Hey Mica, since I've got to wait another week, my poor suffering self requests that'cha throw me a bone, and post a nice new full body shot of my 6-string beauty -if you get the chance.
 
If not... hopefully I'll be holding it in a couple of hours and a week from now!

Deep breaths Mark... inhale, exhale...
 
Use your Mantra...
 
Regards!

Mark, sorry, I understand you are waiting for your (...?) strings bass ?
Ok, just a question, if you may answer on 4 lines (it's best to understand for me, shorts posts): why many monthes to build your bass ... It was begin on december 2006 ?!

they're busy?

Ready to do the drilling. Here's the knobs in position before we do the deed:
 

 
This is slightly revised from the rough draft above. Give me the go ahead and we will drill away.

It looks pretty good, essentially just what I'd like... and it even looks a little better than the previous version, with the jack being in-line with the Q switches... I prefer the aesthetics of this version.
 
There's just one thing... maybe it's just the picture here... but the Q switches -at least the bridge pickup Q switch- don't seem centered.  The bridge pickup Q switch appears to be closer to the bridge filter than to the (should be) treble knob below it.
 
Again, maybe it's just this picture... I realize that this is a mockup, and that you've just taped on the stuff.
 
I just want to emphasize that I'd like it to be as symmetrical as possible, so I'd like each of the Q switches to be centered between the two inner knobs (volume and balance) and the outer knobs on either side, so that they're the same distance from either of the outer knobs, and the same distance from either of the inner knobs.
 
(Obviously, since I've request the inner knobs be a little farther from each other, the Q switches will necessarily be farther from the two inner knobs than from the 2 knobs on either side.)
 
So that's it!  It looks great, and even better than the previous mockup -because of the new jack location.  I kind of disliked the old jack position a little, but it was a minor snivel, and I just didn't want to ask you to move it as it might be a hassle.  But since you came up with this new mockup, I gotta tell you I like it better, and it'll be 100% perfect as long as the layout is symmetrical.
 
So thanks for the mockup, and please proceed with my blessing.  I'll call tomorrow to go over shipping and to see if you have the red shirt or an acceptable substitute.
 
Thanks again for everything, the bass looks absolutely stunningly gorgeous!!!

The first pics of my custom under construction (not counting the mock ups of the body shape) date to 31 Oct 2006.  I placed my order on 3 Dec 05, shortly before I went to Iraq.  However, I've been involved with Mica and Susan on getting little details correct, one of which was the body shape.  Each time they tweaked the body shape, I was afforded the opportunity to take a look at it and say yea or nay.  This is one thing that adds on to the time it takes to build an instrument.  
 
Also, if a customer makes changes to a bass in mid construction Alembic will have to go back and go through the process (make changes, gain customer approval, continue build) again.  This adds to time as well.
 
Finally, the complexity of a customer's wishes also play into the time required.  My bass, for example, requires inlaying forty note inlays on the fingerboard a la John Entwistle's famed Exploiters.  This is going to take time - some of John's basses took three years to build.
 
One last thing - just looking at the FTC thread, one can see that there are a bunch of basses under construction at any one moment.  When I visited Alembic last year, one of the things I noticed is that not every bass gets worked on every day.  Some basses/guitars may be in spray, and the spray has to cure; others are in setup, getting inlays, etc.  It's simply not possible to work on each instrument every day due to the things that each instrument must go through to get built.  Each step requires the time to do it right.  If that process isn't followed, one risks having something go wrong, and I for one would rather have it right than quick.
 
All of these things conspire to lengthen the time it takes to build an instrument, but they also ensure that Alembic gets it right, the way the customer wants the first time.  Speaking for myself only, I'll wait a bit longer if I know it will be the way I like in the end.  Others may not feel that way, and that's cool.  Regarding my custom, I'm glad Alembic is taking the approach they are with it.  I know it will be the bass of a lifetime as a result.

I am happier with the jack in line too, but the jack wasn't something you were concerned with historically, so I didn't fret over it much on my Aug 28th post.  
 
It must be the angle or some lens distortion, 'cause it looks completely symmetrical to me in person. James did the layout with careful measuring, so I'm sure you'll be pleased with the symmetry.

Pierre-Yves, to answer your question, I think the wait time is probably mostly due to me.  (Short answer to your question.)
 
