Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on July 27, 2006, 05:16:23 PM
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Here's the body laminations:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/30232.jpg)
It's a really outstanding piece of wood for this body shape. Hope you like it too!
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It's beautiful. Thanks!!
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In carving about two weeks ago:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/31388.jpg)
I know your bass is in spray now, so things are zooming along.
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Mica,
I hadn't seen this earlier. It's absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for posting the picture. I didn't realize how far along it was and that's great.
Knowing how far along the bass is, I also just wanted to remind you, Val and (I think) James that I had wanted a rounding off of the edges of the fretboard where the top of the board meets the sides, so that the edge is pre-worn (which it gets to be naturally after a few years of playing). Nothing fancier than that. I think James had lightly sanded and rounded off the edges on the original version of my bass and this would be the same thing.
Thanks again for all your help and that of everyone at Alembic. I can't tell you how much I've appreciated the attention and responsiveness. I think it is not only the uniqueness and craftsmanship of the instruments, but also of the customer relationship that makes Alembic so special.
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Mica, Val:
Any new news or pictures?
Thanks,
Rick
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Hi Rick, Valentino's on vacation until the 23rd, but I saw your bass in the setup room today:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/32094.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/32095.jpg)
In preset, it will get fretted, the custom hole pattern drilled and then sent back to spray for the last few coats of finish.
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Seems a shame to put any holes in that glorious top ...
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Mica,
Thanks so much for the new pictures and update.
Adriaan is right in saying that it seems a shame to put any holes in that glorious top, but without the holes (and there'll be a lot of them) and the electronics that go into them, the beauty of this bass would truly only be skin deep.
The unique Alembic electronics and the willingness to customize them to give me the flexibility I wanted is why I ultimately chose Alembic to create my bass. I've already built 3 basses myself and so much of even the top end basses contain electronics that I could have or have already put into my home-crafted instruments. Alembic is one of the few crafters out there who not only offer something special and different on the body end, but also on the pickups/electronics end, too. It's also why I had no problem waiting the extra 6 months to have it come out right. And, it sure looks like it's coming out just right!!! Perfection is definitely worth waiting for.
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That top almost looks poured on. Nice!
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Drilled the real thing now:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/32342.jpg)
Shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks before we're shipping this one, it's scheduled for rubout early next week.
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Sir, that is a mighty fine bass you are receiving. I love the Dragon Wing basses.
Oh, by the way, any chance you know a Fred Kessler?
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Wow!!! It's awsome. Thanks Mica!
And thanks for the compliment, Applejuice. However, I don't know any Fred Kesslers.
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Mica,
Any new news or pictures?
Thanks,
Rick
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Bob's got the tailpiece made (it's a hand made part) and it's in spray. As soon as that last part is done, we'll spend a couple of days finishing up the rest of the detail work.
I didn't know we were out of the Dragon Wing tailpieces when I gave you the last update, sorry 'bout that!
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Mica,
No problem. Thanks for the update.
--Rick
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Mica,
Any updates since the tailpiece went into spray at the begining of the month?
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving,
Rick
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Val, Mica:
Any news? It's been a while since the bass got out of spray and rub out. Is everything alright?
Thanks,
Rick
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James is ready to drop in the electronics:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34372.jpg)
Last week, he was rubbing out the finish:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/34373.jpg)
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Mica - Thanks for the pictures. It looks great.
Val - Thanks again for the status update.
Happy Holidays,
-Rick
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Mica, Val:
Happy New Year! I hope you both had pleasant holidays.
I was just checking in to see if my bass was finished and ready to ship.
Thanks,
Rick
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It is ready, even boxed up, just waiting to confirm arrival detail with you to slap a shiping label on and give to the UPS driver. We've been trying to call, but no answering machine.
Please call and speak with Mary or Valentino. If we hear from you in the next hour, there's a very good chance it will leave today.
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Mica,
Thanks so much for the quick response. Valentino called and spoke to my wife (I was on my way to band practice). I left voicemail at the Alembic office and e-mailed him with details and contact info.
I can't wait to play the bass!!!
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Here's what James came up with to get a complete set of Anniversary electronics with 4 additional switches mounted in a Dragon Wing body shape:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/29661.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/29662.jpg)
Sadly, there is no way to do this with a side-mounted jack. This mock-up is not an exact layout. Once you approve the arrangement, I'll make a drilling template that you can view if you like.
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Mica,
Thanks for the mock-up of the electronics. I agree that it would be better to have the side mount jack. Would it be possible to have a recessed strat-type jack in on the rear of the bass almost exactly behind where the output jack is pictured? If not, then I'm fine with the front output jack where you show it and would love to see the drilling template.
Also, I know Valentino confirmed this when he spoke to my wife, I just want to make sure we're now proceeding with this as a 32 scale bass.
Is this (electronics layout approval) the first step in the process or has anything else been done yet? Is there any way to see some choices for the top?
Thanks so much for everyone's attention to this project.
