Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on October 17, 2005, 07:29:04 PM
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Just getting things warmed up:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/21625.jpg)
Stacking the wood together so it gets a chance to know one another before the marriage of glue. It really works!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/21626.jpg)
Open the stack like a book for your first peek at the top of your guitar. Chip was just about finished with the 3+4 Elan style peghead on Friday. So looks like your body will have a neck to go with it anytime.
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Pat:
Just curious: you chose 7-strings for modern metal or for jazz?
Cheers,
Kevin
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Hey guys its pat here, i have been so pumped to get a factory to customer link and now im super excited, I actually gunna use this more for jazz, but im gunna stick with regular wound strings for now instead of flatwounds incase i decide to get heavy, KEEP ME POSTED, thanks so much susan and everyone at alembic, you guys take such good care of your customers!
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Susan im a righty you know? I hope you guys arent makin a lefty for me!
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It's a very misleading picture I'm afraid, and I should have explained more in the post. You're looking at the glue-side of the wood in the second photo (I should have rearranged for the shot).
But, I think you've got a different piece anyway, one more like the Little Bear guitar. Val said that Chip picked out something closer to that.
Sorry to have alarmed you - all is well
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I like this piece, as long as its bright red when it hits the clear coat , but if you do change it i would like it as red as possible and as figured as possible.
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hey everyone, just checking in after yesterday. I have a question to whomever this may concern, mica, susan, val, or chip. I would love my piece of cocobolo to look like the one on the Little Bear guitar, but maybe some more figure if possible? Also, when the estimated date of arrival may be, because i am every eager!
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Hello Pat,
Chip will do his best for you, and he knows what you want but pieces like the one on Little Bear come around VERY rarely. At any rate, if you read Mica's last post above you should be reassured.
Valentino
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thanks a ton, hope i get to see the neck soon, and hopefully have this beast by christmas, much love to all you guys, thanks
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This should be a nice piece! Has Alembic done a 7-string guitar before, or is this a first? Come to think of it, have they done a 7-string bass either?
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Danno has a 7-string in the family: http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/12182.html (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4382)
and there's a 7-string guitar on the club too:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/7175.html?1071803892 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=9153)
Maybe there's even more, who know?
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this will be one 7 string GUITAR of very few, and its is the first balance K style one! I just cant wait, this is gunna be a dream axe!
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Thanks for the info. Fellow NJ denizen Danno will be miffed I forgot about his 7-str. colossus, LOL!
I saw that Aussie 7 a couple of years ago also, but conveniently forgot same. I shoulda known...there isn't much Alembic hasn't done before, LOL!
Pat's 7 in Special, er, um, I mean, Balance K flavor should be quite unique.
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Yeah its gunna be cool, but i just wanna tell val or susan that im gunna need sperzel locking tuners on that, and how much the upcharge will be?
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Are you sure you want Sperzels? They work good, but aren't too pretty. The Alembic/Gotohs are nice machines, but if you want locking, try the Grovers:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead/Grover_Locking_Guitar_Machines.html (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar%2C_solid_peghead/Grover_Locking_Guitar_Machines.html)
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ive got sperzels and they work great i love em, and i think there just pretty, but in gold they would be sweet! i have black ones on my parker fly, and that thing stays in tune like nobodys business, i mean i hit the whammy full force and the thing always stays in tune, so ill stick with my sperzels, although those grovers look nice!
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To each his own...I know the Sperzels work fine, but the look, especially the satin/matte finishes don't match a lot of guitar hardware out there, including Alembic's. Just my $0.02.
That Stew-Mac site has lots of machines (as well as lots of other good stuff - the luthier's haven, as it were). Planet Waves makes a similar machine that cuts the string as well as locks it.
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Here's the piece Chip selected for your guitar:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/22493.jpg)
Arranged like this, it shows similar character to Little Bear. Flipping it around so the the left edge would be the bottom of the guitar would look different, but catch some nice stuff too.
You like?
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Dude, if you don't take this piece, I will! Sexy, almost erotic, radiating waves of Coco Bolo.......what a great top this will make. Wow....
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I actually think it's incredible how similar this top would be to my Little Bear.
Jonathan
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id like to see it flipped with the straight grain inside, but i love the piece! I think ill take it the way it is!
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hey guys checkin back in, things look great i cant wait for my darling! hope it dosn't take too much longer!
