Rory,
Good grief, you're double dipping in the Balance K pool. A quilted maple monster and a coco bolo blaster; I'm thinking you're going to be the happy man! Wait a minute, this is Alembic-land, there's lots of happy people here, and I'm one of them! You will love the Balance K, I promise. It is easily the most comfortable Alembic I've ever played. There's no keeping the body in-place with your forearm, or supporting the neck with your lefthand. This baby, even a 5-string, hangs at 2 o'clock all night long. It's lighter than my Elan and Orion 5-strings, and weighs the same as my 4-string Series 1. If the three most important things in real estate are location, location and location, then the three most important things to know about a Balance K bodied Alembic are comfort, comfort and comfort.
Paul,
The sunlight really illuminates the bass from the inside out. It looks like Cherry 'burst. In normal lighting it looks more like it does in the photos that Mica took. BTW, I did try the Jameson's and it is smooth, smooth, smooth. Very tasty! Of course, I grew up in Tennessee, and after Tennessee sour mash whiskey, almost anything else is smooth, including paint thinner.
Dave,
I love the Fan Peghead even more now that I have one; it really works with this particular bass, for sure.
Take care all, and thanks for the compliments on the bass,
Reid
