Alan; it's great to hear that you will be coming home soon!!!!!!!!!!

We're looking forward to seeing you, Alan.   Chip finished the latest template. I've placed it over the old mock-up:

   Mom and I inspected this very closely, and feel it's just right, including a slight correction here:  

 today's template over the picture of JE bass. Note how the template is slightly larger here.  We don't feel the carving on the original you are comparing it too was careful. There are some weird angles and abrupt changes there, and it doesn't even go around the inlay evenly.   What we're thinking is to proceed with the build on this template. This would give you the option of after seeing it with the laminates and roundover, having Peter carve it down more if you felt it needed it. Sound like a plan?

Mica,
 
    Thanks for taking the time to get this body style right - I know it must be a lot of work and painstaking.
 
    My take is that the angle of the upper horn on the left hand side of the bass, as you look at it, needs to be slightly more acute, upward every so slightly - it looks a bit too parallel to the fingerboard/neck to me.  Also, I think the rounding where the upper horn merges into the rear horn on the left side of the bass could be a bit softer; it appears to angle back up more steeply than on the picture of JE's bass.
 
     Is it possible to fix those two things?  If we can, I think we're there. I'm also thinking that maybe the angle at the picture was taken is affecting my judgment, but I'll defer to you guys since you took the picture.
 
     If you want to wait til I visit to make the final changes to the template, that's cool.  I'd rather get it just as we want it rather than move too quickly and not get it there.  Let me know what you think.
 
     We're almost there, and I'm really pumped.  Thank everyone at the Mothership for the great work they're doing for me.
 
Best regards,
 
Alan

Alan:
 
This looks to be shaping up as a very cool project.  Great news that you'll soon be back so that you can make the trip to Santa Rosa.  I'm sure you and your's are very excited.  Best wishes for a safe and uneventful journey (at least until you hit the states, then enjoy all the events you want!)
 
Bill, tgo

Bill,
 
    Thanks.  It will be great to be home again with my wife ... and my Alembics!
 
Alan

Alan:
 
In that order?  
 
 
(You may not want to, and probably shouldn't, answer that)!  LMAO
 
Bill, tgo

Bill,
 
   Yes, in that order.  That is, if I want to stay married!
 
Alan

Amen, brother!
 
Bill, tgo

Mica,
 
   Any movement on my bass?  If not, that's cool.   Just curious.
 
Alan

The calender in assembly is mostly dedicated to you for next week, Alan. I'll get you lots of good progress shots so you can see all the neat details.

Mica,
 
   Thanks. Can't wait to see it.  Don't feel like you have to dedicate all your time to me .. I've been to the Mothership and know you have lots of folks you have to attend to.  I also know you guys are busier than a one-armed paper hanger ...
 
    Can't wait to see my bass as it progresses.  
 
    Say hi to your Mom, Dad, and Val for me ...
 
Best regards,
 
Alan

Isn't there a song about a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple paper hanger?
 

I believe so - wore short shorts and quite friendly, as I recall.  
 
Bill, tgo

Hi, I am new to Alembic.  I am currently looking at having an Exploiter built.  I really like the way his body shape has been altered to more exactly replicate JE's personal bass.  Would it be possible to save this new shape's dimensions in order to build another one?

Daniel,
 
    I see no reason that the craftsmen and women at Alembic can't do the same for you.  I was out there in August, and Chip had the templates in hand; as my bass is the first attempt at recreating that particular body shape, I would think that the good people in Santa Rosa will hold on to it like they do their other shapes.  Susan told me that she had quoted many Entwistle style basses, but none had actually gone on to make a custom order.  To my knowledge, mine will be the closest thing one can get to John's original basses without actually buying one (which would be hideously expensive).
 
Alan