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keith_h
New
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 6:05 am:   Edit Post

Well it arrived early yesterday evening. The workmanship is wonderful. Pictures never really show the full beauty and depth of the woods.

I've finished my initial setup and will fine tune it once the bass has a chance to acclimate. The neck is thinner than on my Brown Bass and much faster. The tone is well ... what can I say? :-D

Since it is all imaginary until you post pictures here are a few quick shots I took this morning. They are not up to Mica's standards or other I've seen here but I'll try to get a few better shots over the next week or two.

Keith





Since Mica doesn't show many of these here is the headstock.


And the neck
2400wattman
Senior Member
Username: 2400wattman

Post Number: 789
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 6:20 am:   Edit Post

Keith, I bet dollars to donuts Hal would be happy to help you out with your photography skills, all you have to do is ask. .... ..... ...
It's Killer Keith and the buckeye is making me jealous....dang it!
Hey let's see the back!24
serialnumber12
Senior Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 694
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 6:31 am:   Edit Post

Nice toes!
keith_h
New
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 7:03 am:   Edit Post

Thank you Keavin. I am rather attached to them.

Adam, I think I'll pass on your suggestion. I should have time to get some better ones over the weekend.

Keith
artswork99
Senior Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1032
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 7:18 am:   Edit Post

Congratulations Keith! Beautiful! Play it Healthy!
Art
poor_nigel
Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 85
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8:02 am:   Edit Post

Great bass! When the weather gets warmer, take it outside for some all-spectrum light shots. That will really help show your bass' beauty for all of us to enjoy. I love the way the short scales play, but keep such a deep tone when dialed in.
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 725
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8:15 am:   Edit Post

Wow, great looking bass! My photography tips (and I'm no expert) are to try and avoid flash, use indirect natural light - it doesn't have to be sunny, overcast is fine. Also, for the close-ups your camera should have a macro setting - sometimes it's a flower icon - this will allow you to focus for the really close-ups. oh yes, and tripod or some kind of stand and timer! Looking forward to whatever you come up with - that is an amazing bass!!!
gregduboc
Advanced Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 380
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8:36 am:   Edit Post

Keith, as you know, your bass is gorgeous. Those birds are a really cool touch. And that wood is perfect.
Congratulations!

Greg
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1386
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8:52 am:   Edit Post

Play on, Keith! Play on....
Mike
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1558
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post

Thanks folks.

Thomas,
"When the weather warmer"? I think you've been stuck up in that cold wilderness called Maine too long. We are expecting 70's this weekend. :-)

I hope to get outside and take some shots without the flash.

Keith
(Who hopefully got his post count and membership level back to where it should be).
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 9190
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post

Wow Keith! In this one thread alone your post count went from 3 to 1558; a new single day record!

Absolutely beautiful bass Keith; I'm glad it arrived safely and I look forward to seeing it in person!
glocke
Senior Member
Username: glocke

Post Number: 699
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 11:58 am:   Edit Post

All I can say is wow, thats a killer bass. Up to now I really havent been a fan of buckeye burl, but this bass changes my mind!!
poor_nigel
Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 86
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 6:57 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Keith - second thing I did when I got home this evening was to turn on the heater in my room. Old and cold do not go together well. It was a high for the year of 50+ degrees yesterday. This is the mildest winter I have ever had here. Previous winter was a record of a couple of inches below 200 and really COLD. This winter, all the storms hit Boston and NY. I kept expecting it to get bitter cold, as usual, but it never did. I will not take my new-to-me basses outside to photograph until it is in the mid-70s, and that may not be that far off this year. Nights are up to mid-20s now, so no one round these parts are totally miserable.

The birds really do add a lot to your bass in making it special. Excellent choice! More pix!
enzo
Intermediate Member
Username: enzo

Post Number: 198
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8:31 pm:   Edit Post

This wood as usual, is spectacular to look at :o
Beautiful bass, congratulations!
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1563
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Saturday, March 20, 2010 - 1:28 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks again to all for the compliments. More pictures to come but it appears I am spending this weekend getting the vegetable garden started.

Keith
oddmetersam
Member
Username: oddmetersam

Post Number: 70
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 - 12:31 pm:   Edit Post

Keith,
This is absolutely fabulous! Mother nature's handiwork + your specs + Alembic's expertise = a Masterpiece!
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 561
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 - 1:46 pm:   Edit Post

So niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice....
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 558
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 - 6:03 pm:   Edit Post

Very cool...
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1746
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 8:00 am:   Edit Post

As has been stated other places the first bass is now with Stanley.

I received the replacement bass about a month ago so thought I would post some pic's. As usual the camera really doesn't do justice to the wood. It plays very well and is surprisingly light with the wood back plates. The back could have just as easily made a beautiful front.

Keith

full

front

back

inlays
tubeperson
Advanced Member
Username: tubeperson

Post Number: 276
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 8:06 am:   Edit Post

That is better than awesome sex!!!!!! No fur coat or flowers to buy. Nice foot job also (second picture). Enjoy it before we kill you to take possession!! Remember, we are in the age of your earn it, we confiscate it.
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 2483
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2012 - 4:52 pm:   Edit Post

BEYOND WORDS ________
mario_farufyno
Senior Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 778
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Friday, May 18, 2012 - 3:18 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, Keith...

Alembic always amaze me how they excell all the time. Gorgeous Bass, congrats!
rjmsteel
Intermediate Member
Username: rjmsteel

Post Number: 182
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Monday, May 21, 2012 - 1:27 pm:   Edit Post

Just too much!!!
The flame in the neck Maple next to the burl....

Congratulations on a beautiful instrument.
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1732
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Monday, May 21, 2012 - 2:41 pm:   Edit Post

Goodness Keith, absolutely beautiful!
hammer
Intermediate Member
Username: hammer

Post Number: 124
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - 7:41 am:   Edit Post

The burl on your new bass is beyond description. The gradations of lighter and darker wood make look like energy is radiating out from the pick-ups and no one is even playing it. You'll need to get some sound samples up once she's broken in.
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1118
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - 6:09 pm:   Edit Post

Incredible!

I totally missed the Stanley connection - can anyone point me to a thread explaining it?
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 2917
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post

This is the thread to the first bass. I remember the conversation so it may be in here.

http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/55254.html?1285034953
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 1055
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 12:39 am:   Edit Post

Sorry but I did'nt understand whats happend with your first bass. Keith may you explain me please ?
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1480
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 6:50 am:   Edit Post

Jazzy provided the link to the original build, and Keith weighed in on the reason for the bass not working for him at the end of Pierre-Yves' thread from the Vienna Jazz festival: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/109593.html?1332863674

Although I can't find the post right now, I think either Keith or Mica commented at some point on how the bass made it's way to Stanley.....
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1747
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

When I ordered the bass I had requested the same neck profile as on my Brown Bass. There was a misunderstanding in regards to this as the earlier ones like mine have a classic taper where I guess the current have the comfort taper. I had also ordered a flame maple neck. The bass was built with a comfort taper and standard maple neck laminates. I tried getting used to the neck but it just didn't work out so a replacement was ordered.

My understanding is Stanley usually orders basses without any finish on the neck. These get pretty grungy after a time. So Mica took the first bass to Stanley to see if he would like the satin finish that a lot of the newer basses get. From the conversations I have had with him and Trevor (his bass tech) he seems to like it quite a bit.

While I have not heard the basses side by side I do think the difference in species of maple sounds different. While the western flame maple is brighter than my brown bass it does not seem to be as bright as the eastern maple used in the first bass.

Keith
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 1057
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 2:48 pm:   Edit Post

and what cost for this mistake ? 2 years of waiting or something more ? Thanks for your explanation.
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1119
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 3:24 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for re-relating the story - I'm sorry to bring it up, I just got excited hearing Stanley Clarke mentioned! I just saw him live for the first time in Seattle playing with Chick Corea and Jack DeJohnette for his (Jack's) 70th birthday!

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