After I placed the order, I had some questions regarding the body shape; since I wasn't sure what I wanted, that resulted in a delay, and other orders placed the same time got worked on while mine waited for the next round.
 
And also, there was at least a little delay while I made measurements on my other bass and communicated with Mica at her insistence -to make certain the measurements would be perfect.
 
Then, I had a specific request regarding the type of figuring I wanted on the Coco Bolo.  While Alembic is known for generally being very accomodating with it's customers regarding figuring -an extra service they don't charge for- it likely added at least some time while they searched for what I wanted; I can't fault them for it, it's part of the price I paid for asking for something specific.
 
I also changed a request I'd made for a beveled peghead with a mini-omega (like yours), and changed the electronics I'd specified.  Both of these change requests -which they were gracious about- added additional wait time.  There's a picture in the archives with a note on my neck saying to hold off until I decide what I want.
 
And finally, I told them all along to take their time with this bass.  There had been some tension and difficulties on my prior custom regarding the build time.  Due in part to mutual communication issues, and certainly due in part to my being unfamiliar with the build process, I got very frustrated with them.  Some of this could have been allievated by them giving me more of a sense of what to expect as a first time custom customer... but I'm certain I could've been more patient as well.
 
Ultimately, the custom 8-string they made me was incredibly awesome, and equalled or surpassed all my expectations, and looking back, I wish I'd been more patient and supportive more than I wish they'd done whatever things on their end differently.  And it ultimately came to my attention that they actually lost a lot of money making my bass... some of the unique features ended up being a lot harder and more costly for them to do then they'd anticipated; in spite of this, they honored their price, and even threw in a couple of really nice extra things just to placate me... Susan even offered to give me a superfilter.  I declined, and I'm sure glad I did, 'cause I'd feel like a real heel if I'd taken her up on it, and then found out that they lost money on it.
 
Mica told me not to worry about it, and that occaissionally it happens.  But I learned from the experience, and when I ordered this custom, it was very important to me that they make some money on this order, and that making this bass for me be a relaxed and stress-free experience.
 
So I told 'em to take their time, and not once did I rush them.  They may have taken me at my word.
 
So, in summary, there were a number of delays that were partially and/or mainly due to me; and I asked them to take their time and to not stress over it.  There was enough stress over the last one.  (Long answer to your question.)

P.S. Major, good attitude, you're right, it will be the bass of a lifetime... and it's looking great!

Oh, Pierre-Yves, it's a SIX STRING (6-string) bass.
 
And the four line answer to your question is:
 
The order took a long time because: (A) I asked them to take their time; and (B) I had requests that added to the build time; and (C) I made several changes which resulted in delays.  Also, (D) there were a few delays resulting from me having to make a few decisions.

Sounds great, Mica... I figured there was a good chance it was just the picture!  Thanks again, I appreciate the careful measuring, and I'm sure I'll be pleased with it!
 
Hey, on a separate note, I was google-ing perfect pitch (which I don't have, although I've worked on it, and am usually within a half step -or a whole step on a bad day- and I found something interesting.  Research indicates that children raised in Asian cultures -where INTONATION is a BIG part of the meaning of words- seem to have a DRAMATICALLY greater likelyhood of having perfect pitch.  Also, there is a lot of evidence that children who are exposed to scales, and have the notes READ to them as they're played See, Dee, Eee, Eff, Gee, Aay, Bee, See, etc seem to natually develope perfect pitch.  The prevailing viewpoint seems to be that there is a limited cognitive window of opportunity/development...
 
Just a thought; your youngster come from a musical family... maybe a little training at the right age will help his potential/future musical aptitude.
 
If you have any interest on the subject, just google perfect pitch, and read up on that Wincapedia online dictionary, there's plenty of info there!
 
Take care, thanks again for everything, it just looks so phenomenal!!!

Your are a super funny man mark !!
I read ALL, many thank's.
Wich month you will have ?

 
 
(Message edited by pierreyves on September 14, 2007)

If I can just add to Alan's comment..
One last thing - just looking at the FTC thread, one can see that there are a bunch of basses under construction at any one moment.  
The only instruments we see being crafted are those destined for forum members. There may be a good many other instruments being made at any one time that we will never know about.
 
Graeme