David's Formerly Spalted 6-string

[mica]

Here's the sum of all parts. The inlays are even in the fingerboard!  
 
 
 
 
Kris and Ron expect to finish the LED tester by Wednesday of next week, I'll blue label it to you so you can call me on Friday and let me know if the color will be SPLENDID!  
 
(Took out the BIG peghead shot - it's not even the peghead anymore)
 
(Message edited by mica on April 16, 2004)

[David Grego (bigbass)]

Did we catch/get the larger fingerboard inlays we spoke about?
 
 I can't currently find my original order form. Can you send / E me this info as I don't remember what features I ordered...perhaps there are some things yet to play with since I can't recall my dream. What would a pearl monted Alembic logo cost? Can there be a intensity switch for the side LED's ?  I was impressed with the sample brightness. Those  small and large ones had the same brightness luminosity.  
 
Got any other construction ideas to throw into the mix?
 
I mailed today the other gel samples. You should have them on Wednesday. Even though they are different colors of blue they still create for me the right color.

[mica]

Here's the fingerboard of your bass next to a regular 34 inch scale Rogue for comparison:
 

 
When I hold them right next to each other, your fingerboard looks much longer, but the draft angle  on the other bass makes it look only slightly longer. What I'm trying to say is I yours is a 36 scale, even though it doesn't quite look like it in the photo.

[mica]

Here's some of the buckeye burl:  

 number 825  

 number 826  

 number 827  

 number 828   and a shot of how the bark fills go:

  Sometimes we leave some of it in there and just fill with the finish. If the bark leaves a void, we'll inlay a piece from another area of the board.  Here's what the slabs look like before slicing:  

 

[mica]

Here's the last known spec sheet:
 
Rogue 36 scale 6-string
11-piece Maple and Purpleheart neck
Spalted Maple top
recessed straplocks
bookmatch top to center
clear satin finish
Black MOP ovals
Blackened brass hardware
Series II pickups and electronics
side LEDs in special green/blue
front Laser LEDs in special green/blue
momentary LED switch (low profile push button)
LED mode switch (off-side-both)
continuous wood truss rod cover
Backplates to match top wood
covered continuous pickup tops
knob peghead shape
Hipshot ultralight tuners in black
high profile thin frets
bird tailpiece
hardshell case
 
 
 
 

[mica]

It's not exactly what we were looking for, but here is the 36 fingerboard compared to a 32 scale:

 
It might be enough to tell if you want the ovals scaled up. Anyone else have thoughts about the inlay size on this bass?

[mica]

Now we'll swap out for fancy natural abalone, concentrating on the greens and blues, and a little purple won't hurt either. Enlarge the ovals proportionally to the scale of the bass.   Use 828 for the top laminate. Mandolin frets too. Dimmer for the front LEDs to be internally mounted.  Here's some exterior shots of the road case:  

 

 

[mica]

Just a quick confirmation, we're adding a Buckeye back laminate and continuous wood backplates to this job. I better rename this thread!

[David Grego (bigbass)]

Thanks for the case photos and the adjustments. The photos look great.  
Perhaps a good back laminate would be #825 above. I got your Buckeye sample today and dumped some alcohol on it.....awesome!!!!  Incredible depth in the grain! The sample has an interesting smell that reminds me of my grandfather's house when I was a child. We talked at one time of a low D (?) tuner on the B string (guess it is really a low A in this situation....hey, where you joking when you thought I should put one on every string?) and D'Addrio half round strings with a .40 c string (I like 'em thick so they don't sound like a guitar). The stock strings are long enough to fit on my Orchid Bass. I should check again to make sure I didn't originally order them as extra long which I believe they make.

[mica]

I spoke with Dave at Hipshot Productions today. He's sending me over some mechanical drawings by fax soon. Then we'll know if there are any modifications needed to the peghead design.

[mica]

I've got the drawings in hand, David. Kris is going to work with me on Monday regarding the peghead design. I think we'll have to stagger the tuners to keep the peghead from getting bigger, but it should work.

[Michael Walker (rockandroller)]

I can see thats gonna be (another) masterpiece!
 
whats the deal with mandolin frets though??

[Matt Bulmer (prime)]

I read an interview with Leland Sklar where he explains the reason for using mandolin frets. I guess because the frets are so small you still get alot of the sound of the wood, similar to a fretless. He said that most of the songs that sound like he's playing a fretless were actually recorded on a bass modified with mandolin frets.
 
Matt

[mica]

Kris cut a paper tempalte so you could see what will show on the lion on the back:

The eyes will be inlaid with the blue grey part from the outside edge. I think it looks just great.
 
Kris will be laminating the back on Monday, so call or email me and let me know if there's any changes before then.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Friends,
 
this is gonna be a wonderfull bass! I like to be here and watch the thing growing. Really impressive!