76-449

[rv_bass]

Smitty has a twin

[edwardofhuncote]

Ooooh. A Fretted Sister. 


Interesting how 449 shares the maple/walnut neck layup and koa top/back, but a maple core rather than the birch of 75-AO13.


Beautiful bass, Rob... love the figure in that top!

[welovecats]

Congrats Rob, so glad you’re the one who snagged that beauty. How does the maple effect the sound?

[rv_bass]

Thanks, guys, it’s a beauty and in excellent shape.  I thought the original paperwork that was in the case compartment was cool. I’ve only had time to check it out and make sure everything works and I want to restring it with flats, but looking forward to seeing how maple compares to other core types.  I believe Jazzyvee and others like maple cores, so it will be nice to have that added tonal variety.

[BeenDown139]

maple cores are teh bomb. ☠️🏴‍☠️🥴

[rv_bass]

maple cores are teh bomb. ☠️🏴‍☠️🥴

[rv_bass]

One more photo for the file…

[rv_bass]

Just adding a close up photo to the pile (a little blurry due to resizing)

[rv_bass]

The sunlight hit my bass while practicing today, the flamed koa on this bass is beautiful!

The darker parallel stripes are shadows from the window shade.

[Spoilers!]

That grain is gorgeous.  I love the experience of seeing light hit either of my Spoilers just right and making the flame pop.

Ken

[edwardofhuncote]

Koa can be some really special wood.  Sometimes it's got wild flame figuring, sometimes just plain bland. Rob's bass here, has a lot of that *wow* factor. Thing about koa; it's also got some really cool resonant properties. I've never had an Alembic bass or guitar with any of it (though I did wonder if #621 might be koa-topped for a while) but having played a number of guitars made of it, I can tell you, it certainly has a unique voice. Can't really compare it to anything else.

This one's mighty sweet, Rob. You should pose it with 75-A013 "Smitty" for the Koa family photo sometime.

~Gregory (who thinks that #76-449 needs a Hawaiian name...)

[pauldo]

Gregory you should be dubbed the Alembic Encyclopedia.  I am always impressed with your Alembic build history facts.

[rv_bass]

~Gregory (who thinks that #76-449 needs a Hawaiian name...)

How about, “Hula Mele”

Hula and mele chants are the ancient way that Hawaiians tell their stories, pay reverence to nature, and unite mind, body and spirit with all of creation.  Hula and mele are also a celebration of the beauty of the heart of the Hawaiian people, their love and aloha.

[edwardofhuncote]

There it is... 

[David Houck]

Updated pics are wonderful!