From Dream to Reality

[5a_quilt_top]

It appears that we're also getting very similar neck sandwiches: maple, purple heart, maple, ebony center, maple, purple heart, maple.
 
I'm a sucker for flame maple, so I bit the bullet for that on the outside neck laminates.

[hammer]

I would have loved to have done something special like you for the neck and gone with the flame maple, but assumed that the costs would be too much (do you know what the upgrade charge was for this addition?).
 
The cost of adding the ebony laminate itself shocked me, but I justified it because of its impact on the low fundamentals.
 
Are you going with a 5a or a 3a quilt for the back of your bass? and is it going to be book matched.  Personally, I actually like the look of the through neck on the front side.

[jazzyvee]

I hope you have better ears than me Hammer. I can't actually consciously hear the three ebony lams in my series II neck. But I trust that there is something there to hear because others on the forums can clearly hear the difference. Mica showed me the signal on the scope at the office so I can see there is an effect but I cannot isolate it when listening. Fortunately the bass sounds great so whatever it is doing is contributing to that regardless as to whether I can identify it or not.  
 
As it was on a pre-loved instrument I didn't have to justify the additional expense for it.
 
However. If I was having a custom made bass I would want to do a side by side check to determine if I can actually hear the difference it imparts on the sound before deciding to splash the extra cash.
 
I look forward to seeing your bass as it goes through construction.
 
jazzyvee

[hammer]

Jazzyvee.
 
Thanks's for the input. You bring up some excellent points.
 
I have been able to indirectly compare two non-alembic basses owned by a friend of mine one of which has ebony lams in the neck and the other of which does not. They were both thru-neck, custom basses made of similar woods, however, they  were from different manufacturers.
 
Being a researcher by profession, I first played them with and without amplification and thought I heard and felt a difference (I emphasize the word thought since I was expecting a difference and the mind often perceives what it expects to perceive).  Interestingly, the difference was more noticeable (to me at least) in the non-amplified mode.
 
I then had my friend play both instruments out of my sight both in amplified and non-amplified mode. The difference, if there was one, appeared very subtle.  
 
So overall, my personal experience was that there was a subtle difference (I think). It appeared much more noticeable: (a) in non-amplified mode and (b) when I was actually playing the bass (i.e. holding it).
 
It was obviously a far less than perfect comparison as there were a number of confounding factors which I was unable to control (including the fact that the bass with the ebony lams had 3-ebony lams as opposed to the one that I am getting).  By the way, my friend is 6'6 tall and weights about 240 lbs.  The only way I could have ever played that bass for more than 5-minutes was in a sitting position.  
 
In the end, I decided to go with the ebony laminates on the basis on what Mica had told me more than anything else. In my dealing with her and others at Alembic I have found that, if anything, they are incredibly honest.
 
By he way I did decide to go with the Crotch walnut front and back and the continuous wood backplates. Made the decision more on the basis on not wanting to regret leaving anything out since this will probably be the bass that sits next to my coffin when I eventually go to the never ending jam in the sky.

[jazzyvee]

Yeah I agree Mica has good ears and a good heart. She did also  warn me about hearing a certain harmonic which she finds unpleasant. When I was at the factory I could not hear it but within a short period of getting the bass home and in my own bass rig I could hear the said harmonic as clear as day. I still am not sure if it is a problem or not.
 
I've read here on the forum that most of the impact that ebony brings to the sound is available with one laminate.  It's worth remembering too that there is a huge slab of ebony fretboard so there is quite a bit of ebony in the neck construction even with one through neck laminate.  
 
 
Jazzyvee

[tubeperson]

Mica has told me that one ebony center neck laminate gives about 80% of the benefit of 3 laminates.  One center laminate, plus the decision to have wooden backplates will make you happy I am sure.  Now how about bookmatched to center front and back?  Sorry, I love spending OPM!  That is also worth it, it just gives such a finishing touch along with all the others, especially with such fine Crotch Walnut.  Good luck and enjoy!!

[5a_quilt_top]

Hammer -
 
Flame maple upgrade was $800 for both sides of the neck. I justified it because I didn't choose upgraded wood for the top & back of the body.
 
The body will be a hippie sandwich of figured vermilion top & back - no book match - with a purple heart core and two flame maple laminates.
 
Like you, I prefer the neck-thru look. Plus, I wanted to see the purple heart and flame maple neck laminates against the vermilion.
 
Continuous wood back plates were chosen for both appearance and weight reduction.
 
I allowed myself one last little perk - a continuous wood truss rod cover. The neck pick up is being moved 1/2 further away from the finger board and more of the neck will be visible, so this made sense.
 
Tubeperson -
 
Yes, I was advised the same. One ebony center laminate = 80% of the benefit of three. That, coupled with the two purple heart laminates should be pretty formidable.

[tubeperson]

Your Quiltiness, and cost effective as well. We all have a budget to adhere to, plus there is always a price to performance ratio and  diminishing returns as one gets closer to the higher end of things.  It will be a great bass, no doubt about that.