Bill's Coco Bolo Custom

[mica]

Normally we suggest a bunch of different woods for customers to select from, but Bill spoke with Susan about what he wanted, and described what he was looking for very well, so we figure we've already picked the perfect wood:
 

 
It's big enough to get the top and back from the same board (nice). It's got plenty of swirly parts, pinchy parts, dark grain, and intricate shapes. We hope you like it as much as we all do.

[hollis]

Ooohhhhhh....aaahhhhhhhh

[cdf]

I agree, spectacular!!

[bassman10096]

Mica/Susan:  ...and you did select very well!  I love the coloring and figures.  It is already my desktop wallpaper!  Could I see the body template placed the way you have in mind and a close up with a swipe of acetone?  It really looks great!  
 
On a related matter, I Emailed you to ask that the neck be done in a satin finish.  I also wanted to confirm the change to heart omega, since BassCentral has not called me with the price change.
 
I'm really excited about the bass and I love the wood.  I sort of knew Susan would choose well, but she really outdid my expectations!  Thanks!
 
Bill

[marcm]

bill
 
now THAT's a piece of wood!  congratulations!  you're on your way to a spectacular instrument
 
 
marc

[bassman10096]

Thanks for the kind words.  I do love this piece of wood.  I like the balance between plenty of movement and a variety of figures against nice colors and contrast.  I really coudn't have envisioned a better match with all the things I like.  Thanks to Val, who actually crawled through the wood pile to pick the piece out.  This is very nice outcome for one of the truly important phases of the project.
 
FYI:  The bass will be constructed as follows:
 
4 string
Medium (32) scale
Coco bolo front and back  
3/4 Balance point body
Heart omega
Crown peghead w/ goldplated logo
Maple and purpleheart neck (narrow string spacing)
Green side LEDs
Series 2 electronics
 
I've talked with Val about changing the fretboard ovals to abalone and maybe and initial inlay on the fretboard.  Still deciding on those.
 
Bill

[bassman10096]

Hey Mica!!  Any pictures of my bass under construction??  All my efforts to stop making changes and harrassing you all are taking a toll.  Val can verify that I don't call Alembic every day any more!  All this self discipline is KILLING ME!  I've already changed out all the components of my rig that I wanted to upgrade, rebuilt all the bass cabinets in my son's bass-player's rig, balanced my checkbook, cleaned my garage, fed the dog, etc. (You get the picture.).  Some pictures could save me from doing something really rash!!
 
On a serious note, did you/Susan get the Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats I sent (at your request) a few weeks back so they would be on hand during the build?
 
Pictures, pictures, pictures...  Worth a thousand words and a million bucks to a desperate bass player!!!
 
Bill

[mica]

I found these shots from a couple of weeks ago:  

 

  I'll round up some more soon. That little strip of sapwood on the peghead will be cut off.

[bassman10096]

Thanks, Mica!!  
 
Did you get the TI Jazz Flats I sent?
 
Bill

[bassman10096]

Hi everyone!!  Just got back from CA and a great visit to the happiest place on earth ? Alembic!!  Thanks to Susan, Mica and Val for making my new bass come to life and for welcoming my family and me during our visit.  Sorry we didn't get to see Val, maybe next time.  What a wonderland is hiding out in Santa Rosa!!!  Susan gave us the grand tour.  I got to hold Stanley's new bass (quilted cocobolo with dragon neck inlay), saw Kevin's new cocobolo S2 (even prettier in person) and ?met? my new bass.  My son Andy got to play a Chromallusion and a cocobolo Tribute and a Skylark (He's hooked.).  Susan and Mica were just great to us.    Here are some pix of my bass and the day.  The cocobolo is on the dark side and I wasn't well-prepared to photograph it - but you get the idea.    Here's a very happy dude:  

  Here, hold this while I get a picture...  

 

  This is just amazing in person:  

  My son Andy with one of his newest favorites:  

  My bass was about half through with spray and had just received its frets and abalone neck inlays.  The recessed logo comes later.  The carving is just great to look at and feel.  I really love the omega heart point and tips.  I think I'm going to develop neck problems trying to play AND look at the bass at the same time!!!  I was really knocked over by how sexy the new K-style (3/4 balance standard) body looks in person and how smooth and easy (balance-wise and shape) it is to handle - gonna be great to play!  It was also surprisingly light.  Susan brought me down to earth about that when she showed me the shoebox full of electronic components yet to be installed (plus strings, bridge and a few other sundries).  So it won?t be a featherweight.    It was great getting a chance to see my bass during its construction.  Seeing for myself how much of the crafting is done by hand left me with a strong feeling that Alembics are the products of real persons (which is not to talk down the steps done by the CNC machine, which is very cool, and seems to be programmable to do anything with almost any tool!!).  I can?t think of the Alembic shop as a factory.  It is a workshop.  Seeing my bass part way through its construction brought to life the processes that will make it what it becomes.  It left me thinking that so many products we own and use go through construction steps we are unaware of.  Maybe it sounds weird, but I feel like I already know my new bass better than any I have owned.    If you can do it ? visit the Alembic folks.  I thought I knew what to expect ? but, BOY!!!  It was much more than that!!!  Thanks to all at Alembic - Hope I see you again soon.  Bill   Geeks in sweatshirts - No kidding, this is our Xmas card picture for this year!  

[David Houck]

Great pics, great story, great shot of the workshop, great looking bass, great sweatshirts!  Sounds like a great trip!

[hollis]

Nice.....Thanks for sharing these great pictures.
It's especially cool that your kids got to experience what goes into the making of these very fine instruments. Lessons in quality are rare indeed.
 
I'm heading in that direction around the end of May.....If all goes according to plan, I'll get meet these great folks too!
 
I can hardly wait!
 

[bracheen]

Kevin, thanks for sharing your pictures.  That looks like a very happy family!  Your bass looks better being held than by itself (and it looks amazing by itself).  By holding it I get a better sense of it's scale.  I'd be bouncing around with excited impatience.  How do you do it?  
And is there a custom Tribute in your future.  Your son looks natural playing that guitar.
 
Sam

[kevin_k]

Bill,
 
You have a beautiful family, it looks like they are pretty supportive too.  
 
What a beautiful bass.  It's my first look at a bass from top to bottom with this body style.  (Except mine's 34)  But it gives me a good idea of what to expect.  Good to have you back posting again.
 
Somewhere down the line we'll have to get our two basses together for a photo op.  (4 and 5 string versions)    
 
Later,
 
Kevin  

[palembic]

Hi Bill,
 
glad to see you in person with family.
Your bass is gonna be great!
It must be something to be able to visit the bass-temple where they breed all those nice instruments.
And ...are you excercicing the word patience ...patience ...patience ....
 
Paul TBO