Hey guys.
I am new to this forum, which I found quite by accident. I am a learning bassist and luthier, and while running a search for custom creators, I ran into the Alembic page. I have spent literally the last two days just sitting and looking at all the featured customs, and now, now I can't get Alembic weapons off my mind.
I am a pretty traditional guy when it comes to body shape, so the more outlandish shapes like the triple Omega don't really appeal to my sensible design style. I appreciate them for what they are, but I could never own or play one like that - it just isn't me. But some of the more standard styles are great for me, like the rogue or the elite.
Now, I am trying to think of a design to suit me and my playing style, which will not only sound nice, but will reflect upon me, my history, and my life to date. I would want it to utilize almost a tri-color scheme, with buckeye burl, ebony, and purpleheart. The face, headstock, and back would be burl, ebony fingerboard, and the body would be purpleheart and ebony, alternating. I am not sure exactly how it would work out, but I like the idea. Don't really know how to explain what I am thinking.
I would want it to have continuous wood covering for all plates/access doors, as well as on the pickups. I would want all hardware to be pewter or cast iron colored - you know, the dull, matted gunmetal color. The knobs would need to be matched wood or the same metal. Not sure which would be more feasible. I am not particularly fond of active electronics, I hate batteries, and I would not need LEDs anywhere. I would want position markers that match the hardware metal.
The thing that will really make bass mine will be the inlays, not only in the fingerboard, but I also want a medallion inlay. The medallion would be pretty simple, really. It would be round, or course, with the same pewter colored metal bordering it, a black background, and featured largely in the center would be a replica of the US Navy's CT rating symbol, a crossed quill and spark. Above it, and in the upper crotch of the emblem will be a small replica of the submarine warfare badge, and below the lower crotch will be a second class petty officer's grade emblem, an eagle perched above two downward pointing chevrons. The fingerboard inlays will be far less complicated. Centered in each marked fret will be one bone-shaped marker, except in the twelfth fret, where a jolly-roger will be featured - either a skull and crossbones or skull and crossed sabres. Probably sabres. The headstock inlay, I really like the Alembic logo that has the rays onn it, and I would want it to be flush with the rest of the headstock, smooth to the touch. If at all possible, I would want the fingerboard and headstock to be given a false binding, an inlay of abalone or MoP.
And I would prefer the elite body shape.
Any thoughts, guys? I would love to hear from you guys, both members and mods - and anybody with any inside-knowledge who could tell me if this is feasible. Not sure how much something like this would cost, but I am sure I'd have to save for a good long while before I could afford it - but this is my ultimate goal.
Thanks. :]
-James
