Quote from: jazzyvee on May 23, 2026, 05:41:27 AMI have to confess that I have never found the aethetic of single cut style basses or guitars to be my taste. However this one is so elegantly done, what's not to like. Well done. I'm sure somewhere in the forum archives, I read alembic were not interested in making single cuts. I'm curious as to how the crest shape came to be. It's so cool. 👍🏾😁.

The Crest was hatched out of a need for the Small Standard shape to balance better. It's tolerable for most people, but for some it's neck heavy. No matter how many times someone moves the upper strap pin, the place we put it on the heel is truly the best. Of course it tips out a little. 

I wondered if we didn't extend the curve of the upper horn around to the fingerboard if that wouldn't throw the strap pin high enough to make a marked improvement. Well you can't just change one curve of course, but that quick sketch did prove it would work and even in a 32" scale. The curves did take years of refining on paper. If you visited our 3005 Wiljan location it was hanging on my mom's door for a few years, as my not-so-subtle suggestion to make one. She finally said yes and the Crest bass was born. 

My mom has a Les Paul Studio guitar (with one-of-a-kind electronics from my dad of course!), and so I've always like the LP look and the Tele look too. I'm with you Vince on a lot of the more recent single cutaways, esp basses. There are a few that are beautiful but I can't say that most of them fit my aesthetic. We're not really interested in making a single cutaway join up at the 12th fret for instance. 

I haven't started one yet, but I always intended to make an inlaid top like mavnets, but with the Small Standard inset in a light wood on a darker body, so from a distance it might look like a small Small Standard at first glance. 

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on May 23, 2026, 04:28:06 AMI like that burst! 🤩

*curious about what the electronics are? Master volume, two filters... a dimmer for LED's, and a 3-position blade switch?

We wound up with another burst color where the outside is a really unique sheer burgundy. That will make an appearance sometime for sure. 

Controls are volume, bass, treble, filter, 3-way blade pickup selector and LED on/off

Quote from: mica on May 23, 2026, 11:25:12 PM

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on May 23, 2026, 04:28:06 AMI like that burst! 🤩

*curious about what the electronics are? Master volume, two filters... a dimmer for LED's, and a 3-position blade switch?

We wound up with another burst color where the outside is a really unique sheer burgundy. That will make an appearance sometime for sure.

Controls are volume, bass, treble, filter, 3-way blade pickup selector and LED on/off

That's interesting, a filter with the bass and treble controls! I know nothing about baritone electrics, or what might be useful, only played a couple acoustics. That's very cool.  😎 Almost like an East-Meets-West guitar. You had to know I would dig that. 😉

That guitar looks great! A bit Les Paul-ish yet different more modern and more stylish. I think that shape fits guitar better than bass. But like it on bass too. Great work!

Wow! What a beautiful guitar! I bet that just sings. Great job all!