Hakeem's Custom Bass "Tomahawk"

[jazzyvee]

You only have to look around the many pictures on this site to see that there is such a diversity in tastes relating to what people like and like less about Alembic instruments. Thankfully we don't all share the same taste. I think that diversity in what we as musicians want to feel under our fingers, hear with our ears and see with our eyes are some of the factors that  push the alembic designers and craftspeople to stretch their own skills in order to realise our dreams. All of us have benefitted and continue to benefit from the experience alembic gains from creating the diverse instruments that we want to play whether we like the shape, look, feel, sound or even price of a custom job.
 
I'm comforted in knowing that whatever challenges alembic have had to rise to in making Tomahawk or any other bass will ultimately make my future instrument even better than it would have been had it been made today.
 
Knowledge is knowing at tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.
 
 
 
It's all good stuff.
Jazzyvee

[artswork99]

Well put Jazzyvee!  
Hal,  
Enjoy, revel and bath in the comfort of this FTC.
All the best,
Art

[adriaan]

Hal - the French can be a little direct sometimes, don't feel offended. (This coming from a Dutchman, a nation proud of its bluntness.)

[toma_hawk01]

If its not broke, don't fix it... (I agree...)
 
The Toma_Hawk is a solution (an answer) to an age old question, and problem I had with basses in general -- (for a very long time...).  
 
Over the course of my (45) years and beyond, I had seen a win-fall of beneficial changes made to support Lead/Rhythm guitarist, which enhanced their playing-skills. As fast as it takes to write these short words, more changes had already occurred, and will continue.
 
However, in comparison to basses there's still very little changes in comparison to the guitar.  
 
The Alembic company has always been at the forefront of making extraordinary basses and advanced electronics, pushing evolutionary, and revolutionary steps, sprints, and charges toward  change.
 
What is a bass?  (I have no idea what that is...).
 
What is an Alembic Bass? (Oh, are you in for a treat!)
 
From the first time I strapped on my first Alembic S1 (27) years ago, the sound was above everything else. My long scale S1 commanded attention not only for its great commanding looks alone, the sound was glass shatteringly clear too. But in all honesty, it just got too heavy for me over the years, and for the long haul. I would tell my band mates jokingly: It hurt so good... Let's play the long version now...
 
Although the Alembic Short body would be my next choice, but finding one available was half the battle; especially when people rarely part from their 1970's vintage Short body Series. (which I desired the most...).  
 
So, after finally finding my 76 shorty, I was very pleased. I feel like I can assess, and understand why Stanley Clarke and other bassist loves shorties so much. First off, these basses are very beautiful, practical, and elegantly designed lighter than long scales Alembics. However, the most important attribute I love about them the most, they're very fun to play. The action is s perfect, its truly unbelievable.  
 
The Toma_Hawk:
 
I can't speak for Stanley Clarke, or Pierre Yevs for that matter... but, the Toma_Hawk Bass is that next evolutionary step beyond the Short Body design for me. The Toma_Hawk is my dream bass, yet it follows and honors legacy of the Alembic Short Body's curves, horns, and top crown. The subtle changes of the Toma_Hawk -- along the lower ends makes a huge playable and favorable differences in comparison to my 1976.  
 
Some may think, it takes a famous Artist to validate their interests/ideas. Well, if this was something I believed, (which... it isn't) the Toma_Hawk wouldn't exist in the first place, and the chances are, I would be still waiting.  
 
But, what I find most interesting:
 
The best ideas comes from, the people/groups you would least expect....  
 
The best ideas, comes from people like you. It's true.
 
I can't tell you how many emails I received from other bassist who provided technical, and musical support for the Toma_Hawk.
 
Finally, there's no accident why the Toma_Hawk plans are bestowed in trusted hands of Mica, Susan, Ron and The Dynamically Awesome Alembic Staff -- Its home, where it should be...  
 
With this in mind, Toma_Hawk can't be anything but an awesome Alembic Bass for me, and that is the best news my heart can't express with this thread alone.  
 
Mica, Ron and Susan know my joys beyond the  Internet, and written words here. They seen so many people express their joys in so many ways and still counting, and its because we are so amazed by such talent, workmanship, and most importantly -- they care to listen with care.
 
