Second new Alembic!

[fivestringdan]

Thank you all for the input with the bass!! This is an outstanding community of people that I am lucky to have found.

Here is the spec ordered.

Alembic, INC
Item DescriptionQty

XMB6 Excel medium-scale 6-string bass

Top Flame Maple

Body Ash

Sandwich: Fl. Map - Walnut pin - Ash body

Neck 5-piece Maple with 4 Walnut pinstripes

Fingerbo... Ebony zero radius comfort taper

LEDs Amber side

Inlay Mother of pearl ovals

Headstock Fan 3+3 logo on the end

Pickup MXY56 middle - FatBoy bridge

Electronics EMW Electronics1

Finish Hand-rubbed oil

Case Hardshell

We are going to add a 2 pos Q switch for the LPF. I decided not to go with a third pickup..lol Mica told me it can be added later if I want but I think this is going to be a great gigging bass!! I have about a month for any changes before it going into production.

Tell me what you guys think.

[mavnet]

Great choices - it'll be an amazing instrument, both looks and sound!
I'm a big fan of the oil finishes - my fretless is oil finished and it just feels warmer in my hands. My others are all gloss, but there's something about the organic nature of the oil finish.

[fivestringdan]

I have owned and still own several basses with an oil finish. I like how the wood patinas over time and the wear/dents that come with use of the instrument. It's nice keeping some basses new "looking" with a hard finish and I like both.

Speaking of...has Alembic ever done color stain with an oil finish? That might be a fun thing to do since I'm using maple for the top.

[StephenR]

Looks like a great build… congratulations on pulling the trigger to get it started.

I think it would be difficult, or impossible, have an oil top finish on an Alembic with a color-stain. The wood is coated with clear coat to seal it before the stain is applied so the color can be reversed in the future if desired. The oil finish probably won’t work over the clear-coat with stain on top of that, the stain gets sealed in with another clear coat. Oil needs to penetrate the bare wood to build a finish.

Are you thinking of having the top stained?

[fivestringdan]

Looks like a great build… congratulations on pulling the trigger to get it started.

I think it would be difficult, or impossible, have an oil top finish on an Alembic with a color-stain. The wood is coated with clear coat to seal it before the stain is applied so the color can be reversed in the future if desired. The oil finish probably won’t work over the clear-coat with stain on top of that, the stain gets sealed in with another clear coat. Oil needs to penetrate the bare wood to build a finish.

Are you thinking of having the top stained?

Yes, I was thinking it would be fun to stain the top if applicable. I believe you can do an alcohol based stain then seal with oil. I haven't done that myself but wanted to try it. Although the color  would not be reversible.

[David Houck]

Congrats on the order!  Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

[fivestringdan]

Congrats on the order!  Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Thank you, David! Me too, maybe I can get some production pictures and post them.

[fivestringdan]

Spec Change!!!

I decided to use Walnut for the top rather than Maple. The original concept of the instrument was to add color to the finish. So maple being the obvious choice for a colored wood. Now that we are using oil as the finish I wanted something more interesting as the top wood so I chose Walnut. Zebrano was a close second as I love the look but not a huge fan of how zebra wood feels when used with oil.

[mica]

If you want a Factory to Customer thread let me know!

[StephenR]

Nice idea pivoting to Walnut for the top wood, love the look and sound of Walnut and it should look great with an oil finish.

[fivestringdan]

If you want a Factory to Customer thread let me know!

That would be so much fun, Mica!!! Yes, let's do that it's been too long since we had a FtC thread!

[fivestringdan]

Nice idea pivoting to Walnut for the top wood, love the look and sound of Walnut and it should look great with an oil finish.

I agree. Walnut will look stunning with an oil finish and add a little touch of dark tone to the Ash/Ebony/Maple wood combo.

[dannobasso]

Congrats! The Excel shape is a fave of mine. Play it in excellent health and inspiration!