Body Shape

[mica]

Glad you're enjoying your SC!  Here's a quick mock-up of the slight reshaping:

  This just shows the approximate amount shaved off and the main angle. I want to keep the upper horn the same shape as it is now, with the curve as pointed out here:

  The actual carving will look slightly different (better that is!), but at least you can give me the go-ahead that we're on the right track before the wood has been transformed into dust.

[mtnst8]

Wow, Alan!  That is a beautiful top.  Looks like raindrops in a pond.  Love it.  This has been a fun one to watch.  
 
Brad

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
    As the Super Bowl is only two days away ...
 
    After further review, I think what we have now is closer to the body style I'm after.  I compared pictures of Entwistle's Spyder, the body shape my bass has now, and the body shape with some of the upper horn shaved off.  I think what we have right now is just about right.  And I agree on the curve of the upper horn; John's basses had even more of a curve there from what I can tell.  
 
    Bottom line - let's go with what we have now.  Sorry for causing so much trouble, wasn't my intent at all.  Also sorry I didn't get back to you sooner - I've been at Osan Air Base the past week, and had spotty access to the net.
 
    Can't wait to see more.  It will be the bass of my dreams I'm sure.
 
Thanks,
 
Alan
 
P.S.  I love my SC!  What a bass!

[ajdover]

Brad,
 
   Drops in a Pond - hmm, maybe the title for a Custom of the Month?  It is a beautiful top.  I had the opportunity to talk it over with Chip when I was out there in August of last year, and he did a fabulous job in choosing the wood.  I don't think I could have done a better job myself.  I love maple tops of all stripes - flame, quilt, bird's eye, etc., and this is a beauty in my view.  I also like coco bolo - my DW and my SC are beautiful examples of this wood.  
 
     And trust me, this has been fun for me to watch as well!
 
Best regards,
 
Alan

[811952]

Alan, that's a beautiful bass!

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
    Any new developments?  Not pestering, just curious.
 
Thanks,
 
Alan

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
   Update, please, if you will/can?
 
Thanks,
 
Alan

[mica]

Hi Alan,
 
Your post #463 says to go with what we have now but I'm not sure if you mean the way the bass appears now, in post #3918 or my mock up in post #4025. With this clarification, we can get the rest of the carivng completed.

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
    I meant go with what is shown in post 3918.  My mistake, and sorry for the confusion.
 
Thanks,
 
Alan

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
   Any news?  I know you guys are busy, so if there's no news, that's cool.
 
Thanks,
 
Alan

[mica]

Yes, the carving is now completed and Bob has finished the routing program. This should get on the router next week and into spray. I'll send another photo when the routing is done.

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
    Thanks, appreciate the update.  I know you must be busier than a one-armed paperhanger now that Val has moved on.
 
    Can't wait to see it.
 
Thanks,
 
Alan

[mica]

The routing program is done, but we haven'trouted yet. Here's the front routing sketched directly on the bass:
 

 
This has the pickups positioned very similarly to the one in the Sotheby's auction. Some of the earlier versions of this bass has the neck pickup a little closer to the end of the fingerboard. Let me know which you prefer.
 
If we put the neck pickup closer to the end of the fingerboard, it will have a bassier tone. We'll also spread out the humx pickup too, so the spacing between the three pickups will be equal.  
 
Only one chance to get it the way you want it, so we're checking each step of the way to get it just right.

[ajdover]

Mica,
 
    Can you tell me how far it is in inches from the end of the fretboard to the edge of the neck pickup?  That will tell me if there is enough space between them for me.  Though it's not my strongest technique, I do a little slapping and popping every now and then and need a little room.  Just want to make sure there's enough for that.  
 
Thanks,
 
Alan

[mica]

You're looking at 1.5 inches in the above picture. That's a good amount of room, but the pickup can be moved either direction very easily.