonics and volume, across the range, etc - the stuff all Alembic owners enjoy- the ease of play, no straining to get notes out, freeing attention to what you are going to play - not how you are going to manage to play it. But the warmth and punch of the brown woods (mahogany and myrtle) and the short scale blew my bandmates and I away. Woof!
I have to say my rig sounds better than ever before. This is really the sound I've always wanted. The ELF sub brings out the lows cleanly and deeply. In many respects, the sound is reminiscent of Phil's Osage bass.
I am a happy camper.
Bill (the other one)
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Nice!
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Happy Camping!
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Hey Bill,Thanks for the comments on my Bass.Just wondering,hows yours.Looks cool,been watching it built and all.I've just been wrapped up in it,y'know.Hows the scale and how does it play,sitting.Er,feel I guess. Mike
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Hey Mike: I just played it out Friday for the first time. It was an outdoor gig, so I brought a 212 and a Bag End ELF 118. I'm using an Ampeg SVP-CL pre through an SF-2 then a QSC PLX2402. It was clearer, more even and warmer than anything I've ever played - even with the great out of doors eating the sound up. The deep swells were so easy to play I couldn't believe it. I've played a lot of gear, but this beats it all.
I find the bass handles really comfortably standing and sitting. The body would be awkward on my thigh except that the small standard is small (smaller than it looked to me before I held one). It is well proportioned in just about every way. I tend to like short scales, but I especially like the way the traditional Alembic shapes have the bridge shifted up from the bass's butt. That makes the neck stick out a bit further - so you get the short scale fretting but you extend your arm more like a typical, bridge near the butt medium or long scale (actually in between the two). I find that preferable because shorties like EBOs kind of force my wrist into an awkward position on the upper frets (I guess my gut gets in the way too...).
Your bass is a stunner. I guess it won't be long before you get it into your hands. Be patient. It'll get there soon.
Bill (the other one)
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Hey ,Bill....What's up...?Me OH,....still... being...patient....7...,8..,9...,10,11,12..'09?Things movvvviiiinnggg along real long........DDDDDDDDDDDaaaaamnnnnn.........
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Mica: Will my bass ship with the short scale half wound CX-3/45S strings? If so, fine. If not, I'd like to get to at least a 105 for the E string. If that means other strings, let me know and I'll take care of it. Any projections about the completion date?
Thanks
Bill
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It ships with CX-3/45S string, but they are not half wound, they are compression wound. Probably a week or so until we're done. It's getting mighty close.
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Compression wound is fine. Thanks for the update, Mica. I can't wait.
Bill