Author Topic: SN 80 1681 (Read 5975 times)

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #30 on:** April 04, 2011, 05:15:53 AM »

Yes, of course - saw the shape & p/ups, and my eyes slid right over the dots.

Peter

poor_nigel · « **Reply #31 on:** May 21, 2011, 11:27:21 PM »

Got a new set of etched pick-ups and David King knobs and stuck em on. The knobs are flawless! Ebony knobs on an ebony bass. Makes sense. One of the pups was bad, so I just replaced them both. The old set is being donated to Mica to check out why the one lost so much signal, as she says it is still too soon to lose enough gauss to make a significant difference. Good for her thinking about quality first.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #32 on:** May 21, 2011, 11:34:44 PM »

A good shot of the crack in the front lam. It simply is not worth the cost of a repair and refinish job on the whole bass to cover up something that actually existed when I received the bass 31 years ago. Therefore I claim this is a factory installed custom option - Unlike the black magic marker I used to try and darken the etched groves of the pick-ups. Got lazy, and now I have to clean them out and do it right. Gives me more fun things to do.

lembic76450 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 22, 2011, 05:53:49 AM »

Thomas,
Are the allen screws for the pick-ups something new?

lembic76450 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 22, 2011, 06:02:25 AM »

Thomas,
Nevermind, I just saw you other post, oh, and it is good to see you back posting again. I always loved those star inlays on your other bass, nice job on both..

poor_nigel · « **Reply #35 on:** May 22, 2011, 06:43:04 PM »

Got my case back from Calzone/Anvil last week. I was NOT real happy I sent it in a sturdy box and got it back without any, not even covered in paper. This is showing zero respect for my property, regardless if they think it is a beat-up piece of crap or not. They are a case company, and made this case 31 years ago, so I think they could have found a box laying around somewhere to ship it back to me. Honestly, I think Calzone has gone significantly downhill in quality in the last few years. I bought a couple of 1/2 flight cases for a couple of basses a few years ago and bragged on how great they were. I bought one for my Steinberger and five string last year and sent them back as they screwed both up to the point they had to be gutted out for the Steinberger (Now there is a complicated shape to fit!), and the Europa case had to be trashed and restarted, as he made it so the headstock was an inch too deep for the well he cut in a too thin case. Duh! This case has precious memories for me, lots of miles under its belt, most of them not mine - But . . . It is an old Anvil, who is now owned by Calzone. I had them gut it out and refoam and cloth it. See how the bass fits in on the far side, but how it is sticking an inch above the plush on the front side of the body? The neck sits around 1/2 above the sides plush, but at least the headstock fits properly in the well, when I press the case together and lock it. I did have them put new locks on it, as those are the second most important part fo a flight case. I suppose after a couple of years, if I left the bass in this case, it would fit properly, but I do have to admit besides the hassles of having to use my knees to close the case with or without the bass in it, it will keep the bass nice and secure. They did do a good job on the plush. Below is a picture of the case sitting without the bass in it, unlocked. Funny!

poor_nigel · « **Reply #36 on:** May 22, 2011, 06:57:32 PM »

Look at the milage on that handle. I just ordered a new one for it, but I might leave this one on for sentiment. A friend was a sheetmetal worker and riveted the plate on the side of the case when the heater in my old house burned a hole in the side of the case. A friend at a party (Drummer of course) put my bass in my room for safe keeping back in the old daze. Put it right in front of an old style, in-wall electric coil heater that gets real hot in front of it. Did I mention he was a drummer? More memories now. I put that sticker on it way back when. I was hot on Tangent mixboards back in the early 80's. I guess you can buy memories if your willing to pay the eBay price for em. All-in-all, I am very happy with this case and would not trade it for a new 1/2 one, with wheels for old pickers! As for the bass, now that I have played it some, I would definitely shell out the auction cost for it if it was not the old bass I ordered from Susan in my youth. It rivals my Europa in deep growl - impressive! Neck has not move a micron since I got it. I like that, too.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #37 on:** May 22, 2011, 07:04:19 PM »

Hey Kenn:

Speaking of star inlays, Susan came very close to talking me into stars on this bass back then. They were only $150 more, dead cost, but the bass was already hundreds over budget with other options odered and case, so I decided not to. They really would be a matched set, in my mind, had I have gone with the stars. But, I really have not been that good in life to deserve that level of karma, so . . . I'll just suffer quietly with the stuff I have.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #38 on:** July 20, 2012, 01:40:16 AM »

