Bill's Coco Bolo Custom

[bassman10096]

Thanks, guys.  I loved it when I saw it a few weeks ago in Santa Rosa.  I must admit though that my pictures showed it as darker (to the sacrifice of contrast) than I remembered.   Mica's picture is much closer to the reality.  And in person, the light areas pop very vividly.  This was exactly what I was hoping for - a dark and rich look with cool, detailed figuring and a range of contrasts - you know:  dark and a little lighter, dark and still lighter, dark and light amber, etc.  It's perfect, and Ron can not possibly finish with it soon enough!!
 
Paul:  I'd love to, but at this moment, I need to get through getting it shipped safely to me, first!  You could also come here!  As you know, Summerfest is a good time.  BTW, check out the new JC on Ebay.  I'm talking to the seller about the scrapes on the neck - but - who knows?  Also, I'll Email some impressions about my other new acquisition (sorry folks, it's a Lightwave Sabre 5 string).  Very different, but cool.
 
I can't wait for my bass!...I can't wait for my bass!...This is doing permanent damage to my psyche!...Can't sleep - Clowns will eat me!! (sorry, different delusion!).  
 
Actually, all I hope is that Alembic does its last things to finish up with the same class and quality they've put into everything else I've seen them do!  ...and, of course, that Mary is not in the plant right now figuring out production for several hundred cases to fit the K-style body!!
 
Also, please note, with this post or the next - I believe I will become a Senior Member of the Alembic Club!  Do I get to learn a secret handshake?  Keys to the executive Men's Room?  Invitations to better parties?  Or do I just become obligated to clean up the spelling in my posts??  Can some others who have achieived this lofty status enlighten me?  
 
Patiently awaiting the most wonderful bass I could have imagined...
 
Bill

[bassman10096]

Well, obviously that didn't do the Senior Member thing.  I love to see counters turn over and indicators change, so...Sorry, but here goes...

[bassman10096]

I don't mean to sound let down, but what does a guy have to do for some recognition around here?  Ah, there it is!!  Everything looks different!!  Sounds are somehow more vivid!!  I have a deeper understanding of the unfathomable mysteries of the universe!!  (OK, enough already).

[David Houck]

Congratulations!  And yes, the world is no longer the same as it was back on post 399.

[bassman10096]

Dave:  Now I know it's not just me!!  And what it does for a guy's virility, too!!!  I had no idea what I was missing all this time...

[jalevinemd]

Bill,
 
As you know, your bass is absolutely stunning! You, as well as our own Val, are obviously fans of the darker coco bolo. I was a bit skitish about using such a dark wood on my guitar, especially since it's hard to get a feel for how the various subtle tones will really express themselves on the finsihed product. But, I must say, your bass has such an incredibly deep and rich feel to it. You almost feel like pouring it into a wine glass and gently sipping it, savouring every drop.
 
Truly an instrument to behold.
 
Jonathan

[bassman10096]

Thanks Jonathan.  I didn't regard the choice of darker colors as a risk - at first - but later I had a few moments of doubt.  That's all resolved now, as the effect I was looking for is clearly there.  Nice metaphor, the wine sipping.  It does have a rich look - almost a flavor, doesn't it?  I can not wait to see it finished in person.  
 
Bill

[rklisme]

Hey Bill
 
I just saw your bass for the first time and all I can say is wow! You are the man! What a beautiful instrument. I will be heading up to Santa Rosa tomorrow to look at woodstock and only hope my final product will be that nice. Of course I have a long way to go since production won't even start until next week but I am trying to work on spirital balance and a little drinky-poo to keep me from going crazy with anticipation.  
Nice pictures of you and your family and congratulations on becoming a Senior Member! Does this mean you have to show your AARP card to post messages now? Maybe a Gold Watch or at least Tuning Peg!  
I know you will be happy when you finally receive your new bass.
 
Take Care
Rory

[bassman10096]

Thanks Rory!  I'm counting the days now (Don't know how many to count, but, never mind...).  I've made a lot of changes in my rig, bought a dehumidifier for my basement to minimize environmental effects, etc.  Time for the baby to come home!!
 
