Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 03, 2007, 06:06:37 PM

Title: Alan's Custom Orion Guitar
Post by: mica on October 03, 2007, 06:06:37 PM
Here's a few of the pictures I collected of your guitar earlier in its construction:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/44754.jpg)
 The Bird's-eye figure will look much better once your guitar is in finish. The Maples tend to "blah-out" with the sanding.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/44755.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/44756.jpg)
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on November 12, 2007, 06:27:52 PM
I keep seeing your guitar only after it's been prepped for the next coat of spray:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/45846.jpg)
That Purpleheart accent laminate is not electric looking in person, this is bluer than the real life look.  
 
I've seen it wet, but couldn't get in at an angle to photograph. There's even a nice gentle quilty pattern behind the bird's-eyes that you'll be able to fully appreciate in person.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: mica on November 21, 2007, 12:57:38 PM
As you know, your guitar is done:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/46081.jpg)
 This picture is much more yellow looking than it is in real life.   This one is closer to what you'll see when you receive your guitar:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/46082.jpg)
  There's lots of great detail in the figure of the wood, different sized eyes and a really pretty quilty pattern all over. Hope you like it!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: 5stringho on November 21, 2007, 01:56:01 PM
Now THAT'S what I call an early Christmas present, Alan! Love the Bird's eye. I almost did that on mine, and your's looks GREAT. Everybody does quilt, which is definately cool, but I've always loved the Birds!
Know she'll sound as good as she looks. Enjoy her, and play her for years! It's something to be proud of!
 
Best of luck, Mike, Tho
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: adriaan on November 22, 2007, 02:05:49 AM
Very nice.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: David Houck on November 23, 2007, 05:26:32 PM
Really nice top!!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: the_8_string_king on November 26, 2007, 08:01:24 PM
Congrats on the gorgeous Orion!  I love the old school body shape... should be pretty easy to play with the relatively short scale length of a guitar!
 
And again... NICE Birdeye!!!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: alansorion on November 28, 2007, 06:38:19 AM
Thanks for your posting! I got the Orion last night and was up until three checking her out! She's a pretty as the pictures portray her to be but as with some beauties, she looks much better in person. There is nothing like having a one of kind work of art and this is certainly one. Happy holiday all.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: artswork99 on November 28, 2007, 07:27:02 AM
Alan,
Enjoy that beauty.  Play it healthy!  
Art
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hydrargyrum on November 28, 2007, 09:20:54 AM
Hey Alan,
 
That's one beautiful guitar.  In the unlikely event you should ever decide you want a bit of a change, you can swap the orion electronics for a volume, pan, filter, qswitch set up without any need to drill holes, etc.  The person who owned my Orion baritone did it during the interim in which I sold it to him (before he sold it back to me).  It was like a whole new guitar (but it sounded great both ways).  Enjoy in good health.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: David Houck on November 28, 2007, 09:53:04 AM
Congrats Alan!!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: flaxattack on November 28, 2007, 10:58:43 AM
when you think about it
the file size for photos is so small and they look so good
when you got it in your hands
the usual first comment is
damn it looks better in person
play it in good health alan
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: the_8_string_king on November 28, 2007, 04:19:28 PM
It looks like it already has the volume/blend/filter/Q setup...
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hydrargyrum on November 29, 2007, 06:34:39 AM
Well, I could be wrong, but standard Orion electronics are volume, bass, treble, toggle switch.   I don't see anything in this thread that suggests this guitar has otherwise.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: the_8_string_king on November 29, 2007, 06:13:16 PM
Hmm.  My bad.  I know that standard Orion/Epic electronics are volume, bass, treble, and blend... on a BASS... so I assumed a guitar wouldn't have the/a lesser package of a toggle switch instead of a pan.  But if you say it's so, I accept your word, and acknowledge my error!
 
In any case... it's a great looking guitar!
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: lbpesq on November 30, 2007, 06:34:50 AM
Alan:
 
Another absolutely stunning Alembic guitar.  May you make beautiful music together for many years to come.
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hydrargyrum on November 30, 2007, 11:17:20 AM
Hmm, I had no idea that the electronics for the Orion bass were different than for the guitar.  I guess we learn something new everyday.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: alansorion on December 02, 2007, 08:57:21 AM
Funny thing, I was reading about the differences between the toggle and the blend and thought about it but I decided I would stick to the toggle for quicker changes. I'm not looking to get into having fiffteen million suble variatons of pick up combinations. I sounds great the way she is and it is simple. I like simple.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 04, 2007, 06:55:42 AM
Don't get me wrong, I like it both ways (and wouldn't have made the change on my own).  Actually, when I sold the Orion, I used the money to buy a skylark, and didn't care for it at all (way too many possibilities with tweaking).  I sold it and had a custom guitar built with one P-90, and volume and tone control (I regret even adding the tone control now).  It was just about as simple as I could hope for.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: jazzyvee on December 04, 2007, 11:12:32 AM
Alansorion, I have to agree with you there being a fellow Orion owner. When I got mine it had the standard controls which if ound were quick and simple. I recently upgraded to a filter, and 3 position q-switch.  I think it takes a bit more time to get the hang of using the filter, especially in a live situation. To be honest with the band I'm working with at the moment ( Reggae), I only need a few different guitar sounds so I basically use the pickup selector switch once I've got the filter where I want it.
 
