Hakeem's Custom Bass "Tomahawk"

[toma_hawk01]

Bear, you are right.
 
The FTC portion of Alembic.com is MONEY. Meaning, it's the most happening spot on this entire site. The FTC, is my favorite area period.
 
From the time I got my membership, my eyes were glued to those lucky people who were having their customs made.  
 
Right before my eyes, I would be right there cheering them on, and feeling great as the magic unfolded, from a simple block of wood.  
 
Along with reading the overwhelming expressions of joy from people showing their gratefulness, and graciousness, (on both sides) they taken possession of their dreams.  
 
For me, its wonderful to see people happy -- and why not, GOD had blessed me with the capacity of this joy... I will uses it.  
 
Even before there was a Toma_Hawk FTC, for over (3) years, I was an on-looker on the Alembic workshop windows, and seeing all the magic and I don't recall ever responding on someones FTC threads in a negative way. In fact, I will go as far and say, I never was negative on a FTC. If someone could show me where I had been negative of a FTC, I will leave Alembic as my own punishment and wrongness. No worries here.
 
What you would find is, on occasions -- I would sing from the lyrics of Sammy, Dean, and Frank of my favorite standards just as an attempt, release my joy of a job well done for the makers and the recipient of those yummy gee-tars .  
 
There was even a guy who was lucky enough to find and purchase a very rare vintage Alembic guitar. In honor, I offered my congratulations.
 
It's like, if I am running a race on the track, and someone else got to the finish line before me, I am happy for the winner, because I learned, something about her/his technique which aided her/his swiftness. How can I criticize a winner if s/he didn't cheat?  
 
Hating will take you down -- all by itself. People think, by holding grudges help them get through the day... it will only consume them. Don't take my word for it... I know this for myself, and stopped.  
 
Nothing competes with good work, and charity we offer each other. I try, lord knows I try and sometime I fall flat on my face trying and I'm going to keep trying...
 
Thanks Bear!
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 29, 2009)

[afrobeat_fool]

Right on , Baby. Keep gettin it on! Love the thread, Love the Bass, Love the third spirit of Toma_hawk sending me groovy vibes in my Inner City Blues

[toma_hawk01]

In other words:
 
Smoking is prohibited,
Keep arms inside the ride at all times,
Silent all personal hand-held devices,
Parent, keep children seated during performance,
Use Buckles and harnesses,
Please, no flash photography,
If you need to leave, used the side exit doors,
Silents is golden, so please be courteous and quiet,
Remove hats or objects that may get lost,
Please take the farthest seat to your right,
 
And now for Our Feature Presentation...
(Enjoy the show!)  
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 29, 2009)

[toma_hawk01]

So far, Toma_Hawk01, had received 90% of the Blue Ship's soul transfer, deep from outer space. With 10% remaining of The life forces of the Blue ship, the pulse of life to the Toma_Hawk01 just started.  
 
With only your special X-Ray computer screens, we can take a peak of the Toma_Hawk01 transformation.  
 
This bass can't wait to get Funky!
 

 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 30, 2009)

[sonicus]

IT'S ALIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!         IT'S ALIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[toma_hawk01]

Hey Wolf!  Back to the adjustable pickups issue...  I was checking out what Lewis Johnson was playing Norton Basses these days, and sure enough the pickups are on a rail system.  The components looks just like we predicted...  Looks like something -- right from the movie "Terminator"  

[toma_hawk01]

What a contrast from Alembics and something that looks like braces on teeth.
 
Alembics are much more Organic Natural. The Norton basses appearance looks very esthetically mechanical in nature. Cyborg like. I am not saying its ugly, it's just an extreme and very radical looking for me. But it solves an issue for people, so in my book, that's cool.  
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 30, 2009)

[sonicus]

That's really interesting  from a mechanical engineering angle , I agree that the wood in this Bass design is not allowed to reveal the spirit of the beautiful tree prevail for human appreciation .  The projection of spirits from the earth prevail and the beauty of the wood speaks to you in the ALEMBIC product. I do indeed prefer the Alembic way. I think  that there is a way that a progressive technological  approach can be mastered as Alembic does already in the SERIES I & II with the addition of a new improved sliding pickup design . I completely agree with your statements regarding the aesthetic nature of the NORTON product. Thanks for showing these images . I am intrigued by the technological exchange in this thread between us, Very positive _ as it should be . Thanks .
               
 Wolf ____

[mike1762]

The Gibson Grabber PUP was on an adjustable rail wasn't it?

[sonicus]

You are correct .It was adjustable,   however ; I will leave it at your discretion as to any critique of it's design, The picture tells the story.
 
(Message edited by sonicus on October 01, 2009)

[toma_hawk01]

Wolf, I think I like the rails covered, but I never been a fan of pick guards with or without sliding pickups. I like a naked looking bodied guitar and bass (no pick guards please...)
 
However at the same time, I like the Gibson design better that anything I seen so far.  
 
According to this picture, I still don't see where Gibson resolved the problem of pickup height adjustments. Maybe it can, but I can't see it...  
 
All I can see, are (2) screws holding (mounting) the pickup in place. I am sure there are (2) additional screws (not shown in the picture) serving the same function..
 
With the Norton, the solution is evident and very clear (Yes, you can adjust the height of the pickups...)but make sure you don't having hanging objects that might get caught in the gaps of the pickup system...  
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 01, 2009)

[sonicus]

Agreed NO pick guards!  Imagine a facsimile of the Norton rail system in an ALEMBIC design Bass with ALEMBIC pickups and SERIES
II electronics. How about in a Standard Point or any other body shape of your dreams ? I know that you have pointed out that you do not care for the opened design of he Norton . I think that one could limit that some what .

[toma_hawk01]

I totally see your point.
 
All Alembic Series electronics...on a Norton and with red lights on the neck?
 
Now, that's a thought.
 
The Terminator Bass!
 
I would have to go to sleep with my room lights on, if I had a bass like that!
 
Seriously, I think it would be great, and totally awesomely interesting. I do think its worthy of a serious thought. There's this metropolis sterile vibe that is cool. I think if any object could get me to look twice, it's good. This would be a looker for sure. But I think, the acoustics might pose a problem. With all that metal, you might also have problems with bad RF.  
 
These are the things that I would question and must be pursued, and answered. But I think a cyborg looking bass, is what you'll get, but be ready to answer on-lookers same questions of intrigue every time you take it out of the case.  
 
Hey, with lights in the pickup cavity flashing too -- would be a must!    
 
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 01, 2009)

[cozmik_cowboy]

A bass with movable pick-ups?  What's wrong with this one?
 
 

 
Peter

[toma_hawk01]

Peter, this bass was already factored in the discussion. If you go back a few posts (on this thread) we have the same picture.
 
However, being that this picture was shown again, it feels like, we'd come full circle. It would be nice to see this bass in a close-up.