Author |
Message |
pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves
Post Number: 340 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 7:58 pm: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
Sorry, I can't really provide a simulation of a bass. Here's something in Photoshop to roughly give you an idea:
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pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves
Post Number: 359 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 1:32 am: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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 ?
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pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves
Post Number: 361 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 1:14 pm: | |
something like that but more professionnal, with a dream of wood grain ...
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altgrendel
Junior Username: altgrendel
Post Number: 36 Registered: 5-2008
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 4:14 pm: | |
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: | |
no this is too black, I would like something very dark brown, near black, with very light wood grain. Like that: |
edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin
Post Number: 411 Registered: 5-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 7:27 pm: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
best result's picture here:
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pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves
Post Number: 368 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 6:58 am: | |
and now, Ladies & Gentlemen, look at the additionnal wood truss rod's cover !!
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eligilam
Intermediate Member Username: eligilam
Post Number: 156 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 7:16 am: | |
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: | |
FTC?? |
dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001
Post Number: 1013 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 2:28 pm: | |
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: | |
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: | |
Very cool. |
mica
Moderator Username: mica
Post Number: 5917 Registered: 6-2000
| Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 4:58 pm: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
this example, upper side, is nice (for me).
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mica
Moderator Username: mica
Post Number: 6080 Registered: 6-2000
| Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 10:37 am: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
My sample piece is an enormous half log that arrived today: 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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
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: | |
_ell yeah! |
pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves
Post Number: 417 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 - 10:54 pm: | |
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: | |
I just removed the "h" (in respect for children reading...) |