Author Topic: Dream: Skylark hollowbody (Read 614 times)

tom_z · « **on:** February 24, 2005, 01:54:12 PM »

I've been looking for a thinline hollowbody guitar with double cutaway at the neck - not a semi-hollow like a 335, but a fully hollow small-bodied jazz box in maple. I want it to have a trapeze tail piece (preferably ebony) and a floating carved ebony and brass bridge. The closest thing I can find like this is the Fishy Hollowbody available from Resurrection Guitars, which is a copy of the Paul Languedoc guitar played by Trey Anastasio.

But, last night I had an Alembic Dream of a Skylark with the features mentioned above. I did a quick search of the club for hollowbody and couldn't find any references to Alembic building an archtop hollowbody. I'm aware that my Skylark is a semi-hollowbody as are many of the instruments built by Alembic, but I wondered if there have been any forays into this area.

I apologize if this topic has been covered before - as I said I only did a quick search of the forums.

Here's a quickie (and rather lame, I'm afraid) photoshop job.

Tom

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2005, 02:27:45 PM »

I think it's a great idea!

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2005, 02:32:36 PM »

Interesting! Would you still want maple, or would you choose one of the more common acoustic tone woods? Also, aren't full hollowbodies usually set up with a one-piece top rather than a bookmatch (or did you just leave it that way because it was easier in Photoshop?)

I would think you'd need a flat top rather than the carved edges of the Skylark, or maybe a top that appears to be multi-laminated? To see what I mean by the latter, look at Tom's Custom Skylark under FTC. The under-laminates could just be rings around the edge to allow for the shaping while the top piece would be a relatively thin piece of wood to bring out the tone. You mentioned archtop, but the Skylark really isn't an archtop, it's flat with some bevels all the way around the edge. The Tribute is more of an archtop design if that's what you're looking for.

Keep talking and thinking though - this would be a pretty special instrument!

tom_z · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2005, 02:48:36 PM »

Bob - that's what I mean by rather lame in photoshop. I just used the photo in the products section of the web site and slapped a few details on it. Maple or possibly spruce for a top would be great. Yes it should be one carved piece for the arched top, not bookmatched. And I don't have to go to the FTC to see Tom's custom, I just need to open my case =) - you're right the top is flat with carved edges, but I like this body design for an archtop jazz box. It would be a bit different from the usual Skylark.

bsee · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2005, 03:12:24 PM »

Doh... I forgot about you being THE Tom....

pace · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2005, 04:56:04 PM »

I think the Skylark is a great 'platform' if Alembic was to build a carved top & back semi hollow guitar... I am actually still very inspired by Tomz's Cocobolo Lark. The top of that guitar is soooo beautiful that I got to thinking.. Why not add the same laminates to the rear of the guitar?!? Still keeping the Mahogany core the same thickness, the resonant chambers would be increased. I suppose you could even carve the insides of the top, back & accent laminates prior to being attached to the core...

In theory it sounds like a great idea, Im kind of surprised it hasnt been done yet.

valvil · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2005, 05:33:26 PM »

Tom,

I'm not gonna tell you to hold your breath, but...
If we ever find the time....
(we will, the only question is when)

Valentino

jalevinemd · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2005, 07:37:55 PM »

Tom,

For what it's worth, I can't say enough about my Resurrection guitar. Plus Tim and Pat are great guys to work with. Because it's just a father and son team, custom orders take awhile...but worth it in the end.

Regards,

Jonathan

1stbass · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:32:02 AM »

Tom,
That is a smashing Idea, to have a jazz box made by Alembic.
Put me on the waiting List.
Doug

Bradley Young · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2005, 09:30:55 AM »

I just love the looks of those big'ol Guilds, and since Alembic started out doing over-the-top electonics upgrades on them, it'd be retro (y'know, like in a good way!).

I'd like one with just slightly heavier gauge string; maybe something in a .30-.130-- 6 string, of course.

I might have to go with the quilted maple, too, since my wife likes that better than cocobolo (but I'm cuckoo for cocobolo, so I might just have to go there).

Susan: please?

Brad

tom_z · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:49:28 PM »

The standard wood recipe for a hollow body jazz guitar seems to be maple sides, carved maple back with a carved (and braced) spruce top. It's not uncommon to find some with maple tops. The model at resurrection guitars has a koa top and back with mahogany sides. In my mind, I'm imagining this to be all flame maple, possibly finished with a nice antique violin burst. As an alternative I could imagine this same small-body hollow guitar with vermilion sides and cocobolo top and back - with these woods, I'd want a clear finish.

Mike - I agree with you, I think the Skylark is an outstanding platform for a hollow-body guitar - I believe the body size, as it is, may even be large enough for the top to resonate sufficiently. The controls may need to be rearranged to accommodate for f-holes, and it might be cool to add a nicely carved matching pickguard. The Skylark's dual HG4 pickups would be a nice match for this kind of guitar, as well. In addition, I have a few ideas for fretboard scroll inlays, and an inlay in the ebony tailpiece.

Valentino - can I assume from your post that this project is something that Alembic would consider building if an order were placed? If so, I might have to reconsider the purchase of an acoustic guitar I've had my eyes on - a Santa Cruz, Tony Rice model - and re-channel those funds toward a hollow-body Alembic jazz box.

Tom

pace · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2005, 11:07:48 AM »

An all out archtop might be more of a stretch than say a semi-hollow .. I was thinking of keeping it more within the realm of a 335 or Guild Bluesbird with the traditional Alembic tailpiece. I would also use Cocobolo, Vermillion, Ebony.... no Maple or Spruce....

valvil · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2005, 05:53:03 PM »

Tom,

a jazz archtop is probably the one project I bug Susan the most about, 'cause I want one too. We talk about it & hopefully it will happen one day in the not-too-distant future. To be sure, the more & more you all ask for them , the more likely we are to start building them.
We would not be able to satisfy an archtop order at this time, but once we have done our research and figured out what the specs of an Alembic archtop shopuld be, then we'll be able to offer them. The R&D on something like this is very expensive, particularly time-wise, something we could not justify doing for one instrument only.
So let's hear from all the guitar players craving an Alembic archtop.

Valentino

pace · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2005, 08:23:56 AM »

>>>>The R&D on something like this is very expensive

All of that is good to know, Val. Ideally, I would like a neck-thru with a double thick carved top and back. The body size should be proportionate with a 335 or Starfire. In doing so, the core wood for the body wings should be hollowed out to it's maximum. On something like this it would be great to have the Series electronics all contained on one side ( like in the older models)~ maybe giving the guitar only one continuous wood back plate.... I would love to use the Skylark body shape but, add a small standard point to it's rear..... etc etc etc....

Bradley Young · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2005, 11:10:10 AM »

Val,

You're not going to forget about us bass players, are you?

I'm sure there's a few of us that'd like archtops. Make mine 6 string.

Brad