Here's the back of the peghead:

It's Purpleheart like you requested. Don't mind the glue spots, rough shaping and the burn in the Cherry - they are only temporary.
 
I'll be happy to call you to review the rest of your specifications. Just tell me what time works well for you.

Your guitar is in carving now:

 

  Sorry there's a little motion blur on these photos, but you can still tell that things are movin' right along.

Was that snot in the neck due to a cold? LOL

can i get some feedback please.  I am in Europe and would like to know status.  Thank you.

Michael,
 
In case you missed it, Mica just added a baby boy to the family.  She's been away from work, but if I read correctly is planning on being around sometime soon.
 
I know it's an expensive call, but a phone call would probably get you a quick answer.
 
Hang in there =)
 
Toby

About half-way through finish now:

 

 

Pretty.  Awesome.  Pretty Awesome!

Just Pretty full stop. I love the further guitar shape and this quilt sets it off perfectly.
 
Graeme

Lookin' REALLY good!
 
Bill, tgo

I'm real concerned that the book match is not close.  I assume it will not be too noticibe once the electronics and wolf are added but I have serious reservations.

The short story is that I don't think you will be disappointed with the grain of your guitar in person, it's an absolute stunner. Here's a longer explanation:
 
The bookmatch is a regular old bookmatch. The only wood missing is the kerf of the bandsaw blade and the minor sanding to get things flat. Even though a lot can happen grain-wise in that small space, Quilted and Flame Maple don't really ever look bookmatched if you look closely. Here's some more pictures of your guitar.
 
This one is pretty straight on and with a flash:


 
 
 
If you concentrate on just a small area, you can see the symmetry of the bookmatch:


 
 
 
Enlarged for an even better view:


 
 
 
And again from a slightly different angle:


 
 
What shows up with the figured Maples is the grain direction. It's the changes in the direction that make the interesting and shimmery effect we all enjoy. When we slice across a plane, a given area of the left side of the bookmatch has the grain going up, while the same area on the right has the grain going down, but before we cut it, the grain was continuous.  
 
It's sort of hard to visualize, but think of Les Paul guitars you've seen, with the Flame Maple bookmatched to center. On one side, the same shape of figure looks light in color, and on the other side of the bookmatch it's darker. Look at the back of this one on Gibson's website and you'll see what I'm talking about.

is wolf getting a brother? coool!!!!!!!!!!!
lol
 
it looks fine- its not btc
the symmetry is in the angle of the grain away from the neck not the actual appearance of the figuring
both sides dont match exactly in appearance
but if you look at it- the grain is fine and it evens out perfectly by the brisge pickup
one thing for sure, Bob knows how to lay out wood
he's pretty much taught everyone at alembic.
 
(Message edited by flaxattack on August 23, 2007)

It looks perfect to me. Especially in the last pic. You're going to be very happy when you see it in person Micheal.
 
graeme

I love that last pic!!  Beautiful!

I love the explanation.. to me it even becomes more evident when you bookmatch a piece of spalted maple that also has figure.. in some ways mirrored, and yet.. heh.
 
--T