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Any photo ops for work in progress?
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Yes! Found a couple of the peghead:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/23836.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/23837.jpg)
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looks wicked to me! Keep sending me some photos, im excited! The laminates look great as i expected. Im in the process of buying a new amp, but ill have to hold out untill this beast arrives. Thanks a million mica and the rest of the great people there at Alembic!
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Body on!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/23879.jpg)
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WOW! SHES A BEAUT! i think i just had a tear... amazing! i bet it will sound even better!
(Message edited by 7String Thing on January 04, 2006)
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I love the way that top looks!!
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Me too! The headstock is killer as well!
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Yep ...this is my favourite headstock (in basses) I think. Can you imagine a 6 string bass with a 4/2 tuners set-up?
Would be wild! Anyway has always been part of my dream!
Paul TBO
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alright sounds good, thanks for the update! call me when its ready!
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Beaver at bass central said that she ships this week, i paid the rest off, if you need to check address or something, let me know.
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Pat; if you don't mind, please post pictures of the finished guitar in the showcase section. I really want to see how this guitar turned out!
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I definately will, im so excited, hopefully it shipped, Mica or Val if you know anything, call me please! Im so psyched, this baby is gunna be the golden child!
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Dad wasn't happy with the electronics, so he's got them pulled for round 2. But here's a photo to help ease the wait:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/27350.jpg)
It's likely to ship on Monday at this point. Val or I will call you with the tracking number so you can watch its every move on the way to you.
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Thanks for the pic, Mica! I just really like looking at this guitar!
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WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH MICA!
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NICE!
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She ship mica/val? If not, please ship to...
Grace Recording Studio inc.
159 Pelham Avenue, Hamden Connecticut, 06518
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Another (beautiful) Alembic finding a home in CT!
Justin
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Pat:
How is it? Pix? Inquiring minds wanna know! LOL!
Cheers,
Kevin
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I dont know how it is just yet, but im excited! Ill let you guys know, ill post plenty of pictures from any angle, and ill try to make some videos/soundclips of the guitar in action!
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Its here it came, i love it, cant talk gotta play...
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Have fun!!
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here we go, long honeymoon, couldent come back home to post
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Pat, Congrats on the guitar and the COTM. It really came out spectacular. I love the pattern in that coco bolo top.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/29607.jpg)
Now, if only I could remember where I've seen something similar. Oh yeah...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/29608.jpg)
It's like they were separated at birth! Enjoy it in good health. Regards, Jonathan
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Congrats!! Great pics of a beautiful guitar!
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Congrats on COTM honors, Pat! Very well deserving, if I may say so. I love the coco top and (as you may notice if you peek over at my FTC thread) I especially like the pickup configuration. I've never had the hankering to try 7 strings, but this one would be enticing. Play her in good health and ENJOY!
Bill, tgo
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Congrats Pat. Very, very nice.
Jonathon, your top could almost be a negative image of pats'. Both very nice guitars.
Graeme
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Congratulations Pat. Beautiful guitar and well deserving the Featured Custom.
Mica - I love the background you put together for this month too - a nice companion to the image of Pat's incredible guitar.
Peace
Tom
(Message edited by tom_z on July 06, 2006)
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Thanks so much guys, ive been so busy lately working in the studio and playing out all the time now. Ive gotta say the guitar rocks. Took some getting used to but my lord nothing fits like this neck! Its my favorite part! Ill post some more pictures soon but its been a very bad week in the family. My dog passed and my best friends father died on the fourth of july so its been kind of hectic. Thanks for the enthusiasm! see you cats later!
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Why thank you friends, you all have very nice instruments also. i think the next axe i get is going to be similar. ive been contemplating a 7 string rogue shaped guitar with series II electronics. except this time with a mostly ebony neck and 2 maple laminates with mahogany body and macassar top. Totaly decked out! ill wait till this baby shows up though ;)
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Isn't it great how the purpleheart looks against the cocobolo? very striking, don't you think?
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well right now its in rough so its brighter, but once the laquer hits it, the purpleheart will be more subtle, but still an awesome accent and a great look for a monster axe!
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Hey guys, just sayin hey. Wondering if anything new is photo worthy. Also i am curious, how many other 7 string guitars have been made by Alembic?
Any 8 strings? Ive only seen one other 7 string. Let me know anyone if you have any pictures of other 7 strings besides the link in this page.
