Even more unusual is the volute on a neck through,
as this instrument is. Back of the peg head
laminates + volute is tremendously difficult to  
carve made worse if the wood is stiff and brittle as
vermilion, purple heart and walnut are or really
curly, like quilted coco bolo and quilted maple.

Jason; unless my memory fails me again, I'm pretty sure this is a set neck bass.

Sooooo hot.  Want to touch the bass...

Thanks for sharing the additional pictures, Flax...
Truly phenomenal and inspirational!
 
I love your neck combo/arrangement and your electronics package -both so much like my own.
 
Take care & happy new year!

great quality pictures ... hun hun hun !

it is a set neck
i like volutes- it reminds me of stand up basses
leshs irwin was not the inspiration for this bass,  
jerry's guitar was.i didnt even remember phil had one until i saw photos of it, musta sucked;lol p pups
the deal was when i went out to alembic 3 yrs ago i asked if they would and susan said one day. i asked to be first and one day they called me and said we're ready. thats how scooter came to be.
Balance is fine- heck i havent even thought about it- its around 2 oclock which is perfect for me
couldnt ask for more on the neck matching wolf=damn close and it plays easy
pierre- will send you micas hires photo
thanks everyone
this is one happy guy!
 
(Message edited by flaxattack on January 02, 2008)

How could you forget that bass...you were @ the Radio City shows in '80, right? LOL! I said ONE of the inspirations, LOL! Jerry's guitar was the original genesis of Phil's as well. It actually doesn't sound bad...it's on a lot of live stuff from the post-Shakedown Street and Go To Heaven Brent-era. Reckoning/Dead Set feature that bass.

i was at 5 shows min., either it was really good head food or i spaced on garcia. i am still looking for a copy of the 10.30 show with billy cobham. i just dont recall checking out phils bass. i may have..lol- and i have the dvds for years
btw- baby scarlet weighed in at 12.25 lbs
i bought me a chamois and had a lovely time polishing and staring. the one thing that will never come out in the photos is the depth below the finish. mica measured the fundamental sustain on the A string at a whopping 1min 27 seconds.
longer than a neck through she compared it with.
wolf has a punchy growl- great for rockin
on this bass the note builds quickly and holds.
this is exactly what i was after. a different yet unique sound.

There's pix and text/description(s)in the Dead Gear book as well...the Dead Ahead DVD shows it in action.
 
Wow...12 & 1/4#! I guess that means no semi-hollow core mahogany construction...hope your back muscles are in good shape, LOL! That's where your sustain is coming from.
 
You got some unique collection there...one better than the other! Lemme know when you get your new Dead-esque band together...might just have to take the trip up to CT to hear/see them bad boys in person!
 
Cast my vote for the next COTM: Scarlet!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

it is semi hollow! mica thought it was gonna be a tad heavy. wolf is no light weight either
maybe phil would sell me his strap from 74
 
am almost there on the band
trying to find a drummer
 
irwin doesnt build basses better than alembic-lol

Flax-
 
Since my bass was heavier (by a substantial margin) than Scarlet, I'm guessing mine must be at least 14 lbs.  Too light for Rami, but heavy, nonetheless.

Jeff,
 
It's great to see Scarlet take her place in your collection at long last.I love the volute on the side shot but what a stunning bass from any angle.I hope all the days of waiting will now become countless hours of pleasure filled fret-frottage!.
 
Best Wishes as always and thanks for posting those gorgeous photos,
 
Simon.

Fret Frottage?
 
frottage  n. The act of rubbing against the body of another person, as in a crowd, to attain sexual gratification.
 
That's a new one on me!  Amazing what one can learn on this site!  By the way, Flax, is there a hidden dummy hum cancellor or what?  And where is it?
 
Bill, tgo

Why would it have a hum canceller?  I don't think those are series electronics.
 
I already frotted Scarlet, and have photographic evidence of such.

Bradley:
 
You are absolutely correct - my bad.  Briefly looking at the large pic above I assumed Series II as I was distracted by the melting lava top!  
 
Flax:  never mind
 
My name is Bill and I'm an Alembic Frottager
 
Bill, tgo