Charles' Custom Dragonfly

[mica]

It's all stuffed with the electtronics, and ready for the final calibration:

[tbrannon]

Too cool for words.
 
Hang in there Charles =)

[the_8_string_king]

Incredibly awesome looking... and it has a particularily interesting look... contemporary/modern Alembic... yet the old style pickup selector placement gives it a certain Je ne c'est quois.
 
Really, really, cool!

[crgaston]

Thanks, Toby!
 
Mark, that's pretty astute of you to pick up on the selector switch location thing.  One of the motivating themes behind this bass is contradiction, since the dragonfly itself is such a dichotomous creature. It is delicate, graceful, and beautiful, but it is the most fearsome and powerful of insect predators.  Also, it is an incredibly ancient species, but only lives a few months once it starts flying.  I wanted this bass to be sort of low-contrast and unassuming (well, for a Series II, anyway) from the front, but eyeball-poppin' from the back.  I think the elves definitely succeded in making that happen! And as you pointed out, it's got a modern/retro thing happening, too.  The selector, of course, and also the low-contrast vermillion laminate with no pinstripe, which reminds me of the older 3-layer sandwiches.  
 
P.S.
The bridge sure looks bizarre all un-intonated like that...took me a minute to figure out what was wrong with it...
 
P.P.S.
 
Mica, is that a stereo/mono switch below the 1/4 jack?

[jahnahisti]

I love the black hardware.  Obviously and inspired creation!

[mica]

Hi Charles,  Here's the mock-up I sent by email earlier today:

  And here's the revised line art:

 Let me know if I've emphasized that "omega" area enough for you.   And finally, here's the back of your peghead with the mockup scaled to show placement:

[mica]

Okay, so I think I understand about the omeega shape you were going for:

Let me know if this is more what you had in mind.

[crgaston]

Perfect!
 
Thanks, Mica.

[tbrannon]

Charles-
It's looking beautiful.  The back of that neck is LUSH!
 
The darkstars arrived yet?
 
Toby

[crgaston]

Thanks, Toby!
 
Yes, they're here and installed...the SF is at the shop having the bridge and tailpiece installed right now.  Hopefully I'll have pics this week!

[tbrannon]

Good stuff- I'll look forward to those pictures.
 
I like the omega on the dragonfly- it took me a while to notice the difference in the two drawings. I spent a few moments scrolling up and down and finally dumped them onto my desktop and overlayed them.  Very subtle change, but a very cool one.
 
I thought you were an omega guy- how come you're going w/ the point on this bass?

[crgaston]

If I had an omega on this bass, I'd probably break it!  
 
Seriously, given the specs of this one, an omega wasn't possible.   On the next one, it certainly will be!

[crgaston]

I have sent a set of DR Sunbeams, 45-130, to you c/o Valentino.

[crgaston]

Hi Mica,
 
We're headed to Maine Wednesday the 7th, and should be back the last week in July.  I will try to check in from time to time, by computer if possible and by phone if not.  Thanks for the latest update, by the way.  If I don't speak to you before the bass gets to setup, please cut it for a .085 A string, as DR's seem to be my favorites right now.  I figure it will be better to have it cut for a .085 and switch to a .080 than the other way around.  Also, I plan to have the selector switch pointer facing down, so if it could be wired so that pointing towards the bridge selects the bridge PU in that orientation would be great.  Also, having it be only a 3-way switch would be great.  I'm liable to accidentally mute myself otherwise.
 
Hope your trip went well.  Did you get to use the extra ticket?
 
Take care,  
Charles

[mica]

We're going to have to add some binding on at least your battery plate (the middle one). The Spalted Maple is so fragile, a little speck of it flew away when the plates were made:
 
 
 
We always try for no binding, but it's up to the wood. When binding is called for, we would use the it around all three plates, but since so far the others have survived well, thought you should have the option. I would suggest Ebony, but you may have a different idea.
 
Rare Gem,  Autumn Delight, and Fitting Tribute had binding on the backplates so you can see what I'm talking about.