| Author | Message | ||
| hifiguy
New Username: hifiguy Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2006 |
This may be a dumb question, but this area is called "Dreaming" and this is dreaming with a vengeance. I found a design for a killer inlay for my ultimate dream custom Series bass. The bass would have an ancient Egypt theme. This inlay would be in abalone (Isis' body and the portion of the wings directly under her arms) and multiple woods (maple, purpleheart, vermilion) for the rest. It would probably be a bit larger than this pic. Could even the masters at Alembic do this inlay? It would be located at the lower left of the instrument as seen when hanging or placed in a stand, and Isis would be looking towards the headstock. I dread to think what it would cost, but how gorgeous would this be?  | ||
| hifiguy
New Username: hifiguy Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2006 |
Here's the rest of the spec as I am thinking of it now: NECK FEATURES 4 string 11700.00 Right-handed 0.00 Long scale 34 inches 0.00 3 Purpleheart neck laminates 200.00 Ebony fingerboard 0.00 Fretted 0.00 Comfort fingerboard taper 0.00 No front LEDs 0.00 Side LEDs in amber 950.00 Elan inline peghead 0.00 Bevel front and back of peghead 250.00 BODY FEATURES Coco bolo top 1100.00 Bookmatched top 0.00 Vermilion body 300.00 Coco bolo back 1100.00 Polyester clear gloss finish w/satin neck 0.00 Elan body shape 400.00 Tummy and elbow contour 400.00 HARDWARE FEATURES Recessed silver logo w/shell 950.00 Bridge block 0.00 Bird tailpiece 0.00 Wood truss rod cover 300.00 Continuous wood backplate 1100.00 Gold plated hardware (estimated) 300.00 Gold Alembic Gotoh machine heads 0.00 Gold recessed strap locks 50.00 ELECTRONICS FEATURES Series I electronics 0.00 Total Price Series I Quotation 19100.00 The inlay work I have in mind (Isis, custom silver fingerboard inlays and a small silver inlay on the back of the headstock) would probably add another ten grand. Comments? Thoughts or advice? Someday I _will_ have this bass built Paul | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1338 Registered: 3-2004 |
Paul- From what I have seen, they can pull of a fairly close approximation. There's an awful lot of detail there, so I think the larger it gets, the more accurate they can be. On the up side, they really enjoy their work, so something this challenging, exotic and special will probably get their juices flowing. Personally, I think the wings would look great in golden MOP. I wonder if they could etch the detail rather than cut so many little pieces? | ||
| bigideas
Member Username: bigideas Post Number: 95 Registered: 1-2004 |
if they can't do it, larry robinson surely could. | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 394 Registered: 12-2004 |
While I was trying to figure out what to have inlaid on my bass, I bumped into: http://www.williamlaskin.com/ The stuff he does is absolutely magnificent. I'm certain that Alembic can do the above inlay for you. See the "Flight of Fancy" and "Dragon's Breath" customs of the month-- I'd say they're pretty similar in terms of difficulty. (Not to mention the 25th Anniversary bass...) Bradley | ||
| hifiguy
New Username: hifiguy Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2006 |
Thanks for the info, guys. I checked out the Laskin and Robinson websites - holy #$%&! Good point, Bradley. I'd forgotten about the 25th Anny basses. That abalone on the top of Quetzal's wings on Flight of Fancy would look marvelous as Isis' body. Actually, the Isis inlay would be about half again the size of the pic above, which I shrunk so as not to violate the limit on upload size. I'd even go to a different body shape if necessary. I am becoming obsessed with the idea of this bass. | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 203 Registered: 5-2002 |
I remember seeing an Exploiter with a large Samurai on horse inlay in the general area that you talk about. It was a combination of many pieces of MOP and was engraved as well for fine detail. I don't know whether Alembic has a picture of it or not, but it certainly could be done. It was quite large, perhaps 7" across (of course, an Exploiter has more room up there for this sort of thing). I think it would look best with engraved detail on the body and head, but you really probably do want all the "feathers" to be separate pieces to show off contrasting texture. In the engraving process, they cut fine lines into the pearl, then fill these cuts with black ink. Way cool. The problem is that it's so cool that you will want to come up with 7 or 8 inlay figures for the fingerboard so Isis has something looking back at her! For what it's worth, I think with the set of features you're thinking about, it may actually be cheaper to get a Series II than upgrading a Series I (can I possibly have just said "cheaper" and Series II in the same sentence?). Some of the really big ticket upgrades like LEDs, continuous wood backplates, and the recessed logo are standard in the Series II bass. You pick up more body laminates, master volume, and CVQ controls (which I'm sure you could lose for no extra bucks) for "almost nothing" (wow, did I just say that "almost nothing" in a sentence about Series II?). David Fung | ||
| hifiguy
New Username: hifiguy Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2006 |
