Mark. Both my Rogue and my sig made it over the pond in the standard packaging. Delivered by UPS with no issues whatsoever.
 
Graeme

Hey Mark,
 
Congradulations on your beautiful instrument and the proposed arrival. I can imagine how stoked you are. Isn't all of this a magical process? In fact I am starting to think I may have a little PTSD when mine finally arrives as lately I have been running on adrenaline from this website, mostly  from anticipation.
 
And if there is anything I would like to apologize to you to for sometimes being controversial-probably just out of insecurity at times but most of all I'd like to apologize to all for is my spelling. The way I look at spelling in an arena like this though is that as long as it works phonically then you all probably get the point! haha!!!!
 
Anyway the main point to write you is because you just brought something to my attention that I had missed. Regarding your BTC's it just dawned on me that by BTC'ing you are actually overlapping the body woods with the neck and therefore making more contact between these woods, locking the body tighter into the neck, thus picking up alot more vibration or frequency's. This to me is a huge plus in the utilization of all potentialities. I can just now imagine how much more this adds to the overall tone possibilities of your bass.
 
I have been torn during this whole construction phase about going BTC or Top to Center wood. Originally I had drawn in my blueprint of my neck which I sent to Alembic to bring my top wood to center from the bottom of the bridge pick-up down to my heart omega thus covering my neck wood and from the top of that pick-up to the neck have the neck woods showing between the pick-ups and around the nut . This proposal was denied me by Valentino I believe saying that it couldn't be done. I know in my own heart that it could be done and in fact I think the Alembic artist's probably weren't asked if they could do it. I was really just trying to bring another little design feature to the front look of the instruments and also having some effect on the sound. I think it would look really sharp as well.
 
Anyway, congradulations on your design. Your baby is coming out stunning. Keep up the good work and enjoy the ride. You deserve it!
 
Also thanks for the nice words on my post. Keep an eye out on my bass and lets see if I'm going to get any of that sapwood showing for a little highlight.
 
Take care Mark,    Paul

Thanks for the feedback, Graeme, I appreciate it.  It REALLY does make me feel a lot better knowing it got all the way over to Scotland without any problem... seeing on howz I'm only the next state over!!!  
 
Oh, and I spoke to Jason today about cases; I'm pleased you have both road cases and standard cases for the Balance K in stock.  That'll make things easy for my decision-making process.  For some reason, I was thinking like I had to involve Beaver and Bass Central in that decision, but today it dawned on me that they're not involved in shipping, and my only obligation towards THEM is to pay the remainder of my bill, and then pay any additional fee for upgrading the case and/or additional shipping costs to Alembic...  so I'm going to pay the remainder to them next week -when the bill will go on to the NEXT months credit card statement- and then I'll talk to Erica and decide whether we're going to come get it or have it shipped -in which case I'll promptly come to a decision regarding whether I get a standard or road case and/or a crate.
 
Oh, Pierre, sorry, I forgot about your question.  No, I don't do internet at work; all my postings are from home.

Hey, thanks again for your additional thoughts, Paul, and I respect what you said about the insecurity thing and all.  It takes a big man to say it.  But it makes you a better man.  Who among us hasn't been moved to do/say/respond to something out of fear or insecurity in a way he/she would've preferred not to?  Few if any.
 
I tend to think we almost certainly all have; and the only issue is whether we acknowledge it.  If and when we do, then we can put it behind us, and we're better for it.
 
I feel for you that you didn't get that unique design feature you wanted.  But your bass will look and sound absolutely awesome.  And that feature probably would've cost a lot extra.
 
Yeah, I kicked out the extra bucks for the BTC on both the front and rear 'cause I really wanted to make sure I got the absolute maximum Coco Bolo sound... and having it completely surround the neck... having the wood join together across the top and back... should definitely achieve that objective.  Plus... I just love the way it looks!!!
 
Hey, don't worry about spelling... it's the least of our worries!!!
 
I'll be keeping my eye out on your FTC thread, awaiting the next developments!!!
 
Mark

Thanks again Mark. Everything you just said is all good. I admire your intellectual approach to your ordering. You have taught me alot during this ordering process as you are well thought out in your decisions. Taking a firm stance once you have made up your mind.
 
