Alembic style Jazz

[jaurigemma]

Okay, I'm going to scrub my Rickenbacker remake idea... But I'm going to start this new one, knowing that I am probably going to be opening a very large can of worms....
 
I want to make a bass that is in the style of a Jazz Bass, but with all the goodness that is Alembic...  I think a set-neck is the way to go, probably an Orion style body, but with an Elan style peghead (3/2).
 
Question is, what about the woods???  I've always wanted to try a bass totally devoid of Maple...  But that's a total departure from the Jazz Bass world...  But then again, I want the feel, not necessarily the sound!
 
I wish I could get Rami to sample me his basses straight through, with no EQ or speakers...  Anyways, I am thinking of a Myrtle Core, Purpleheart and Ebony accents, and a Flame Redwood top.  The top would be possible painted with a fade to black scheme.
 
The neck would be nine pieces:
1. Mahogany (Outside)
2. Ebony
3. Purple Heart
4. Ebony
5. Mahogany
6. Ebony
7. Purple Heart
8. Ebony
9. Mahogany
The back of the neck would be a satin finish (a must for my nasty, sweaty hands!)
 
Electronics would be the east meets west setup, with dual Fatboys.  All of the hardware would be blackened chrome, with a bird tailpiece.  The alembic logo would be sterling silver inlaid into the headstock.
 
There would be RED LED fretboard markers, with custom markers inlaid (special versions of the letters X and Z, and the two combined).
 
And finally, a large inlay of the combined X and Z letters on the body, maybe between the pickups, dunno.  I will scan a picture of my tattoo to show you the XZ design I am speaking of.
 
Okay people, help me imagine and create this thing!!!

[bsee]

What's left to imagine?  You seem to have pretty much nailed what you want here.  About the only thing left is neck dimensions.  
 
At least, that is unless you want us to talk you out of something?  If that's the case, your heavy use of ebony may be fiscally wasteful as it is a pretty expensive wood.  With the set neck, you may not get the same benefit of the ebony neck tone that you do with neck-through.  Of course if your interest is cosmetic, go for it.  It seems that money is not a concern based upon your other specs, so we can forget that aspect for now.
 
To back up a little, what kind of tone are you looking for?  My take on the woods is that you'll have a bass that has a round bottom and not much top end, but I am not the resident wood expert.  My gut feel is that Myrtle is in the direction of ash for a body tone, but I am not sure where I got that impression.  Redwood is pretty soft as a top, so your PH and ebony accents will have to provide the top end.  Maybe vermillion as a core instead of the myrtle would provide more bite?  The neck should be pretty stiff in spite of the mahogany layers.  
 
For a five string, the standard neck would be 7 lams.  You get 9 with the 'deluxe' that is done for the Series II basses, so the 9-piece neck should be doable.
 
I don't know....

[jaurigemma]

I am sure that you might be right about the tone concerning the woods.  I definitely want to concentrate on the tone of a jazz bass, but I wanted to make this bass special in the fact that it wouldn't use any traditional woods either.  I dunno, maybe Mica could step in here and tell me what makes the most sense.  This project is still a few years off anyways, as I just found out we are having our third child...  No basses for me for a while :-(

[palembic]

Brother Jeff,
 
let me be the first to offer my condolance for the delay of the bass and a BIG CONGRATULATIONS for the upcoming fathership. Well ...life is beautiful! See it the way I see it. You hav eto do the right things on the right time. I think I will order an absolute masterpiece in craftmanship and design when I'll be 67 years old!!!  
Babies are better made -well that's a bad word ...you receive them actually-  now!!!
 
Paul the bad one

[jaurigemma]

Thank You Paul...  This will be our third child, following up our two earlier successes, Xavier and Zachary.  My wife is hoping for a girl, and of course I want another boy!  I will be happy with whatever I get.
 
It's hard for me resist the Alembic calling though, especially being in Fairfield, only an hour or so away from them.  I think I will just have to get my Zebrawood Epic 4 and Zebrawood Excel 5 retrofitted with sustain blocks in the time being.
 
I will restart the Jazz project a few years down the road.

[dgcarbu]

Jeffrey,
 
Congrats!!! first of all on your 3rd time being a father.  Second, according to your last post above, are you are in Fairfield, CA?  Your profile indicates otherwise...if so, maybe you can be a part of this convention I am putting together somewhere here in the Bay Area.
 
Peace,
Darrell

[beelee]

Hey Jeff,
 
I like your ideas for the Ricky and Jazz bass projects,
 
Here's a thought, get Alembic to make a  Ricky style body with a neck through and a 2 octave neck and a crown or knobby peghead.
 
and A Jazz style body with a neck through  and a 2 octave neck with a Europa or Orion headstock
 
using the exotic woods and the magic Alembic electronics.
 
The first bass I ever played was a Rick and my own first bass was a copy Fender Jazz.
 
congrats  another little one on the way !!
Just think when it all get settled.....you can have a 4th child.....a new Alembic !!
;o)
 
B.