Is A Series II to good for me?

[tbrannon]

That neck sounds AWESOME.  I love all the nice multi-laminate necks that have been popping up lately.  Cool stuff.
 
Since you're going with the Koa, I'm gonna assume you might like some of amber-vintage tinted maples.  Have you seen any of them?  Check these two- the first is a quilted maple Series II and the 2nd Oliver's birdseye Maple Dragon Wing.  
Quilt Maple Series II  
Dragon Wing  
 
Looking forward to seeing the progress~ Enjoy it.
 
Toby

[lbpesq]

Paul, tho  (the Hawaiian one)  Congrats and welcome to the club!  I think you are making the right decision.  As a guitar player, I experienced the same phenomena regarding technique.  My first Alembic was an '83 Electrum which I bought in 2004.  (After lusting for one for about 30 years - Deadhead, you know how it goes).  That was followed by a '76 Series I and a Custom Further still in progress, as well as Alembic guts transplants to three other guitars.  Basically, an Alembic will not hide the sloppy technique that gets swept under the pick guard when I play my Strat, ES335, Daion, or other non-Alembic instruments.  The Alembics have so much presence and are so clean and clear that you have to finger them right.  Don't be intimidated by this - it really is a good thing.  I don't think this is because I was a bad player before, it's just that there were aspects to my technique that I didn't pay attention to because I was unaware due to the fact that I couldn't hear it.  The Alembics brought this out.  No great changes required, just a little more attention to detail.  The result is well worth the effort.  As for your choice of woods, it sounds like it's going to be a beautiful bass.  My Further is being built with a 5A quilted maple top and cocobolo back.  Here are some pics:  

 

  Toby's suggestion of an amber tint is certainly one to consider.  Mine will be getting such a tint after the final inlay is completed.  Bill, the guitar one

[mele_aloha]

Ibpesq,
 
Your guitar is the first guitar that I referred to Valentino as an example. At first I mistook yours for the December Chesire custom. That was while I was on phone with Valentino. Then when I got off of the phone I went back and checked and realized that yours wasn't that one. When I double checked the Cheshire up close it was all birdseye. There is also a guitar above (the quilt maple II series) that tbrannon sent me a link to that has a little birdseye in it in the top which I really like so I also sent that link to Valentino to refer to him about it.
 
Needless to say your guitar was one of the deciding pics that I was looking at when I made the choice to revert from koa on front and maple on back to viseversa.
 
I Have had the above signature bass on my screensaver for some time now and I did about 6 months ago for a while.
 
I think what really gets me the most about the maple is that depth. The 3d effect. I just love that. It's like you can reach into it.  
 
The koa also has that if it is sanded and coated really well. My Carvin has a pretty good effect but when I look at yours, the job that the experts have done, it just astounds me. I am mezmarized. Your guitar is beautiful.
 
I have to tell you all though, this is a very hard decision for me as it is a lifetime decision and I absolutely love all of the woods in their own way. The coco bolo, the walnut especially where I was brought up around walnut trees and the spaldings,the redwoods, they are all gorgeous.  
 
The truth is that you would have never known it unless the folks at Alembic got there hands on it and made it that way. They bring out the beauty of the nature!
 
It reminds me of those rocks that you can find where they just look like an ugly old rock until they are cut open and the edges are polished and they are full of crystals. That's what these basses are about. Alembic gets ahold of the wood, they polish them up and install all of this magic crystal and POOFFFF, MAGIC!!!
 
I am so hungry for the sound now that I am going nuts. I have my Excel plugged in over there into my SVT-2 pro and all of the tubes have been warming up for several hours now and getting ready to play. But when that Series II comes I am sure like all of the rest of you, I won't be able to peel off of the thing. My poor 3 year old little buddy won't be able to get ahold of me I'm afraid.
 
Thanks Bill, Paul  
 
Thanks for the response, Paul

[the_8_string_king]

Paul, I'll really look forward to seeing your neck!!!  Sounds tres' cool.
 
If ya want some inspiration, check out the neck on my custom 6-string in FTC!  And also the neck on my custom 8-String Europa (see 8 Strings of Power in the Custom Archives)!!!
 
Yeah, Toby, you're right about all the cool necks that've been popping up recently.  I've really been digging them.  I'm looking forward to digging mine!
 
And Paul... about the Ebony in the neck... you WON'T be sorry!!!
 
Mark TMSO (the multi-stringed one)

[mele_aloha]

Ya Mark, I've been watching your bass. The neck is awesome. I am looking for your 8sop now.

[lbpesq]

Paul:
 
Aloha!  I also love the cocobolo, especially the really swirly stuff (gee, can you tell?).  But, like you, it is the 3D effect of quilted maple that absolutely floors me every time.  You may notice that I reversed the woods on my peghead:  cocobolo front and q maple back, so a touch of each is always showing regardless of the viewing angle.  Koa is also an amazing wood.  My Series has a koa core which is incredible to look at.  In person it appears to be translucent allowing glimpses of the interior!
 

 
Enjoy the ride.
 
Bill, tgo

[mele_aloha]

WWWOOOOEEEE BILL!!!
 
What a beautiful shot of a beauty. I think I've seen this one and it is gorgeous. See, right there wheh I see this picture I want to switch back to coco bolo. You know what I mean? I mean it honest.
 
I go nuts looking at all of this stuff and I've been doing it so long that I finally stopped the wheel on Koa on the front and q maple on the back. Then I put my money down and my order in.  
 
Now 1 month later because of the holidays, luckily the guitar hasn't been started yet so I switched again and went the q maple on front and koa on back.
 
Believe me, I am going to stick with that but before this bass is even built I bet I'll be ordering my fretless and I guarantee that it's going to be something like that picture you are showing me! Awesome awesome, beautiful. It just gives me a rush to look at it!
 
Thanks Bill

[mele_aloha]

Hey Bill,
 
I just checked out your 8 string. What a thing of beauty. Nice neck config. 6 pieces of Ebony? Is that nice sounding or what?
 
Must be fun!!!
 
Aloha, P

[lbpesq]

Paul:
 
That last picture ain't coco, it's koa.  And the 8 string ain't mine either.  The closest I come is a Fender Strat XII to which I applied the final coat of shielding paint this afternoon.  24 hours drying time and tomorrow night I slap on the pickguard with three Alembic pickups, low pass filter and 3 way Q switch.  I'm really looking forward to hearing the Alembic electronics on a 12 string guitar.
 
Bill, tgo

[mele_aloha]

Sorry Bill,
 
I was watching House on tv and got you and Mark mixed up. Only I thought you were showing me a rare case of coco bolo above which I should have looked careful and noticed it was koa.
 
The Fender sure sounds nice though. I'd like to see that one.
 
Thanks for now, must go to bed.
 
G'nite, P