Most of all you are covering all the bases from design to delivery. Because of one of your threads I had a lengthy conversation with my friend Tim and my UPS delivery person. You have brought up many topics for me to consider in my order that I otherwise would have definately overlooked. Believe me- I am not in the least bit over exagerating this to come across mushy. You have opened up many avenues for me to consider in my design which has contributed greatly to the outcome of this beaut. And I would have to say that if my Bass made it as a  featured custom I wouldn't hesitate to give credit where credit was due.
 
My next focus will be on shipping so let us know how your experience takes place and good luck!
I'm going with the new double layer packaging    that Alembic says they offer so that is the next topic for my additions thread.
 
Must go to sleep now, something is wrong with the way my keyboard is working.    
 
Aloha for now, goodnight. Paul

Hey, thanks Paul, that's nice of you to say.  I'm glad my thoughts have been helpful to you.  That is certainly my only objective in saying them.  You, of course, will ultimately be the one with your custom dream bass, and I'd like you to be as happy with it as you can be... same for everyone else, and same for me.
 
This site has been a wealth of information for me.  I've learned a LOT of stuff from the many people here, and this site is just a fabulous resource.  Sometimes other people ask questions or have issues for which I think I do or may have valuable thoughts to contribute.  Oftentimes people ask questions for which I have no answers and have nothing to contribute, and I sit back while others endeavor to assist.
 
I'm grateful for the knowledge, experience, and feedback of the many club members here; they have been very helpful and instrumental (double entendre) in helping me design my new custom bass.  It pleases me to be able to help others, as others have helped me.
 
Sleep well, and I hope the issue with the keyboard is minor (and diminished!).

Well, the countdown has begun!!!  Bass Central estimated my custom 6-string should be done by September 10th!!!  Of course, who knows, it could always take longer, but I'm figuring they got the figure from Alembic, and it should be pretty close!!!  So, that's a week away... and then probably another 2 days to ship.  Pretty freaking exciting.
 
I know it'll be awesome... it'll look great and sound great... but wow, I just can't wait to see and hear it in person, and to compare and contrast it to my awesome 8-string.
 
I've gotton pretty adept at the 8-string, and can play it as well or better than most folks play a 6-string; but still, it's big, heavy, and takes a lot of reach to get to the first fret with the extra long scale.
 
I'm working on the Prelude of J.S. Bachs' first solo cello suite (playing it an octave below written pitch) and boy, some of the repeated lower parts are a bit a a workout!  I'm figuring that it'll be much easier to play on the Balance K with the shorter scale and the smaller neck and lighter body.
 
I'm figuring it'll be like going from the bulky Enterprise D to the Enterprise E... or maybe Voyager!
 
Anyway, I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing it, playing it, and hearing just how great the legendary sound of Coco Bolo is, and experiencing the rapidly-becoming famous ergonomic comfort of the Balance K!!!
 
They're just the most fabulous looking Alembics!

Take some deep breaths mark. It won't be long now.
 
graeme

Another day closer... the excitement mounts!!!

Hi Mark,
 
I just thought I would share some of your excitement with you in a little discussion as I am also on the verge of a little action this week myself. I don't know if you saw but my body got glued up last week so maybe by the end of this week I might see the shape of the bass take place. Of course I go by the old saying that Expectations are Premeditated Resentments so I am not expecting anything as I know the crew has their hands completely full. When they get something done on my bass I figure is when they have time to work on it. Anyway, I like their great little surprises!
 
So I just thought I would ask though you may have discussed this before I don't read all of the posts, what amps do you prefer to play you instruments thru and do you have an SF-2?
 
Also, do you use any kind of effects boxes or systems?
 
Another thing I wanted to share with you regarding my discussion with my UPS driver/friend last week is that he mentioned (which you probably know this) is to aviod ground trucking at any cost as much as possible.  
 
I don't know exactly how it works but hopefully you are closest to the major airports that they ship out of as the least amount of riding in the huge container trucks the better. He described that riding in those large trucks give them the best chance of getting buryied

Only got a second here, my woman is demanding my attention, but I wanted to put on record I've paid the balance of my Balance K off in full.
 
I got an email acknowledging this from Susan, so I assume everyone knows it's paid off.  Also it goes on my insurance this Friday.
 