Jazzyvee
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: jazzyvee on December 04, 2007, 11:12:38 AM
Alansorion, I have to agree with you there being a fellow Orion owner. When I got mine it had the standard controls which if ound were quick and simple. I recently upgraded to a filter, and 3 position q-switch.  I think it takes a bit more time to get the hang of using the filter, especially in a live situation. To be honest with the band I'm working with at the moment ( Reggae), I only need a few different guitar sounds so I basically use the pickup selector switch once I've got the filter where I want it.
 
Jazzyvee
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: alansorion on December 04, 2007, 02:31:55 PM
I also own a '59 LP Jr. and it has single p/u with a volume and tone. You don't drive youself crazy looking for the just right tone, you just play it! I also have a '64 Strat, a custom Tele made by Rick Kelley in NYC, and a Brian Moore (sort of a LP style 1v 1t 3way) They are all different. Sure I want more but five electrics is a good start, right? Maybe an Alembic bass next?
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 05, 2007, 08:57:22 AM
Yeah, my custom is inspired by a LP Jr.  A lot of what made me decide on this configuration was a concert I attended featuring Christopher Parkening playing a selection of Segovia favorites.  I was blown away by the incredible range of tone he could achieve without any electronics, and decided I would probably be better off learning to play well on my own, rather than relying on electronics to achieve my tone.  If I ever have another custom built I will likely go for something much more elaborate (and maybe by then I will be able to appreciate and fully use the guitar).
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: alansorion on December 06, 2007, 01:03:42 PM
There are many ways to modify a guitar's sound that are external. My feeling is that a guitar must be playable and sound good accousticly. After that the P/U 's and other variables can be changed or added.
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: paulman on December 14, 2007, 06:02:39 AM
Heh this thread is digressing slightly, but I must I say I like that axe bro!
 
A long time ago someone explained to me (quite condesceningly) that you should never be able to hear an electric guitar acoustically as that means the strings are loosing energy becuase of transfer to the solid body.  
 
Heh, he was so full of s**t!  All the great electric guitars I have sound great acoustically...and I'm sure this one fits that bill quite nicely  Congrats!  (and thanks again for the Skylark Kevin!)
Title: Build Record / Discussion
Post by: alansorion on December 14, 2007, 12:53:58 PM
I sounds great and as soon as I pull it out of the case everyone say's Whoa! One guy asked me what the fingboard was he was amazed at the Ebony with it incredible tight grain.
Alan
Title: Re: Alan's Custom Orion Guitar
Post by: alansorion on December 28, 2021, 01:01:59 PM
Hi all you Alembic maniacs out there! I have not been on the site in a long time. Still have the Orion and she still looks like new. I had to flitz the brass, but that made a the difference. I would buy more Alembics but I am waiting for my winning lottery ticket to come!  I miss talking to Mica and all the people at Alembic. I felt like one of the family. Just being an Alembic owner puts us all in a rather small group.
Wishing every one well with happiness and success in the new year.
Alan S Orion
Title: Re: Alan's Custom Orion Guitar
Post by: adriaan on December 28, 2021, 02:01:23 PM
Good to have you back, Alan!
Title: Re: Alan's Custom Orion Guitar
Post by: lbpesq on December 28, 2021, 02:19:25 PM
Hi Alan.  What's 14 years among friends!  Good to hear your Orion is still serving you well. 

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Alan's Custom Orion Guitar
Post by: alansorion on December 29, 2021, 01:49:38 PM
Thanks Bill. I’ve seen many Featured Customs that were way more decorated than my plain Jane, but I wouldn’t trade her for the world. To me me she is still stunning. After looking at many posts here it seams like the bass player have us guitar players outnumbered. As it turns out my Orion started due to playing my friend James Taitte's Stanley Clark Brown Bass. With its short scale length it was easy to imagine it as a guitar. I was right. Its a fantastic instrument. Its time for guitarists to wake up and discover that Amebic is more than bass guitars.
Happy New Year to all,
Ala S Orion