I did it!

[crgaston]

I placed an order with Val today.  It's going to be a King Deluxe 5-string with Anniversary electronics and 3-way Q switches, AXY neck and FatBoy bridge P/U's, ash body, Cocobolo top (Red in the wood bank) and back with continuous wood backplates, Omega Crown headstock, silver inlaid logo with a black Tahitian MOP cloud, Black Tahitian MOP inlays, black chrome hardware, and a mahogany/purpleheart/ebony/purpleheart/ebony/purpleheart/mahogany neck.  It will be built on the Balance K body shape but with the neck moved down so the horn reaches the 12th fret to fit my short little arms better, and no point or omega because I'm clumsy and would break it.  I am planning a dragonfly inlay as well, but details on that will have to wait until I can correspond with Susan some more.   I will have to sell my Miata, but I don't think I'll be losing any sleep over that particular tradeoff.  The only two things I am second-guessing myself on are the center neck laminate and the tailpiece.  Should I keep the purpleheart or have it mahogany, maple, or vermillion? Should I keep the bird or go with the cool curved one on Jeff's Dire Wolf? What do you think?

[crgaston]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the green side LED's.  Susan said it would be cool to have the eyes of the dragonfly be LED's, and easy if it was already set up for them, so I got them.

[malthumb]

Specs sound superb.  Only thing I would second guess is the no point or omega.  I have one of each, and if I were ordering again, I'd order the Balance K with a heart omega.  Those tips are stronger than you might imagine and they look soooo cool.
 
Peace,
 
James

[dela217]

I think the neck lams you picked out are great!  I am not a real fan of maple in the neck, but that is just me.  Vermillion in the center is nice too!  I would keep the bird.
 
Michael

[David Houck]

Congrats!  Sounds great!

[kilowatt]

This sounds like a winner. James is right about the strengh of the omega cut outs. My bass came last night, and the heart omega is amazing!! I would follow your heart on this one, and if you like the omega, get it. Your not going to order a new custom every day, so get exactly what you want.
You are going to love the mahogany in the neck. It's beautiful and it sounds great. Check out my neck (Peter's custom 5 string). It's very similar to yours.
 
Best Wishes,  
Pete

[dadabass2001]

Alright Charles,
You beat the price hike. Good job! And your bass plans sound cool as h#ll. You'll love the LEDs. Congratulations.
 
Mike

[crgaston]

Thanks, guys!  
 Pete, seeing your neck in the FTC was the inspiration for the mahogany.  It is sooo cool looking, and Val said it should warm up the sound a bit. Breakage isn't the only reason for no omega- I  have been thinking it will look better that way since I started planning this bass. Also, there probably won't be room since I'm having everything moved down about an inch and a half. I am getting an omega on the headstock, though.  And, trust me on this, I would break it.
 
(Message edited by crgaston on December 24, 2005)

[bassfingers]

Hi Charles,
 
To Quote the Chic song - Dance Dance Dance,all I can add is;
 
 Yowza! Yowza! Yowza!.
 
True to your introductory post and bang on schedule.You did it alright,and in fine style,judging by the specs.
 
Congratulations! and Happy Christmas to you and yours.
 
Simon.

[malthumb]

One more thought on Omega / Point vs flat bottom.  Before I ordered my Mark King / Series II, I was scouring the earth for a 5 string Series II.  I had a 4 string Series II, but my church gig REQUIRED a good 5 string.  I even offered to trade two 4 string Alembics, including the Series II for a 5 string Series II.  Couldn't find one.
 
Finally, I found a used Series II 5 string.  The guy selling it was asking a fairly decent price.  Significantly less than I eventually wound up paying for my custom.  Even though I had been looking for one for months, I didn't buy this one.  Why?  He ordered it with the large body style, but a flat bottom.  No point, no omega.  He says I was not the only person who passed on it.  So what's my point?  Actually, there are two.
 
Point 1:  Assuming you are going to keep this bass forever and ever, order EXACTLY what you want.  Once you get it, most things won't be changeable.
 
Point 2: If there is ANY chance you might ever consider trading it, you may want to refrain from adding or deleting anything that could make it difficult to sell.
 
If you like the point / omega / heart omega designs, order them.  Sure there are a few incidences where people have broken them.  From my experience it's about equal to the number of people who've broken off a headstock.  Both situations are rare and repairable.
 
Peace,
 
James

[811952]

I second what James has posted.  Given my druthers, I would have a difficult time not passing on an Alembic that didn't have a point or omega.  My preference is the point, but then that's the first big-body style Alembic I saw when I was a kid so I'm kind of nostalgic about it..
 
John

[crgaston]

Well, it's taking shape... and the deposit is sent!
Changes include Series I electronics, vermillion body and center neck laminate, and Val's checking to see if we can do a sort of minimalist point.  What I have asked for can be seen in the Saturday, 30 October post here http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/13819.html?1099187688
 
Start at the bottom of the fingerboard, go left to the edge of the body, and up a bit.  I think a point like that will look awesome at the bottom of the bass; subtle but delectable with the Mahogany, Purpleheart, Ebony and Vermillion.

[dela217]

Great!  I am glad you made the change to Series I electronics.  They are the best.  It sounds like it is going to be a good one.  Mmmmm vermillion.

[hb3]

you don't want a miata anyway.