Author Topic: It's About To Begin! (Read 2494 times)

rustyg61 · « **on:** October 15, 2013, 12:56:05 PM »

I just put a deposit down on my first custom build! It will be a Europa II 34 5 string with a Knobby Headstock, 5A Quilted Maple on front & back with the front book matched to center. The accent wood will be Vermillion & the core wood Walnut. The body & headstock will be a 2 tone transparent Bluemoon color like Steve Woods Europa. The neck will be unpainted trough the body up to the headstock. The neck will be anchored by a 3/8 Ebony laminate with a Maple veneer & Vermillion laminates on each side & Maple for the main neck wood. It will have blue LED's on the side with a dimmer pot inside the electronics cavity with an access hole in the backplate. The neck markers will be abalone ovals. The logo will be silver inlaid with mother of pearl & ablone. All backplates & truss cover will be continuous wood. The electronics will be Series II without the selector switch. I never run on just one pickup so I have no use for the switch. The jacks will be side mounted. The bridge & tailpiece will be plated in Ruthenium & the tuners will be Cosmo Black Gotoh's.

When I saw Steve Wood's blue Europa I fell in love! I showed the picture to my wife & told her if I ever got a custom Alembic this is what I wanted it to look like. Her reply was Get it! I never dreamed I would one day be placing an order for a full custom build, but with my wife's support & encouragement & many conversations with Susan & friends, it has today become a reality!

I want to give a thank you to Steve Woods for the inspiration & for answering all of my questions about his bass.

I also want to give a special thank you to Jazzyvee who was instrumental in helping me decide which electronics to go with. I couldn't decide between Series I or II & he has both & was able to educate me on the differences & strengths of each. It was his Series II Quilted Maple Europa that made me fall in love with that body style.

A shout out also goes to my Texas Alembic Brothers, Mike Moore, John Terry, Olie Oliver, Doc Greene, Robert Kramer, & Wayne McLemore for your advice & encouragement!

The Alembic Community is a wonderful blessing to be a part of! We come from all walks of life with different religious & political views, but are able to come together & support each other becuause of our love for these amazing instruments the Wickersham family & employees at The Mothership produce! It's an honor to be a part of this amazing group of people!

Last, but certainly not least I want to thank Jim at Guitar Rez for his help in facilitating the build & making my dream come true! He has been a joy to work with & I know he will be there to help me through the process.

Please forgive my Oscar acceptance speech to announce the pending birth of my new baby, but this is my first custom build & I'm just a wee bit excited!!

And now, in the immortal words of Robin Trower -

If you stand in the light, you get the feel of the ride
And the music that plays in your ears
In your head you can hear, a voice so sweet and clear
And the music that plays in your head
As it flows up from the ground
Taking all who hear that sound
Close your eyes, its about to begin!

sonicus · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:01:19 PM »

Rusty, Congratulations ! I will be watching your build thread .
I am happy for you as well .

rustyg61 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:14:08 PM »

Thanks Wolf! I can't wait to see the build thread begin too!

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:22:03 PM »

Congrats! This sounds like a wonderful instrument; I love everything you've listed. The blue moonburst is probably my favorite color, and will look great on the quilt. I also like the choice of Walnut for the body core.

rjmsteel · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:31:33 PM »

Congratulations to you also Rusty.
That will be one incredible Series II.

Good to have such positive support at home too!

rustyg61 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:43:45 PM »

Thanks Dave! The Walnut core was Susan's suggestion. I told her I wanted good attack & clarity on every note & she said Walnut was the wood for that.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:45:46 PM »

Thanks Richard!

FC Bass · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2013, 01:56:33 PM »

Gonna be awesome, congrats!

artswork99 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:01:06 PM »

Congratulations Rusty!!

flpete1uw · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:04:04 PM »

Rusty,
Wow! That?s going to be sweet! The Europa / Series 2 setup is a beautiful combo.
Looking forward to the build updates. Best of luck!
~Pete

bonesrad · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:18:06 PM »

The Europa has always been my favorite body design. Series II electronics will make it really shine.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this bass come together.

Bones

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:19:55 PM »

Attack and clarity were what I was thinking when I read that was your choice, especially in combination with the Maple.

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:32:20 PM »

Another maple Europa - cool.

I'm a sucker for quilted maple.

Should be an excellent addition to your already formidable arsenal.

Congrats!

mtjam · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:48:23 PM »

Congratulations! I am also a big fan of the Europa body and Series 2 electronics. Can't wait to see your bass come together!

rustyg61 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2013, 03:00:07 PM »

Here's a crude Photoshop rendition of what it will look like. I had to piece together parts from 3 different basses & then clone the paint to make this so it's not perfect but it gives you an idea of what it will look like. This one has chrome hardware, but the Ruthenium will be slightly darker.

(Message edited by rustyg61 on October 15, 2013)