Oh man I like your lams King!

Thanks Dave!
 
Mica... these look fantastic!  Thanks so much again, it looks like Bob picked a wonderful board for me indeed, and I'm pleased to see it was thick enough to yield both a front and a back.
 
I'm assuming the top picture is the back and the lower picture is the front -as that corresponds to what I thought I'd like.
 
Both boards look awesome!  I'd have preferred to have a little more of the inner edges trimmed off the upper board (lower picture/front of bass) to have more of the super cool area(s) on either side included on the top -it looks like most of that wood will end up being cut off- but it looks much too awesome to snivel over!
 
And the top picture/back of bass DOES have all that awesome super cool area figuring right in the center of the body... it looks awesome too... pretty close to what I'd envisioned.
 
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON ORIENTATION AND CONSULT WITH YOU BEFORE YOU DO THE ACTUAL CUTTING.
 
I originally figured on the lower picture/front of bass having the left side of the picture go towards the peghead and the right side of the picture go towards the tailpiece... but as I look at this picture, it looks like it would look just as good going the other way -as long as the pinch didn't interfere with the disguised BTC objective.  It's hard for me to tell from this picture where it would be exactly.  What's your opinion on this?
 
On the other hand, the top picture/back of bass looks to me very clearly like it would make more sense and look better to have the right side of the picture go towards the peghead and have the left side go towards the tailpiece; the figuring seems to go from wider to narrower as I look left to right -just as the Balance K body is wider at the bottom, and narrower towards the fingerboard and peghead.
 
So please share your thoughts.  Also, when the glueing is complete, please post a straight-on flat shot of at least the bottom picture/front of bass to help give me a better picture of what orientation would look better... it's hard for me to fully appreciate due to the angle.
 
I'm leaning towards thinking it would look better to have the left side (of the lower picture/front of bass) go towards the peghead and have the right side go towards the tailpiece -but again, I want to know what you think before you commit to cutting it.
 
So it's too late to prep for Series, huh?  Oh well, it'll be awesome with just Europa electronics... with/without the second filter and Q and with/without the upgrade to knobs for the bass & treble controls.
 
I'm psyched to see the top lams being glued together!  Woo hoo!  And I look forward to seeing the pricing for the electronics!  I'll check again after this post!
 
Have a great weekend... Mom!
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on May 04, 2007)

Hey Mica, I just got home and checked my email just a few minutes ago -and there was no email from Alembic... so if you sent it, I didn't get it -for whatever reason.

Well, after putting more stare time in, I have to say I'm extremely pleased... the Coco Bolo BTC lams look extremely awesome, and it looks like -as far as my untrained eyes can tell- the disguised BTC has been well-executed.  
 
Both of these look really great, and I like the contrast that results from each pair being joined in opposite ways.  
 
Thanks again, these'll be nice to look at over the weekend, and until the next stage!!!

Sorry, Mark. I'm so busy that I cannot check your question about my 3-way Q-way.
I think it's unbelieverble. It make my bass can have the wide range of sound. But, it may take times to control it to get what you want. I should practice to control them. But, I'm so happy to get these control.

Nice to hear from you, Shim.
 
Yeah, it can take a little while to figure out how to use the controls.
 
It take a little while for the ears and brain to figure it all out.
 
I suggest playing with the Q in the 4db position most of the time, and with the bass & treble controls in the middle.
 
Then, if you want more or less Q -or bass/treble- you just make a little adjustment one way or the other.
 
I hope the few minor issues you've had don't keep you from fully enjoying your Alembic... it's an awesome bass!
 
Take care, Shim!

Hey Mica, in your post 4328 in Dave's Custom Europa therea are these cool clear Europa Template things...
 
I was wondering if you had 'em for the Balance K yet...
 
I'm trying to figure out what part/how much of the wood in the above pictures will be my front and back.
 
I'm pretty sure I'd like it to be set up like what I described above in my post 569... but I'd like to see it and/or hear your opinion before you commit to cutting.
 
I largely defer to you, but would prefer a little input, insofar as once it's cut, we're committed, and if I'd have preferred it the other way... it would be too late.
 
It would be cool to see the outline -if you have the time.
 
But I know you're busy.  So as long as you agree that what I've described would be equal or better looking than the alternative, then go ahead with it.
 
On the other hand, if you think it might look better the other way... if you think there's a strong case for me going the other way for whatever reason, then I'd like to hear your concerns and get a better look at the wood.
 
Thanks again for everything, and I'm keeping my eyes open for the electronics options/pricing email.
 
Mark

Don't think I can take any more of this eye boggling colour changes!?
I may be going blind
 
G

Okay, the boss told me -most diplomatically- that I've gotton carried away with the colors... so I'm gonna tone it down... sorry gang!

Hey Mica, I just sent you an email confirming that -bassed on the price quote you gave me- I WANT TO WITHDRAW MY REQUEST FOR THE PEGHEAD OMEGA AND THE DUAL BEVEL... AND REQUEST THAT YOU UPGRADE MY ELECTRONICS TO SIGNATURE ELECTRONICS WITH 3-POSITION Q SWITCHES (O/6/9 dbs) WITH (a single pair of) BASS & TREBLE KNOBS.  (Pretty much Shim's electronics... but no LEDs.)
 
This WILL be my LAST change to my order.  The ONLY minor remaining issue is whether my Bird Tailpiece will have 3 or 5 screws.  I'm not worried about it one way or the other, bassed on our conversation about it... but I'll give you a decision as soon as I get a price.
 
I'm a little sad to sacrifice the peghead Omega and dual bevel... but it's WELL worth it to add a second filter and 3-position Q to my Europa electonics and to upgrade the bass & treble toggles to variable knobs.  The increase in electronics versatility will be TREMENDOUS, and far outway the (only) slightly less cool appearance of the peghead Omega and bevel.
 