My cheers are to Alembic!
 
PS...
 
I have my popcorn popped every Thursday/Friday -- at the close of business (COB) ready for the high 5's for those who can feel the magic unfolding with Mica's picture of progress!!!!
 
Peace to all -
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 11, 2009)

[toma_hawk01]

[A Size Comparison]  The bass to the right, (The Toma_Hawk) is a rendering copy from the actual picture of an Alembic Short Body Cocobolo (shown to the left).  I was also curious how The Toma_Hawk would look if it was a Cocobolo wood grain.   Perhaps, in the future, I will have a Cocobolo Tommy, but first things, first...  



    (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 12, 2009)

[pierreyves]

God save us

[sonicus]

Part of Gods plan might be letting us have Alembics; Instant Karma for the good Children Of The Universe. A reward perhaps?

[toma_hawk01]

I could come back hard, but I have too much love for the good people here, and I respect the teachings of my parents to comment.
 
So I will just say:
 
God bless you too Pierre...  
 
...For I will just pick up my cross, and carry on with my blessings...
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 12, 2009)

[toma_hawk01]

Here's another perspective...
 
Obviously, the picture of the model playing the bass loves the sounds, which requires the method(s) of: thumping, and popping and in order to execute this technique effectively, the bass player does something with his entire body, before using his hammer like, swinging arm and hand.
 
Notice where he positions his legs and upper torso in somewhat of a forward and downward bending position... this gives him (2) important physical objectives: 1. Stability, and 2. Balance while in that position, his arm and hand are closest to the bridge.  
 
I call this: The Bass Attack Position for obvious reasons.
 
Therefore, when it comes to funk, and the nature of this style of playing, The Toma_Hawk Bass will be my definitive, and quintessential tool. This is my hybrid; for it is the first bass I can soon honestly say, was designed for thumping and popping with best intentions.  
 
When it comes to thumping and popping basses, I desire less wood restricting my forearms, and wrist motions, but importantly, with the Alembic Series style, sound, quality and engineering which makes this bass above my wildest dreams in owning.  
 
Simply speaking: The Toma_Hawk Bass is my Make no apologies; take no prisoners; and make no excuses thoroughbred bass designed for THE FUNK and everything that is left-over...
 

[jazzyvee]

The Funk
The Whole funk
Nothing but the funk.
 
Hey, not sure if it's something I missed in one of your concept development threads, but are you having the neck pickup closer to the end of the neck like Clarkee does or further back as on the signature basses which i presume would give you more space for popping and presumably a brighter tone off the neck pickup.
 
Also I wondered if you had worked out the relationship between the position of the bottom of the neck, the bridge and the body length to allow the natural position for your slapping thumb to be in your preferred location.  
 
I imagine that for any given bass/body you could ask alembic to position say the 24th fret to be further into the body, allowing first position to be easier to reach which would involve moving he bridge further back in the body and allow you to slap over the base of the neck or you could ask them to move the 24th fret further away from the body than normal allowing slightly longer stretch to 1st position but allowing your thumb to  be placed off the neck.  So if you did this on two different basses of the same design and a constant strap position your thumb would be in a different place on both basses and ignoring the tone controls etc, would give you a different default tone due to where your thumb naturally fell. I hope I'm making sense.
 
I'm not sure if that's clear but for a sort of example.  
Mark King has his bass virtually under his armpit and that position allows his forearm to be almost parallel with the strings and his thumb to be naturally over the bottom of the fretboard which is where he does his slap thing. His slapping tone is much thinner and toppier and more percussive.

 
Clarkee has his bass in a lower positon and has a wider angle between his arm forearm and the strings and his thumb naturally falls between the bottom of the neck and the neck pickup which would I think give him a meatier and more bassy tone.

If he had his bass in the same position as Mark he'd be slappng at the nut.... ( I jest) . He would be slapping higher up the lower end of the neck and have a brighter default tone.
 
 
I know when on gigs I'm supposed to be concentrating on the music but today I was doing quite a bit of slapping and was trying to work out why i find slapping more comfortable on my SC than my Europa and so this sort of came to mind.
 
