Mike, it is most definitely OK to start getting really excited, in fact at this stage I think it's pretty much a reqirement!    I'm sure it won't be long now, things seem to move along pretty quickly from this point on.
 
The bass is looking fantastic, the top is gorgeous and I just love the way the heart omega looks with that central ebony lam.
 
Cheers!
Todd

Hello again, Mica!
 
Just wanted to let you know I'd appreciate it if, when the time comes, You, Mom and Dad, and everybody else in the Alembic Family would be kind enough to sign the interior side of the control cavity plate, along with the completion date. It would really mean a lot to me to have this little piece of true musical history included with the instrument of a lifetime. Thanks a bunch, Mike =)

Hi again, Mica!
 
After reading a few other threads, I became aware of somthing I didn't know about before. Apparently, some of the bridges and tailpieces are coming in a brushed finish, instead of the polished Brass like I have on my Excel. All things being equal, I believe I'd rather have the polished version, if possible. I'm pretty A-retentive about keeping my instruments clean, so once a year hitting it with a little Met-All or Brasso is not a problem.Thanxxx, Mike    ;]
 
(Message edited by 5stringho on January 25, 2008)

The standard polished brass hardware has a tailpiece with a sanded finish. Unless you special ordered it on your Excel, I expect it to be sanded (brushed), then covered with clear finish.
 
We can supply your tailpiece polished without coating, it's just a little more custom that way.

Hey, Mica,
 
The Standard brushed with coating is fine on the tailpiece. It IS that way on my Excel, and looks great. Thanxxx for clarifying that for me.
Have a great weekend =], Mike.....

Mike,
I just love the way your bass is turning out. The top looks to be from the same slab as Thunder & Lightning (COTM Mar. 06). If it is, just wait till you see it in person! Be patient, the wait is almost over.
 
Regards,
Pete

Thanxxx, Todd! I appreciate the compliments and encouragement. Hope you are enjoying YOUR new Beauty!
Pete- I think you are absolutely correct. I can't believe I never made the connection, since I looked at your amazing T&L a hundred times for inspiration and ideas! I imagine she WILL look even better, as most say the pics here do not do justice to the actual finished product when you see it in person. I'm humbled by the thought that my little animal has such an illustrious pedigree! Does that make us in-laws, or cousins by Bass =)?
Thanxxx for pointing the similarities out. It made my day! If mine looks anything like T&L when she's done, it's, like, WOW!!
Thanxx again, stay tuned, Mike, tho =]

Simply gorgeous.
Enjoy!!
But why not Series electronics?
 
G

Hey, George!
Thanks for the compliment on the soon-to-be new arrival! Why not Series Electronics? Couple of reasons. First and foremost, it's quite simply the Money issue. As we are all aware of, Alembics are the most wonderful instruments made, but that also comes at a price. They aren't cheap. I'm just a regular schlep that works too much already, and I've had an extremely difficult time trying to justify to myself spending the kind of money this beautiful baby costs and not have wheels or a title! She's probably more Bass than I deserve, and she'll be a LOT better at what she does than the one playing her! I ordered her to beat the Jan. 07 price increase, and considering all the stuff that's gone on in our life since, it made me question my decision even more. Fortunately, it looks like everything is going to work out here in the end. As much as I would have LOVED SII, the Xtra $ for Series was not in the realm of reality at this time. Also, I was not sure if I wanted to be married to the Power source and 5 pin cable. I've since discovered that is not really an issue, but too late now!
                                                   On the very positive side, The Custom Electronics package we've come up with should be EXTREMELY versatile and sonically exrtaordinary. I call it Ghetto Series;)  It's about as close to Series as possible without the Single Coil pickups and power source. I doubt if MY ears will be able to differentiate. I think the Signature-type electronics package will be wonderful, and if mine sounds anything like Jim Tussings new Quilted Beast, it will be even more than I hoped for! I guess we'll find out soon enough! Besides, only 3 years till the old 50th Birthday, and I already have the Harley's, so I kinda know what I have in mind for my mid-life crisis, and have time to talk her into it =)!!!
Stay tuned, thanks for checkin' in on her.
Have Fun, Mike, tho