I'll post my requests for the control configuration in the appropriate thread in changes and additions.
 
Thanks again, Mica!  This is going to make my most awesome custom Signature bass even more awesome!!!

Hi Mica!
 
Moments ago, I posted confirmation on the main build tread that -bassed on the electronics upgrade quote you emailed me- I WANT TO UPGRADE MY EUROPA ELECTRONICS TO SIGNATURE ELECTRONICS WITH 3-POSITION Q SWITCHES AND A (single) PAIR OF BASS & TREBLE KNOBS!
 
Thus my electronics will have 6 knobs (Volume, Balance, Neck Filter, Bridge Filter, Bass, and Treble) and 2 toggles (the 2 3-position Q switches).
 
Here are my preferences -in order of preference.  I will refer to the mock-ups you did for Shim... but my body is a Balance K... and his is a little wider... so I don't know how applicable his options/mockups will be on the Balance K body.
 
First of all, I'm flexible here, and just want it to be mellow for Alembic.  I'll tell you what I want, but will respect whatever constraints you lay down.  Let me just communicate my preferences, and we'll see what works.
 
My FIRST preference would be what I described in Control Layout in Shim's FTC thread -in my post 366.  The layout would be just like that -minus the LEDs, which my bass won't have.  This setup consists of 2 parallel rows of 3 knobs -with (the row of) (N) filter, volume, & (B) filter closer to the C string, and the other row -bass, balance, & treble- closer to the edge of the body.  The 2 Q switches would be in-between the 2 middle (volume & balance) knobs and the knobs to either side.  This seems pretty clear in the picture/graphic representation.
 
You'll note that, in this picture, I have the two middle knobs in each row (the volume & balance) slightly farther away from each other than the other knobs are... but they could all be parallel.  Either way would be cool.  The biggest thing is that I'd prefer it be perfectly symetrical -if possible.
 
If not, my second favorite layout would be your mockup for Shim in your post 4038 (again in the same thread).  This is virtually the same thing -only the 2 rows of 3 knobs aren't perfectly parallel.
 
Ideally, in any even, the top row would be symetrical, with the (master) volume in the middle and the 2 filters to either side; then, the bottom row would have the 3 knobs with center detents (bass, balance, treble).
 
But if, for any reason, there are constraints about which knobs can be where, just tell me what they are, and I'll communicate my preferences within the bounds of those constraints.
 
My third preference would be your post 4044 -basically the same setup with just slightly different angles for the lines of the rows.
 
My fourth preference would be your first post for Shim -your post 4032- with the knobs in that pattern, but the two toggles within the 6 knobs... basically the same pattern I've already described -but just rotated at an angle.
 
At your convenience, let me know if these are doable.  Ideally, my first preference is no problem.  If so, it's a done deal.  I really like the first preference, as it's the most intuitive setup; it would be completely symetrical in appearance, and almost completely symetrical in function -the exceptions being the bass & treble controls.
 
Thanks again for everything, Mica!  I really appreciate your patience, support, and world-class service!!!
 
Mark
 
P.S. I'm going to attempt to copy the graphic illustration of my ideal control configuration from Shim's thread... here's the attempt:
 
..........NECK...............BASS  
..........FILT................CONT  
..........KNOB...............KNOB  
.................................  
.......................N..........  
.......................Q..........  
.................................  
......MAST.......................BLEN  
......VOLU.........LED.........CONT  
......KNOB.......................KNOB  
.................................  
.......................B..........  
.......................Q..........  
.................................  
..........BRID...............TREB  
..........FILT................CONT  
..........KNOB..............KNOB  
 
Looks like it worked!  So this is my ideal/preferred setup -for reference!

Oh... your bass will have similar sound to my bass~!!!! You will be happy to get your monster.  
And I think... the peghead omega can be looked like a metal bass. So when I ordered, I didn't include that option in my bass.  
 
I think the upgrade of your electronics is more worthy than the appearance.  
 
Anyway, congratulation~!!!

Now I noted that -in your post 4041- you responded that my post didn't take the jack into account... but your mockup in the prior post (post 4038) really didn't make it look like it would be an issue... if you just move the row of 3 knobs closest to the strings towards the tailpiece a little, then it becomes just like what I posted above... and it doesn't look to me like there would be any issue with the jack... but you're the expert -so tell me what you think.
 
Again, the setup above is my preferred ideal... but if there is any practical issue actualizing it, I'd ask you what modification you'd suggest... to get closest to it while addressing the issues (assuming there are any).
 
Thanks again, Mark
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on May 07, 2007)

Thanks for your thoughts, Shim!
 
I think the same thing.  It's worth giving up the fancy peghead for the upgraded electronics.
 
I'm getting a lot more than I'm giving up!!!

[size=0]FINAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARK'S CUSTOM 6-STRING BASS:[/size]
 
Mark King Signature Deluxe 6-String Bass
 
Balance K Omega Body
 
Tummy and Elbow Contours
 
Crown Peghead, Alembic Symbol & Script, no Mark King signature
 
Coco Bolo front and back, both Bookmatched to Center, disguised BTC
 
Continueous Wood Backplate(s) (1 preferred, 2 is okay)
 
Signature Electronics with 3-position Qs (0/6/9 db) and one pair of Bass & Treble Knobs
 
Standard pickup for Neck pickup, Fatboy for Bridge pickup
 
Mahogany Body with thin Maple & Purpleheart pinstrips
 
Custom Neck: mah/pur/map/pur/ver/eb/ver/pur/map/pur/mah
 
Standard 34 inch Long Scale -2 inches @ nut & 2&2/3 inches @ 24th fret
 
Bird Tailpiece -standard 3 screws
 
Control layout preferences detailed in another thread