Mk new balanced k model ...opinions : good or bad ?

[adriaan]

Nigel,
 
Looks like the earlier attempt at downsizing the Large Body called the Balance shape (sans K). I've seen descriptions like Balance Point, so that one would be a Balance Heart Omega.

[dubalbal]

Hello Nigel , Bill and Adriaan , Tkx again for your precisions and advices . I looked at the link that nigel sent to me : it's a superb bass guitar and is precisely the size i'd like !!!!! This is not a new - balanced k model ? It looks a little bigger , perfect like this for me , what is the real name of this shape? balanced heart omega for sure  100%?
 
By the way , following your advices , i'll surely call mica today because i can modify my order till first week of december !!!!!!
 
Anyway i have to hurry a little bit ...

[adriaan]

Alain,
 
Uh, of course the original Balance shape was not so much an attempt to reduce the size, more to improve the balance - hence the name.
 
I think the Balance K is kind of the 3/4 version of the Balance shape. And I'm with you in that the neck p/u looks kind of unbalanced so close to the edge of the body on a Balance K, especially on light coloured woods.

[dubalbal]

Adriaan ,  
 
Hi , so bill's amazing bass should be a new balanced k model that in fact is 3/4 size of a regular balanced model ? Do you have any picture of a 4 strings  regular balanced model ?
 
...glad you understood what i meant by the p/u so close to the edge of the body , this is a bit disturbing me , i'm not used to that at all ...but it might be great...i don't know ... i hope i can see a 4 strings balanced model to compare and then , the choice will be made  
 
Thanks Adriaan

[bsee]

It looks like the big change in a balance model is that the upper horn is extended so that the bass hangs naturally a bit more head-up.

[adriaan]

Check http://www.basscentral.com - they have quite a collection with lots of variations in body shapes.
 
More eye candy on the German distributor's web site - http://www.alembic.de - you have to look for the body shape in the description, which is often not the same as the model listed.
 
That should give you some ideas ...

[David Houck]

Here is what Mica has said about Standard verses Balance Point and Omega shapes:
__________________________
 
Our original Standard Point and Omega body shapes were designed as 4-string medium scale basses, and for the time (early 70s) were not considered neck heavy balancing at 2:30 on a clock face.  
 
For 5 and 6 string configurations and extended scale lengths these shapes didnt' balance as well. So Mike and I worked out the Balance Point, a shape meant to look very similar to the original shapes, but with the upper horn long enough to balance in 5, 6 or more strings. Typically, these hang between 1:30 and 2:00 (maybe 2:30 on a 36: scale 6-string).  
 
The balance is primarily dictated by where the upper strap holder is. On the Balance Point, it's up much higher than on the Standard Point family of shapes. To make it look right, I had to make the body even wider.
_______________
 
Here is the first Balance Omega:
http://www3.alembic.com/img/bp_page.jpg
 
As you can see, the strap button is between the 15th and 16th frets; whereas on a standard body the strap button is around the 19th fret.

[son_of_magni]

Dave, how did you find that picture?  That must be the twin of my claro walnut fretless balancepoint.  Mica told me they made a fretted and a fretless prototype and mine was the fretless... I wonder if there are any old pictures of mine.
- SoM

[flaxattack]

feel free to visit the direwolf custom in ftc- its a 32 in scale 5 string mark king bal k

[David Houck]

SoM; I found it with the quotes from Mica I used, and I found them with a search.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/2828.html