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Well, they've made an 8-string BASS. Mine. It has range of a 6-string bass, a baritone guitar, and a regular guitar -all in one.
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A Rogue-shaped GUITAR - that must be a first! Mind you, they'd have to size down the body - as it is, the top horn and peghead would end up pretty close
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Sounds cool, thats a unique instrument an 8 string bass. I think that a rouge shaped guitar would be so functional and classy in all styles of music. You would definately need to downsize the body shape, and you would have to give it an orion 4+3 headstock to seal the deal! plus those series 2 electronics, but thats in the future sometime when i get some more cash!
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Hey guys its by birthday today! Let me get a birthday present, a picture of my geeee taaarrr, hah. Good wishes to all!
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Oh no! I thought this was posted already. Here's your guitar just before any finish hit it:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24477.jpg)
And when I was taking a picture of Rick's Dragon Wing, I also saw your guitar had a coupl eof coats and was prepped for the next one.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24478.jpg)
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SWEET MICA THANKS SO MUCH! it looks fantastic, i think you guys did a great job with the omega cut! im so psyched!, How long until its finished do you think?
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Cool!!!
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Sweet! Is this a JAL Darling model or is it a resized Bal-K (i.e., downsized from the bass version, but larger than Dr Jon's baby)? Inquiring minds wanna know!
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Its a Darling model, but it looks a tad different, due to the extra width of the neck. its pretty much a balance k shaped guitar, but instead of the heart omega, i opted for the regular omega. im just not a huge fan of the stingers or heart shaped omegas. so yes and no, it is larger thank doctor johns, but in essence a downsized bal-k. the only question left is what amp to buy for this monster. check out this thread for the amp discussion page i started--->
http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/23585.html?1137211638 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=6933)
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SUSAN or MICA...
Ive decided to go for the Grover mini locking rotomatics with the gold plating instead of the sperzels due to the ratio of turns 18:1 versus 12:1, i hope its not too late to make a change and i hate to be a pain about making changes. I really appreciate it, thanks alot!
Pat
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I'll find out on Monday , Pat. Your guitar was in set-up, but I don't think James has drilled the tuner holes yet. He was still working on Rick's Dragon Wing when he left on Friday.
A friendly note to all the folks who have instruments being built:
If you want to make a change to your order it is best to e-mail me directly at valentino@alembic.com (mailto:valentino@alembic.com), particularly if you are afraid that it might be too late. My e-mail box has to have priority over the club, so I'll catch it sooner if the request is sent there. I've had to tell people a bunch of times that the change they wanted could not happen because they communicated it just a a hour or so too late.
Valentino
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thanks alot valentino, i appreciate it, thanks for letting me know!
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Well, If I had just bothered to look at the pictures above I'd have seen that the holes are already drilled. James says he can probably fit the Mini locking Grovers, but he won't know for sure until he tries.
Valentino
(Message edited by valvil on January 30, 2006)
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oh ok, well if they dont it will still be alright, they have the same diameter for the pegs, 10mm, but im not sure about the placement for the little hole for the pin that keeps it from moving.
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Ahhhhhh....I must have subliminally placed the Grover suggestion into the depths of your mind, Pat, LOL!
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Yeah you did, i think im gunna like the sealed tuner, shiney gold, 18:1 better than the matte open geared 12:1 sperzels. I also think it would look super nice later on when i get cocobolo tuner buttons, and my custom inlays done later on in life from Alembic!
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Good idea...I'm betting some nice hardwood tuner buttons from Rog over at THG Knobs would look awesome on this thing...ditto for your control knobs. Ck his site galleries out...there's plenty of Alembic Club brethren's axes (amongst many others) in there to ogle over, including my Custom Orion IV.
http://thgknobs.com/ (http://thgknobs.com/)
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Yeah im gunna get the thg knobs, ill probably get macassar ebony knobs, or cocobolo, with a marker on it
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Pat:
THG's stuff is pricey, but the quality is there and Roger gives good customer service. He's done knobs for my Orion as well as my Heritage Golden Eagle and some really sharp cocobolo knobs inlayed with MOP for my Custom Straub Cantus guitar head. I'm currently in the process of getting Roger to make some custom knobs for my new Series I 4-str.
