I guess you and Val didn't get to the pricing on this feature when you spoke on the phone today. I just checked with mom, and the Omega cutout on the peghead is $300.  
 
The omega peghead cutout is not something that can just be added in some cases. It's really best to know before we cut the peghead out what the final shape will be. It may affect the placement of the front and back veneers, for instance.  
 
This is the last item that I know of that is keeping your build on hold for now. Once it's cleared, so will the path for the rest of the constuction on your bass.

Hi Mica.  After reading & rereading your edit to your post, and then going back over my most recents posts, I'm mystified.  There seems to be a misunderstanding, though if I've said something to cause it, I'm not sure what.  Anyway let me clarify.  I'll do it in terms of a timeline.  After thinking real hard about it in great detail and checking all sorts of things, I came to the conclusion THAT I WANT TO STICK WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN... with the BALANCE K OMEGA.  And there were only 2 other issues: interest in the pistol grip, and the cost of the peghead omega.  I explicitly stated this above in my post #320.  Here are 3 paragraphs that state that, quoted from above:
 
SO I WANT THE BALANCE K OMEGA ?LIKE ORIGINALLY PLANNED? but I?m also VERY INTERESTED in the option of adding the ?Pistol Grip?, and request pricing for this essential detail, as well as an estimate of added length. A really nice touch would be ?if it?s not too much trouble- to draw me a little simple mockup of what it would look like on a REGULAR (non-pointy variety) of the Balance K Omega ?maybe even superimposed OVER the regular, to really maximize the ?seeing? of the difference.  
 
To be clear, I?m gonna stick with the BALANCE K OMEGA REGARDLESS. But I?m VERY SERIOUS about considering the option of the extended Pistol Grip option. If I can get something like Val?s Pistol Grip which doesn?t interfere with the flow/aesthetics of the body, and which adds an inch of ?reach?, I?ll want to get it, and price/affordability would be/is the only consideration.
 
and also:
 
Also ?reminder- I?m still interested on price info for the ?mini-Omega? in the peghead.
 
AFTER posting that at 1 am that morning, I called and spoke to Valentino that afternoon, and explicitly CONFIRMED the BALANCE K OMEGA.  He assured me there was nothing to worry about with the reach, and that it was easy to reach the 1st fret.  After speaking to him, I felt comfortable that the pistol grip wasn't needed, and told him to withdraw the request.  I asked about the pricing for the peghead omega, and he said he'd have to get that from Susan, so at that point I again confirmed explicitly that I wanted to stick with the original plan, the BALANCE K OMEGA, and told him I'd also immediately post a posting to that effect.
 
And that's exactly what I did.  As soon as I got off the phone, I made another post (post# 322, above) which I began with a note stating it was dual-posted here, and on the main thread -and that post explicitly referred to my conversation with Val, that I was dead-set on the original plan -the Balance K Omega- and that I was withdrawing my request for pricing on the pistol grip.  And I give you the explicit go-ahead in that post.  It seems as clear as it could be.  Apparently something has made you think that I'm not quite as ready on the body shape as you first thought, but I'm clueless what it would be.
 
I actually didn't see the edit until now 'cause I'd been thinking about the Omega in the headstock, and I didn't want to post about it until I was sure.  This was further complicated by reading Shim's threads, which made me aware of something significant that I wasn't aware of -which was that you could add the bass & treble toggles to Signature electronics for $400 per set.  This led to some thinking about that, 'cause I'd love to have Signature electronics IF I also had the B&T toggles -even if there were only one set; but it was too expensive, as I'd have to pay $400 just to get back the Signature package, and then ANOTHER $400 for the B&T toggles, and then another $125 for the other 3-position Q... and even with the dealer discount, it's still a bit too much, as much as I want it.  So, after I eliminated that consideration, and returned to the issue of the peghead omega and the bevel, I did decide that I WANT TO HAVE BOTH THE FRONT & REAR PEGHEAD BEVEL WITH THE PEGHEAD OMEGA.  (Based on the assumption that we'll run it through Beaver and get the dealer discount.  With that, I can, gasp, afford it!  [By which I mean, go further into debt over it!])
 
SO, TO SUMMARIZE: prior to this post, I'd decided FOR CERTAIN that I WANT THE BALANCE K OMEGA body WITH THE PEGHEAD BEVELED (front&back) AND THE PEGHEAD OMEGA.
 
And I HAD dismissed the pistol grip.  But y'know what?  You went and got me intrigued.  You haven't done one on a Balance K, you say...?  I guess the Bird of Prey doesn't count since it's not exactly a Balance K, but a custom Variant.
 
