Reid's Fanhead Balance K

[palembic]

I'm still president of the anti-cone league. Sorry buddies but I don't like that shape. But hey ...as I said, difference is a most beautiful thing. Can imagine all the bass players in the world having a strandard point Alembic ...yuk. (Oooh ... I can imagine two things: more earthquakes and Fender would be a high end brand LOL).
Sorry: I saw a picture with a six string bass large body with balanced point and omega cutout with a cone headstock and THAT WAS beautiful and VERY stylish.
Essences and Europas are ok with cones. Rogues and Elans have slanted bodies so I think they are better with slanted headstock.
 
Back to topic: the fan headstock REALLY works with this design.
 
Paul TBO

[rraymond]

As usual, the kudos for this bass's design ultimately go to Susan. I called to place the order, I had planned to order a Std. Pt. body - with the Fan peghead - and in Wineburst. In no time at all, Susan had me convinced that I should go with the Balance K body-style.  
 
Man, was she ever right!

[palembic]

Susan is right most of the times and in th emost unusual woodworks: try staircase on her!
HA!
 
Paul TBO
 
Mmmm ...that internal joke could be to deeply hidden.

[bob]

No, I think I remember: at some point, Susan designed a staircase, or perhaps a well (area containing) for a staircase... and I'm kind of wishing it was spiral, but I don't think that was the case. There may be a picture somewhere (not here), but I've never seen it.
 
I suppose I could search, but that's really slow and I'm working again tonight .

[palembic]

Brother Bob,
 
hang in there man... we know you can do it!
We are all backing you up.
You know ...you should start a website with alll those funny graphs to indicate were precisely you are located in the sea of work on you trip to completion.
Wink-wink.
 
Paul the bad one

[adriaan]

This is a bit off-topic, but since someone mentioned spiral staircases ... My grandfather was a carpenter, and apparently he was rather good at staircases. He left us a scale model of a spiral staircase, which is very nice - though it is collecting dust in my parents' attic, I'm afraid. Also a scale model of a big ocean steamer (S.S. Oranje) that he built from scrap pieces - this was in the depression years, when he was out of a job and money was short - nothing short of amazing. Plus he built a mandolin, which isn't tremendously playable but has a nice butterfly inlay near the soundhole (a la Gibson) and a 6 string banjo. There's also a violin lying around somewhere, but I'm guessing that was bought in a shop.

[mica]

Here's the Wineburst on:  

 

  I don't remember doing continuous wood plates with a burst finish before - it looks cool!  The staircase must be the one in my parent's house. It's got 2 ninety degree turns (so four of the steps are cut at 45 degree angles). The carpenters did not think we could fit a staircase there - but my mom designed it and they built it!   Adriaan, maybe you can give those pieces a vacation from the attic and share them with a local woodworking group for an evening. Right now at our Sonoma County Museum there's a show of "Artistry in Wood" so see if there's any wood shows around your area that could appreciate your grandfather's work.

[adriaan]

Good grief - I thought the bass looked just spiffy in bare maple, but that's an amazing finish!
 
Mica, thanks for the suggestion. I do not dwell in carpentry circles, and don't know if there are any wood shows here in Holland. Sure sounds like a nice idea for a family outing.

[hollis]

Reid,
 
This project keeps getting cooler and cooler.... The pictures are awesome, and as we all know, they don't even come close to the real thing!
 
Wow!

[rraymond]

Uhmm, Mica, Susan, Bob, et al - I don't know what to say... how about, I'm astonished.
 
Reid

[palembic]

GReat idea that wineburst on the maple!!!!! subtle and I keep saying ....now this HAS STYLE!!!!
 
Paul TBO

[the_mule]

That's looking very well indeed! The burst on the continuous wood plates is perfect! Definitely one of the best examples of a wineburst Alembic I've ever seen. Reed, you're such a lucky man!
 
Wilfred

[kmh364]

Very nice, Reid!

[4stringer]

beautiful work, folks!  I love the burst scheme
 
I had to post just to also comment on the neck laminate used as hold-down fixture ...
 
I think I will try to commission Alembic to build me some maple / puple heart wood clamps!  I would be the envy of every woodworker I know!

[mica]

It's getting reeeeeeal close, Reid:
 

 
Even got the logo fitted today. I bet I'll be posting a finished shot on Monday, just hope you can stand it 'till then