Considering a Custom for my 1/2 Century next year.

[jazzyvee]

Thanks, I'm still thinking about it. I had rehearsal today and used another custom guitar I have and was wondering what features of it I'd want to keep and what would I think of changing. In fact I have been playing many of my guitars of late to get some idea what I like about them and what I would change if I could.  I guess some point will come when I have a list of these things that I'd like from a personal custom guitar.

[hendixclarke]

Jazz,
 
For as many years you been playing, I believe you have every right to build your true Excalibur. You are going through exactly what others went through for every right to justify your own playing style and sound.  
 
I can't wait to understand this chapter of where your ideas lead you, because it is always interesting to step outside ones own situation and try to understand the choices others make and learn from those things that are similar and different.
 
I think it's a adventure that is far deeper than any physical geography one walks from, or to... I believe its a mental journey.  
 
Like I said in so many ways, it is a good problem to have, because you had progresses up to the point, after winning against all foes up to the point, you are now faced with yourself.  
 
Jazz you are at a very interesting time Brotha-Man, and I can't wait to see what materialize because I know it will good.
 
Peace,
 
Hal-

[hendixclarke]

Jazz you are at a very interesting time Brotha-Man, and I can't wait to see what materialize because I know it will be good.
 
Peace,  
 
Hal-

[tbrannon]

Jazzy-
 
I'd also encourage you to spend some time talking to somebody at Alembic -or- an experienced dealer.  My custom Elan went through quite a few changes and I got quotes for a couple different custom options before I settled on what I wanted.  I never talked to Mica or Susan prior to placing my order, but I ordered my bass through Will Gunn and he was an absolute treasure chest of information and hands on experience.  I spent a ton of time on the phone with Will talking through the options and bouncing ideas off of him.  I don't know how you plan on ordering your custom, but if you already know which dealer you'll be using, try picking their brains a bit too- Will had a ton of great advice for me that ultimately helped shape the instrument I had built.  I'm so glad I tweaked my original concept the way I did and spent the money on the options that I did- it's truly a 'perfect' bass for me and where I am at the moment.  
 
Good luck- I'll be watching with interest.
 
Toby

[georgie_boy]

Jazzy.
Great to hear from you, and your ideas on a Custom!
 
Simple!!
 
 
You Want a Custom............................forget all the rest, and get a Series bass!!
That's what I did 9 years ago,,,,,,,never regretted an instant!!
 
Just my$0.02
 
George

[olieoliver]

I'm with George here. I almost decided not to go with S-2 electronics on my custom, I'm so GLAD I did though.  
 
As for selling your old instruments, I've regretted everyone I've ever sold. Even the not-so-good) ones. Ironically I've never sold one because I've needed the money. Either they weren't getting played or someone liked the instrument and talked me into selling it. I've lost a 65 Gold Top Les Paul and a 59 Sunburst Les Paul that way. OUCH!
 
OO

[2400wattman]

Jazzy,  
   Well, good luck on your custom venture but I'm chiming in to offer some advice on your Strat issues. I have two remedies  
1. The Strato-Blaster or just the Blaster I think it's called now or....
2. The Redeemer! It's made by the guys at Creation Audio Labs a pro audio/recording repair shop in Nashville,Tennessee U.S.A. check them out at www.creationaudiolabs.com  they may even give you an artist discount since you tour quite a bit.
I believe both devices do the same thing, which make your guitar sound the same no matter where your volume knob is! There's a little more to it than that but I believe that's the jist of it. My guitarist uses the Redeemer with great success and has noticed better pick articulation especially with a clean sound. Check into them as it's a cheap fix.  
Oh yes and another bump for Series 2 electronics, an infinite amount of usable tones!!
Good luck brother!!

[lbpesq]

Jazzyvee:
 
Regarding your Strat and the effect of adjusting the volume knob on tone, you might want to give my method a try.  I was always impressed with the idea behind Jerry Garcia's on-board effects loop (like Alembic puts on Furthers and Tributes).  The idea was that the pedals would always see the same signal - the guitar's pick-ups at full blast - so it was easy to re-create effects settings from gig to gig.  (For those unclear on the concept: the full strength signal goes from the pick-ups out to the effects pedals, then back to the guitar, through the guitar's volume and tone controls, then out to the amp).  The one thing I never liked about Garcia's set up was that it requires two cords: one mono and one stereo.  I often use a wireless, and don't like dealing with one cord, let alone two.  (My Series guitars have somewhat broken me of this prejudice).  My solution is to always keep my guitar volume on 10.  Then I place a volume pedal last in my effects chain and adjust volume from there.  It results in a similar set up to Garcia's, (other than the signal still goes through my tone controls prior to the effects.  This has much less impact than changing the volume setting pre-effects.)  I can even use my wireless between guitar and pedal board.  This set up has served me well enough for a number of years that I had the effects loop left off of my custom Further.  You can try this easy enough, you just need a good volume pedal.  I use an Ernie Ball.  Not expensive and rock solid.  I suspect reducing the volume at the pedal will not cause the treble loss you experience when turning down the guitar's volume pot.
 
Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

Isn't it strange how things work out. Here I was in March seeking advice and planning my first custom alembic, and by May, the one I was drooling over ( Dragon Magic) is mine.
I just want to say thanks for your input and giving me food for thought.
Customs and other alembics are off the menu for a while now. Maybe make an exception for a good Series Bass in the future but not the forseeable future.
 
I guess this thread is closed now. hahaha
 
Jazzyvee

[hendixclarke]

GOT-DAMN! Jazzy that is a wonderful shot. She's so beautiful, it makes me want to sing some wonderful standard by Frank Sinatra or even Sammy Davis Jr.
 
I Think I will... Cha-gumm gumm cha gummm gummm  
 
On a wonderful day like today
I defy any cloud to appear in the sky
Dare any rain drop to plop in my eye
On a wonderful day like today
 
On a wonderful morning like this
When the sun is as big as a yellow balloon
Even the sparrows are singing in tune
On a wonderful morning like this
 
On a morning like this I could kiss everybody
I'm so full of love and goodwill
Let me say furthermore
I'd adore everybody to come and dine
The pleasure's mine and I will pay the bill
 
May I take this occasion to say
That the whole human race should go down on its knees
Show that we're grateful for mornings like these
For the world's in a wonderful way
On a wonderful day like today...
 
This guitar found you, and not the other way around. You took one look, and BAM! it took your mind off the problems of the world for a second.
 
That's when you know something is really good. If it can remove me from the world for a second, that's something great man.
 
 
Hal-

[jazzyvee]

I was just re-living this thread. It was a great read and I noticed at the end that by chance the time period between me posting my original post and the posting of me acquiring the guitar was exactly two months to the day.
What a co-incidence.
 
It will soon be a year since I got the guitar and still it has not been out on a public gig only a couple of studio video shoots.
Hopefully I will get a chance to get it out in public this summer.
 
Jazzyvee