Jan 1, 2005 Price Increase?

[dannobasso]

I think the price of a Bloomin' Onion has just gone up. As long as they done scrimp on the dipping sauce! Good Luck AJ and thanks for your service to our country.(no joke, seriously thanks) In Jersey I think we can now get 7 letters on our plates. When I get my Vette I'll try to get those plates! Oh well off to another sound job to pay for the black paint!
Danno

[ajdover]

Danno,
 
    Bloomin Onions are hideously simple to make at home, and usually better.  Same goes for the sauce.  If you wish to know how, let me know.  And I promise not to raise the price!  At last, one instance in which you can get quality and quantity at a decent price!  :-)
 
Alan
 
 
     
     

[lbpesq]

Alan:
 
   Bloomin' Onion, Bloomin' Onion!  I want mine with purpleheart lams & LEDS!  Seriously though, please tell us: how do you make a Bloomin' Onion?
 
Happy Halloween everyone!  Trick or Treat.
 
Bill, t-tgr  (tonight-the Grim Reaper, or as my kid dubbed me when he was 5, the Green Ripper)

[ajdover]

Bill (and all),
 
   A Bloomin Onion is not that hard to make at all, actually.  You can do a google search for it (type in bloomin onion just like that, and a zillion recipes will come up), and go that route if you wish.
 
   Bottom line is you take a large onion, and cut small bit of the bulb end off, leaving the root end intact.  You then make a series of cuts, vertically, all around the onion, while you have it sitting on its root end.  You should have about 12-15 cuts, with slices about 1/2 inch wide (there may be more cuts depending on the size of the onion).  Do not cut all the way through the root end; this is what holds it together.  At this point, separate out the petals you've just created, and then dredge it in flour.  Make sure to get flour in and amongst the petals - this is what makes the batter stick to it.  Shake off the excess flour (you don't want big globs of flour trapped amongst the petals), and dip the onion into the batter of your choice (again, there are a zillion batters out there, take your pick), drain a bit, and allow it to set up a bit in the refrigerator, say 15-20 minutes or so, or up to an hour.  Remove from fridge and place into 365-375 degree F oil and deep fry (use a high smoke point oil like peanut, vegetable, etc.).  Fry until item floats, and it is GB&D (golden brown and delicious).  Remove from oil, and drain on a half sheet pan fitted with a rack (or paper towels if you don't have one).  Allow to cool slightly, then cut the core out of the onion (you can do this with a knife, or there are actual bloomin onion kits which have a special gadget for this, or use an apple corer), spread the petals apart a bit, season with salt and pepper, and place a small bowl or ramekin of dipping sauce (I make mine out of mayo, ketchup, chili sauce, etc., whatever I have on hand) in the middle, place on plate and watch your friends gasp in awe at your culinary prowess.
 
Yeah, I know, not related to Alembics, but the question was asked.  Anyone wanting answers to other culinary questions can email me off the club/list/forum.  Now back to the basses!  
 
Regards,
 
Alan

[dannobasso]

Now that's a tasty and helpful way to end a thread!
Thanks, Danno

[bsee]

Danno, very presumptious of you.  I must have missed the announcement that you were now a thread-ending moderator.  I'll have to do a search...  
 
Another great way to make a very similar dish involves olive oil, a few spices and some bread crumbs.  Cut your onion the same way as AJ describes, but spray it with olive oil.  Get it good and wet, sprinkle it with some salt and pepper, then liberally with bread crumbs and toss it on the grill.  Keep an eye on it and you'll see it naturally open as it cooks.  The better job you do of separating out the pieces when you're oiling/breading, the more thorough the coating.  You can go back and spray and sprinkle again during the cooking process.  
 
Also, Vidalia onions are naturally sweet and the result will be much sweeter than if you try this with a spanish onion.
 
Finally, I'm still not excited about the price increase...

[jlpicard]

OK, My two cents worth, On a material level, I love Alembics more than anthing on the face of the Earth! The price increase was like a knife in the heart but in the long run will not deter me from getting a Series II someday. I do have one criticism though.I am an amature bass builder for my own use. I have been to local suppliers of hardwood (MacBeath). Have the latest price list from Luthiers Merchantile, been on line at Gilmer Wood ,All Righteous Woods, Cocobolo Inc. etc. I have found some excellent quality but never even came close to finding a $1000 piece of cocobolo! And we're talkin' retail! I am not judging ,just tring to understand. Does Alembic offset their other business expenses this way?               Mike the confused one.

[susan]

Mike,
 
Understandable why you might be confused, you need to take the thought beyond the board.
 
It's not just the cost of a single board that dictates the price of it or any other part of an instrument for that matter. It's the other related items that determine a price.  
 
For example take the cocobolo you mentioned, the floor space 3 tons of cocobolo take up month after month is part of the cost, a board may be 4 or 6 feet long, maybe I could get 4 or more instruments out of it depending on the board widths if we really crammed them and tried to optimize the board. We don't follow that practice. We use only the sweetest spot on a board and if that yields only one or two instruments then what is not used becomes part of the cost of what we do use.  
 
