Author Topic: I would really like some detailed info on... (Read 428 times)

the_mule · « **on:** January 26, 2004, 10:32:52 AM »

...my Orion 4 with serial# 99OW12156USA, especially to make sure which wood is used for the top. I'm told that it's Burl Walnut, but so far I haven't seen another example of an Orion (or any other model) with a similar top. Maybe there aren't many Orions and/or Alembics made with this choice of wood? Thanx, Wilfred

(Message edited by the mule on January 26, 2004)

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2004, 03:27:03 AM »

Ha die Wilfred,

That's a really nice looking Orion with a special kind of a top! But I don't think it's what they normally call 'burl walnut' (see http://club.alembic.com/Images/2344/2989.html?1042161675).

A burl could be the same as what we call a 'knoest'.

Welcome to the club!

Adriaan

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2004, 08:04:33 AM »

Your top wood is sometimes called crotch walnut. As the name implies, it comes from the crotch of grafted walnut trees where the black walnut trunk meets the English walnut branches. My old Orion fretless 5, now owned by my brother in law, has a particularly nice example of this wood. Someday I'll get a digital camera and post pics....someday. (So all you Pauls can just put those mugs down Right Now!)

Kent

the_mule · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2004, 09:13:01 AM »

Thank you very much for the information so far, so maybe it's not Burl Walnut but Crotch Walnut, hmmmm, sure sounds different!

Is this an official name, is it discontinued by Alembic as a top wood?

I still hope that 'all will be revealed' with the help of the good people at Alembic, and what's in their files about 99OW12156USA ...

And Adriaan: dankjewel!

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:10:02 AM »

Valentino will look up the details on your specific instrument shortly, but I must tell you the type of walnut you have is known as Grafted Walnut.

Here in California, our native walnut is very good at growing in the clay type of soils we have, but the walnuts are small and not as tasty as the Persian or European walnuts. So the orchards are planted with the native walnut roots grafted to a more delicious walnut for the stem and crown. At the intersection of this graft, very interesting things happen.

The graft in orchards is usually far below the crotch, sometimes almost at the ground, although I have seen the graft as high as the crotch before.

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:41:17 AM »

I grew up in a subdivision that was built in a walnut orchard--all the grafts in this particular orchard were at the crotch. There's an enormous tree in my parent's backyard (trunk diameter 3-4 feet) that should make some beautiful instruments if it ever needs to come down.

Kent

valvil · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2004, 01:08:38 PM »

Hello Wilfred,

this is what our file shows:

1999 4 string Long Scale Orion bass
California walnut top
maple pinstripe
mahogany body
ebony fretboard
Maple neck w/ walnut pinstripes
Europa 4 peghead
brass hardware
Alembic Gotoh gold tuners
gold strap pins
bronze logo
bird tailpiece
Epic electronics
completed 08/27/99

That's it.

Valentino

lembic76450 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2004, 04:58:28 PM »

Hey Mule,
Welcome and beautiful bass.
Since no one else has asked, is this an Asimovian? reference???

the_mule · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:07:08 PM »

@ Valentino: thank you for the 'bith certificate' of my bass, I really appreciate your effort. Well, it's Californian 'Grafted' Walnut after all, the mystery is solved! But anyway, Alembic has done a fabulous job with this one!

@ Lembic76450: I'm sorry, but I really don't know what an 'Asimovian' is..?

Wilfred

adriaan · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:10:39 PM »

SF author Isaac Asimov?

lembic76450 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2004, 10:04:10 AM »

Good catch Adriaan, that is who I was refering to.
Wilfred, The Mule was a character in Isaac's
Foundation series. We have a few SF related screen names here. Once again, welcome, and your bass again shows that we have close to home some truely exotic and wonderful woods.
Kenn R.

the_mule · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2004, 10:48:01 AM »

Sorry, double post!

(Message edited by the mule on January 28, 2004)

the_mule · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2004, 10:49:55 AM »

Ah, right, The Mule actually refers to one of my favourite bands: Gov't Mule. But now you've mentioned it, I remember that a long time ago (on another forum) someone asked me a similar question!

It's also the name that I gave to my customised Guild B-301 bass, that's been more or less the reason why I started playing bass in the first place.

For those interested, you might like to take a look at the pictures in my Webshots-album(s):

http://community.webshots.com/user/themuleguitars

Wilfred

(Message edited by the mule on January 29, 2004)

bracheen · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2004, 12:16:00 PM »

Very nice collection! I'm surprised that there's not an Allen Woody in the group.

smokin_dave · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2004, 05:55:25 PM »

Just saw Guv Mule last night here in Indy and it was a stellar show.She Said She Saidwas killer as well as Beautifully Broken.Going to go out and get the new CD/DVD this weekend.Very nice Orion by the way.A very unusual looking top.I really dig it.