Yes I did see the LED's along the A string. I can barely see them but now I understand what you are saying.

Here's a bass with blue LEDs that we recently completed. With the lights on:

  And up closer with them off:

  It's easier to see on the 4-string basses.   That bronze shell is a trip. The blank I scanned wasn't buffed yet, so the look will be smoother in reality, and the color banding should come out even more.

Ya Mica,  
 
I love the way those look. Are you saying then that they will install the abalone in between the palm trees and just trim it to fit?
 
Also Mica, I would ask you if there is any way that I can get the bronze logo like Scott's bass has?
Please Mica, I just can't see a silver logo going on this beautiful bass at this point.
 
It's very important to me. This was one of the first things I asked Val if I could have Gold an he had explained to me that the gold was to soft for the spray detailing. I can understand that but now it looks like it is possible for bronze.
 
Also I was just wondering (and I'm not questioning your words) but how were the pick-up covers able to be engraved on Thunder and Lightning? Is there some place I can send them out to have it done?
 
Thanks, Paul

Mica,
I don't remember my password so I couldn't edit above but what I forgot to mention is whatever it costs, I'll handle it.
Thank you.

For the palm trees, I was thinking of embedding the LED directly in the Ebony, without any abalone around it, like on the 24th fret example. Even when the LED isn't illuminated, there's a moon just in the LED itself, and the rest of the shell acts as the position marker.  
 
We can change the inlaid logo to buffed bronze. What Val was telling you is that we can't do a goldplated logo as an inlay. To get the fit right, it's possible to strain the plating and destroy the nice look. The only other option for the logo is solid gold (which is considerably more expensive). The pure gold logo looks similar to the bronze, though it's not identical.  
 
The pickup decoration depends on the number of strings. The 4-string size has the gold stamp in the ABS plastic shell. The 5/6-string size is molded polyurethane, and the engraving is part of the master we make the silicone mold from. We'll probably add the ABS plastic shells for the 5/6-string pickups at some point in the future.

OK Mica,
 
Yes embedding the LED directly in is great. I think it will look nice in the Ebony.
 
Good news about the Bronze. Ya, Val told me about the gold plating. Of course I would love to have the solid gold but how much are we talking? Is it under a thousand?, I am probably crazy asking that one!
 
If it were around a thousand for gold I would go for it otherwise Bronze Please. It will look so much better with the rays.
 
Thank you so much!

I'll leave a message for the jeweler for the current price to cast in gold.

Mica,
 
Are you saying that there is a way to have the gold inlay in the 5 string pick-up, but just that it's not in the ABS shell. If so what do you mean please?
 
Thanks

5-string pickups are only available with the engraved look right now. What I said is that sometime in the future (probably a year or more) I'll have ABS shells for 5-string pickups with the gold stamping.  
 
The gold is a hot stamp process done on the plastic shell. If there's no plastic shell, there's no way to hot stamp.  
 
We don't offer it, but I've seen other people paint gold in the engraved letters before. You can always try that if you like.

That's what I mean, did Thunder and Lightning have there's done somewhere?

P.S. I'm not asking to see or anything because I know you are very busy but are they working on a pistol grip body for me now? Or have you picked out my Coco yet?
 
Just a friendly check!!!!

Thunder and Lightning is a narrow spaced 5-string and used the 4-string width pickups.  
 
Mom's done 2 drafts of the pistol grip, and feels like she's just about there. She's got her hands full the rest of the week, but version three should be ready next week. I'll post it when it's ready.

Paul, From one lefty to another, You're going to totally flip out when you hear your new bass!  
Being an Alembic, the Excel is automatically a great bass, but the Series II is several orders of magnitude above and beyond anything you've ever heard. The versatility, simultaneous clarity and fullness plus warmth and the amazing plug and play when recording is in my opinion unmatched by any other instrument on the planet! By the way, I am quite flattered that my vision of an Alembic ( Raging Bass ) is inspiring others. I feel like a proud Papa! Best of luck and now for the sweet torture....The Wait!
Michael D

Awesome Awesome Michael D,
 
I am so honored to have you acknowledge me here and look at my bass. Your bass is so awesome!
 
Tell me somemore please. Do you have a way to send me any soundbytes? I mean they don't have to be fabulous licks or anything. I would just love to hear that beautiful bass. I was very inspired by it. I especially liked your neck and had notes in my neck design to resemble the internal area.
 
I have sat and just stared for hours and hours and hours and hours and on and on at your bass. At one time it was my background on my computer desktop.
 
I hope that I can get in touch with you over the phone if possible and just talk a bit.
 
Is that possible? I would like to ask you a couple of questions/opinions if I could?
 
Thank you, Paul

Here's a quick mock up for the 12th fret inlay:

I like how the M sort of mirrors the palm tree trunks. Let me know if you like this or had something else in mind.