Barry's Dark Custom

[mica]

I know you've been anxious to see the new recipe. I kno wyou're gonna flip...  

 

 Gotta zoom in on the striking colors.  

 Can' really see the veneer too well in the overall shot, so here's a closeup.   I'm sure I'll have more updates for you next week.

[dela217]

I like that! I really enjoy necks with no maple in them.

[palembic]

Maybe said in another place but is this natural colored wood???
 
PTBO

[kmh364]

Barry (BKBass),
 
I'm assuming this is your new baby based on our previous conversation. It looks sharp with all the purpleheart and mahogany (?) lams against the cocobolo headstock veneer. I'm psyched to see the rest of it unfold. I'm thinking that you were right on the money about needing to build upper-body strength before wrestling with this one, LOL!  
 
BTW, I took your advise and got Susan to change the walnut stripes in my new custom Orion 4's neck to purpleheart stripes. It needed the contrast with the vast majority of the thing in all light-colored woods (excepting the fingerboard) and gold accents. I'm also persuing the use of custom hippie sandwich THG knobs made with all the woods used in the bass, a purple heart stripe, and gold inlay(s).  
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

[susan]

Paul,
 
Yes Paul, these are natural colored woods. Isn't the orchid purple of the wood delicious?
 
BTW-Speaking of woods and I know you love to as noted on the wood bank. I am surprised you haven't posted something on the wood choice for Erik's custom Tribute, especially given your predilection for the nude female form. This board truly represents the wood nymph that must have inhabited the tree-she is complete with head, eyes, mouth, neck, shoulders/ breasts, waist, hips and legs. It's amazing how this piece looks and I can't wait to hear how she sounds (this guitar is definitely a female)
 
Check it out
-Susan

[palembic]

Moder Susan,
 
it's hardly believable ...really very ...well ...enchanting. And what's the grey???
 
About Erics tribute ...
I left you a message!
Take good care!
 
Paul the bad one

[mica]

Y'know, those Maple peghead laminates are just too glaringly loud. We're stripping them off and replacing with dark ones.  
 
Here's the first layout idea:

The little squiggle bottom is just a joke! You can see there isn't alot of extra room and options are limited to cram it all in the Rogue shape. In any event, it will require a custom backplate shape.
 
Gotta step out for a few minutes, then I've got a shot of the Coco Bolo to post later this afternoon. Stay tuned.

[mica]

Here's the selection for the top and back:  

 Top      Back  

   This was one long board, I always think that's cool. There's alot going on in these laminates, it's hard to see it all on the unfinished surface, but look for the figuring that runs across to the grain lines, especially in the top picture. These are pretty unusual, and very different from your other Coco Bolo. I think you should hold off having the knobs made until the sealer coat goes on so we can get a better idea of the color.

[bkbass]

Thanks Mica.Which set will be for the front?The top set I would think.Do you still have that butcher's paper cut out tracing of the Rogue shape that was on that lucky fellows buckeye burl Rogue?I'd like to see that part of the boards with the neck down the center overlaid with that cutout to get an idea of how it might look and /or if the grain patterns would look better thru the tracing in a chevron orientation etc.A wet look shot(acetone) might help to decide the front boards.As far as the figuring am I seeing a slight flame in there?Somethings happening for sure.Custom template?What makes this different from Rami's?It was his last 6 strg.that inspired me to get back to that sexy original Rogue shape.From the pix the rear routing looks to be the standard kidney size.I don't care for the standby switch so close to the strings.In the least,I would say exchange it with the stereo/mono position or better yet place both of them closest to the hip out of harms way.This would work the best for me.Is there enough real estate to do that?OR how about one 3 way switch on the hip?Stereo/mono/off?That would clean things up abit(Paul silence those bottles I can't hear myself think!)To answer Kevin's and Palembic's query the contrasting wood is walnut.I've built a bass with walnut that was completely grey,this on the other hand is sort of looking greyish because of the flouresent shop lighting.This should chocolate right out with the lacquer on it.Go down the road apiece in FTC to see a side view of the hippie sandwich.This was just to get an idea I'm hoping for more freakish purple for the center core(yes Mica?)Thanks again,God bless.B.

