Author Topic: Selector switch issue... (Read 621 times)

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #30 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:46:37 AM »

This is the final rap on the Toma_Hawk Fretless!

I want a Vermillion core.

Peace and Love,

Hal-

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:49:44 AM »

so vermillion core with a maple top that doesn't cover all of it, correct?

~Taylor

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #32 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:21:11 AM »

That's true Taylor.

The natural maple is the top lam.

I think for a fretless bass, the selector switch on the horn, is perfect.

Being that this is not a fretted bass (and not a slapper), the risks of ramming fingers is completely out of the equation. There for I plea with reason, for a design variance supporting the original selector switch without charge for my new bass.

Clearly (IHMO), neither Stanley Clarke, nor Mark King addressed this issue from a fretless bass perspective and I don't think I would be to far off the mark; for believing anybody else established any formal complaints...

Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 19, 2010)

nnek · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2010, 01:14:10 PM »

Pardon my ignorance, but if these are custom instruments. Why would there be any extra charge for placement of a switch? I could see and extra fee for a switch or no switch, or a more elaborate switch. If it takes more routing for the upper horn...OK, but the lower body is largely hollow.

gregduboc · « **Reply #34 on:** August 19, 2010, 01:18:29 PM »

Kenn, this is what Mica said a couple of posts above:
There is an extra charge for the switch placement because there is a brass plate holding the switch on the lower horn. When the switch is with the rest of the electronics, there is no additional plate.

Hal, are you going to have a massive ebony neck laminate on your next bass??

Greg

nnek · « **Reply #35 on:** August 19, 2010, 01:38:43 PM »

I was wondering about the extra plate but as you see my series one evidently has no need for that plate...

Yes I know it's the wrong knob....

gregduboc · « **Reply #36 on:** August 19, 2010, 01:45:08 PM »

I believe she was referring to the round brass plate that goes right under the switch (in between the switch and the top wood).
As you see, in the new position, the switch lays on the top wood, without the brass plate (as seen on Hal's toma_hawk):

Greg

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #37 on:** August 19, 2010, 01:48:16 PM »

Greg,

The ebony is only 17mm thick or roughly 2/3 more. But remember there will be no purple heart, and no other woods, this time around.

I personally don't think it would weigh more than my fretted Tommy, and when you consider this new bass will be without the frets; and the core change from mahogany, to maple vermillion maple the weight will balance out.

No worries.

Toma_Hawk #2
(Sloppy Seconds)

Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 19, 2010)

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #38 on:** August 19, 2010, 02:29:40 PM »

Alembic basses are...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-spefU16lNc

Ho Ho Ho Ho...

Peace and Love,

Hal-

crgaston · « **Reply #39 on:** August 19, 2010, 02:43:47 PM »

Sweet bass, Kenn!

bigredbass · « **Reply #40 on:** August 19, 2010, 03:04:51 PM »

The extra charge comes from the price of the brass surround, plus it's countersunk into the face of the instrument, not just stuck on the top like the surround on a Les Paul selector, for instance. The now-standard location entails one more hole into the existing electronics pocket.

As always, there's custom with a 'little c' (a mix of existing features/templates/shapes) and custom with a 'big c' ('well, sure, we've never done a bass shaped like a rhinoceros, but why not?').

J o e y

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #41 on:** August 19, 2010, 03:19:14 PM »

I might just pickup another used Series 1 with the switch on the horn, and convert it to a fretless, and call it a day.

Hey, that might even be fun searching for the right bass anyway.

OK, I beat that horse too many time now, so I am done.

Nice bass Charles.

Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 19, 2010)

edwin · « **Reply #42 on:** August 19, 2010, 05:37:14 PM »

Hal-
Have you ever listened to Jim Cammack? He plays a fretless Series I and just smokes on it, I think of him whenever I think of fretless Series bass. When I first heard him, it was late at night coming home from a gig and he came on the radio. It was a cut (Caravan, maybe?) from Ahmad Jamal, Live In Paris '92. At first I thought, boy, that guy sounds like Jaco, but that bass tone is amazing and it's swinging much deeper! Since then, I've gotten to see him a couple times, but he's played mostly upright.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q--WcKYyWoQ

http://www.myspace.com/jimcammack

The trio with Idris Muhammed is spectacular.

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #43 on:** August 19, 2010, 06:38:32 PM »

Thanks for the music clip. I am a big fan of Ahmed Jamal, and had been -- day one. My Father was musically acquainted with Ahmed back in the 60's and tuned my hears in Ahmed's direction.

Jim Cammack has been around, and what a lucky guy to have been playing with Ahmed, and such a beautiful Alembic series bass.

By the way, Jim's bass is the same body model Kenn has (above), but in a fretless configuration... What a cool bass those guys both have to enjoy.

Kenn, I love that Roster/Chicken head knob you're using as a selector switch. They have them in red too...

I can dig it man!

Peace and Love,

Hal-

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 19, 2010)

David Houck · « **Reply #44 on:** August 19, 2010, 06:49:24 PM »

Edwin; I'm watching the Ahmad Jamal video; very nice! And a cool top on the Alembic!