Bob's Custom Rogue

[mica]

Here's one idea for a control layout:
 

 
Let me know if the layout makes sense to you logically - do you like the relationships between the controls?
 
I need to work on exact placement (I think the volume is too close to the strings for my taste), so let me know if you want the controls in the same relative positions or if you have other ideas.

[mica]

Here's one with the controls closer together and the pickup locations noted:  

 You may notice the bridge position has changed - I used the 36" scale placement template in error on the previous drawing. I remember you had some specific concerns about the precise location of the output. If I've adapted the postion properly let me know, and likewise if it needs further adjusting. Also note the no-man's area where the jack is - no controls can be in its domain.  I thought you might want to scale this to actual size and see if the closer knob arrangement suits you:

[Bob Novy (bob)]

(Darn, I could have sworn there was a photo in here... must be having those dreams again. Or maybe it was a premonition?)

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Friend Bob,  
 
I can see you're cooking one nice Alembic pickled electronics here on your bass.  
Would you mind to tell what the model is going to be or is that still a well kept secret?  
Just my two cent: would it be a good idea to move the three-knob-row in the last picture somewhat more to the front? I explain myself: tone and pan are not in song changed devices. However: a volume knob can be. From time to time a do this trick with my little finger hooked around the volume knob and playing with my thumb. Moving the volume knob together with playing gives a cello-like sound. Ok .. I agree you can have the same effect with a volume pedal. Apart from that I think a volume knob must be easy accesible by just putting your hand a little lower.  
 
Ok-ok .. I keep my mouth shut  
;-)  
 
Paul
 
IDIOT: I defintely have to start learning to read: it will be a Rogue says the thread.
 
But (good old but) some wood ideas? Other options? Inlay of some nive celery-leaves?
Or some stylish tomatoes in bloodwood??
Or silver inlays of table-spoon-shapes?
A name suggestion: than you call here Apicius!
 
(Message edited by palembic on February 12, 2003)

[Bob Novy (bob)]

Chef Paul,
 
Actually, I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately - can't bring myself to get too serious about practicing scales knowing that (soon???) I'm going to have a fifth string to deal with.
 
Forget the control diagrams above, those were obsolete sometime around last October. But I'm reluctant to say much about what the electronics will be until it's done - it will be a little different - so you'll have to try to be patient (I'm trying, but it's really hard).  
 
I was going to wait a few more days before bugging Mica for an update. In theory, the carving should have been done the last day of January, and it should be most of the way through finish by now, which is why I was thinking there might be a photo here pretty soon.
 
In the meantime, I'll just say it's going to be a 5 string fretless (sorry,  no inlays), very slightly modified Rogue shape, 35 scale with narrow spacing but thicker neck, ebony neck laminates, coco bolo front and  back, standard mahogony core with pinstripe ebony accents, and oil finish. I had the pleasure of being at the factory (what a strange word to use for such a magical place) when we drew the outlines on the coco bolo, so I have a pretty good idea of what it's going to look like.
 
(Is Apicius a word, in some known language?)

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

My friend Bob,
 
that sounds as a real nice Alembic menu you prepare us.
Don'be hard on yourself about the scale thing. I don't know your ames in bass-playing. I know  I should have practiced more scales but I'm happy with what my ears are telling me when I'm playing. There are moments I miss the scale knowledge and than I make all these promises to myself but (...) me too I'm rather to find in the kitchen putting together a meal for friends.
BTW: I strongly believe that cooking makes a better bass-player (or better musician).
 
I propose the name Apicius for your bass because Marcus Gavius Apicius was the name of the writer of the first cook-book in the world (year 0, emperor Tiberius). I mean: the first BOOK. Fragments were found on an archeologic site near Carthago (North Africa - Meditarrenean coast) when they were digging up an old Roman military camp.
However the book -as a whole- came to us in the mIddle ages and was re-copied in 1498. It was translated in English too!
Please go to www.coquinaria.nl  
You can click there to an english version af the site.
Apicius ...what a name for a bass!

[mica]

These pics were kinda dark. Tried to lighten thim and still look close to your bass in person:

 

  The neck isn't as yellow and overall the coco bolo is more evenly colored. I better get some fill lights for spray booth shots.

[palembic]

Well brother bob,
 
she's worth the long waiting!
But ...on the electronic side she has something of a gruy?re cheese? ;-)
 
Paul the bad one

[smokin_dave]

Wow is usually the first word out of my mouth when ever new pics are posted and I'll say it again,WOW.I've been wondering about this bass's progress since I'm a big Rogue fan.You must be pretty excited by now.That thing is BEAUTIFUL.

[David Houck]

Dave, I agree; I feel the same way whenever I see new pics too, and I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's just Mica's great photography!  And Paul, yes we've been waiting patiently for quite some time to hear about Bob's electronics package.  I'm wondering if it still has the filter mode switch and if so, what does a filter mode switch do?

[bob]

Thanks for the pictures, Mica. Though you're right about the lighting problem -I'm looking at the couple of wood scraps I have here and imagining them with some oil - so just to confuse the color issue a bit more I'm posting the two other pictures I have.  The first is a teaser (from the top of the neck up only, very discreet) that I got at the end of May. To avoid confusion, I should point out that this is slightly smaller version of the standard cone peghead.  

  The second one must have been taken back around January, though it just got to me at the end of September.  

  As for the electronics, I'm sorry guys but you're just going to have to be patient a bit longer. It does still have vol/pan/bass/treble in a conventional arrangement, but I'd like to have a chance to actually try out the others before describing what they do.  We might be getting close. As I understand it, Ron has finished tweaking the circuit design, and hopes to get the little circuit boards made next weekend. Somehow or other, this appears to depend on a guy getting his garage cleaned out by then, and since he lives nearby I'm thinking maybe I should offer to help.

[David Houck]

If I lived nearby, I would help too!  No problem for me being patient a bit longer; you've been patiently waiting for this bass for quite a while now.  I hope the design is successful, and I look forward to your report.