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the_mule
New
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:32 am:   Edit Post

...my Orion 4 with serial# 99OW12156USA, especially to make sure which wood is used for the top. I'm told that it's Burl Walnut, but so far I haven't seen another example of an Orion (or any other model) with a similar top. Maybe there aren't many Orions and/or Alembics made with this choice of wood?

Thanx,
Wilfred


(Message edited by the mule on January 26, 2004)
adriaan
Intermediate Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 106
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 3:27 am:   Edit Post

Ha die Wilfred,

That's a really nice looking Orion with a special kind of a top! But I don't think it's what they normally call 'burl walnut' (see http://alembic.com/club/messages/2344/2989.html?1042161675).

A burl could be the same as what we call a 'knoest'.

Welcome to the club!

Adriaan
xlrogue6
Junior
Username: xlrogue6

Post Number: 45
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 8:04 am:   Edit Post

Your top wood is sometimes called crotch walnut. As the name implies, it comes from the crotch of grafted walnut trees where the black walnut trunk meets the English walnut branches. My old Orion fretless 5, now owned by my brother in law, has a particularly nice example of this wood. Someday I'll get a digital camera and post pics....someday. (So all you Pauls can just put those mugs down Right Now!)

Kent
the_mule
New
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 5
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 9:13 am:   Edit Post

Thank you very much for the information so far, so maybe it's not Burl Walnut but Crotch Walnut, hmmmm, sure sounds different!

Is this an official name, is it discontinued by Alembic as a top wood?

I still hope that 'all will be revealed' with the help of the good people at Alembic, and what's in their files about 99OW12156USA ...

And Adriaan: dankjewel!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 1428
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

Valentino will look up the details on your specific instrument shortly, but I must tell you the type of walnut you have is known as "Grafted Walnut."

Here in California, our native walnut is very good at growing in the clay type of soils we have, but the walnuts are small and not as tasty as the Persian or European walnuts. So the orchards are planted with the native walnut roots grafted to a more delicious walnut for the stem and crown. At the intersection of this graft, very interesting things happen.

The graft in orchards is usually far below the crotch, sometimes almost at the ground, although I have seen the graft as high as the crotch before.
xlrogue6
Junior
Username: xlrogue6

Post Number: 46
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post

I grew up in a subdivision that was built in a walnut orchard--all the grafts in this particular orchard were at the crotch. There's an enormous tree in my parent's backyard (trunk diameter 3-4 feet) that should make some beautiful instruments if it ever needs to come down.

Kent
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 326
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Wilfred,

this is what our file shows:

1999 4 string Long Scale Orion bass
California walnut top
maple pinstripe
mahogany body
ebony fretboard
Maple neck w/ walnut pinstripes
Europa 4 peghead
brass hardware
Alembic Gotoh gold tuners
gold strap pins
bronze logo
bird tailpiece
Epic electronics
completed 08/27/99

That's it.

Valentino
lembic76450
Junior
Username: lembic76450

Post Number: 19
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 4:58 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Mule,
Welcome and beautiful bass.
Since no one else has asked, is this an Asimovian? reference???
the_mule
New
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 6
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:07 pm:   Edit Post

@ Valentino: thank you for the 'bith certificate' of my bass, I really appreciate your effort. Well, it's Californian 'Grafted' Walnut after all, the mystery is solved! But anyway, Alembic has done a fabulous job with this one!

@ Lembic76450: I'm sorry, but I really don't know what an 'Asimovian' is..?

Wilfred
adriaan
Intermediate Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 108
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:10 pm:   Edit Post

SF author Isaac Asimov?
lembic76450
Junior
Username: lembic76450

Post Number: 20
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post

Good catch Adriaan, that is who I was refering to.
Wilfred, "The Mule" was a character in Isaac's
"Foundation" series. We have a few SF related screen names here. Once again, welcome, and your bass again shows that we have close to home some truely exotic and wonderful woods.
Kenn R.
the_mule
Junior
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 11
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post

Sorry, double post!

(Message edited by the mule on January 28, 2004)
the_mule
Junior
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 12
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 10:49 am:   Edit Post

Ah, right, The Mule actually refers to one of my favourite bands: Gov't Mule. But now you've mentioned it, I remember that a long time ago (on another forum) someone asked me a similar question!

It's also the name that I gave to my customised Guild B-301 bass, that's been more or less the reason why I started playing bass in the first place.

For those interested, you might like to take a look at the pictures in my Webshots-album(s):

http://community.webshots.com/user/themuleguitars

Wilfred

(Message edited by the mule on January 29, 2004)
bracheen
Intermediate Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 180
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 12:16 pm:   Edit Post

Very nice collection! I'm surprised that there's not an Allen Woody in the group.
smokin_dave
Member
Username: smokin_dave

Post Number: 82
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 5:55 pm:   Edit Post

Just saw Guv Mule last night here in Indy and it was a stellar show."She Said She Said"was killer as well as "Beautifully Broken".Going to go out and get the new CD/DVD this weekend.Very nice Orion by the way.A very unusual looking top.I really dig it.
davehouck
Advanced Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 333
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 7:57 pm:   Edit Post

I haven't heard Gov't Mule's new bass player yet; what did you think? They're going to be in Charlotte in a few weeks; but they are apparently opening for Kid Rock, and I don't think that's a crowd I care to spend an evening with. If you get the DVD, let me know what you think; I may want to get it too.
the_mule
Junior
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 14
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 11:30 pm:   Edit Post

The 2CD/1DVD boxset 'The Deepest End' by Gov't Mule you're referring to is wonderful. Great setlist, great sound, great everything. Highly recommended!

http://www.mule.net
davehouck
Advanced Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 335
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 7:37 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Wilfred; I've been reading some reviews of it and I think I'm going to order it today!
smokin_dave
Member
Username: smokin_dave

Post Number: 83
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 6:33 pm:   Edit Post

Andy Hess played bass with The Black Crows and I enjoy his playing very much.He did very well with the Mule and I would like to find any board tapes or boots from the show I saw since fan recording was very visible.Mule opening for Kid Rock.I can't even fathom it but I understand why.Hope it gets they're name out to a broader audience for sure.

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