alan, if waiting for 4 yrs to have bragging rights( who it might impress is another q) makes you happy- i'm glad 4 ya
 
i dont think austins interested in anything other than getting his little mittens on his investment

Flax,
 
     I didn't wait four years for bragging rights - they just came with the instrument.  What I did wait four years for was to get the instrument of my dreams (which it is to me).  And I think I can say with confidence that everyone I've shown the instrument to (and who's heard it) it was mightily impressed indeed.  At a music store near Burlington, folks were coming up and taking pictures of it with their cellphones.
 
       I can't speak for Austin, but I surmise he is as anxious as I was to get my bass.  Can't blame him at all having been there myself.  Here's to hoping it will be in his hands soon.
 
Alan

Maybe the next tread should be how much time in total did you wait for customs?  Let's see thats 8 builds and 2 refinishes... carry the 2...... oh never mind.  
 
Austin, though I've never gone as long as 4 years on a single build, I offer my hopes and energies to you. May the final product be all what you have envisioned and more . Like the pain of child birth (so I'm told), wait has no memory. May you make beautiful and inspiring music while you wait. And when it does arrive the appreciation and envy of the group here will be felt like a disturbance in the force! Oh the Jedi's are gonna feel this one.

Personalty, I believe the whole matter is completely private, and between Alembic, and their customer(s).  
 
However from the bumping -- it's as if, members who participated, had a stake in the progress of the bass.  
 
Excuse me, but just how many people purchased this bass anyway?  
 
If there's only one buyer, then for the rest of us, Mica is not required to explain anything.    
 
Here's a story on flaws...
 
A little boy asked his father:
Father, why didn't GOD make us perfect?
 
The Father smiled and told his son:
Son, that's very a wise question you asked, and I simple a answer...  
 
My Son, GOD didn't make us perfect as a preventative means and measure from us worshiping ourselves, and/or other human being(s) or objects.  
 
The Son looked at his father in a confused, but in a un-trusting way and said:
 
How do you know?
 
The Father looked at his Son, and said:  
 
It's just my flawed opinion and the Son smiled.
 
THE END-  
 
 
 
Peace and Love...

....
bump.

it's as if, members who participated, had a stake in the progress of the bass.
 
Hal. I like to think of this forum as my extended family and it's only right that, as family members, we show an interest in what's happening to our brothers and sisters whether it's good or bad. That's why Peter (cozmic cowboy) got so many good wishes when he announced his recent illness and why the paul Lindeman threads attracted so much sympathy. As family members, of course we get excited when one of us gets his or her bass and naturally we'll express surprise if it takes a long time. (my wife expressed more than surprise when I told her how much each of mine cost but that's another story altogether).
I also believe it's a good thing for Mica to explain why there may be delays in a build. Apart from anything else, it will help prospective customers decide whether or not they want to wait the extra time for their 'dream instrument' or go for fewer custom options to have the instrument sooner.
 
And remember - this is just MY flawed opinion ;-)
 
Graeme

Woody, my Custom Further took around 2.5 years.  At least one of those years was just to figure out how to inlay This Machine Surrounds Hate and Sings It Into Submission around the peace medallion below the tailpiece.  One might think it shouldn't take a year to inlay nine words!  I was fortunate enough to live near Alembic, and regularly find myself in Santa Rosa, so I could drop in and keep track of the progress.  I saw them attempting several different methods before finally figuring out the method that worked the best.  Though this took an excruciating length of time (or so it seemed to me at the time), I am now grateful that they took the time to get it right.  Many (if not most) companies would have just told me up front No, we can't or won't do that.  Alembic accepted the challenge.  They kept at it until they got it right and I received something that I wanted.  In my current perspective, I'm glad it took a little longer than if I had received my guitar a year earlier, but with lettering that didn't meet my expectations.  There's only a handful of people working up there - they can't make progress on all ordered instruments at the same time.  I suspect, the more unusual the project, the more time it is likely to take.  Remember, while Ron is working to redesign the electronics, or Chris is experimenting with new peg designs, they aren't working on other projects.  Hey, I used to wait a long time in line to see the Dead too.  But the best things are worth waiting for.  Happy New Year, everyone, and good luck Austin in receiving your finished Classsico when Classico time arrives..
 
Bill, tgo

someone should cut hal's fingers off
 
alan i was only goofing- my bad
 
i've had people come up and do the same with scarlet and wolf= its cool and very gratifying
of course if we sounded like poop they'd probably not come over
AND
usually the first or second sentence is?
 
HOW MUCH DID THAT COST?......
 
i usually say 2000 or none of your business  
like i would tell a stranger my axe cost 9,000 app
i wouldnt even tell what i paid in here-lmao

Flax,
 
    No worries - figured it was all in good fun.
 
    The second sentence I normally get is it cost how much? after I tell them the first time.  I tell them how much, but, of course, I don't tell them where I live!
 
Alan

I just think it's great they are making progress, even if it's in the background.
 
 
Oh, and Happy New Year to all!

houston
this is classico 06- we have traction

bump

this isnt my idea of traction austin,,,,,,
 
shame on mgt!!!!!!
 
BOO!
FEH!
FACOCT!

eh, i wasn't really expecting any immediate progress. whatever. it's been 4 years, i'm not gonna throw a hissy fit over another couple of months.
 
bump.

boy this project really has gotten some traction.....
4years later and only a neck...  
this is without a doubt the biggest hose job in alembic's history.....
for someone from alembic to send ME an email blaming ME for causing a :headache: when they've basically ran out of bull---- answers as to why they never delivered anything other than a photo of the neck- is despicable.  
you can take the position of some who say 'its a custom- it takes time-blah blah blah.... snap out of the coma- if they wanted to make this it would have been done years ago....