Yeah, now I'm curious again.  Perhaps it's some weird vanity or otherwise silly value, but the idea of having an Alembic first definitely has some appeal for me.  What can I say?  And we're talking about a functional feature here.  So now, at this point, I'm seriously re-considering the pistol grip... re-considering adding it.  $300 bucks isn't too hideous, and it could fit in well with the dual omegas.  I'm certain you'd make it look great.  The big question is: how much longer would the horn be?  Approximately.  It add's a little, right?  To be clear, if it DOESN'T add any length, we can scrap the idea right here.  But if it does go further towards the peghead, then I'm interested in considering it, and how much length it adds to the horn would be an important factor.
 
So, just to completely, absolutely clarify, I'm going to summarize the final details again, with the disclaimer that there are just TWO details left: whether or not I ADD the pistol grip; and whether the tailpiece will have 3 or 5 screws (which may affect whether I get the bird I'd prefer, or the bar.  I'd prefer a 5-screw bird to a 5-screw bar, but I'd prefer a 5-screw bar to a 3-screw bird.)
 
FINAL CONFIRMED SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARK'S CUSTOM BASS:
 
Mark King Deluxe Custom 6-String Alembic Bass
 
Balance K Omega body
 
Coco Bolo, front & back, BTC on front & back
 
Hollow Mahagoney Body
 
Custom neck, completed
 
Crown peghead, beveled front&back with omega -NO MARK KING LOGO (assuming dealer discount)
 
Pinstripe(s)at Alembic's discretion -BUT AS THIN AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE SHAVING NECK down.  NO THICK ACCENT/PINSTRIPE(S), PLEASE.  
 
Peghead laminates at Alembic's discretion, if you happened to be inspired to create a combo to really go with the unique neck, that'd be extra cool.
 
Continuous wood backplates.
 
Europa electronics with 3-position Q, 1st preference is for the Diamond configuration -if there's no extra cost; otherwise, I prefer the Essense/Europa configuration.
 
If possible, I'd prefer (just) one electronics cavity, and if more than one is necessary, please avoid doing one on the neck, which I really hate.
 
That's it.  Really, we should be virtually ready to go here.  I was completelly ready, but now you've piqued my curiousity about the pistol grip, so I just want to know ABOUT how much length it adds.  Valentino's seems to add a good inch or so -but of course that's not necessarily the same as what mine would offer.  I don't even need to see it to make a decision, I know you'll do a great job.  But the added length is essential; again, if the pistol grip wouldn't add any length, then you can scrap the idea.  But I got the impression that it did add length, that that was part of the point.  It's explicitly stated that the pistol grip on Raging Bass adds length, and it's obvious that Val's is visibly longer than standard.
 
So really, this is the only thing.  Just get back to me on this, I'll give you a decision, and then y'all can go ahead with it.  The only other VERY small thing in the screw/tailpiece issue, which I assume we have a little time on, but which I can give you a decision on the minute I get the price.
 
If you need any clarification or anything else from me, let me know.  Once I decide on the pistol grip, I can call up Beaver and add on that, the bevel, and the peghead omega (and any extra for a 5-screw tailpiece -unless that goes directly to Alembic) that day.
 
If you had any pictures or references for the pistol grip, that would be cool.  Would it be pretty much like Raging Bass, or different?
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on January 07, 2007)

Peter, cutting a long-scale string doesn't make it into a medium-scale string.  Medium-scale strings would be a different thickness, thicker, to compensate for their shorter-ness.
 
By all accounts, it's not as simple as just cutting the string; a long-scale string on a medium-scale bass simply won't have the same tension it does on a long scale; that's WHY you need the medium-scale strings... that's WHY they exist.  (At least, according to everything I've been told by all the experts -including the ones here!)
 
Thanks again for you input, and for helping me with my decision on custom #2!

O.K., I'll jump in on this one.  It seems to me that if you take, oh say for example, a .45 gauge long scale string and cut some of the length off, wouldn't it still be .45 gauge?  As length changes, the gauges may change that are used for strings labeled a simple generic light, medium, or heavy, but if one chooses specific gauges, I don't see how changing the length will result in a change of the thickness?
 
But what do I know, I only  
 
Bill, the guitar one.

Eggzactly.  Thet's whaht Ah'm theyin'!

I'm sure she will!!!  And I can't wait.  Since Elana -that's her name, since she's a replacement for an Elan- will have Coco Bolo BTC'd on both front and back, they'll have plenty of surface area to have awesome figuring in!
 
I'm really hoping they come up with something like the front/top(s) of the 1st two basses I listed.  The Coco Bolo Stanley Clarke, and the awesome Coco Bolo Skylark blow me away.  I like the figuring on the Stanley Clarke a little better, but the BTC and the features of the figuring on the Skylark... it just doesn't get any better (in my eyes)!!!