[mica]

The top image is what I envisioned for the top. Yeah, there's a little bit o'flamey action there, it's not knock-yer-socks-off deep flame, but there's a good hint, and it gives it a really unusual look.  
 
Custom plate meaning the larger size like we did on Rami's Series Rogue, not the standard Rogue plate.
 
We could group both switches down where the stereo/mono one is in the pic. Talked with dad and he said he's got a couple of switches that would work for combining the functions on one switch. It's a bit larger as you'd expect, but there's enough room where the stereo/mono switch is on the plan. It's a more expensive part, and it's slightly clunky compared to the 3-position Q switch feel.
 
So, not like I need to ask at this point knowing your taste, but do you want 2 switches or one?

[kmh364]

Barry,
 
While it won't make any more room on the face (top), and may actually limit pot/knob and switch space a little more, did you consider having the 5-pin and 1/4 jacks relocated to the side bout and recessed? It looks super trick and cleans up the control knob area. Ck out Almost Twins on the Custom O' Month Archive. Those are even gold plated!
 
Kevin

[bkbass]

HI Mica thanks for getting back to me so soon.AHH...let's go with the two switches down at the hip.This way,if either one would fail repair is just a phone call away.I think I'm familiar with the 3way Dad's talking about and clunky is right.Originally I was thinking a series 1 style switch.Switches and knobs to me are just the opposite of childrenthey should be heard and not seenLOL!Mica please don't forget the wet look photos and tracings in your spare,spare time.Since we're planing on the top piece as the front,I'm musing what the orientation should be..The dark areas in the forground at the bottom of Saturns rings to be in the bridge/tail piece region,the outer darker rim of the rings to follow the forward sweep of the upper horn(ditto the lower half)with the overall ring patterns opening up into the cut aways?I need to see a horzontal wet look shot with the neck and the tracings as decsribed above.I think your choice in the overall blend in the wood color temperments really compliment each other the strongest being the purple.The walnut becomes a nice referee between the PH and the Coco.The Coco will have a busy yet understated look but the visual success of this piece lies in the center core being the same shade of purple as the neck.Waddaya think Mom? Kevin I believe thou hast Alembicidis.The cure?It can never really be cured but it can be controlled with the careful selling of your old non-alembic gear and the purchase of more alembic gear.A superfilter is your next purchase as this is one of the only things that'll cure a high alembic fever until elective surgery(series 2)can be had.In the mean time take two essence'and call me in the morning.LOL!Thanks for suggesting the bottom jacks,however side jacks take up alot of room on the front side as your shifting from depth(top to bottom with only a smaller diameter hole on the front)to the length of the depth of the jack hidden below the front's surface leaving less room for knobs and switches.The Rogue shape is really a very tiny tight body at the hips leaving very very little room to pull this off.As it is Ron will have to use a shoe horn to get the electronics to fit.Thanks Rami for leading the way!

[kmh364]

Yeah, I've got the sickness pretty good. I don't have my current order yet and I'm thinking of the next one already. Next time it'll probably be a six-string guitar: either a hot-rod strat-style with a neck-through figured-top body, or some kind of Jerry hippie-sandwich. Too bad Alembic doesn't make Arch-top Jazz boxes or acoustic guitars...I'd love to see their take on a Gibson L-5CES or Super 400/4000 or Citation. If you think Alembic prices are stiff, check out Gibson's Custom Shop Arch-tops....whew! You need to rob a bank, LOL!

[rami]

Congratulations Barry, it looks like a real beauty in the making.  
What are the rest of it's specs?  
 
Cheers, fellow Rogue afficianados!
 
Rami

[mica]

I hope these are more useful to you:    

  top    

  back    Chip does a great job figuring out where to place the top - always considering the electronics, pickups, bridge, etc. to make sure that some meaningful relationship exists between the parts. I think if we tell him which piece to use, and the parts of the board that you particularly want to keep or lose, he'll do a great job with the exact placement.     Mike found the nicey-nice Purpleheart for your body, and he's read this thread and our emails so he knows what you're looking for very well.     Hope I caught all the details in your responses, if not, just let me know.   (Message edited by mica on April 19, 2004)