Mark's Custom 6-string Bass

[the_8_string_king]

Hey Mica, Jason tells me I've got a really awesome top!
 
Please post pictures of the BTC halves of the top together at your earliest convenience -preferably with an outline of the body, so I know exactly what it'll look like.  I'm dying of curiosity, and would love to see the top -and the back, too for that matter!
 
Thanks Mica!

[mica]

Here's the peghead veneers:

 The note is to hold off on cutting the peghead until you can review some pricing details about possible changes you asked me about recently.   and the body core with pinstripes:

  I've got to get with mom on the pricing for some of the options, and I just couldn't do it this week (but at least I finished all the quarterly tax returns, yay!). I should be able to get you the details on Tuesday.

[the_8_string_king]

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!
 
Wow, how AWESOME!!!
 
The peghead veneer looks absolutely AWESOME!!!
 
And it looks like you guys delivered another awesome and unexpected surprise... and put the pinstrips right on the body like I wanted... so they won't go over the neck!!!  How unexpected... and how cool!!!
 
Thanks so much, that is just a really unexpected and cool feature.  I remember our conversation on the matter, and remember (for reasons I didn't frankly grasp) you regarded it as extra-challenging to do... but (obviously) you did it!!!  Yay!  I'll like the look of this even more.  I wanted it, but didn't have the $ ask/offer you more for it if it were needed, so seeing this small but meaningful feature... it just great!  Thanks so much!
 
It does make me a bit curious about something, though... so I have to ask.  Obviously, the laminated body core and pinstripes are a specific thickness here already... have these already been done based on the assumption that the body will be 1.7 inches for the Series prep?  If so, that's fine, I don't really care if it's slightly wider at 1.7 instead of the already planned 1.6 for the side jack.
 
But... if it's NOT Series thickness... then what?  I assume the logical options would be either make the Coco Bolo slightly thicker (assuming that were an option) or maybe add an additional pinstripe all the way to the center on either side to add the additional thickness... or I guess the body core could be cut in half and put another lam in the middle?
 
Whatever you think is best, I'm just curious what the plan is.  Broke as I am, I'm really grateful for this unexpected nice touch, so if it needs to be a little thicker for the Series I prep, I could pay a little extra for an addition pinstripe or two if it were necessary for the extra body thickness (that is, assuming I can afford the Series prep in the first place).
 
It'll all come down to the price/cost.  Since we've put a hold on the peghead bevel and mini-omega, that gives me $550 retail to potentially redirect towards the Series I prep and/or upgrading the electronics to Signature with/without a (single) set of bass & treble toggles or knobs.
 
It would be really nice if I could do all three things: (1) upgrade to Signature & a second 3-position Q; (2) get a set of bass & treble controls; and (3) get the Prep for Series I.
 
But I could probably only afford 2 out of the 3 -if that.  I've checked the quote generator, and I know to upgrade back up to Signature is $400; and I'd have to pay for the upgrade for the second Q switch, which Beaver said is either $125/$150.  So this would be the same cost as the bevel and the mini-omega.  Then the question is, how much extra to add a set of bass & treble knobs or toggles, and how much extra for the Prep to Series -including factoring in an extra continueous back woodplate.  (Again, I'm not clear on how many backplates are standard for Signature basses... I'm not sure if what I've paid for already would normally cover one or two backplates, thus, I'm not clear on whether the additional backplates -and thus, fees- for the Series I Prep would require quotes for 2 vs 3 additional woodplates -or just 1 vs 2 additional woodplates.)
 
IF what I've paid for would NORMALLY cover two backplates, THEN I MIGHT consider respectly inquiring if it would be possible to just upgrade to Signature (with a second 3-position Q) and add a set of bass & treble controls, and just get ONE backplate and apply credit for the second plate toward the cost of the bass & treble controls.  But only if it's cool.
 
But I guess it comes down to cost again.
 
Geez, I hope I don't sound like an ingrate!  Here you folks are surprising me with this unexpected treat, and I'm responding with ANOTHER long-winded post!!!
 
I'd better go!  Thanks again so much, it looks awesome, I'm REALLY excited, and I look forward to getting the pricing info.
 
On a separate note... I'll tell you this has been an UNBELIEVABLY stressful and unpleasant day for us.  Our mortgage lender has been extremely irresponsible about his committments to us... he's failed to communicate and honor his word, and it's caused us some pretty serious problems with planning our living arrangements, closing on our house, and packing and moving etc.
 
Prior to posting this, we had a LONG and very unpleasant conference call between him and our realtor -who is REALLY COOL and on the ball, and me and my gal were total steaming.  So I went out and got us some beer, and when I saw this, it instantly became the high point of my day, week and month!  We should have signed for our house tonight -in which case THAT would have been the high point... but... that didn't happen, and seeing this was very comforting, and well-timed!!! Thanks again so much!  Gratefully yours, Mark!
 