Hey Mike!
Yes you're right, most people don't opt for the Series electronics because of the price.
I'm not saying that they are any better than others (I heard Jacko's Epic, and it was amazing)
Check my post in Showcase re George waller's Series 1.
If you like single coils then the Series is GREAT; if not, then most other Alembics are just as good.
It's all a matter of taste!
As I've learned from this forum,-never put yourself down and think that you deserve less than the best!!!!
I think my favorite Alembic is the EXCEL with the Fatboy and the FXY.
I bought my Series when I was 47, so there's plenty of time if that is what you really want.
You will be so knocked-out with your bass that you will love her instantly!!
I was unemployed when I got my Series--------I still am!! even with 3 University degrees
As they say-Life's a bitch, then you die!!
Enjoy your bass my friend!!!  It will deliver EVERYTHING you want from her-Series electronics or not.
 
G

Mike, I met you a while back at Absolute Music and I bought that Orion up there. Rusty told me you were selling your Excel but now I know why. This is gonna be killer. We will have to get together when my custom Orion is done. Check it out under Dannys Custom Orion in the Factory to Customer section. Good luck with the new bass.

Here's what I've come up with:

I don't think there are many other options for getting all those controls in there, so I hope you like this one. This is just a rough layout, if you approve it, the actual drilling will be measured out for symmetry.

Hello, Mica! I really like it, but what about the master Volume control and LED switch=/? Would that REALLY be pushing the envelope? I don't know if i see a place for it in there. Maybe a side-mounted jack would help?? I've been mulling over this for a while,and I'm baffled. Everything looks well-placed and convenient, except for the lack of the master vol. control, and any ideas on the LED switch? Am I expecting to put too much metal on too little wood =)? I would like to have the Master volume, but maybe it's not absolutely necassary. I don't know. What do you think? See if ya can come up with something, I'll continue to rack my little pea-brain, and we'll come up with sumpin!
 
TTY soon, have a great friday, Mike =]

Hey Mike,
 
Usually when you've got a pickup selector and individual volume controls for each pickup you don't have a master volume.  It sort of becomes overkill at that point but I *can* see certain times where you'd still want to have it.  I'm guessing there simply isn't going to be enough room in there to add anything else!!  That's a lot of stuff. :-)

Yes, Briant, is is somewhat perplexing. A veritable forest of knobs and switches;     master volume
neck volume
neck filter
neck Q (3 position) (0+4+8dB)
bridge volume
bridge filter
bridge Q (3 position)
pickup selector switch
mono stereo switch
LED on/off switch
overall bass control (like on an Orion)
overall treble control (like on on Orion)
 
So 7 knobs, 4 mini toggle switches, 1 rotary switch in all.  
 
I've been researching ideas, and I believe it might be possible. Look at Custom Series II basses, notably Dragon Fly, Raging Bass, Hot Lava, Paul's Gorgeous Mele Aloha, and most notably, my bass's Older brother, the Outstanding Thunder and Lightning. These wonderful instruments all have 10 or 11 controls, and most of them have 3 rotary switches, where mine only has 1 with 2 toggles for the Q's. Also, Mine  being a Ghetto Series .05, I have no 5-pin connector. Unless the Anniversary cavity is smaller than Series or routed differently, or the Bass/Treble module takes too much interior room,I'm hoping we can come up with a solution that is logical AND attractive.
  I would prefer to keep the Master Volume. I play live, and it is much better for fade-outs and adjusting stage volume without screwing up my individual neck volumes that I have found my sound with. That is also why I chose the Anniversary Electronics. Just more control. (Am I just a control freak=[!)I would also prefer not to have anything on the upper or lower bout if it can be avoided.
Anyhoo, Mica is a wizard at these things, and I'm sure between her knowledge and experience and my minute collection of Grey Matter we can resolve this little issue!
 
Thanks for your input, Brian, Stay tuned!!
 
     Have fun, Mike, tho =]
 
(Message edited by 5stringho on February 08, 2008)