Tom's Custom Balance K

[mica]

In carving, and looking great!  

 

 

[David Houck]

The front and back laminates are both wonderful!  Gorgeous bass!!

[lidon2001]

Thank you Dave for the kind comments on my bass.  Needless to say, they've worked their magic again.  As I've always said, be careful what you wish for, because dreams come true.  Much more than I expected, and exactly why I let them choose the woods.  Another ball hit out of the park by Team Alembic.

[eastcoastepic]

That Coco Bolo just seems to flow along the edges, as a river flows along it's banks.
How DO they do that??!!
Congratulations, Tom, best of luck with her........
Chris

[lidon2001]

Thank you Chris.  I've been sitting here with a giddy grin pasted to my face since the posting.  I see the same.  A hint of normal coco at the horns, that then flows, almost pours, down the body into pools at the end of the river.  I won't mention the rather female like comparison I see too.  I love it.
 
All of the recent posts here in the FTC are just stunning.  I agree with you.  How DO they do it, instrument after instrument?  I notice the pics of hands involved in the carving of inlays and such.  That gives me a pretty good idea of how they get it done.    But it is still amazing.
 
(Message edited by lidon2001 on August 19, 2005)

[bob]

I remember that giddy grin feeling on first sighting, even though I knew long before what my wood pieces/placement looked like.
 
Don't know how long you've been waiting, but it wouldn't be hard to believe they actually grew these pieces to fit. The front is almost too much to believe, but even the back would have made a beautiful front.
 
Congratulations (and just be patient a bit longer, someday you won't even remember the waiting).
-Bob

[lidon2001]

Looking at the bass, one woman comes to my mind:  my mom.  Therefore, she is named Elaine.  I just checked with my therapist, and it's not an Oedipus thing...
 
Seriously, she, along with my father, always encouraged me with my music.  She had 10 years of piano under her belt, and she never played a note for us despite having an upright grand from one of the Chicago World Fair's at the grandparents; that's my mom.  The first two records she bought me:  The 45 single of In the year 2525 by Zagar and Evans, and, here she went a bit wrong one might say, the album Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly.  Kind of heavy for a kid my age at the time, but very influential in my music development.  She was taken from this world way too early, and this one's now for her.
 
Tom
 
(Message edited by lidon2001 on August 19, 2005)

[lidon2001]

Hello Bob, and thank you.
 
The wait hasn't been bad at all.  I made my purchase in April and took advantage of the April special.  It started life as my tribute to Stanley bass, but not wanting to compromise the neck heavy issue, I went with the Balance K body with Dragon's Breath neck dimensions. (Val, I'm still hoping for that SC serial number...)  The order was finalized around June 1st.  The patience of everyone was beyond kind, and I know I'm getting what I want.  Valentino has been a good guide in all of this.
 
What better way to get through this wait?  Get the next order going!  Which is what I had to do.  Serious G.A.S.  I just ordered a Skylark, with one more bass to come after I get these two paid down a bit.  I took advantage of the August special.  Like a magic birthday present, it came at just the right time.  These people are the best.  It's way beyond the instruments for me now.  I see the light.
 
I will say this again in the future, but thanks also to Bob, Dennis, and everyone at Uncle Bob's too.  They are part of the fun as well.
 
 
(Message edited by lidon2001 on August 20, 2005)

[lidon2001]

One other thing Bob.  To get this top, I asked Valentino for the following:
 
Orange, high contrast, non-linear, crazy grain, make me cry.  
 
Upon seeing this instrument & top, and thinking of my mom, a tear was created.
 
Now one can just ask for it without the crying part, ... just like Tom's Balance K.  But have a tissue ready, you never know.
 
T

[mica]

It's done:
 

 
Tried all but the TI strings on it so far. Everyone likes the Rotosounds. I think you are going to flip when you see the bass. Should be shipping to you tomorrow.

[eastcoastepic]

Stunning......the flowing symmetry of the Coco Bolo is just wonderful. Mom would be proud...
Congratulations!

[flaxattack]

mazel tov- its simply  breathtaking
let there be songs to fill the air

[flaxattack]

wonderign which rotosounds you folks tried

[lidon2001]

Speechless.  Yes, a flip or two is in order just from seeing the pic.  Stunning - wait, that was already used.  Other than more of many thanks to Susan, Mica, Valentino with his typical guidance, and everyone involved in its construction, words are hard to come by seeing this.
 
Mica, no need to try the TI's, stick with the Rotos please.  James' effort and everyone's opinion on the strings were greatly appreciated.
 
Thank you Chris, much appreciated.  I wholeheartedly agree.  
 
Thanks Jeff.  The strings are Rotosound Funk Master FM66.  30-50-70-90 gauge.  I prefer a very light gauge.  I first tried the standard Roto short scale set, but they were too short.  Then Status 30-90, but not enough tension.  Then Alembic 40-100 and they were good.  Then the Rotos, and the TI's were just in case the Roto's didn't work.  One might want to watch the For Sale area for a set of 32 TI Jazz Rounds in the near future.  It looks like your Wolf's got a short-scale 4 string little sister.  
 
To everyone at Alembic, you've made the years I've waited to make this purchase worth every minute.  Thank you!
 
Tom
 
(Message edited by lidon2001 on October 17, 2005)

[flaxattack]

tribute to scooter is a 5 string medium scale tom- but thanks for the info. i like the ti flats,but ebay has a set of roto swings for 20$, so i will throw a set on for the heck of it someday.
good luck- its a gorgeous bass-and i can tell youfrom experience it will be 1000% better in person,,