Direwolf needs to go back........

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Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post Archive through February 08, 2006 beelee 30  1  2-08-06  9:12 pm   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 973 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, February 09, 2006 - 3:16 pm:    ouch bro jlpicard Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 365 Registered: 7-2002 Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 9:25 am:    Adriaan, About that Q switch, I have to agree with the 8 string king. 1 or 2 db would not be noticable. You'll need at least 3 db per switch position to be usable. Mike keavin Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 666 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 9:27 am:    Get yo-self a CVQ bro! j_gary Intermediate Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 182 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 10:49 am:    Hi Jeff, man that had to hurt. DAMN! It appears when we require the complex process that creates an Alembic, one little bump reminds us that mother nature is in charge. I used to assist a real artist running an auto paint shop. Magnificent work was the norm, but on occasion, a complete disaster. Half the time, no clue why. I can't think of a better outfit to help with an injured instrument than the Alembic crew. Good luck with the Wolf's recovery. I'm certain she will come back with a little extra "love" installed. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1001 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 6:31 am:    alas poor yurik direwolf is heading back to the factory monday the problem is spreading and has now made a turn north twds the lower horn between the volume and q switch bummed is not even close to what i am feeling jacko Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 526 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 6:38 am:    Feeling for you Jeff. What you gonna play now you've sold your persuader? Is there another Alembic lurking in your closet? Graeme lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1012 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 7:38 am:    Bummer, Jeff. Perchance to fly, a personal delivery maybe? Bill, tgo bsee Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1020 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:24 am:    Hey Jeff- Sorry to hear it. If you've got a spare $5K or so lying around you could snatch up Dale's SII to keep you company while it's gone. So, do they have any idea of the cause? jalevinemd Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 343 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:14 am:    Sorry Jeff, I was pulling for you that the Tribute might be in your hands before the Wolf needed to go back. Hopefully, it'll be a quick turn around. Regards, Jonathan bassfingers Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 78 Registered: 11-2005 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 12:56 pm:    Jeff, If I had an Alembic to lend you mate,I'd do it.I can only guess at how you must be feeling about Direwolf.I'm gutted on your behalf.Any idea how long before your Tribute is ready?. Best Wishes, Simon. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1002 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 1:41 pm:    ya know bill not a "bad: idea but am sure that the hard case is not a carryon item and my gig bag would present problems for a return shipment...... ----- to answer others.... tribute finally went into production last week soooooooo.. me no think so- that was the original plan but when speaking with mica, she said if it started creeping... they wanted it back sooner rather than later. so i am putting my trust that mgt knows whats best...i will call val and see what he thinks, but he has already emailed me that they will be on the watch -------- nobody seems to know why this is happening... and my good friend james at alembic is mighty upset that it did happen...but as an fyi- this is kinda in the area that they were having finish problems prior to shipping it= the finish was soaking into the wood due to high humidity... but for this to happen now? no one knows... ----------- dale! oh dale..... lol hey guys thanks for the hugs.... i have 6- 4 strings to choose from and 3-5s but now i have a string supply issues with my michael kelly acoustic- they no longer sell a 105 b string set and no one makes em the chinese bass- am trying to set up or return looks like the variax might be busy- it does have an alembic setting on it... am toying with taking one of the 4 strings and turning into a b-e-a-d tuning... keep looking at the steinberger for that... but since steinberger is owned by gibson- i have no clue who to reach out to to see if its ok flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1011 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 3:17 pm:    wolfie is on the way back to the den...... i just want to say this out loud ALEMBIC IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cant tell you how comforting the phone calls and emails with mica and val have made me feel as this has not been easy for me.... damn i love that bass.... the_8_string_king Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 97 Registered: 9-2005 Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 10:07 pm:    Woo Hoo!!! Good for you!!! flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1013 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 5:31 am:    i shipped ups 3 day select it left norwalk ct at 5.30-last night its already in oakland as of 5.25am est lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1039 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 7:48 am:    Flax: I saw the Wolf fly over my house early this morning. I understand the motorcade will be snaking up 880 to the Richmond-San Rafael bridge later this afternoon. Everyone in the Bay Area is turning out to welcome the Wolf home!!!! Kids are jumping for joy, grown men are weeping, a general ecstasy has descended in Oakland and the neighboring environs. Oh, wait a minute ... I think this is in celebration of the imminent baseball season and Barry Bonds dressing up like Paula Abdul. In the infamous words of Emily Litella, "Never mind"! LOL Bill, tgo jacko Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 538 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 7:54 am:    Now my keyboard is covered in coffee;-) Don't worry jeff, He'll be back soon and we'll all know what happened. graeme flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1014 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 5:44 pm:    hello houston....... the wolf has landed..... in one piece and is resting comfortably albeit naked at mica's alembic spa.... its been taken apart and is being inspected.... i am sooooo relieved,,, hey bill i hear randy johnson is dressing up as anna nicole smith tomorrow picked up another relief pitcher,, washburn ab95 5 hollow body..new $600 on ebay lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1045 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 5:55 pm:    Pretty bass. As for Randy Johnson, I hear he's joining "The Boss" onstage and will be playing a Steinbrenner bass. Go A's Bill, tgo flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1015 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 8:29 pm:    hey bill i own a steinbrenner! speaking of which, i called ns design, neds new place was told there would be no problem changing the one i bought into a b-e-a-d bass... and just strings sells just the b string as i got like 5 sets with the bass beelee Intermediate Member Username: beelee Post Number: 164 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 10:40 am:    Hey Flax, You said you are having trouble getting sets of strings for your Michael Kelly 5 string acoustic electric ? Doesn't Dean Markley make them ? or have they stopped ? ( thats what MK said is on the bass ) I have one as well, juststrings.com has them or are they out ? I haven't checked tho........ B. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1016 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 6:33 pm:    i havent looked...... if they do have them, i will probably get some just strings is good on back orders ------- btw i just realized they are not many people who can say they had 2 basses at alembic at the same time... lol- damn i love that bass.... flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1017 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 6:41 pm:    they have em ordered a set mucho thankos flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1020 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 7:41 am:    yeahhaaaaaaa good news! after inspection, alembic feels that the problem is limited to the finish the entire bass will be totally stripped down to the wood and refinished. such nice people they are- they even will take care of 2 small nicks i put in it. never take a bass off with a ceiling fan over your head.... oye... lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1057 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Saturday, March 04, 2006 - 8:53 am:    Great news, Flax. You should have the Wolf back in no time (fingers crossed). From personal experience, I can accurately report that the warning about ceiling fans also applies to 4 ft. flourescent bulbs. Ugly. Bill, tgo lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1072 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 10:03 pm:    Jeff: I visited the Wolf today. It was hanging in spray, lookin' real fine. A little naked, though, without any hardware. Bill, tgo flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1021 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 4:43 pm:    thanks bill........ flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1047 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 11:55 am:    just to let folks know i should have the wolf back next weekish... its all fixed....... davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3554 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:21 pm:    Great!! tom_z Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 335 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:43 pm:    Great news Flax! It must have been tough not having the wolf around - but the Alembic team seems to have smoothed it out pretty quickly. Tom jacko Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 593 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 1:46 am:    Good news Jeff. Shouldn't be long now. Did alembic elaborate on the cause of the finish problem? Graeme flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1057 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 12:13 pm:    yes jacko it was bad..... lol "sometimes these things happen" flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1060 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:54 pm:    the patient has had a relapse......the finish is being absorbed into the wood again back to spray..... one thing i can say- they are not gonna cut it loose until its fixed... and i am 100% ok with this... lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1187 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 5:56 pm:    Flax, do you mean to tell us that the wood on the Wolf sucks! (nyuk, nyuk) Bill, tgo byoung Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 255 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 6:41 pm:    It's all those pointy teeth. The dire wolf is sucking the life blood out of the finish. I'm thinking superglue is the answer (i.e. stabilizing the wood-- this is what they do on Buckeye Burl, I believe). Brad flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1061 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 7:30 pm:    its a wolf goddammit......... not a vampire,, your just jealous! feed on this.... not many people get to have 2 basses in the shop at alembic at the same time..... :-) too bad the tribute is slow to develop we could have had an alembic pool... hey why not? pick the date flax gets the wolf back in his hands... winner gets an 05 collector alembic christmas card closest to the date... under wins in case of a tie calling alembic for status is not permitted and employees of alembic are excluded... lmaorotfl keith_h Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 386 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 4:25 am:    Sorry to hear of the delay but it is better to get it right rather than rush. Keith lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1190 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 7:01 am:    I pick May 14th (I'm not saying what year). Bill, tgo jacko Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 597 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 7:05 am:    Jeff. May the 4th be with you (as obiwan might say) Graeme (I'll get my coat) byoung Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 257 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 9:30 am:    Bastille day. Brad dadabass2001 Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 558 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:07 pm:    Graham, Was that a reference to Johnny Depp's adlib on the "Pirates" outtake reel? "All of 'em, castrati. snip, snip!" "I dated a Frenchman once" ... Mike flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1062 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:52 pm:    may 6th is me bday btw lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1191 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:38 pm:    Flax: I'll be celebrating your birthday in fine style this year. My band will be playing at this year's "Jeff's B-day Extravaganza" (though some know it as "Cannabis Freedom Day") on a big stage set up in front of City Hall in San Francisco. LOL By the way, my b-day is Sunday. Middle age doesn't start until 60, right? Bill, tgo byoung Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 