Hope your trip to Alembic is fun.  I'm sure it will be!
 
Bill

[rklisme]

Bill
 
I got a chance to see your bass in person and it is even sweeter than I thought. You were in very good company because right next to your bass was Stanley Clarks Custom bass. I wish I was as far along as you, all I could look at was a block of wood with a drawing! Anyway, it won't be long now.
 
Rory

[bassman10096]

Rory:  Thanks.  I can't wait to see it.  When I was there it was only halfway through spray.  Isn't Stanley's bass incredible!  When we walked into the room where the basses were hanging, Susan handed it to me without first telling me what or whose it was.  Some inlay!  Down the rack row were Kevin's 5 string, which I recognized right away (also prettier in person than in pictures) and my bass - which I recognized once the wood color sunk in for a minute.  
 
Too bad your bass isn't further along, but I'm sure it was a neat visit.  What were your impressions of seeing the place, the scale, the people, machines, workshop where all this magic happens?
 
Hope it was good.
 
Bill

[rklisme]

Bill
 
I have done the tour before but not at the new facility. I spent the whole morning with Mica choosing the best quilted maple top for my bass and setting up the custom electronics I will be adding. Everyone was great as before and it was actually really cool to see all the different instruments in production. I don't know any of you personally but I know your basses and to see them kind of created a bond for me. I also need to say meeting Mica and Susan again was really awesome and then this guy came strutting in with Purple pants and it could only be one person, Val! I look forward to the weeks to come as my bass goes through transformation and I promised Mica and Val that I would restrain from calling them everyday as the time gets near completion. I only live 45 minutes away so a quick drive up to Santa Rosa will be the best way to keep tabs on progress. Bill, I had the opportunity to show one of my students your bass over the internet and now he wants one. He just purchased his first Essence and really digs the smaller body style. After seeing your bass though I think we have another Alembic for life person on our hands! It will be there before you know it!
 
Rory

[bassman10096]

Rory:
 
Sounds like it was a great time.  It is a kind of different experience, seeing the instruments that are intended for others in the Club.  We see lots of instruments through the Factory to Customer looking glass from idea to raw material, through construction. I really appreciate having the opportunity to give feedback (which I hope = support) to others in build mode.  Discussing and reacting to others' thoughts on their designs helped a lot in firming up what I wanted my bass to be.  During the process of building my bass, the kind words of others have helped limit the second-guessing that would otherwise have happened, had I felt like I was in this all alone.
 
BTW, make sure to tell your student he is not alone in his appreciation for the K-style body.  Susan let me play a 5 string K-style Omega that  Beaver Felton at BassCentral had already ordered as a stock bass for his shop.
 
Finally, so....what did you decide about your own bass?  If you are interested in telling, what kind of specs and features are you looking at now?  I'm sure they will establish an FTC thread for your bass, soon.
 
Bill

[rklisme]

Bill
 
As far as my bass goes it will be based on the Mark King Signature standard with a 5A maple top, contoured body = no tail piece, purple heart laminate through the neck and body, blue side LED's, bass and treble boost and cut for each pickup as well as the standard 2xQ switch,2xlow pass filter, volume and blend etc, etc.... I thought it more prudent to customize the electronics and gain more control over the sound since I was working with a limited budget. My thought is the absence of a tail piece will change the looks dramatically while giving it a personal touch all my own. I could not resist the Blue Led's they are soooooooo cool! I can only hope it comes out the way I would like it to. I am already thinking about a Stanley Clark bass but first I need to move some of my other basses. That is it in a nut shell hopefully we will start at the end of next week! Talk to you soon.
 
Rory

[bassman10096]

Rory:  
I like the electronic customization.  Should give you a lot of tone shaping, with a layer of more immediate control with the boosts & cuts.  I can't wait to see the combo of the maple top, pheart laminate and blue LEDs.  
 
There's an Orion on sale locally here that combines quilted maple with purpleheart.  It's a very rich looking combination!  
 
Help me understand the no tailpiece part.  Do you mean a single purpose bridge/tailpiece (w/ no bird piece) or are you referring to the pointed tail on the Standard bodies?
 
Bill