John's pipe dream

[john]

Hi all,
I've been reading up on all of your wonderful Alembics and would love to draw on your experiences and opinions. Just dreaming for now, but... here's my dream:  
 
Design goals: (1) Light weight (is under 9 lbs possible?); (2) Perfect balance
Must haves: (1) Balance K; (2) Fretted ebony fingerboard
Would likes: (1) Fan peghead (2) Dark top with some curvy grain (walnut? bubinga?)
(3) Neck sandwich: maple, ph, ebony, ph, maple (variation on Mike's false start neck at the top of this thread: http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/14252.html?1124711683)
(4) 32 scale
 
Some questions:  
Is a 5-string with a 32 scale going to have a totally limp B-string?
What are the best wood choices for keeping the weight down?
What are the best design choices to ensure perfect balance standing or sitting?
Thanks!  
-John

[pace]

Hey John! Welcome to the club....
 
Check out Jeff's Dire Wolf bass (hopefully he'll chime in)~ a lot of the specs are similar to what you're going for (32 5string, light body core, comfy/balanced body shape, dark top, etc etc).....
 
Hope to see a FTC thread with your name on it!!!  
 
-Mike

[flaxattack]

my 5 string direwolf is a 32 and a can tell you and val will back me up
my b string is as tight as my e- not at all floppy and actually i found it tighter than my 34in orion
even alembic was surprised
dark woods tend to be a bit heavier- check with alembic on weights- maple,ebony is a wicked heavy wood as is purpleheart.mahoghany and ash are lighter body woods, top woods- i am a coco bolo guy.
my bal k is under 9 lbs...
elbow and tummy tucks will also reduce weight
the balance k in my opinion is the best balanced bass i have ever seen- its like it knows where to sit-  
while it is certainly your option on the peghead...i think the bal k head is more aesthetic than the fanhead would be. if you look at kevins bal k there is a photo in the thread of a mock up with a cone peghead.

[john]

Thanks Mike and Jeff! I was pleased and surprised that Jeff's Dire Wolf is both 32 scale with a tight B string and under 9 lbs. And what a beautiful instrument! Makes the dream even harder to resist!

[David Houck]

Hi John; welcome to the group!

[flaxattack]

dreams come true john.......