In response to jazzyee's post on the other bass - The ebony Series I is in Santa Rosa becoming a Series II bass with some minor differences. Like a 1980 bass with an omega headstock and bevelled edges, front and back. Little things like a curved rail bridge and a bird tail piece that will more closely follow its new omega cut`filled body, but done like the Walnut Goldie Locks-Like Bass, and not others points I have seen modified to an omegta. Inlaid logo and rays, a spiffy Mr. Moon or Sun inlaid in the first fret position, and littel things like recessed strap locks I love so much. Including the original purchase priced, I believe I could have saved money just ordering a new custom S II through Beaver, but then I doubt it would be nearly as spiffy as what I believe will show up on my door step here some day in the distant future. The only bass I have ever custom ordered, and then had custom work done on it, to boot. Special upon special. Here are a couple of pix Mica was gonna post, but she is very busy putting out five string basses and mini power supplies. Note this quilted five string is not my bass, just an example with a curved-rail bridge.

Omega Headstock:

I want my tailpiece to be more like the one on some lucky guys/girl's bass Mica showed me:

Note that I do not post much any more. It is a struggle for me to type some times, and I ALWAYS get everything backwards these days. I'm a cranky old man in intense training, and learning very quickly. Yep, one is never too old or far gone to have a happy childhood, though I doubt I will be out gigging with it much by the time it comes back to me. Hey, I am supposed to show up for work at 7:30 AM, Ha!!! OK, I'll show, and then go right back to bed. And in a cranky manner, too, dammit!

poor_nigel · « **Reply #39 on:** August 05, 2014, 07:54:40 AM »

It has been a couple of years, and a few happening on this bass in Santa Rosa. Chris did an amazing job changing its point buttocks to an omega, but then they lightly sanded the neck to be refinished, it was discovered back in 1980 those that embedded the graphite rods did it a bit too deeply, and it unexpected started showing through the sanding efforts - Ahhhhh!!!!! All the masterful work Chris had done was at that point a terrible waste. And it was looking swell! However, careful though decided against a patch job and the route for a new neck was suggested by Mica and I definitely trust her judgement on such matters.

Long story short, it is now a 5-string flamed maple, ebony, maple stringer, purple heart, maple stringer, ebony, maple stringer, purple heart, maple stringer, ebony, flaming maple neck omega cut bottom and omega cut headstock beveled on both sides, with ebony used in all headstock lams, and both front and back bookmatched headstock lams on a Series II with no battery compartment, but an dimmer for the violet and amber neck LEDs replacing the 1/4 jack for stereo battery operation. Curved bridge, and 'Batmanish' tail piece that more follows the curve of the omega cut. Inlayed logo - shell, blah, blah and a fairy and man-in-the-moon inlay at the first fret I really like. Thicker than normal bridge posts, four adjustment screws on the headstock nut, verses the regular three. Totally refinished and all surface cracks of Macassar ebony lams repaired. Metal inserts on all screw holes added. Continuous wood truss rod cover to keep that ebony going and going and going . . . Recessed gold Dunlop strap locks, cause I is a spoiled brat. Master volume added to the S II upgraded electronics. Steve Wood dimension on neck, so it will be bliss to play. Headstock is 2 + 3 configuration. Abalone ovals as before, but two small stars added to the 24th fret position. Hipshot light-weight gold tuners used, with the 1/2 pegs and 20:1 ratio. Did I miss anything? Mica has the complete list, and is of course trustable to get it all done and proper. I will post a few pix sent during the changes that have taken place so far.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #40 on:** August 05, 2014, 08:10:07 AM »

Chris's plans for changing the Body's point to an omega cut.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #41 on:** August 05, 2014, 08:15:18 AM »

Chris' execution of his more than a bit cleaver plans. Obviously, it was going to work out just fine.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #42 on:** August 05, 2014, 08:26:31 AM »

I seem to have misplaced the picture showing the graphite peeping through the sanded neck, but what does that matter now? Mica has a new system of putting all the pieces of a new neck together to see how they hand together for a while. Cuts down on negative affectsa after gluing, if pieces do not seem to 'get along' during the social introduction period. Mica said the outer maple lams are very flamed, but do not show it in this picture. She should know.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #43 on:** August 05, 2014, 08:33:26 AM »

They must have socialized properly, as they glued em proper. It was decided to do a copy of the neck for the headstock lams. You can see the rough cut pieces on the table above.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #44 on:** August 05, 2014, 08:45:40 AM »

Front and back veneers are both bookmatched - Cool!

Mica and/or Chris had the great idea of making the veneers in the mimic of the neck, as seen in the lower picture. Always great attention to detail at Alembic. I can see why people just tell Mica to get down with her bad self when the design and implementation of their custom orders are being done.