Ke(vi)n's Custom Orion

[kmh364]

Mica:
 
Any more progress pix yet?

[mica]

Try to get some up each Friday. Here's one I meant to send you a while back:  

 The Quilted Maple top laminate is stunning! Hard to tell in this state, but if it looks this good now, it will be sooooo awesome.  

 On the shaping table. Sorry, but shot of the front was too out of focus to post  I'll catch it next week.    Another slightly out of focus shot, but still viewable. Still needs some sanding and scraping to remove the burns, but looks nice in any event.  

[kmh364]

Thanks Mica!
 
I'm dying to see pix of the quilt top and the purpleheart neck pinstripes. I think the ash billet you used for the body may be even nicer than East Meets West.

[bkbass]

Won't be long now Bro.What's the electronics?

[kmh364]

Barry,
 
Electronics are the same as East Meets West: Master Volume, Blend (Pan), Bass boost/cut, Treble boost/cut, Filter w/Q switch with JZ-activators and a side/bottom flush-mount jack (gold, I hope). I wanted that Jazz-Bass sound with a Stanley-esque hot-rod option.

[bkbass]

Excellent choices!Call me at the office.

[kmh364]

Yeah, I sure hope so...that was the plan. THG knobs are making me analogues of the bass sandwich with real 24K gold position markers to top the custom electronics off. It should look, sound, and play awesome.

[kmh364]

Mica,
 
Any more pix for me? I'm chomping at the bit, LOL!
 
Kevin

[mica]

Before the last shots, just found this while doing some organzing of photos:
 

 
I'm sure I'll hit your bass when I go around on Friday for update shots.

[kmh364]

Thanks Mica,
 
Any progress shots you have would, as always, be greatly appreciated.
 
Kevin

[mica]

Sent down some scraps to Roger this week from your bass for your knobs. I'll get you some more progress shots on your bass early next week, didn't get them on my rounds today and I won't be doing anything but getting all those end of quarter tax junk reviewed and such tomorrow.

[kmh364]

Thanks Mica,
 
Roger promised to make the knobs look spectacular and ship them to you so that the bass can ship from the factory equipped with them already installed.
I'm dying to see further progress pix...especially the quilt top, the quilted headstock veneer, and the back of the neck with the purpleheart pinstripes.
 
Kevin

[mikedm]

Kevin,
 
Nice project, your own East Meets West. I love the ash body. I had a small-bodied Jazz made of ash, you can play all night and not become fatigued.
 
Just because, I did go by the shop to see what has become of the original EMW. It has sold, along with several others they ordered with the same electronics package.
 
Can't wait to see how yours turns out.
 
Mike

[mica]

Well, I actually survived the tax paperwork yay! I celebrated by getting you some nice pictures for the weekend.  

 The top is awesome!  

 Gotta zoom in some.  

 They look almost black in the photo, but they are purple in real life - the camera just notices the contrast, and the operator works in the auto-mode only.  I'll let you know when I receive the knobs.

[kmh364]

Mica,
 
I'm glad you survived your tax odyssey. You obviously wear many hats at Alembic...it's a wonder you have time to sleep, eat and breathe with all your responsibility. If I wasn't in Joisey, I'd buy you a couple of ole' frostys down at the local grog house for your trouble.
 
The pix of the bass look awesome! I love that the purple heart top lam is thicker than East Meets West...it looks much better that way. I had actually considered originally nixing purpleheart altogether based on the Custom O' Month Pix and the pix from Larry Morgan Music RE: the original EMW. Now I realize why, in your infinite wisdom, that purpleheart is used as the default accent wood for light top woods. In addition, Barry was right on the money: the purpleheart neck pinstripes look infinitely better than the std. walnut stripes because of the contrast. I can't wait to see how it looks with all the gold hardware/plates, golden agoya inlays, and Roger's custom knobs!
 
You made my weekend! I hope you have a great one yourself. Many thanks.
 
 
Mike,
 
Thanks, Bro. EMW was obviously my inspiration, but if you think it was nice, this one is going to be a super-trick version of the same. I loved Kevin's Almost Twins Series II's, so I tried to take the best of both worlds and combine them into something a little more affordable. Hopefully, I'll be sucessful. It's looking good so far.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin