Jim's Sycamore Balance K

[mica]

No Sycamore to see yet, but here's half of the body getting glued:
 

[dela217]

If it is the Sycamore I am thinking of, it looks REALLY cool.  Kinda like a whacky oak.  Really beautiful.  I can't wait!

[mica]

This probably isn't what you're thinking of, dela. This is more like really really WHITE Flame Maple. I do have a weird piece of Sycamore with that wild ray fleck pattern I think you're referring to.

[lothartu]

Woo Hoo!
 
/e does the dance of joy
 
- Jim

[lothartu]

Mica,  
 
I just wanted to clarify a point in case it had been missed (or maybe it's a non-issue anyways).
 
I want the Omega cut to be the squashed Omega not the fully circular Omega cut that I've seen on some other basses.
 
Thanks.

[lothartu]

Val checked for me and Susan did indeed have the squashed Omega already noted for my bass.
 
-Jim

[lothartu]

 
I just thought I'ld check in and see if there were any updates.  
 
- Jim
 
(Message edited by LotharTu on January 26, 2005)

[mica]

Boy do I have an update. It seems your bass was completed while I was on vacation and moving, and I didn't catch many other build shots. But here's a preview of the finished work:
 

 
The white look of the sycamore was very successful. Also, this particular piece is very active, changing much from different viewing angles. In the couple of days we've been testing your bass, it's been very popular; I caught Valentino playing it yesterday and Mike was having fun on Monday night.
 
Shipping should be within a day or two.

[flaxattack]

gee mica your up late...;lol
very nice look

[jeff]

Beautiful bass with nice proportions. The Sycamore does look similar to a flame maple as Mica stated and I am wondering, does it sound similar as a tone wood on the bass?  Jim, is there a story behind your choice of a top wood?

[lothartu]

Thanks for the update Mica.  
 
Ok first off I'm very happy seeing that the bass is almost done but...  
 
But here's a preview of the finished work  
 
Preview as in the input jack hasn't actually been drilled yet?  I ask because it is supposed to be mounted on the side and not the top.  
 
If it's shipping in a day or two then I guess it's already been drilled.  
 
Also, it looks like it has gold straplocks on it.  I had noted that I wanted the regular stap pins instead of staplocks.  Could you get those swapped out for me or just toss a pair of stap pins in the case?  I perma-attach my strap so I need the pins instead of the straplocks.
 
Also, how is the weight?
 
- Jim
 
 
(Message edited by LotharTu on January 27, 2005)

[lothartu]

 
Mica, I'm curious to hear what Val and Mike thought of the bass since there don't appear to be many sycamore top/back ash core basses that go through there.
 
How's the tone?  If you closed your eyes what would you think the neck/body was made of if you didn't already know?
 
 
(Message edited by lothartu on January 27, 2005)

[lothartu]

Jim, is there a story behind your choice of a top wood?
 
Yep, it's in the original dreaming thread here  
http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/12961.html?1101028616

[Bradley Young]

Jim,
 
I can tell you that the bass is light.  Very light (to me, anyway).  On a 4 strap, hardly even noticed it was there.
 
She is a truly beautiful instrument.  Very bright looking, like bleached maple.  A real tow-head (I was going to say blonde, but that doesn't do it justice).
 
Brad

[lothartu]

Brad I've got a couple of questions if you don't mind,
 
So you'ld say that the picture above is much darker than how the bass appears in real life?
 
The picture above appears to favor the vertical figuring but it may just be the angle.  How does the horizontal figuring look?  What was your impression?
 
Did you get a chance to hear it?  What was your impression of the tone?
 
Since you had it on a strap how was the balance?
 
Thanks again.
 
- Jim