FWIW, if you get your stuff made before Alembic ships your guitar, Rog can ship direct to Alembic and Alembic will put the stuff on for you. This ensures perfect fit/finish and Alembic will note the option on your build (blue) sheet (aka wood card) for all posterity...great for insurance claims, should it ever be necessary.
Cheers,
Kevin
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This guitar will be my main axe at Berklee College of Music next year, Ive been accepted today! Probably the best day of my life!
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Congrats and Best Wishes! I'm very jealous!
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how much are the thg knobs? i only have 2 knobs goin on this guitar, what do you think 2 macassar knobs?
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It depends on how fancy you want them to be. I've paid as little as $25/knob and as much as $40 per. Ask Roger for a quote.
I like Macassar, but they will stand-out and compete for attention as they don't quite match anything on the guitar. There's nothing wrong with that...if you're looking for a contrasting effect. Just my $0.02.
Personally, I like matching woods in general, and analogues of the particular instrument's hippie sandwich construction in particular. If you ck out my knobs on the Custom Orion, you'll see what I mean.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/11855.html?1090683103 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7338)
I'm contemplating something similar for my Series I, which has a 5A Quilt Maple top and back,a hollow mahogany core and purpleheart/maple accent lams w/MOP oval fretboard inlays. Roger is pricing tophats with a maple base, PH lam, quilt maple top and MOP top/side inlayed marker lines OR Mahogany base, PH lam, quilt top w/MOP lines. I also inquired if I could get maple and mahogany as a base...it may be too many lams...we'll see. Here's asome pix of the bass as it shipped:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Series-1-Quilted-Maple-Bass-Guitar-New-Mint_W0QQitemZ7362888138QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Just so you don't think I have no imagination, I had him make me custom-sized mini-top hats with an ebony base and a quilt maple top with MOP top/side lines for my blonde Heritage Golden eagle Archtop (two for the heavily-figured solid maple pick-guard mounted pick-up vol & tone controls...with custom-wound Lindy-Fralin floating Jazz p/u).
I'll post pix of both when I get them stowed away.
Meanwhile, here's the Straub amp with the custom cocobolo knobs:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/16159.html?1116011940 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=21161)
(Message edited by kmh364 on January 31, 2006)
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Pat said quote:This guitar will be my main axe at Berklee College of Music next year, Ive been accepted today! Probably the best day of my life! Man, am I jealous: youth and music.... A long time ago, I made my choices; I joined the Navy. I sometimes wonder what life would have been like had I followed music professionally. Oh, well, no big thing; I have fun as an amateur. But best of luck to you, man. Go for it!
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I liked the knob that is all ebony, dome shaped, and had the abalone top/side marker, seemed really sleek. i think that if i got the ebony it would look similar to having regular knobs, but would be more exotic, you know?
and george, thanks a bunch, its a dream come true, i think its the best thing thats ever happened to me! you just gotta love music!
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As I tend to be conservative, I play it safe with like woods and am reticent to experiment. If you want to be bold, by all means go for it. After all, it is your baby...and you must please yourself first. I imagine it'll look great, so go for it! Roger always does nice work, and he'll make it right if you don't like what he comes up with.
Promise us here at the Club that when you get famous after your stint at Berklee that you don't forget the little people who have to work at a boring regular job, LOL!
FWIW, For my Series, we're gonna go with a real hippie sandwich knob...tophats in maple base, mahogany lam, PH lam, quilt maple top and MOP inlayed lines. I just have to verify that the tophats will fit (I'll use my spare THG's I had made for the Orion). The pointer knobs are still undecided though. Maybe an all MOP top with either maple or mahogany or PH as a solid wood, or maybe a sandwhich of PH and maple? Who knows! Either way, I'll have enough knobs made that I can convert to Series II and still have the knob situation covered...or at least I'll have spares.
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Congrats on the Berklee admission!
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Thanks dave, speaking of you, i watched the video of you playing chameleon and it sounded awsome. The bass lines were smooth and funky at the same time, i guess its just great playing, and great basses. The tone sounded great! forget the guitarist, you were the show!
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LOL! Thanks Pat! I think it's the bass!
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You're too modest, Dave. Very nice playing and tone!
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Dito Kevin! As I said before.
Moder Dave is a secret virtuoso!
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Thanks guys! I'm glad you like the tunes!
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Any shiney new pictures mica? val? thanks
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tunes? where?