One BIG problem with using long scale strings on a short scale bass is that the end that goes round the tuner capstan is likely to fracture. The winding end of a bass string is tapered for a good reason which I found out to my cost the first time I ever accidentally put long scale strings on my first homemade short scale bass.
 
graeme

Mark - Bill has made my point somewhat more succinctly than I.  A .45 is a .45, no matter what the length.
 
Graeme - AH!  That would come under the Maybe I'm missing something heading.  It's been so long since I strung a bass, I'd forgotten the tapered end - and this would explain Mark's reluctance to snip.  Thanks for clearing that up for me.
 
Back to Mark - in the words of Emily Lattella, Oh.  That's very different.  Never mind.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
 
Peter

This is getting pretty funny.  There is obviously a significant misunderstanding here.
 
For the record, I am fully aware that a .45 is a .45, regardless of length.  At no point in this -nor any other thread- have I said anything to the contrary.
 
If your postings DO have any bearing on anything I've said, I can't see what the connection is.
 
Cutting the end off a long-scale string simply (and obviously) will NOT turn it into a thicker gage medium-scale string -and thus has no value as a solution for an inability to find MEDIUM SCALE strings.

Mica, to confirm the conversation we just finished moments ago, I will be sticking with the STANDARD (NON-pistol grip) Balance K Omega.
 
That leaves only the possible/if needed approval on my part of the Coco Bolo (but if you think you've got it, go for it!!!) and the minor issue of 5 vs 3 screws.
 
So I'll leave y'all alone for a while, and I look forward to seeing the next stage here in my FTC thread when it comes.
 
Again, thanks so much, I appreciate your patience, and apologize for my sometimes excessive density!

Sorry, Mark - I usually don't have this much trouble expressing myself clearly.  I'll make one more attempt.
 You said that the lack of medium scale strings led you to decide on 34.  This confused me, and I was asking for clarification as to why you couldn't buy long scale in a gauge that gives you the tension you want & cut them to fit (of course you can't cut them thicker). Graeme's explanation about the tapered ends answered that for me - now I understand (and hope you do, too).  Either way, I'll now limit any input on this thread to oohing and ahhing (and did I mention that I love the neck?)
 
Peter

Hey, thanks Peter!  I appreciate the compliment, and also the feedback.
 
The only thing that really ruffles my feathers is this little ugly thing called deliberate malice.  I don't get any of that from you, and I don't sweat little things, most of all misunderstandings.  If I did... I have to become suicidal!!!
 
The understanding I have, is that (relatively) shorter scale-length strings tend to have GREATER string tension.  If one were to take long-scale strings off a long scale bass and put them on a medium-scale bass, they'd have significantly/noticeably less tension; and if they were taken off and put on to a short-scale bass, they'd be wet noodles.
 
For this reason, as I understand it, shorter-scale strings thus have THICKER gauges; medium-scale strings should be THICKER/WIDER than long-scale strings (so that, when they're tightened up they produce comparative tension and pitch).  And short-scale strings should be even thicker/wider -for the same reason.
 
If (wider/thicker) quality medium-scale strings were available... if I could buy THICKER medium-scale strings that would have the same tension/pitch as my longer-scale strings (which can ONLY be accomplished by making the strings thicker) I'd have been interested in them; but since I couldn't find any, I decided to stick with the status quo long scale strings.
 
And of course, cutting the ends off of long scale strings would obviously NOT make them into thicker, medium-scale strings!!!

Mark: With what I just read above in your post and understand about strings, I would have to say that just the opposite is true in each instance. None of my instruments are set up that way nor have I ever played one that has been. Just to give ya heads up. ~David

Hey there Alembic elves!  I'm dying of curiousity, and was wondering if there were any further developments!
 
I'd love an update, even if it's just a quickie description, if you don't have time for pictures.
 
Don't sweat it if you're too busy.  I'm more concerned with getting a replacement quote for my 8-String for insurance purposes; but every day, I wonder if the body's been glued on, and/or if the Coco Bolo's been selected...
 
Boy, you folks have been doing some particularily awesome and inspiring work recently!  The recent FTCs are sporting some unsurpassed examples of you folks outdoing (or trying to outdo) yourselves!  I'm really feeling like I lucked out timeframe-wise in commissioning my replacement 6-String at this time!  I've got a feeling whenever the neckxt pictures get posted, people are going to be drooling over my bass like I've been drooling over theirs!!!

Not yet. I actually do post pictures when something interesting happens. You'll be in the next group of work, these things tend to come together in clumps. The last group of assembly was primarily necks, and yours is already done. Sorry, but we don't work on every instrument everyday.  
 
Nobody who will be working on building your bass will be involved in preparing the replacement value for your 8-string bass, so it won't interfere.
 
There should be something fo ryou to see in the next week or two.