Author Topic: Mark's Custom 6-string Bass  (Read 5021 times)

jacko

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4068
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #300 on: January 04, 2007, 01:08:15 AM »
Hey Mark. I'm honoured that you've put my rogue up there alongside Rick and Barry's examples. Ricks DW is incredible and Barry's was one of the examples I used when I spoke to Mica about patterns. You can rest assured that she'll choose something stunning for you.
 
Graeme

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #301 on: January 07, 2007, 10:48:17 PM »
I'm sure she will!!!  And I can't wait.  Since Elana -that's her name, since she's a replacement for an Elan- will have Coco Bolo BTC'd on both front and back, they'll have plenty of surface area to have awesome figuring in!
 
I'm really hoping they come up with something like the front/top(s) of the 1st two basses I listed.  The Coco Bolo Stanley Clarke, and the awesome Coco Bolo Skylark blow me away.  I like the figuring on the Stanley Clarke a little better, but the BTC and the features of the figuring on the Skylark... it just doesn't get any better (in my eyes)!!!

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #302 on: February 10, 2007, 05:30:50 PM »
Another example of figuring I really like -specifically concentric-ness is Ken's 90's 5-String Coco Bolo Distillate in the Showcase section.
 
Looking at the left side of the picture, I really love the concentric patterns on the horn, and how the concentric circles on either side of the waist drop off and then pick back up on the other side.
 
I just can't wait to see what'chu folks come up with for me!  I know it'll be awesome!

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #303 on: March 14, 2007, 11:19:17 PM »
I'm dying to see what Bob's come up with!
 
(But, I'm sure you know that, so PLEASE, take your time, and post some pictures ONLY when your busy schedule allows!)

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #304 on: March 15, 2007, 07:52:24 PM »
Bob is gearing up for a large run of bodies. There are little stacks of wood on every available table in the shop, so in a few days, you'll hopefully see what's been cooking.

georgie_boy

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1115
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #305 on: March 19, 2007, 06:35:42 AM »
hey Graeme
I told you that you had one of the best looking basses on the planet (apart from mine that is!)
She is truly beautiful, and you should be very proud of her
 
G

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #306 on: March 26, 2007, 07:34:17 PM »
While browsing thru the thread for the awesome March Custom of the Month, I discovered the link to A Fitting Tribute...  
 
The BACK is a PERFECT example of what I DON'T WANT/LIKE... specifically how there is an obvious line in the middle, and how the figuring (really the coloring of the figuring) obviously and abruptly is different (changes -from light to dark) as it crosses the center line.
 
Disclaimers: I'm sure y'all already get this -but when I came across this perfect example of what I DON'T LIKE, paranoid rascal that I am, I felt obliged to share it as a reference; that said, it's a gorgeous instrument... it just goes against my personal aesthetic preferences!

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #307 on: April 11, 2007, 04:51:51 PM »
Because of the carved top, all Tributes look less symmetrical.  
 
Here is a piece that looks like it will suit your tastes:

This is just roughly chalked in, slightly oversized. We'd also angle it slightly to get the central lines closer to parallel.

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #308 on: April 11, 2007, 06:23:34 PM »
THANKS A BUNCH, MICA, IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!
 
Uhm... is that piece the back, or the front flipped over?  It looks like there's a horn there, so I'm guessing it's one or the other.
 
It looks beautiful, and it looks like I'll probably have some nice concentrics near the controls -as well as the lines I requested in the middle, to disguise the BTC.
 
Have y'all decided if I'm going to have the front and back made from the same board or not?  Just curious, as stated before, I leave this decision in your capable hands.
 
Thanks again for this picture, I've really been jone-zing to see this!!!

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #309 on: April 11, 2007, 06:33:08 PM »
This is a piece of lumber. I traced the larger body half so you could see if you liked the piece as much as we thought you might. I'll ask Bob to get the board resawn so you can view the bookmatches. I think this will be thick enough to get both the top and back cut, but I'll let you know after it goes through the bandsaw.

5stringho

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 279
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #310 on: April 11, 2007, 06:42:36 PM »
Mark, I can't wait to see the bookmatch. Looks like itz gonna B AWESOME! Drool, slurp, drooooollll.......
 
The Ho....

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #311 on: April 11, 2007, 10:57:45 PM »
Thanks, Ho!
 
Mica, the more I look at this, the more I'm sold on this piece of wood!
 
However, as I look at it, I'm trying to envision what portions of it would look best being cut out for the top/back.
 
The tentative rough outline you traced looks pretty good.  It looks like it would be easy for you to line up the lines in the center to disguise the BTC.  But I think it might look even better (not sure) if the outline were moved up to the top (in addition to being slightly angled) so I could get more/all/most of that really cool big eye on my top -and also more concentrics on the outside.
 
For clarification, I'm referring to the concentric-ish large figure more or less in the dead center of the board in the picture.  To the right are two adjacent little eyes I love, and also a single eye in the horn.  I can't have it all, so I think we'll probably have to sacrifice the little eye in the horn when we angle it.  I think I'd like it if the outline (of the horn) were lifted up to the upper (in the picture) edge of the board, and also the rest of the outline.  An easier way of describing this idea might be to imagine you just shaved off an inch or two off the lower edge of the board, and lifted/angled the horn up a bit.
 