Most builders don't use coco bolo because it is difficult to work with unless you have a great deal of experience with it as we do. It can crack, and while the oils in the wood add to its sonic qualities, it makes it harder to accept both glues and finish. Speaking of finish we have to determine the receipe of catalyst/reducer/finish  for each coco bolo instrument to make it work. Then typically it takes two weeks longer in finish than other woods and sometimes longer than that. It must then cure longer before rub out and have a rest period before buff out and final set up.
 
All of this takes time and labor which is part of the finished product. It also means that you the customer don't have to wonder if your coco bolo instrument will be a beautiful one retain its form and finish into the future.  
 
I would also point out you quoted the retail price for coco bolo which obviously is not what Alembic is compensated. I hope this is helpful in increasing the understanding.
 
-susan

[bigbadbill]

Sorry to backtrack a bit with this thread, but just to offer some advice to Paul (slacker42uk); if you fancy an Alembic bass again and have any problems with set up due to change of strings (or any other reason), go to Martin Petersen at the Bass Gallery (also known as just the Gallery) in Camden Town. Martin stocks Alembics and has performed minor surgery before where necessary for customers who prefer lighter strings(I believe if the neck is too straight it is just heat treated slightly but don't quote me on that); in fact he advised me when I bought my Stanley Clarke to be aware of the possibility of the problem you described arising; apparently it's not a difficult job. I have yet to come across anyone who is less than amazed by his woodworking skills, and in addition he's generally far cheaper than anyone else I've tried in the UK (and better IMHO)and is a fabulously nice guy to boot. Consider that he makes some of the finest bass guitars in the world himself; I can't think of anything I wouldn't trust him with bass wise.    

[lbpesq]

Susan:
 
We don't follow that practice. We use only the sweetest spot on a board and if that yields only one or two instruments then what is not used becomes part of the cost of what we do use.
 
Does this mean we'll get more boxes!!!! Yee ha!
 
Bill, tgo

[dannobasso]

I would not want the heady responsibilty of being a board moderator, dispensing judgements on those who are not in keeping with the spirit of this collective. I was under the impression that a lighthearted approach is part of the spirit of this most hallowed domain. If I have offended anyone who does have that authority then I shall offer my appologies to the proper authorities that pay for the server. If ever there is any pronouncement to the effect that I should have any responsibilities connected with this forum, I shall decline in deference to those who say ekki ekki patao and neee-wah. I must away to make my penance with a shrubury. I wonder if Roger is open on election day?
Danno

[lbpesq]

Danno:
 
    Be very careful.  That's not an ordinary rabbit!
 
Bill, tgo & I'm a lumberjack!

[adriaan]

I'll throw in the closing statement by Richard F. Nixon for good measure.
 
[Uh oh, that should read Richard M. Nixon. Guess I'll be thrown into the river now.]
 
(Message edited by adriaan on November 02, 2004)

[bsee]

I hang out with a guy who is a serious wood-turner.  I, too, have noted the significant difference in general wood cost vs. the price list, but was able to understand the difficulties in working some of these pieces from my friend.  He was initially surprised that cocobolo would be more expensive than tulipwood based upon the wood cost, but quickly realized that the labor issues would make up the difference.  I also remember a discussion of the amount of work that could go into a burl top when they match up and fill any voids with other pieces that look like they were meant to be there.  It has to be almost like getting a bunch of inlay work done from a labor perspective.
 
All that said, he's making bowls, pepper mills, vases, and all sorts of cute little things.  Unfortunately, the remains of a 1/4 or even 1/2 cocobolo board scraps wouldn't be particularly useful for him except as accent pieces.  Between the wood size issue and the fact that Alembic is using the sweetest grain and figure areas of the boards, there is probably very little of the scraps that have much commercial value.  That's the price of doing business, and certainly an understandable and acceptable cost when you look at the results!
 
And all that is before you take into account the occasional board that is hiding a flaw that gets exposed when it is cut, or the piece that cracks in spite of the most skilled working efforts.  

[flaxattack]

oh the lament of being craftsmen. i make tiffany lamps as a hobby. like susan said, i could utilize most of a 2x4ft piece of glass,but i too look for the piece thats fits my needs and eye.
 and for that, i end up with app a 40% scrap loss.and then what happens if that special piece breaks?  
Susan probably rejects more wood than she keeps-and goes through every board.i wont even begin to think about what the boards for my bass cost.thats none of my business. its like trying to figure out what a car costs.  
what we are paying for is a HAND crafted one of a kind work of art and sound.
many companies that buy and hold inventory finance it. if one were to sit back and think about all the premium wood sitting at alembic waiting for homes and what the possible finance charges would be, not to mention costs of doing business, paying luthiers and staff, costs of energy etc.
 and wood dont grow on trees! D'OH
 
bash me if you like, but while anyone hates to see price increases...  
buy an alembic or go grab a fender off the shelf.
There are still 65 days to buy one at the current levels.