All Things Omega.

[edwardofhuncote]

Sounds comprehensive... 


Obviously I'm a big fan; it's my favorite of all the styles. (and that's a tough pick...) When designing my Custom, I asked Mica to incorporate some features from a few mid-1970's basses, each with a unique shape. Seems kinda' weird somehow to think about the shape of the cutout, but that's part of what makes each one an individual. Lately I've been wondering when and how this distinctive feature came about.


I'll start with this question:


1.) Whose was first?


Several of my favorite bassists play, or have played Omega-cut Alembics... John McVie, Jimmy Johnson, Phil Lesh, and on. We can turn this thread into anything... pictures, discussion, or even pure speculation.

[David Houck]

I kinda like this here Heart Omega.

[ltsal]

If i would order a new Alembic it would be a Omega shape.

[lembic76450]

It is a simple Omega, but, I really like the dual strap post option.

[pauldo]

Agreed, there is a beauty to the omega cut that is undeniable.  First one I saw was on a Led Zepplin poster...

[edwardofhuncote]

I wonder if Phil's "Osage Orange/Mission Control" bass wasn't the first example...? If I recall correctly, it was #74-008, though that number in itself seems odd.

[dela217]

If the Osage Orange bass was 74-008, it may have been 74-o08.   Which is not that odd.   In 74 and 75 there was a run of serial numbers with alpha o's in them.   I have owned o13, o49, o62.    Go figure.   No clue with the o stood for.

[rv_bass]

Something Old...Something New

[edwardofhuncote]

Rediscovered this thread while looking for something else... decided it needed a little bump. 

Haven't seen or heard from 'allgood' in a while, but here's #75-183, repatriated to the U.S. from Japan last year, she's a classic early Omega-cut if ever there was one. Medium-scale. Zebrawood. Vermilion neck lams. Awesome to the Mahogany core.

And to this day, I'm startled every time I open the case, at the perfect union of art and technology that is my own 2017 Custom fretless.

[pauldo]

My first Omega sighting was back in the late 70’s/ early 80’s in my neighbor’s basement.  They had a giant Led Zeppelin poster and JPJ’s bass called to me.  Didn’t know who Alembic was back then but definitely knew I loved the shape of the cut out. 

Paul (who can’t remember  if the poster was the triple omega - pretty sure it was just a  ‘standard’)

[gearhed289]

Probably around my junior year of HS, I took a hole saw and a jig saw to my first beginner bass tying to create an omega cut. I won't post pictures... 

[hieronymous]

Rediscovered this thread while looking for something else... decided it needed a little bump. 

Haven't seen or heard from 'allgood' in a while, but here's #75-183, repatriated to the U.S. from Japan last year, she's a classic early Omega-cut if ever there was one. Medium-scale. Zebrawood. Vermilion neck lams. Awesome to the Mahogany core.

And to this day, I'm startled every time I open the case, at the perfect union of art and technology that is my own 2017 Custom fretless.

I actually don't have anything to contribute omega-wise (though on Facebook someone was sharing an interesting double-scorpion with a non-standard omega cut) - but edwardofhuncote - could you talk about the way you have your strap connected with the cable going through it? I usually put mine through the strap as well but it doesn't really work with normal Schallers...

[adriaan]

I actually don't have anything to contribute omega-wise (though on Facebook someone was sharing an interesting double-scorpion with a non-standard omega cut) - but edwardofhuncote - could you talk about the way you have your strap connected with the cable going through it? I usually put mine through the strap as well but it doesn't really work with normal Schallers...

Harry, here's how I loop mine, with the newer Schaller S-Locks, that let you double up thicker straps.

[edwardofhuncote]

Nothing special Hieronymus, I just do it as a safety to keep a little bit of buffer there in case somebody gets tangled up in my cable. I always have this fear of jerking the jack clean out of a bass that way. I even had breakaway cables made up once with Switchcraft and Neutrik components. Worst that could happen is my bass would be unplugged. I loop it through my strap the same way.

[hieronymous]

Thanks! Sorry for the thread-veer. I'll have to look into the new Schallers.