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pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 340
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 7:58 pm:   Edit Post

Hello, to continue this old thread, my choice is now oriented to african blackwood, Dalbergia melanoxylon, the darkest as possible, with discreet pattern as shown here:



Core would be with the same wood, accent laminate with the whitest maple possible BUT thicker, like Stanley's basses:



7 Neck laminates with 3 ebony

Is it possible to have a visual simulation with pictures ?

As said in the old thread, quality of african blackwood is like or similar cocobolo, rosewood...
BUT the blackwood is stronger and more dense.

One of my questions: what is difference between vermillon and blackwood for the core .. not in the sound because you never try, but on the physical caracteristics ?

I like more vermillon as mahogany for the sound, BUT, it's difficult to have a significative difference... maybe more attack, more sustain ?

(Message edited by pierreyves on January 12, 2009)
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 341
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 8:37 pm:   Edit Post

Quality of blackwood, in french:


quote:

Dalbergia melanoxylon / appelé communément / L’ébène du Mozambique

Ce bois offre, en effet, les caractéristiques essentielles, pour ce qui est de la construction de la caisse de résonance et de l’esthétique des guitares de concert et de studios, plus particulièrement, à savoir :


* UNE SONORITÉ EXCEPTIONNELLE, comparable à celle des meilleurs bois de rose brésiliens.
* UNE DENSITÉ EXTRÊME et CONSTANTE. Ce bois se travaille bien au burin et au ciseau. Il se plient bien et ne se fracture pas. Il permet de construire des caisses de résonance à toute épreuve, même à partir de découpes de 2.4 mm pour le dos et de 2.0 mm pour les éclisses.
* UN GRAIN FIN ET SERRÉ qui permet d’éviter tout besoin d’obturer avant l’application de la laque.
* UNE ESTHÉTIQUE ÉLÉGANTE, de couleur prédominante noire, qui permet de belles incrustations. Le bois gagnera en esthétique avec l’âge et ne perdra pas sa couleur.




in english:


quote:

Comparative tests have demonstrated that the most truthful and powerful acoustic guitars are achieved from those with the back and sides of:

DALBERGIA MELANOXYLON / AFRICAN BLACKWOOD

This tonewood offers essential features to luthiers, aiming at building outstanding concert and studio guitars:

1. Tap tone, comparable to the very best Brazilian rosewood,
2. A very hard, structurally consistent wood of highest stability that works well under chisel and scrapper, bends well and won’t crack. Structurally very sound guitars even milled down to 2.4 mm for the back and 2.0 mm for the sides.
3. Fine and closed grain, not requiring any filling prior to applying lacquer or shellac.
4. Smart aesthetic, the predominant black colour of which makes inlays possible. Does age well and won’t lose colour.




Source web: PROSONO international

Nice link with nice picture of this nice wood:

quality of african blackwood

Maybe I will choose this wood in place of ebony for the neck laminates ?

hello, somebody here ?? I'm speaking alone .. yes all people are sleeping now !! ;o))

(Message edited by pierreyves on January 12, 2009)
altgrendel
Junior
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 5:19 am:   Edit Post

A beautiful idea.

If you do this, you'll probably be better off getting the wood blank yourself and supplying it to the shop when you order your bass. I'm pretty sure if you search the site you'll find what size piece you'll need.

That or you can email Mica.
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 342
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2009 - 11:56 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mica, is it possible to have simulation picture of my project, serie I with blackwood, 3 ebony neck laminate and thicker body laminates ?
Thank's

(Message edited by pierreyves on January 18, 2009)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5779
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 7:15 pm:   Edit Post

Sorry, I can't really provide a simulation of a bass. Here's something in Photoshop to roughly give you an idea:
pierre test
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 359
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 1:32 am:   Edit Post

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGREATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!
lot of thank's, please don't close this thread, It would be my next and last bass !
hifiguy
Intermediate Member
Username: hifiguy

Post Number: 160
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 10:43 am:   Edit Post

Now THAT is exceptionally cool. even for an Alembic! Put some maple or rosewood knobs on it and peg the meter, Pierre!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7553
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post

Pierre-Yves; the threads archive (close) automatically when they reach certain thresholds of inactivity. To keep it "open", you just need to post to it from time to time to bump it back to the top of the list.
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 360
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 12:49 pm:   Edit Post

Hi big Dave, I know that but in France, if you do that, you are assimilated as spammer !!
BUMP!!!
Here are some profesionnal with Photoshop to do a nice test with nice colorisation in deep black of the red tiger ?

pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 361
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 1:14 pm:   Edit Post

something like that but more professionnal, with a dream of wood grain ...

altgrendel
Junior
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 36
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 4:14 pm:   Edit Post

Actually, that's not bad looking. I wonder if they could do a one color finish exactly like that?
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 363
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 9:47 am:   Edit Post

no this is too black, I would like something very dark brown, near black, with very light wood grain.

Like that:

60060.jpg
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 411
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 7:27 pm:   Edit Post

Macassar ebony. It would be beautiful, but heavy!

Edwin
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 365
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 6:56 am:   Edit Post

Edwin, ebony is effectivly too heavy and I don't really seen something wich were peasant for me.

HERE IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAN'T, I think ..
Not totally black, deep color very dark brown close to black and we can see lightly wood pattern!!



(Message edited by pierreyves on February 18, 2009)
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 366
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 10:03 am:   Edit Post

little story, from red tiger to my dream...
my dream is the right one of course!



