Author Topic: The art of waiting (Read 459 times)

alembic76407 · « **on:** September 13, 2003, 06:21:25 AM »

I don't know how some of you do it, order a bass or guitar then wait, then ask Mica to throw a bone(picture)your way, and wait some more, I drive my wife crazy waiting for a Movie or a CD to show up at my door step, I think I would be hard to live with waiting for a new Alembic,and I know it would be worth the wait, and thank god we have this great support group to get through the tough times, I wish I were waiting,
no I don't, yes I do, no I don't, yes I do,

David T

bob · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2003, 10:12:04 AM »

Once you accept the fact that you simply have no way of knowing when it will be ready, it gets much easier... in fact, the people who've known I'm getting one seem to be having a harder time with the wait.

And the very last thing you want to do, especially when asking for a bunch of custom work, is to try to rush these people - they care too much to even consider it anyway, so all you could really do is irritate them. Besides, you start to think of them as friends.

You're right that the support group helps, a lot. You see all these other people going through the same process, being patient (mostly), and then one day it's done and everyone celebrates.

And as much as I wish I had mine already, we've ended up doing a couple of cool things that wouldn't have happened if it had been finished sooner, so the patience really is paying off.

Though in hindsight, I've had enough time now to feel like it might have been a good idea to pick up a used one to tide me over.

bishopqdog · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2003, 10:50:36 AM »

The waiting also affords you time to get these find pieces of art paid for. My wait time isn't unbearable because I own an alembic already and have owned two others. But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't love to have my precious now!

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2003, 11:48:12 AM »

You are better than me. I would never have the nerves for it. I would just buy a built one, if for no other reason than once I got a custom, I'd forever kick myself for the things I didn't think of until AFTER I recieved it !

Say Bob, once you get it . . . have you thought about vibration treatment? (see 'Wood Aging' thread)

J o e y

dannobasso · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2003, 11:55:02 AM »

The waiting may be the hardest part but as has been stated before, this is an exceptional company run by exceptional people. I bought my first off the rack in 83 and ordered my first in 86. The latest one, ordered in April is almost paid off before it arrives. I have lots of Alembic children to help me while I wait. 8 are waiting for the 9th to show up.
But aside from waiting for the superb craftsmanship please reflect on the wonderful people who make it happen. I can tell you that the care, consideration, talent and skill with their product is only surpassed by their genuine interest and compassion for their clients. Never would someone from another company express and demonstrate the grace and generousity that the Wickershams have throughout the years. I have always been proud of my instruments and proud that Mica and Susan have always extended themselves to a guy from Jersey. I just asked for some additional custom work and they are making it happen with no reservation whatsoever. This company is beyond professional. They are a true family.

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2003, 02:59:54 PM »

Ts-ts-ts
You all are suffering the famous Santaclaus syndrome mostly seen by younger children around X-mas.
Well ...there is although a difference: you don't know when he will come!
To all those pregnants be patient and control your breath!
To the alembicians: go into labour!
Sicerly from a non-waiter, I'm with you!

Paul the badly-impatient one

PS: well ...you know ...I'm a bit of pregnant too. Me too I placed an Alembic order ! Yessir-indeed sir!
A packet of plate-screws, 4 hat knobs and 4 pointer knobs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

rami · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2003, 04:07:42 PM »

There's NOTHING like owning a custom built Alembic. The wait can be brutal (believe me - I know), but the satisfaction is well worth it. After this one, I'm probably done with ordering custom Alembics - I have to admit that the wait (9 months so far - and it hasn't even been started yet) is quite a turn off. But I'm hoping that when it gets done that I still have that great feeling I had when I recieved my last one.

But this is really it for me.

Rami

bishopqdog · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2003, 08:53:41 PM »

rami, if you don't mind my asking, what are you having built? 9 months is a long time.!

dannobasso · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2003, 06:10:50 AM »

Keep in mind newer cohorts that this is also a small company employee wise. I'm not sure how many instruments are in production at any given time, but I'm sure it can be quite a lot. I have been aware of the fact that if someone gets sick for a few days, say in spray, it can set things back quite a bit. To put a little perspective in this, I had my dragon spoiler 6 repaired by TW Doyle. For a headstock gluing and fretjob it took 20 MONTHS! When I finally got the call to pick it up he said, You said no rush. I think he charged me rent while he was working because the bill was astronomical! For my latest bass it's 5 months and counting.

zappahead · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2003, 07:07:51 AM »

I dont think I could give away an instrument for 20 months, thats a lot to tolerate. You are a better man than me. Wow thats a long wait, you could order 4 or 5 new instruments in that time. If you had said rush, would it have been done in a year? Heh. He should have cut you a discount for keeping an instrument that long unless it was made clear up front how long your wait would be. Thats nearly two years. Ouch.

rami · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2003, 07:15:55 AM »

Usually, when we say There's no rush, we mean that we'd like it to be well done. Carefully and meticulously - not a rush job where corners may be cut. We DON'T mean leave it in a corner of the shop and forget about it until the customer is at the end of his patience. That'll just turn a customer off to future projects - as in my case.

Rami

dannobasso · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2003, 12:12:34 PM »

To add insult to injury, the shop luthier strung it like a Fender 6 not an Alembic 6 and broke strings and told me he couldn't figure out why that was happening and could I bring another set with me when I picked it up. One of the reasons for the wait was that Mr. Doyle was working on the Brian Moore prototypes. Friggin' eh! But I have played their guitars. Great for the price but not at the expense of other customers. I could have made a dozen pencils with the sawdust that was piled on my case when I got it back. Next time send it back to Santa Rosa! They know how to string a bass.

malthumb · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2003, 06:07:17 PM »

When I ordered my Mark King Custom, I survived the gestation period by acquiring other Alembic stuff. Mainly catalogs and press photos and magazine articles. Picked up a lot of stuff on eBay.

Of course to some extent getting all that new Alembic stuff made me even more anxious for the real deal. To the point that I went out and bought a used Series I that arrived a day or two before my MKC.

Actually, in retrospect, my wait was not that long. I ordered the bass in March or April of 2000 and got it in June.

(Message edited by malthumb on September 14, 2003)

alemboid · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2003, 07:08:51 PM »

Waiting, waiting, waiting, Blaaaaaaaaaah!!!

It's driving me nuts!!! I just bought the wineburst Orion 5 pictured in the Showcase section in the Orion thread. It has been a week, and I know that's nothing compared to 9 months, but yowza! I can't rest until she's home in my arms! All I have is the picture posted on this website. There's nothing like that magic moment when the box arrives, you forget you had to be somewhere in an hour, you know what's waiting inside, you open the case as rays of light blind you for just a moment- and then there she is...
You tell your wife see ya in a day or so as you plug in the new bass... Oops! getting carried away! Ok guys- tell me you haven't been there!

Bryant

bishopqdog · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2003, 07:31:41 AM »

I'm really craving wood right now. I could use a hippie sandwich. : )