As I look at that board, I see 3 sections.  As you go left to right (or right to left) there is a really cool section in the middle, that has the big eye in the center, and the smaller eyes to the right, and the eye in the horn.  Above and below this really cool section are two mainly liney areas.  Now I think I'd like to get a little more (maybe as much as possible -without sacrificing the disguised BTC objective) of this really cool area on my top/back.  And again, this looks like it would also get me a little more concentric figuring by where the electronics would be (and on the mirror side).
 
I'd like to see a trace-line outline for what I've described, at your convenience.  I tried to make a little outline-thing out of paper, but it was half-assed.
 
Alternatively, another thing that intrigues me would be to FLIP the outline, that is, to imagine the UPPER edge of the board (in the picture) being the center line/line of symettry.  I like the pinch/pinching that's around the date 4/10/07 that you have chalked in on the board... it looks neat.  The only concern would be if that figuring wouldn't line up right... BUT it looks like the fingerboard and or truss rod plate and/or pickups would be there, so it wouldn't be an issue -at least for the top.  That way, you could get most of the really cool area in the middle on my top, and what you have as the outer edge would become the center, and what you have as the center would be the outer edge... and it looks like it would be full of concentrics!!!  The lines on the top seem more parallel to begin with.
 
So in summary: (1) what you've come up with is great; however, I think I might prefer (2) shaving an inch or two off the lower inch of the board and pushing the outline up (and slightly angling the horn up a little) OR (3) FLIPPING the outline so that the UPPER edge of the board is the center instead of the lower.
 
At your convenience, if you could provide pictures with these outlines traced, I could probably tell you right away which I like best.
 
Another thought is -assuming the board is thick enough to do front and back- do it one way on the front, and the other way on the back.
 
I'm sorta thinking that the last option -(3)- looks like it might be the coolest -for the top.  It seems like that option might get the biggest amount of the really cool area on my top.
 
I DO wanna make sure I get the full 1/4th of an inch thickness of Coco Bolo on each side!!!
 
Thanks again, Mica, I'm really excited, and this makes me feel better, what with the problem on my other bass and all!!!

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #312 on: April 12, 2007, 01:03:13 PM »
If I use the top side of the image as the center line, there is a disinctive pinch in the grain that will not conform to your specification for straight grain at the center.
 
We will be slicing and sanding this chunk in the next few days, so I'll post the bookmatches and some outlines for you when it's ready.

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
Coco Bolo request/details/specifications
« Reply #313 on: April 12, 2007, 09:42:10 PM »
Thanks Mica, I'll look forward to seeing it!
 
First of all, it's a great looking board, and I'm sure whatever we come up with will look great.  So I'm happy, excited, optimistic, and worry-free!
 
Now what you think is the biggest part of the equation, and I'll defer to what you think is the best way to achieve my objective(s).
 
At this point, as I've had more time to look and contemplate, this is what I think I'd like to do -subject to your approval.
 
(I definitely want the top and back to be the full quarter inch standard laminate thickness... ASSUMING this board is thick enough to yield that amount so that I can have the front/top & back made from this [same] board... what I'm thinking I'd like to do is: )
 
FOR THE FRONT/TOP, I think I'd like to flip the outline and use the upper edge of the board for the center line... IF/ASSUMING the pinch area wouldn't conflict with my objective -due to THAT WOOD being cut out by the neck pickup and/or truss rod plate.  It looks to me like that is roughly where the neck pickup and/or truss rod plate would go... and other than that pinch area, the rest of the figuing is liney -and actually looks straighter than the lines on the other side.  So it looks like there wouldn't be an issue with this conflicting with my wanting the figuring in the center to be liney to disguise the BTC... but it depend on whether the pickup and/or truss rod plate would eliminate this concern or not.
 
FOR THE BACK, I think I'd like to use the outline you have above, but slightly modified, by pushing the outline up to the upper edge of the board (to include more of the middle super cool area in the top), and also specifically angling/lifting up the horn part of the outline -to make the lines more parallel, as you suggested.
 
I'd like to get more of the middle super cool area into the top and back... the liney parts of the figuring should be mainly to (A) disguise/conceal the BTC on the front and back, and (B) to give me the desired concentric figuring on the edges.
 
Thanks again, look forward to seeing the wood when cut, and hearing your thoughts.  If it turns out not to be thick enough to yield 1/4 thickness for the top and back, I'll of course want to see another board for the other side (whichever side that would be).  But hopefully this board will be thick enough to yield a quarter inch of Coco Bolo on both sides!
 
                                     Interesting... I just stumbled onto how to make the smiley face!!!

the_8_string_king

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 948
(x) Pinstripe(s) -KEEP 'em THIN, please!
« Reply #314 on: March 10, 2007, 02:26:49 PM »
I said this at some other point -I think, when I submitted the order, but I wanted to include it here to make sure it doesn't get overlooked.
 
I'm leaving pinstripe choices -and headstock laminate choices- to Alembics' discretion; but please remember that I want the pinstripe(s) (I'd prefer 2 if it's a no-cost option, as I think I saw on another thread) to be AS THIN AS POSSIBLE... I DON'T WANT the usual 1/8th of an inch thick laminate... because I DON'T WANT the neck to be shaved down any more than necessary on either side...
 
So, again, please KEEP THE PINSTRIPE(s) THIN!!!
 
Thanks, gang!