YAY! THIS IS GOING TO LOOK [color=color=]SO[/color] COOL WITH THE BOOKMATCHED TO CENTER COCO BOLO GOING OVER THE NECK WITH THE PINSTRIPES GOING ONLY TO THE NECK!!!

[bassjigga]

Dang Mark, you're so boring. You could at least get excited about your bass.
 
The peghead is lookin nice.

[the_8_string_king]

Thanks, Dave!!!
 
Yeah, I'm really psyched!  As you can see, the peghead looks freaking awesome!!!
 
But they did something extra cool for me, out of the blue.  I'd asked them before about having the pinstrips go ONLY over the Mahogany body, and STOP at the neck... in other words, to have the pinstrips NOT go over the neck (the purpose being to not shave the neck down any more than necessary -except for what's necessary for the bookmatch to center).  Well, Mica indicated it was an extra hardship, so I withdrew the request.  So I was very pleasantly surprised to see this... just a really cool and unexpected surprise.  I think it'll look REALLY cool -having the pinstripes ONLY go to the neck, and have the bookmatched-to-center Coco Bolo go right over the neck!
 
I'm just totally psyched!
 
I've also asked them for quotes for the Prep for Series I and for the cost of upgrading to Signature and adding a pair of bass & treble controls... I probably couldn't afford to do all of these things, and I'd have to sacrifice my peghead omega and bevel...
 
I'll just have to see -it'll depend on the cost.
 
But it's all cool.  Even if I just stick with the original plan of Europa electronics with the 3-position Q, it'll be cool.  But it would be extra cool if I could upgrade to Signature electronics with the Series Prep and/or with a set of bass & treble controls!!!
 
And it'll be EXTRA COOL with this nice pinstripe-to-neck only feature I wanted but didn't expect!!!

[the_8_string_king]

Oh, P.S. congrats on taking care of the tax stuff, Mica!  I'm sure it's nice to have that headache over with!!!

[the_8_string_king]

I just wanted to say thanks again for putting these pictures up for me to enjoy over the weekend, and thanks again for having the elves put the pinstrips on the body halves!
 
Being familiar with the Alembic building process, I was expecting to see the Mahogany body halves glued on next, before seeing the pinstripes and bookmatched-to-center Coco Bolo finally added to the front and back.
 
When I saw the body halves NOT glued on... but with the pinstripes already on... WOW, what a cool surprise!  And they're SO thin... just like what I wanted!  They'll be GREAT as contrasting laminates -separating the darker Coco Bolo from the lighter Mahogany -and I know they'll look awesome with the tummy contour and elbow contour!
 
The peghead front veneer looks awesome!  I love the asymmetrical look -with the one half being liney and the other half being wildly figured.  And it looks very well matched to the color and figuring of the board you chose for my top.
 
And that board looks awesome, again!  Whether we go with what you've suggested initially, or what I think I might prefer -flipping it, as long as the pinched part of the figuring would be cut out anyway for the neck pickup or trussrod plate- it looks to be awesome either way.
 
I know y'all will probably get that board cut soon, and then we'll be able to figure the best section to use for the BTC.  Hopefully the board will be thick enought to use for both sides -but if not, I'm not worried... I know you'll just find another awesome board for the other side.
 
I look forward to getting the pricing info for the Series I Prep and/or upgrading to Signature with an added set of bass & treble controls.  I might not be able to afford ANY of these upgrades... but it's all good.  Even if I just stick with the Europa setup & 3-position Q, this bass will rock.  If I am able to afford the electronics upgrade, I most likely would do one or the other -that is, upgrade to Signature and and a set of bass & treble controls OR upgrade to Signature and do the Series I prep.  I'd hate to give up the bass & treble controls... but if I had Signature electronics with 3-position Qs, and was set up to upgrade to Series down the road... that would be very good.  I'm sold that Series basses are the ultimate -even though they don't have conventional bass and treble controls.  And I could probably still add a pair of bass & treble controls if/when I upgraded, right?
 
Thanks again, I really look forward to seeing the body halves glued on soon, and on seeing the Coco Bolo when it's cut up!  And again, I'm crossing my fingers and toes it'll be wide enough to yield quarter inch boards for both the front and back, but (again) I'm not worried 'cause I know you'll just get another awesome board if it's not thick enough!
 
Thanks again, Mark!

[mica]

You'll receive an email later today with the electronics pricing options that are available to you. Since your order was not for Series I/II thickness, it's not an available option at this point to prep for future Series I/II electronics - the nack was made for the required thickness long ago.   Here's the laminates in the first stage of BTC:

 

[bassjigga]

Oh man I like your lams King!