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Diese Tunes Hier!
http://www.montfordpark.com/ (http://www.montfordpark.com/)
Prost!
Kevin
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got it...thanks!
that was great.
dave houck looks like leland sklar????
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I think i need a picture to see the progress in finish
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So as to not completely hijack this thread let me first say Nice instrument Pat!. I can't wait to see how the grain pops once the finish is done. I've been keeping an eye on this tread for a while.
Secondly (and off topic), it was a nice treat to see the videos linked from the www.montfordpark.com (http://www.montfordpark.com) website. I am the former owner of the Series I that Dave is playing and it made me feel really good to be able to see the instrument being played. It's also exceptionally surreal because I actually used to live in Asheville in Montford Park (in a house, not on a bench) many many years ago. That was actually when I originally bought that bass and now after almost 14 years and many hundereds of miles that very same bass has somehow managed to find its way back to where it all began. Strange but true.
So Dave when you're playing around town and somebody walk up to you and says I used to know a guy years ago who had a bass just like that one. You can tell them Yep, same bass..
- Jim
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Wow! That's pretty cool Jim! Thanks!!!
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Hey guys i thought i might post my gear. Included is my Mesa Dual Rectifier Maverick Class-A in the custom built cab that i made, the 4x10 combo cab that the guts were in with Jensen alnicos, my custom truncated pyramid 1x12 with a celestion neo (soon to be hemp coned by Tone Tubby), my PRS, my Parker Fly Mojo Flametop, and my pedals mostly Fulltone stuff from left to right- (Clyde Delux, OCD, Full-Drive 2, Choralflange, Fatboost, and then my EHX 16 seccond digital delay. Then i have a boss tuner and the chanel switch) Hope you guys like it! Im getting a new amp soon, so if anyone wants the mesa with the Oak Head Cab and the 4x10 Combo Cab its up for grabs, shoot me an E-Mail! ENJOY!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25349.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25350.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25351.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25352.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25353.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25354.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on February 20, 2006)
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I'm pretty sure your guitar now has all the finish on it:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25396.jpg)
If my assumption is correct, then it will be a few days for the final cure before the rub out and the buff out. But it does look awfully close to completion!
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Wow, that looks good!!
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AMAZING! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
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Beautiful!
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so what do you guys think, is this FEATURED CUSTOM material? i was thinking it might be up there because it is a 7 string! I wish it would be the featured!
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WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!! HOLY FREAKIN' POOP!!! It looks awesome!!!
It finally just hit me... every time I've seen your guitar, it's reminded me of something sub-consciously... but I didn't know what. And it just hit me. I don't know if, perhaps, you, like myself, are a COMIC BOOK FREAK -yes, that's right, I said a COMIC BOOK FREAK- but... your guitar reminds me a little of... Spider-Man! (A more contemporary version of his outfit -a la Scarlet Spider... if you know what that means.)
Yeah, there's an almost spider-like pattern, and also, there's some figuring on either side of the bookmatched horns -that looks almost like Spider-Man's eye-slits (of his mask).
O-kay, I hope that perhaps in some small way that amuses you or gives you something other than the impression that I'm a total freak of nature (which, of course, I am!).
Wow, the guitar really looks awesome. I've contemplated a custom Alembic 7-string guitar before... and I've really enjoyed watching the progress of your beauty. I'll look forward to hearing your account of her when she comes.
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Check out the Alembic history pages from the main site if you get a chance. You'll see a shot of a 7-string from the early days. The pics are here. (http://www.alembic.com/family/history_pictures.html)
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ive seen that one but thats the only other alembic 7 ive seen am i number 2?
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I had a 7 string built back in 1999...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25509.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/25510.jpg)
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thats pretty damn cool! i like the zebra wood, hows it sound?
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Cool looking guitar!!!
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Unfortunately, I don't own this guitar anymore. But...it did sound great. I had it setup Van Epps style with a low A. I am very picky when it comes to 7 strings, and I decided to let it go. Not that there was anything wrong with the guitar...I am fickle. ;)
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Seems like this forum is dormant, whats goin on? whats new folks?
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Any updated mica? Im anxious!
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How close to completion are we? seems like the days get longer waiting for this puppy. does she have frets yet? Setup? let me know!
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Hi Pat,
it's close; it is fretted, but James just sent it back to spray for a couple more coats. I think we are looking at another 10-14 days.
Valentino