Paul's Custom Series II Mele Aloha

[mele_aloha]

Thank you, WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOoooooWWWWWWWW!  
 
These guys are good! Or baaaadddd!
 
Thank you Mica and friends/family!
 
Aloha, Paul

[the_8_string_king]

.Some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss,some-buddies gedding clo-oss.....

[mele_aloha]

There you are!!!!

[jacko]

Looks fantastic paul! The neck laminates really work well with the QCB and I love the top horn.
 
graeme

[deburgh]

Absolutely gorgeous Paul!  That QCB is stunning to say the least. Looks like our customs are at about the same stage of construction, it's amazing to see what a difference that first spray of sealer makes. What fun this is to watch these works of art getting closer and closer to being done  
 
Take care,
Todd

[mele_aloha]

Oh Boy,
As I sit here at 2 a.m. Sunday morning with my kitten on my lap, on the Big Island of Hawaii, I listen to one of the most inspirational and intelligent persons I know besides Wayne Dyer and Depak Chopra, the greatest talk show host himself Mr. John Rothman on KGO. How much better could it get for me that is knowing that I will have my new baby in my hands within the next two weeks or so.
 
I just want to take a moment to tell all of you my newest friends and support how much I appreciate all of your support through all of this decision making and ordering of the biggest dream of my life. Without all of you, and I truly mean all of you I would have never been able to do this. I am totally out of my mind right now from lack of sleep but pleasantly so at that. So please excuse my whatever.
 
I kinda feel sorry for you Mark even though you now have your bass you no longer have that rush of anticipation and control in the back of your mind knowing that you could actually make a last minute change if you really wanted! The nice thing is that I have ordered (due to the help of all of you) the best combination of choices that I could possibly get on the nicest bass that I could ever dream of having at my fingertips! And I thank All Mighty God and my Father Michael Francis Mikul for the opportunity to make this dream come true! I just wish that my father could have had the opportunity to see this bass physically in my hands. But I know that he is looking down on me very proud to know that I will be passing on my experience and knowledge to my son Michael Angelo Mikul!!!!!!!!
 
Man, just the sight of that first layer of finish is so beautiful!!!  
 
Thank you so much Alembic and all of my Alembic friends!!!
 
I also haven't had much time to come in here and pay my respects to all of your beautiful instruments that you have being built. They are all gorgeous and I really admire all of them!
 
This is such a wonderful world all of it's own being a member of this beautiful family. I am so honored to say the least and I mean it from the bottom of my heart!!!
 
I Love all of you from my heart and must go to bed now. In fact I just blacked out and don't remember typing that last line now.
 
Goodnight friends, Paul da Plummber

[jlpicard]

Paul, I just happened to be celebrating my birthday today and decided to treat myself to a new Roland D Bass amp. While playing through it with the Raging Bass I decided that I hadn't checked in with you for a while and lo and behold new pictures of your baby!! WOW  I love the Vermillion in the neck with the quilted Cocobolo. you make me want to build another one! Unfortunetly, I still have a few years left on the loan for this one. To tide me over, I have been working on a home bass project of my own creation. It is almost done and when I finish I will post  a pic or two probably in Micellanious so keep your eyes peeled. It is very Much an Alembic inspired design. In the meantime, heres another Raging photo like you asked for. Mike

[mele_aloha]

Oh Boy, what a nice surprise!
 
First of all, Happy Birthday Michael! We are celebrating a birthday right here in our house all weekend as my son just turned 4 yesterday and we are having the party tomorrow so it's just a weekend event! Anyway I wish you many many more healthy years of great bass playing!!!
 
Let's get right to the meat of things, tell me about your Roland first and then your bass when you have time of course! I know it's late so when ever you get a chance to get back.
 
I should be seeing my bass soon. I know the shop was set back with the flu virus but mine should be on the top of the list as this is what my dealer has told me.  
 
What a beautiful beautiful instrument you have. It must be so nice to wake up in the morning, sip on a few cups of java while just starring at that beauty and enjoying the smell that arises from the case. Of course maybe this isn't your agenda, just a fantasy of mine! Especially with my favorite Kona coffee! I hopefully will be doing this soon. Although I keep reminding myself that expectations often turn into premeditated resentments!
 
