Trying to work out the details for my new Alembic

[lothartu]

Here's the latest mock up (no Ash body though and I wouldn't be getting the body comfort contouring, please forgive my photoshop skills)
 

[lothartu]

I went digging around and even though it's not on the quote generator, Alembic has flame sycamore listed in the price list section as one of the standard no charge woods.
 
Mica, which wood should I pick in the custom quote generator for calc'ing front/back laminate cost so that the cost will come out to be the same as sycamore?
 
ty in advance
 
Jim

[mica]

Use Flame Maple or any other standard wood to calculate the price.  
 
I think we're going to have to nickel plate the hardware - will be more B&W again.
 
You have to build up the accent laminate for serveral stripes of ebony - the blackest stuff just isn't available wide enough. Once we used dyed black holly for accent laminates on some basses we made for Tune. This material is wide enough to do like a normal accent laminate or pinstripe, and would get you the look without the added mass.

[lothartu]

k, I was guessing that it'ld be the same as flame maple.
 
I'll have to think about the hardware plating.
 
I like the idea of going with a non-ebony but yet still black pinstripe and not having the added weight of a true ebony body laminate.  A dyed black holly pinstripe sounds promising.
 
Jim

[lothartu]

Good news, I just put my order in with BassNW.  
 
Some changes to the design though.  I had to come back down to reality.  
 
- 4 string MK Standard  
 
- Balance K with Omega  
 
- the new Balance K Crown headstock (Mica said it's about 80% of a normal crown.  This bass might  end up being the first one with this headstock)  
 
- Sycamore front and back with purpleheart pinstripes.  
 
- chambered Ash body  
 
- 32 7 piece neck with purpleheart and Abalone (thin purpleheart not the usual size that would go on a 5 piece neck)  
 
- Anniversary Electronics with a side mounted jack  
 
Is that a sucking sound that I hear coming from my bank account? Yep, but I'm still smiling.  
 
Now I can't wait to be the proud owner of a Factory to Customer thread that I can obsessively camp day in and day out.  
 
 
 
(Message edited by LotharTu on September 29, 2004)

[the_mule]

Congratulations! Sure sounds like a nice bass! With the light wood / purpleheart combination you just can't go wrong in the 'looks' department. And soundwise there shouldn't be any complaints also. I'm looking forward to your FTC-thread...
 
Wilfred

[palembic]

Lothartu,
 
an idea I got.
Because you really want to go for a as white as possible wood = Sycamore combined with  purpleheart  -a combination that will really work ny opinion- I would add a more orange kind of body. I think there are pieces of Mahogany that have this special warm ornage colour. The neck will be maple I guess, so maybe it is worth considering to have the maple a (again warm orange) kind of old violin finish. I KNOW maple get more darker and more orange with the years but ...well ...it could be kinda cool to speed it up a bit by using that finish. Beware ...it may not give the impression to be artificially colored but ...well ...older ...warmer.  
The purple/white/orange-yellow color combination will really work I think.
 
Paul the bad one

[godoze]

Another white as possible choice is Holly. A friend of mine has a Fodera with a holly top. IT is strikingly beautiful in its simplicity and clarity.
 
Someone mentioned earlier the prevailing wisdom that body woods have little effect on tone of a NT bass. I have never heard such a thing !

[lothartu]

I guess this is old news now.  Well I ended up modifying my order shortly after I placed it a few weeks ago.  Here's how it's all panned out.
 
- 4 string MK Standard
 
- Balance K with Omega
 
- the new Balance K Crown headstock
 
- Sycamore front and back with purpleheart pinstripes.
 
- chambered Ash body
 
- 32 5 piece neck with walnut (the normal 4 string neck) with Abalone
 
- Signature electronics with a side mounted jack (since Alembic is now including the small modification to Signature electronics that resolves the pickup volume changes when panning I didn't feel the need to go with Anniversary electronics)
 
I think this bass might come in somewhere between 8 and 9lbs.
 
I still really do like the idea of doing a black/white bass but my budget just couldn't support my dream.

[the_mule]

What about a 5-piece neck with purpleheart pinstripes? It's possible, as I understand not too expensive as an option and IMHO it would lead to more consistancy visually. For a prime example, take a look at Kevin's (kmh364) beautiful custom Orion (plenty of pictures) http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/8557.html?1093301442
 
Wilfred