Author Topic: Ken's new custom Excel (Read 1082 times)

mica · « **Reply #15 on:** November 11, 2004, 08:50:57 AM »

I know you're disappointed you had to reschedule your visit but I thought you'd like to see the sealer coats:

Got a fuzzy pic for the truss rod cover:

kenbass4 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2004, 09:58:12 AM »

WOW!!!!

Sorry...I'm a little at a loss for words...

Ken (TEO)

kenbass4 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 11, 2004, 12:06:32 PM »

Okay, I think I can form words now...

When I picked the wood out, I could just see a hint of flame through the ripples. With the finnish, the flame is almost the dominant feature. Maybe this will be one of those cases where depending on what angle the bass is held is what will determine which pattern is dominant. This bass is coming together FAST!!!

Ken (TEO)

echo008 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 11, 2004, 08:28:09 PM »

Congrats!!! this looks to be one hell of a nice Excel (one of my favorite Alembic shapes).
I love the purpleheart laminates in the neck!
and the figuring of the ASH and the figuring of the Walnut!!!! and the truss rod cover...and....
damn I want an Excel.
- Tom

bassman10096 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2004, 09:11:58 PM »

Wow! The Walnut/Maple/P-heart/Ash sandwich looks tasty.

jlpicard · « **Reply #20 on:** November 13, 2004, 03:31:07 PM »

I am constantly amazed by the incredible pieces of wood (especially Walnut and cocobolo) Alembic manages to continualy come up with.
I love the the purple heart set neck also! Congradulations! Miked

dannobasso · « **Reply #21 on:** November 14, 2004, 08:20:14 AM »

This will be a wonderful instrument. I have really become a huge fan of Excels. Mica turned me on to my first and #3 is in the works. Great stage bass, great tension for real hard playing, easy to adjust, very stable and ... oh yeah.. powerful with the fatboys!
Congrats Ken, enjoy!
Danno

kenbass4 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 14, 2004, 01:57:43 PM »

Thanks, Guys!

This is shaping up to be one heck of a bass. When I went in the back to select my wood, Chip was with me, and when he pulled it out of the pile, I could see the Excel shape in the pattern. When I was discussing the ash body, I told Mica I wanted a highly figured piece, and boy, did she deliver! Since my Rogue has purpleheart neck lams, I had to have them on this one too.

I don't think this one will take quite as long as your Kay bass Danno. I'm not having any unknown new materials used on it. :-)

Ken (TEO)

palembic · « **Reply #23 on:** November 14, 2004, 02:38:08 PM »

Hal them nu krefi,
Brother Ken ...think of a good name ...in elf ...something vibrant ...what was the name of th eold language the ents talked??? THis bass has some wood-talking over her!!!

Paul the bad one

gare · « **Reply #24 on:** November 15, 2004, 07:57:33 AM »

Very nice Ken..what electronic package will be in it ?
Like Danno, I'm rapidly becoming an Excel fan, just got one and already planning the next.
Love the neck lams.

G

jeff · « **Reply #25 on:** November 15, 2004, 08:51:06 AM »

Ditto on the tasty sandwich!

kenbass4 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 15, 2004, 12:12:40 PM »

Hey all,

Well, the electronics are actually standard Excel, with the addition of a pan for the two pickups. I wanted to keep things simple with this one. (well, for an Alembic anyway) This one does, however, have some non-standard features. The fretboard is ebony, rather than pau-ferro, and it will have the oval inlays, with the elf-rune initials at the 12th fret(like my rogue). I'm still pondering the elven name, Paul. Slow for a human, fast compared to an ent. That would make me an elf, right? :-)

Ken (TEO)

mica · « **Reply #27 on:** December 08, 2004, 07:30:13 PM »

This is a good picture:

This means your bass is almost done! Of course, it's a bit of a let-down looks-wise here, because this shot is after the final sanding with 3000 grit paper. It's only dull temporarily. In a day or two, we'll buff it up and it will shine brighter than even when you visitied it last month.

palembic · « **Reply #28 on:** December 08, 2004, 11:06:45 PM »

Hi Ken the Elf one,

I forgot the official welcome words when meeting but I give you the text here. You know where that came from.
Elanor

1 question.
I know you play a 4 string Rogue and this is a Excel.
The difference is -apart from the sound- a complete other body dimension.
I always founded Rogue 4 strings far too small.
Let me know how this compares when you got her.

Paul TBO

kenbass4 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 09, 2004, 04:27:11 PM »

Mica,

Thanks for the new picture! I've been wondering about progress, and now I know. (Be careful about posting words like almost done in this forum though. It may cause me to start asking daily questions.) :-)

Paul,
Elen sila lumen omentielvo to you as well, elf-friend. I actually find the rogue body shape to be quite comfortable and EXTREMELY well balanced. I didn't find the Excel body to be overly large in comparison, and the long upper horn should keep the balance in check. I'll give a full report in the showcase section when I get it in...how long was that Mica??...

Ken (TEO)