(Message edited by pierreyves on February 19, 2009)
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 367
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 6:10 am:   Edit Post

best result's picture here:



pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 368
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 6:58 am:   Edit Post

and now, Ladies & Gentlemen, look at the additionnal wood truss rod's cover !!

eligilam
Intermediate Member
Username: eligilam

Post Number: 156
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 7:16 am:   Edit Post

Go ahead and order this thing, man! Let's get the FTC thread rolling!
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 369
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 2:24 pm:   Edit Post

FTC??
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1013
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 2:28 pm:   Edit Post

Factory To Customer,
so you (and we) can watch it being built.
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 370
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 1:19 am:   Edit Post

Mica, is my project realizable ? Have you african blackwood's sample ?
crobbins
Advanced Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 230
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

Very cool. :-)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5917
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 4:58 pm:   Edit Post

I have African Blackwood available to me. We would purchase this specifically for your job once the order is confirmed. There's not much to see with this wood - especially in a raw form, pretty much black!
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 377
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 5:16 pm:   Edit Post

its possible to have some pictures of what you get?
crobbins
Advanced Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 231
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 11:43 am:   Edit Post

What about using the blackwood for the core wood? And using some other real nice wood as top and back?
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 383
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

why and what for "realy nice wood" ? What mean ? do you mean the african blackwood is not your favorite ? What wood could you put with african blackwood core ?
funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 373
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 2:15 pm:   Edit Post

What about Wenge for a dark top?
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 393
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 2:59 pm:   Edit Post

wenge ?? buuuhhh ... a friend has this wood on the floor of his house .. no ....
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 396
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 9:39 am:   Edit Post

Mica, have you some pictures of your available blackwood ?
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 397
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 9:55 am:   Edit Post

this example, upper side, is nice (for me).

mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6080
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post

I don't have any African Blackwood in stock, we've never used or offered it as a top wood. I have a supplier with some on hand that I can procure for a custom order.

We're going to be receiving some W-I-D-E Ebony in a couple of weeks. These boards will even be big enough for some bookmatch to center builds. I'll post some pictures when they arrive.
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 398
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post

thank's. What about sound quality you know with melanoxylon versus cocobolo or ebony?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6083
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 1:22 pm:   Edit Post

I don't have any first hand experience, so I can't comment with any authority. However, since it's a Dalbergia, I would assume it to be similarly toned to other Rosewoods. Its density may override that.

A sample piece of the Blackwood is on its way to me. We'll tap it and inspect it, so I'll let you know if I have any other predictions after I get my hands on it on what it will do to/for Alembic sound.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6091
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 7:53 pm:   Edit Post

My sample piece is an enormous half log that arrived today:

blackwood

It's very black. The piece is also quite wide, and will make a beautiful top laminate.

Do I understand correctly from your April 18th picture that you want a satin or oil finish?
pierreyves
Advanced Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 399
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 7:59 pm:   Edit Post

WAAAWWWW !!!! When I will get money, I will want finish as my SC deluxe, high gloss polyester with satin neck !
Thank's Mica
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 656
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 10:57 pm:   Edit Post

Wow that is some amazing wood,
Is there any visible figure?
Nice choice Pierre
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 402
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 9:43 am:   Edit Post

why Alembic don't offer black choice as standard, and why lot of bass are made with coco bolo ?
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3873
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 11:07 am:   Edit Post

I think the reason a lot of instruments are made with cocobolo is that a lot of people want cocobolo instruments. I know I picked cocobolo as one of the woods on my Further because I liked it.

Bill, tgo
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1141
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:11 pm:   Edit Post

Alembic's wood page touts the harmonic complexity of CB as well, with both lows and highs.
Mike
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 403
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 3:12 pm:   Edit Post

but other woods have similar ability ?! Maple, mahogany..
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1292
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 7:01 pm:   Edit Post

My experience is the woods sound different. Maple is much brighter than mahogany. Mahogany has a more rounded tone than maple but not as round as walnut. I would say coco bolo has the characteristics of both mahogany and maple. That is a round but bright tone.

Keith
altgrendel
Member
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 87
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 2:15 am:   Edit Post

A coco-bolo, ebony laminated neck.

Interesting idea.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 1518
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 8:44 am:   Edit Post

Yeah very interesting, can you imagine the price.....!!! and the weight I guess too.

Jazzyvee
hendixclarke
Senior Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 732
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 10:25 am:   Edit Post

I wouldn't want a full ebony neck. From my visits to Africa (on multiple occasions) I would bring home sculptures and ebony artifacts, back to the states. No doubt I love ebony very much and my house has many large and small ebony sculptures, but uses this wood as a neck without maple? Ebony is too brittle for me.

Drop a nice piece of maple on the ground and it will hold, try this with ebony, it will break or chip off. The hardness, makes it great for sustaining but, as a durable wood, for a whole neck... not I.
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 416
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, July 05, 2009 - 3:00 pm:   Edit Post

who said without maple in the neck ?
hendixclarke
Senior Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 866
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 - 8:43 am:   Edit Post

I think a dark bass on stage, with all the lights, (dim or none at all) becomes invisible to the audiance.
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 759
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 - 9:03 am:   Edit Post

here's a nice dark Alembic.
...might be invisible on the stage...but you know they would feel it in their chest.
hendixclarke
Senior Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 869
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 - 3:30 pm:   Edit Post

_ell yeah!
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 417
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 - 10:54 pm:   Edit Post

sorry but what mean _ell ?
hendixclarke
Senior Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 875
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 - 11:05 pm:   Edit Post

I just removed the "h" (in respect for children reading...)

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