Please call me prior to shipping.  At this point, it's 98% likely I'll have it shipped... but WHERE will depend on WHEN it's ready.  I'll probably call you from my cell during the day on one of the next 3 days to see where it's at -unless you post any info here updating me before then.
 
Paul, I'm getting the Silver logo that comes standard with the Signature basses, wherever they normally put it on the peghead according to their discretion.

Okay, I'm back.  To answer your other questions, Paul, I don't use any effects; all I have is an old Peavey TNT 130 amp.  Getting a better amp will be my next musical expenditure... but it'll likely be a while.  I've always elected to spend the $ on the instruments, but I am overdue to get an equally awesome amp to make the most of them.  I was looking into getting a Big Ben a while back -based on feedback from club members- but simply haven't had the money with the new house and all.
 
I would, of course, like to get a Superfilter and one of the Alembic tube preamps, at some point.  That will come after I get an upgraded amp.
 
I appreciate your thoughts about shipping, and Mica has said the same thing -that 2cnd day air is the way to go, with (statistically) the least problems, while, conversely, overnight and ground tend to have the worst amount of problems.
 
Yeah, it looks awesome, and I'm sure it'll even more beautiful when fully finished.  Something I'm slightly worried about is the tummy contour doesn't look as pronounced and deeply carved the way I was expecting like other Balance Ks -like Thunder and Lightning, Rio, and the Dire Wolf; but I'm guessing it's just something I can't see in the picture.  I can see that there IS a tummy curve... the picture must just not show it very well.  Yeah, I'm pretty excited, and I hope it's ready by the 10th, but if not, it's cool, 'cause it won't be much longer.  All that's really important is getting it safely here, and it'll be covered by my insurance as of this Friday.
 
And I certainly did see the latest on your bass and it looks PFA (pretty freaking awesome)!  It's going to be a VERY formidiable contender!
 
I'll look forward to your next pictures.  I'd like to see more pictures of my bass, but since it's so close, they might not bother since I'll know what it looks like soon enough!

Hey Mark,
 
Well, Peavey's are nice amps to begin with. And you are smart as the instrument and the house are much better investments in that order of pleasure and monetary value so sounds smart to me!.
 
I see what you mean about the tummy contour. The way it's shaved or tapered they didn't go to far into the accent laminates. I don't know if that is good news or bad news. Being that it is on the back that doesn't matter to much and it is hard to tell how deep it is. It is hard to tell if there is a tummy accent from that picture. I don't know what to say unless I could see a better view which I am sure that is what you want.
 
Let us know when you find out more. It doesn't really look bad at all but that is very observant of you.
 
Take care, and thanks for the compliments. I am curious to see if any of the sapwood is going to show which will be great with me if it comes out right.
 
Paul

Mark.
2 things.. Firstly, your accent laminates are pretty narrow so you won't see the maple widen as much on the tummy contouring. If you compare it with mine, the contouring looks more pronounced due to the wider maple laminate. However, there looks to be more mahogany showing on yours so I don't think you've anything to worry about.(i.e. the distance from the edge of the bass to the coco bolo looks the same)

 
The second thing relates to the logo. My sig deluxe came with a bronxe logo so if you're expecting silver, you'd best confirm with Mica.
 
Graeme
 
(Message edited by jacko on September 05, 2007)

Hey, thanks for the feedback, Graeme.  I'm not worried about the looks -I definetly understand your point about the thinner accent lams- only that it actually has the full contour, for comfort and function.  I'm sure it's just the picture, but I'll ask 'er about it next time I talk to her.  I wouldn't ask 'em to redo it at this point, in any event.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the logo.  The quote generator spec's silver logo and script as standard on the MK deluxe, so I assumed it would be what I was getting; and it would be my preference.  But it's no biggie either way.
 
Mica, if you read this, I'd PREFER the silver logo and script, but if that's an error in the quote generator, and/or if you've already stuck a bronze one on, then don't worry about it.  I don't want Alembic to incur any unnecessary/additional costs and/or headaches with this bass.  I'll be thrilled with it regardless of the very minor detail of the specific metal of the script and logo.
 
Thanks all, nice of you keeping me company during the countdown, Graeme!
 
If all goes well, and it's actually finished by next Monday, then I should receive it a week from today or tomorrow!  And if it's not finished by then, I'm guessing it probably wouldn't be any later than a week after that!
 
Another day closer!!!