I've already seen it happen in here many times so I figure when it's in my hands I'll play it!
 
Anyway I am really honored by your post and please return whenever you have time.
 
Thank you very much Michael, and by the way my son's name is Michael Angelo,  
 
Aloha, Paul the plumber.
Mauna Kea Plumbing Company, Big Island, Hawaii

[jlpicard]

Hi Paul, It's getting so close to the birthday of your new baby!! Your gonna love it!
Anyway the Roland D-Bass210 is an impressive amp. For it's size and weight,it really puts out! The sound is real phat, really meaty if you know what I mean. Not in the same way as an SVT but very clear and tight. It never loses that fattness and stays clean even at high volume. It has Rolands' COSM amp modeling so that with the turn of a knob, you can get a vintage or a modern sounding amp or a third setting which will give you a totally flat preamp settting which will faithfully reproduce the sound of your bass in all its glory! I've gigged with it twice already in a cover band that plays every thing from Patsy Klein to Van Halen and never had it up higher than a bit over a quarter of the way up. (10:00). I'm also using a Bose T1 Tonematch Engine for effects. That is a cool unit. Effects from compression to modulation to delay to reverbs, a tuner and a digital 4 channel personal mixer that will remember all your settings. All kinds of settings for custom EQ's designed to change with the particular instrument you are using. They have even offered to make a custom patch for the Raging Bass if I bring it to one of their Bose owners' conventions! How cool is that?!
The bass I'm worknig on is a 5 string with a cocobolo top (of course) with a 1/4 maple accent strip and a mahogany body core. I'll have it done soon so I'll post when its ready. No where near Alembic quality, building gives you a real appreciation of what masterpieces every Alembic truly is. It looks easy, it really takes practice and developing many skills to turn out a fine instrument. Anyway, that's all for now , Best of luck to you Michael DeVincenzo

[mele_aloha]

Hey Michael,
 
Nice to hear from you. I am looking at your amp on musiciansfriend right now. That is a nice little amp. Perfect for gigging! Roland has always been a favorite of mine. They maintain alot of class. I have the little Roland Micro Cube which is excellent and I also have the Roland Edirol USB audio capture UA25 which I will get out when I get my bass.
 
I especially have heard alot about the Bose system and it sounds great. Actually my friend has one and it is nice.
 
I am really stoked as my bass is promised for shipping on the 12th which is a week from Monday. So I will be getting back to you soon with some  
pictures and sound bytes.
 
Thanks for getting back and take er easy.
 
Aloha, Paul

[mica]

Your bass is getting the last bits of finish sprayed. But for now, here's a photo of the logo rays as they get inlaid:

[jtussing]

Hooooooo!  Wow, Paul!
 
Even where you live you should be able to appreciate something this beautiful!  :-)
 
Peace,
Jim

[mele_aloha]

Thanks for the picture Mica,
 
Good job on the inlay Jason!
 
Thanks for the compliment Jim! Believe me, when you live in Hawaii after being born and raised in California, California seems like a much more beautiful State. And it is in it's own way. Anywhere you go, it's just the change that we all crave after being in our own space for too long. But I loved being born and raised in the Santa Clara Valley when it was all orchards. And hanging around in the Santa Cruz/ Montebello Mountains and going up Hiway 1 to camp out, then go skiing and backpacking in the Sierra's---Now that's living! Oh-Surfing in Santa Cruz and fishing off the wharf! How about artichokes 10 for a dollar in Castroville, those are the good ole' days.
 
I could go on and on from the redwoods to the trout fishing, none of the previous mentioned can be done in Hawaii.
 
Anyway, back to my beautiful Alembic Series II which I always dreamed of owning and the Awesome Alembic Family who has made it possible-
 
It's getting there. I'm preparing for recieve mode.
 
Thank you, Paul

[artswork99]

From what I've read I know you've been enjoying the experience Paul.  How exciting, receive mode!!!  That is a gorgeous bass!  The figuring is BEAUTIFUL!  Real nice neck lams.  Incredible workmanship throughout and I'll bet you can't wait to get your hands on your bass!  Breathing exercises and meditation will probably help at this point.
Play it healthy!
Art

[mica]

Probably only 1 or 2 more coats of finish to go: