Flip's Custom Elan

[tmoney61092]

Just wondering, which song did you use the fretless for?
 
~Taylor

[FC Bass]

I used it for Nothing smells better (or something like that)
On the original recording Jason used a fretted bass, but I wanted to give this beauty some stage time :-)
We are working on Until it sleeps, till then I will use it for NEM (Until it sleeps is tuned 1/2 step down, so I can't do both)
'88 Spoiler is tuned ADGC for Sad but true  
Elan for Jason pick style, '83 Spoiler for Cliff fingerstyle.

[tmoney61092]

ahh nice, right now my only stage bass is a Gibson Victory Artist, mainly because the actve/passive switch just for safety reasons ;-), but once i FINALLY get a Spoiler, i believe the two will be switching spots(though i'll continue taking the Gibson as a backup because she's my baby).
 
i LOVE playing 1/2 step down, perfect tuning in my opinion.
 
what is the Newsted going to be tuned to?
 
~Taylor

[David Houck]

I wondering what's involved in shipping a cheese danish across the Atlantic.

[jazzyvee]

Dave, I know it's not cheap but from my experience of having a guitar shipped from USA to UK, it's not the shipping charges that are painful, it's the import tax and duty you pay at customs.
 
Flip you may find the cost of going to the USA to collect it directly from Alembic,  cheaper than having to pay import duties plus you will get a chance to have a look around where your bass was built.
 
I wish I'd thought to find out the duty before shipping as I could have had a nice weekend in Texas then collected my guitar and brought it home on the plane.
 
Jazzyvee

[FC Bass]

You still have to pay import duties, you can always try to walk through nothing to declare  
But if they catch you, you'll have to pay the duties plus a huge fine... :-(

[jazzyvee]

I have walked through nothing to declare with my guitar many times and no-one challenged me.
 
Yes I'm sure if you get stopped they may try to charge you, but I think you might be ok if the guitar is for your own personal use and not for sale? If you are a musician I think they will assume you are carrying the tools of your trade rather than importing something.
 
I've been on tour many times with various guitars in the passenger cabin and in the hold or just to have one with me on holiday and never been once challenged about the guitar in customs.
 
You could always take the receipt from one of your other alembic's with you and show that one to them to say It wasn't bought in the states How many custom officials know what alembic is never mind what model it is?
 
Or you could be really devious and take an old empty case and transfer the barcoded luggage tags to the new case when you are coming back, leave the old case in the alembic trash can. Bingo.
 
Be devious, Go for it and have a look round the factory.  
Jazzyvee   :-)

[FC Bass]

Actually devious does suit me  
 
But I will play it by the rules on this one, (almost) all has been paid for last year and I won?t have the time for such a trip until July/August?
If I go (don?t think it will be this year though) I will also visit Petaluma (Mesa/Boogie) of course San Francisco and maybe some forum members from the area. So that?s gonna be at least a 2 or 3 week trip.

[mica]

Going through the rubout process:

And yes - the neck will be glossy too!

[tmoney61092]

The show keeps getting better and better
 
~Taylor

[gregduboc]

You're one lucky fella, Flip.
It just keeps getting better and better, as Taylor said!
Can't wait to see it finished.
 
Greg

[FC Bass]

Looks great and thanx for the glossy neck notification :-)

[FC Bass]

Any luck in finding info on the roadcase yet?  And I would love to see a "get a load of that neck" style picture:  

 

 (of my bass of course)

[FC Bass]

uhhh... Please?

[mica]

As Danny knows black is very finicky in the final stages of the painting process, just because we are so darned picky.  
 
With that being said, your neck was seen yesterday:

 
It's not yet out of finish, but looks like it might escape there soon.