I prefer not to slap over the neck as I find the sound too thin for me. So when I use my sc, my thumb fortunately falls between end of neck and neck pickup. However on my Europa the natural position of my thumb is over the bottom of the neck so I have to move my arm backwards to get it between the neck base and neck pickup which  i am conscious I have to do when playing.  
 
 
So to cut a long story short, I just wondered that since your bass has been designed for your particular style of slapping etc  if your design took those variables into account so that when you pick up the bass your thumb falls naturally into your sweet spot.
Sorry for the long thread.
 
I'm off to bed.....zzzzzzzz
 
Jazzyvee
 
(Message edited by Jazzyvee on September 13, 2009)

[toma_hawk01]

Good question Jazzyvee...
 
Susan lead the discussion on this very question last March on whether the pickup (neck pickup) would be closer to the neck than the norm.  
 
Based upon Susan's suggestions, I was in total agreement with having the pickup close to the neck, as possible.  
 
Fortunately for me, that questions was not very difficult because my 1976 Shorty's pickup was perfectly positioned for hand and thumb. My neck pickup on my shorty is 0.59 inches (14.94 mm) to the 24th fret. (As shown below...)
 

 
As for the Toma_Hawk, the neck pickup will be even closer for reasons mentioned, but also factors related to the mere size of the bass as well. So when I do feel the surge to thump and pop, my thumb is almost always over the neck pickup. As for the neck pickup height, it's plum and even with the ebony fingerboard. Therefore, it sits just a hair below the height of the 24th fret. Thus, when I pop and thump, my strings never make contact with the pickup itself. However from glance, you might think the strings and pickups collide or come into contact... but this is not the case.
 
When it comes to a bass groove, I prefer more punch, and crunch (at the front)similar to the definitions and timing of a Mark Adams. Which reminds me, to mention that Mark too, played Alembics. Here's a very rare picture of Mark Adams taken from the 70's, with the Group Slave.
By the way, the S1 Mark is playing an Alembic bass that looked exactly like my first. Clearly, this bass holds a presences, and the sound was awesome too. A bass that big, and heavy, had to sound good .  
 
 
 
 
The notes from the bridge pickup are much darker and  deep, and yet very melodic and smooth when running a flurry of rhythmic funky fills. Therefore, I will accept best practices as to where the bridge pickup is placed.
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 13, 2009)

[sonicus]

Would it be prudent to bring in new experiments with  sliding pickup design ?

[toma_hawk01]

I would encourage an improvement Sonicus. Go for it.  
 
However, if you are referencing sliding pickups for the Toma_Hawk, that would totally be out of scope with production, and my necessity.  
 
Keep in mind...
New experiments with sliding pickups, would be classified as a project in the areas of research and development. Also, prior to R&D for this new concept for sliding pickup, should require a feasibility study first, and then, an acceptable design. Anyway, it would equal to a lot of money.  
 
However, there are always an easier and cheaper approach...  
 
Take an old bass, and start routing a larger area which enable your pickups to slide, then  purchases Alembic pickups, electronics, and pots and make notes of your observations.
 
On a positive note, I do think it make sense to build a custom guitar to fit any desire. On a fun note, I think I seen a bass with a bottle opener too, and as wild as that seems it still makes sense because playing the bass can dehydrate you to the point of craziness if you see a bottle and no opener...  
 
Good Luck.  
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 14, 2009)

[jazzyvee]

a
 
(Message edited by Jazzyvee on September 14, 2009)

[sonicus]

Hi toma hawk01
 
I have a pending project that I might consider to do that with. I have a Bass and some pickups  already that would be functional as components for such an experiment. I would need to work on a solid  slide rail design that the pickups would slide on that would not fail and get in the way of creativity. The ultimate design could incorporate a servo controlled rack and pinion position and height rail. controlled by a lockable dual concentric  potentiometer located on the face ( top) of the instrument maybe next to the pickup selector switch. Perhaps a more simple design would be better that would require you to relocate the position and height manually would be less problematic. Sorry I  am just thinking out loud here again !