You are right, David, and thanks for the heads up. I went back and re-costed the beast as an S-II and it was only a couple of hundred bucks more and I get the S-II electronic package to boot. It's the inlay that's going to be the backbreaker on this one, price wise.  | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1359 Registered: 3-2004 |
When you get into that inlay price range, I'd almost want the bass delivered without the inlay to make sure that everything fits and sounds the way you want it to. Then, If it seems like the bass you want to keep forever, send it back to be inlayed. If not, then have it tweaked and inlayed or, cut your losses and start over if the things you don't like aren't fixable. Rather than having it delivered, you might get to play it at the time of pre-set if you travel to the factory. A couple hundred for a plane ticket is also cheap insurance for this kind of investment. Of course, if you already play a Series bass of similar construction, then the possibility of a mis-fit is greatly reduced and this kind of caution is overkill. | ||
| hifiguy
Junior Username: hifiguy Post Number: 36 Registered: 10-2006 |
Thanks to the magic of Photoshop, I have cobbled together a visualization of Isis in color on a Balance K body, albeit Walnut and not cocobolo. Abalone or some type of figured MOP for the body and innermost part of the wings. What thinks the assembled Alembic nation? Practical? It's certainly beautiful, imho. And Isis would have custom silver hieroglyphs inlaid in the fretboard to look at.  | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 426 Registered: 12-2004 |
Looks good. I'm guessing that it would be plenty practical, just not very affordable. The quote from above has the Europa body, did you change your mind? If you're set on the Balance K (good choice!) then might I suggest getting the elbow contour? It'll change the location of your inlay. When you get ready, make sure that you go to the mothership to plan everything out. A plane ticket is cheap insurance. I've been twice (admittedly, the second time was more of a social call), and it's always great fun. Bradley | ||
| hifiguy
Junior Username: hifiguy Post Number: 37 Registered: 10-2006 |
Bradley: Yeah, the dream is now a Series 2 Balance K Heart Omega with ebony (center), purpleheart, maple and walnut neck laminates and either a cocobolo or superb walnut top/back. That combo of neck woods should provide some thunder! A beveled small crown omega headstock would look sensational on this bass, methinx. I have a sinking feeling that the inlay work is going to cost a ton. The hieroglyph fretboard inlays won't be huge (well, Susan and Mica will have the last word on that, I s'pose ) so that shouldn't run as much as the Alchemy inlay and the logo sun rays on the front and mother of pearl ankh on the back of the headstock shouldn't break the bank, but Isis is probably a $5-6K piece of work by herself. And of couse everything about the design will be subject to the suggestions and insights of Susan, Mica and Valentino. Had a chance to play a Balance K MK Std and it was simply the most ergonomically perfect bass I've encountered. It's as though Susan designed that shape specifically for me. I was planning on elbow/tummy contours - the MK Std had them and the bass sat against me perfectly. I think that the K will be the standard Alembic shape for the 21st century. It veritably screams "Alembic" but is so much lighter and more ergonomic than the traditional Series bodies. Thanks for the input, Bradley and happy playing! Paul | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 913 Registered: 10-2002 |
Paul. I can't be 100% certain but I'm pretty sure the body shape you posted above is the small standard (or balance point with omega). the balance K looks slightly narrower and the upper horn cutout starts further up the neck (towards the nut) like this one..  My preference is veering towards the picture you posted. Graeme. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1277 Registered: 4-2004 |
as much as i like that inlay in the postion you placed it it would always be covered by your hand when playing and i suspect you are looking at a huge tab for this | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 939 Registered: 2-2006 |
Very good point Jeff. Lot of many to spend and then cover it up. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 940 Registered: 2-2006 |
OOOPS, Hit the button twice. (Message edited by olieoliver on December 04, 2006) | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 429 Registered: 12-2004 |
Graeme, I think that the picture above is the full-size balance. The balance K is basically the balance model applied to the 3/4 size model. Bradley | ||
| hifiguy
Junior Username: hifiguy Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2006 |
It wouldn't be completely hidden as my usual thumb anchor points are the bridge end of the neck pickup or the neck end of the bridge pickup. She'd be peeking out around my arm most of the time. Once I had the idea it seemed like something that I would have to do if I ever had the chance. I admit to becoming somewhat obsessed with the idea of that inlay on a custom S-II once it popped into my head. There are some things about all-out custom Alembics that are well beyond rationality. That's why the Mothership is quite literally the Dream Factory. Some day..... Paul |