[the_8_string_king]

Thanks Dave!
 
Mica... these look fantastic!  Thanks so much again, it looks like Bob picked a wonderful board for me indeed, and I'm pleased to see it was thick enough to yield both a front and a back.
 
I'm assuming the top picture is the back and the lower picture is the front -as that corresponds to what I thought I'd like.
 
Both boards look awesome!  I'd have preferred to have a little more of the inner edges trimmed off the upper board (lower picture/front of bass) to have more of the super cool area(s) on either side included on the top -it looks like most of that wood will end up being cut off- but it looks much too awesome to snivel over!
 
And the top picture/back of bass DOES have all that awesome super cool area figuring right in the center of the body... it looks awesome too... pretty close to what I'd envisioned.
 
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON ORIENTATION AND CONSULT WITH YOU BEFORE YOU DO THE ACTUAL CUTTING.
 
I originally figured on the lower picture/front of bass having the left side of the picture go towards the peghead and the right side of the picture go towards the tailpiece... but as I look at this picture, it looks like it would look just as good going the other way -as long as the pinch didn't interfere with the disguised BTC objective.  It's hard for me to tell from this picture where it would be exactly.  What's your opinion on this?
 
On the other hand, the top picture/back of bass looks to me very clearly like it would make more sense and look better to have the right side of the picture go towards the peghead and have the left side go towards the tailpiece; the figuring seems to go from wider to narrower as I look left to right -just as the Balance K body is wider at the bottom, and narrower towards the fingerboard and peghead.
 
So please share your thoughts.  Also, when the glueing is complete, please post a straight-on flat shot of at least the bottom picture/front of bass to help give me a better picture of what orientation would look better... it's hard for me to fully appreciate due to the angle.
 
I'm leaning towards thinking it would look better to have the left side (of the lower picture/front of bass) go towards the peghead and have the right side go towards the tailpiece -but again, I want to know what you think before you commit to cutting it.
 
So it's too late to prep for Series, huh?  Oh well, it'll be awesome with just Europa electronics... with/without the second filter and Q and with/without the upgrade to knobs for the bass & treble controls.
 
I'm psyched to see the top lams being glued together!  Woo hoo!  And I look forward to seeing the pricing for the electronics!  I'll check again after this post!
 
Have a great weekend... Mom!
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on May 04, 2007)

[the_8_string_king]

Hey Mica, I just got home and checked my email just a few minutes ago -and there was no email from Alembic... so if you sent it, I didn't get it -for whatever reason.

[the_8_string_king]

Well, after putting more stare time in, I have to say I'm extremely pleased... the Coco Bolo BTC lams look extremely awesome, and it looks like -as far as my untrained eyes can tell- the disguised BTC has been well-executed.  
 
Both of these look really great, and I like the contrast that results from each pair being joined in opposite ways.  
 
Thanks again, these'll be nice to look at over the weekend, and until the next stage!!!

[shim]

Sorry, Mark. I'm so busy that I cannot check your question about my 3-way Q-way.
I think it's unbelieverble. It make my bass can have the wide range of sound. But, it may take times to control it to get what you want. I should practice to control them. But, I'm so happy to get these control.

[the_8_string_king]

Nice to hear from you, Shim.
 
Yeah, it can take a little while to figure out how to use the controls.
 
It take a little while for the ears and brain to figure it all out.
 
I suggest playing with the Q in the 4db position most of the time, and with the bass & treble controls in the middle.
 
Then, if you want more or less Q -or bass/treble- you just make a little adjustment one way or the other.
 
I hope the few minor issues you've had don't keep you from fully enjoying your Alembic... it's an awesome bass!
 
Take care, Shim!

[the_8_string_king]

Hey Mica, in your post 4328 in Dave's Custom Europa therea are these cool clear Europa Template things...
 
I was wondering if you had 'em for the Balance K yet...
 
I'm trying to figure out what part/how much of the wood in the above pictures will be my front and back.
 
I'm pretty sure I'd like it to be set up like what I described above in my post 569... but I'd like to see it and/or hear your opinion before you commit to cutting.
 
I largely defer to you, but would prefer a little input, insofar as once it's cut, we're committed, and if I'd have preferred it the other way... it would be too late.
 
It would be cool to see the outline -if you have the time.
 
But I know you're busy.  So as long as you agree that what I've described would be equal or better looking than the alternative, then go ahead with it.
 
On the other hand, if you think it might look better the other way... if you think there's a strong case for me going the other way for whatever reason, then I'd like to hear your concerns and get a better look at the wood.
 
Thanks again for everything, and I'm keeping my eyes open for the electronics options/pricing email.
 
Mark