Bradley's Once Signature, now Series II

[lidon2001]

Hi Brad,
 
I love how red the wood is.  Amazing.
 
It's been 30 minutes.  That's a little bit.  PICS!  
 
Happen to catch one of a burly custom Essence shaped morsel?
 
You have a true winner there.
 
Tom

[foth]

Thanks Brad.  I'm going to Alembic on Tuesday, and I'm hoping to find a classic 5 or 6 string neck that I can compare to my Rogue.
Hey, which is faster, an 'ace bandage maple' fingerboard or a 'masking tape maple' fingerboard?  I bet they're both slower than rosewood.
Paul

[Bradley Young]

I think that the real deal with the masking tape is that there is you never have to worry about the frets protruding due to changes in humidity.
 
I didn't get a chance to play it (since most of the hardware is missing!), but Valentino assured me that it does add a real mwah to the tone.  
 
Anyhow, hippy sandwich anyone?
 
 
 
And here's Valentino reprising his sometime role as guitar stand.  Photo is complete in that the bass has its complement of shop dust.
 
 
 
And here's one of the back of the headstock, showing off those awesome neck laminates:
 
 
 
Giddy like a schoolgirl,
 
Bradley

[Bradley Young]

Patience young grasshopper.

[lbpesq]

Bradley:
 
I see you went for the double bevel too.  And the Valentino head Omega.  Looks very cool.  I was thinking of this too, but decided on the double bevel only.  On your's, with the standard Omega, the little headstock one balances very nicely visually.  Someday our babies will get to come home!
 
Bill, tgo

[georgie_boy]

Beautiful!!!
It seems that the combination of the mind, together with the beauty of Mother Nature and a little help from the best luthiers in the world can provide something of such beauty.
Long may the union last!!

[Bradley Young]

George,
 
Thanks so much for the kind words.  I'm waiting for inlay, and then (hopefully) the process should be a little more predictable (except for the wait for Ron's bench time).
 
Oh well, it'll get here when it gets here.
 
I've had quite a run of good things happening since I ordered the bass (20-odd months ago), maybe bass being built == good mojo.
 
Bradley

[Bradley Young]

So, I'm wondering.  Alembic used to make cream/brown/clear pickups (maybe they still do, haven't seen any, though).  What do y'all think about having cream colored pickups installed?
 
Bradley

[the_8_string_king]

Wow, that looks exceedingly awesome, and reminds me in a lot of ways of my own custom in progress (in the very early stage).
 
Shoot... I'd been thinking about the double-bevel... and now I might have to ask 'em about the peghead omega... it looks freakin' awesome!

[bassjigga]

You should get the peghead omega on yours 8SK. It looks so cool with that head, especially if you have it in the body.

[the_8_string_king]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.  Limited though funds be, the $250 minus dealer discount isn't too hideous for the front & back bevel -and it REALLY makes the peghead look extra-exceptionally sharp!  The peghead omega just pushes it over the top!  I'm really curious how much extra the mini-omega is.  (And I've asked 'em!)  I'm assuming it would be less than the big omega -since it's smaller and would presumably entail less labor.
 
You've really got a striking beauty there, Bradley!  The Coco Bolo is gorgeous, the headstock is over-the-top awesome, and for me, your neck came out especially awesome.  The maple/purpleheart/ebony combo is awesome-sounding and awesome-looking... and yours came out especially awesome.  The way your two outer Ebony laminates go into the peghead and seem to turn... it's really awesome.   Visually, you've got one of my favorite Alembic necks, definitely the best-looking one I've ever seen with that specific recipe!!!

[Bradley Young]

Mark,
 
I've got to tell you... the Omega looks a lot better in person.
 
Bradley

[the_8_string_king]

Thanks for the word!  I'm pretty much sold.  It's just a simple matter of the moolah.  I was already nearly sold on the dual bevel, but holy smokes, the mini-Omega just makes an already visually stunning form substantially more freaking awesome.
 
(You do realize now that may blame you, if I get it, don't you?)
 
Congratulations on a stunning custom!  It's definitely one of the top 5 Coco Bolo Balance Ks I've yet seen.  The top is gorgeous enough, but when you add in that killer peghead, and then the awesome neck in-between, it's an absolute knockout!!!
 
It's also making me drool and wonder and contemplate 'cause my own custom has just begun, and it has several (of the) same/similar specifications (Balance K Omega, crown headstock, Coco BTC, upgraded custom neck) ... so I'm vicariously enjoying your bass, hope you don't mind!

[cozmik_cowboy]

No doubt about it - the headstock omega is way slick.  But I'm enough of a D'Angelico fan that it looks just a bit weird without the little brass pineapple in it.
 
Peter

[Bradley Young]

Vicarious away!
 
I was lusting after Rory's 6 string when I ordered it.
 
Bradley