--Rick
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Rick,
This looks interesting. I'm curious to see how it progresses. I would like to make one comment on the controls. If you use a right angle 1/4 plug, the stereo/mono switch location could be a problem. On my BB the LED switch is below the jack and prevents me from using 90 degree plugs since they toggle the switch when the chord moves.
Keith
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Keith,
Thanks for the input. It's a good point, although I generally don't use 90 degree plugs. I think I'm stuck with the jack in front, but for me, having that electronics layout is one of the most important reasons I went to Alembic for my bass.
I'll let you know what happens. Hopefully, Mica will post the drilling template soon.
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Mica (and Val),
I just realized that it was silly to consider a rear recessed jack since it would have to be where the electronics cover plate goes.
I'm fine with the front-mounted jack, so please go ahead with a drilling template. It would be great if you can post it when it's ready. Also, I'm still wondering about the questions I posed earlier regarding the 32 scale and the ability to see some choices for the cocobolo top.
Thanks again for everything.
--Rick
Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 1:32 pm:
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Mica,
Thanks for the mock-up of the electronics. I agree that it would be better to have the side mount jack. Would it be possible to have a recessed strat-type jack in on the rear of the bass almost exactly behind where the output jack is pictured? If not, then I'm fine with the front output jack where you show it and would love to see the drilling template.
Also, I know Valentino confirmed this when he spoke to my wife, I just want to make sure we're now proceeding with this as a 32 scale bass.
Is this (electronics layout approval) the first step in the process or has anything else been done yet? Is there any way to see some choices for the top?
Thanks so much for everyone's attention to this project.
--Rick
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Hello Rick,
yes, I confirm that it will be a medium scale 32 inch.
This is the first step in the process, so now we can go ahead with the drilling template.
We have cut a few more pieces of coco bolo; Mica will post some pictures next week.
Are there any instruments that you can point us to that feature a coco bolo piece that is to your liking? That will help.
Valentino
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Thanks for the response Val. I assume, you still have the nut/12th fret measurements, too? Let me know if I need to resend them. In terms of the cocobolo, I like the bass pictured above. But I like the wood in the two attached photos even more, particularly the dragonwing. I guess I like a more red color tones and lots of very defined circles and wavey lines, i.e. "busy" is good. Can't wait to see some picutures. Thanks again --Rick.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/29922.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/29923.jpg)
(Message edited by rickkessler on July 14, 2006)
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sorry jacko, but this top is maybe even more beautiful than yours IMO !
Absolutely speechless!!!!!!!
Grain -wise, I think coco bolo is just__________
G
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Val, Mica:
Just checking in to see if there were any new developments.
Hope all is well with you and the folks at Alembic.
--Rick
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Hello Rick,
I saw your body about to be glued up today, and the the new neck has also been made. I don't know if Mica has had a chance to take pictures, but it's looking really good. Personally, I think it's an even nicer piece of coco bolo than the first one.
Mica will be on holiday next week, so pictures may have to wait until she gets back.
Valentino
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I did take a picture today while I was out in the shop. Check your build record in a few minutes for an update.
After talking to James and Chip, the drilling template will be made after the cavity is routed. Then we can make any small adjustments needed. I'll show you the template before we drill the holes, but it won't be for a little while.
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Mica, Valentino:
Thanks for the picture. I agree wholeheartedly with Valentino that it is even nicer than the original and I couldn't have hoped for better.
Thank you for making the effort to fulfill my request and exceeding my expectations.
In terms of the electronics, I'm fine waiting to see the template.
Also, before the neck gets too far, I just wanted to remind you that, in addition to the width specifications and thin profile, we had also discussed rounding off the upper edges of the fretboard sides so that it has a broken-in feel, something that Reverand does with their Rumblefish basses.
Thanks for listening and for all you have been doing!!!
--Rick
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Mock up for the drilling:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/30663.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/30664.jpg)
Moved 2 of the switches slightly, plenty of room to clear the edge of the cavity. In the back shot you can see how the area is slightly hollowed out, where the controls are placed outside of the plate.
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Mica,
Thanks for posting the pictures. I've been away on vacation and hadn't been able to get on the web, so I'm just now seeing this.
I don't know how far this has progressed since you posted the pictures, but I did have 2 questions:
1. I don't see a hole for the pickup selector. It was located between the two volume switches in the orignal mockup. There seems to be a marking in this picture at about that point, but not sure if that's why it's there.
2. Is it possible/make sense to move the stereo mono switch hole from where it currently is --at about 6 o'clock relative to the jack hole in the first picture -- to 3 or 4 o'clock so that there's no danger of the cable hitting it? Having built basses before, I understand that the wiring/switch sizes may not make that practical from a construction standpoint, but wanted to ask.
Other than those 2 issues/questions, I think it looks fine. Thanks again for the post.
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1. Yeah - that mark is where the hole is now! Apparently I whisked it away from the bench before it was done.
2. No prob. Here's the revised layout just to make certain that I understand your instructions:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/31385.jpg)
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That's it. Thanks Mica.