260 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 3:43 pm:    60? Middle aged? For a Giant Tortoise, maybe. Brad davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3591 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 4:58 pm:    Cannabis freedom day in front of City Hall!! lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1192 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 8:00 pm:    Here's a picture from the same gig two years ago. Pre-Alembic. Bill, tgo byoung Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 261 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 8:09 pm:    Dude, it is San-fran-psycho after all. All the crazies live there! Reminds me of an old quote: Two things came out of Berkeley... LSD and UNIX. We don't believe this to be a coincidence. Brad For the humor impaired: I'm kidding, but remember most humor has an element of truth. byoung Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 265 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 8:13 pm:    That is a great picture, Bill. Suggestion for your next sign: If you aren't outraged, you're not paying attention. Brad davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3595 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 8:59 pm:    Don't exhale, the guy in the suit on the right might be from homeland security. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1064 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 11:49 pm:    can i sit in bill? lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1194 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Saturday, April 08, 2006 - 8:26 am:    Flax: C'mon out, you're always welcome! I'll pull out my Schecter bass. Between you, me, and John, our regular bass player, we can work out Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom"! (Actually, we've jokingly tossed around the idea of doing "Big Bottom" with 3 mandolins) Brad: you wrote "60? Middle aged? For a Giant Tortoise, maybe." I checked your profile. Only 33? Give it a few years, you'll learn. LOL Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on April 08, 2006) flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1070 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Saturday, April 08, 2006 - 12:13 pm:    or a tear ass other one.. lol thanks byoung Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 269 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Saturday, April 08, 2006 - 1:59 pm:    Bill, Have no worries, I'm learning day by day. I looked in the mirror today/ My eyes just didn't seem so bright/ I've lost a few more hairs/ I think I'm going bald Brad spliffy Junior Username: spliffy Post Number: 50 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 12:43 pm:    Flax, what is happeing with Direwolf? Did you get her back? Albert flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1117 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:37 pm:    not yet..... darn thing keeps suckin up the finish.... i checked last week and val said it may... then again it may not.... they dont want to ship it unless its absolutely fixed.. so i guess the new contest should be... which comes second? the tribute bass or the wolf? damn I MISS MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and to add.... i have a new band and i cant play my wolfie!!!!!! flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1118 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:42 pm:    (Message edited by flaxattack on May 26, 2006) crgaston Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 211 Registered: 11-2005 Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:47 pm:    Jeff, you are getting a lesson in patience I hope I NEVER have to learn... So how's the new band going? What bass(es) are you using? Charles crgaston Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 212 Registered: 11-2005 Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:52 pm:    Jeff, you are getting a lesson in patience I hope I NEVER have to learn... So how's the new band going? What bass(es) are you using? Charles flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1119 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 6:05 am:    charles i take a simple approach on this. its not their fault and i dont want to send it back down the road. so either it gets right or worse case, redo the bass which they have never had to do. right now the bass of choice is the washburn hollow body ab 95 5 string i bought aka big red. doesnt grab the low end b like alembics, but has a nice sound and i think after all is said and done,that bass is going to get alembiced 811952 Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 723 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:01 am:    Jeff, Um, they had to redo 811952 back in '82-'83 due to the top and back nearly totally delaminating. They were absolutely fantastic about it, but it took about 9 months for them to cut the old body off and attach a new one. When they first built the bass, they had problems with the gorgeous piece of cocobolo being unstable and not taking finish well, and offered me the option then of having them redo it from the git go. I told them it was beautiful as it was and not to worry about it. Beverly and Susan told me to let them know if it began acting funny and they'd redo it. One afternoon I showed up for a rather important showcase in Nashville and popped the case to discover the top and back had shrunk about 1/2" back from the edges and were being held on by the glue joints at the neck. Of course I totally freaked, but after describing the carnage to Beverly over the phone she had me ship it back to the mothership. Alembic did a wonderful job (of course) and did a couple of nice things to it while it was there, such as using it as the testbed for John Entwistle's adjustable-nut idea. I love those people, and understand totally that wood sometimes has a mind of it's own... Oh, and I played the showcase gig with it that night and it sounded awesome as always. The girl singer got a Japanese deal and was a pretty big star there for awhile.. John flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1121 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 7:49 pm:    i only know what i was told kmh364 Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1904 Registered: 9-2003 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 7:08 am:    I'm sure Alembic will make Flax's masterpiece better than before...the "Six-Million-Dollar Bass"? LOL! Seriously, no wine before it's time and all that row. Jeff is suffering now, but I'm betting the Wolf will be more than stellar when it finally emerges from hibernation. I'm thinking of sending my slightly wounded Series I back to the mothership for neck finish repair and an upgrade to Series II electronics, amongst other things. How'd you ship Wolfie safely back home, Flax? I don't think my heart can take another DHL debacle...you mean an $11k bass doesn't bounce like a basketball? LOL! Cheers, Kevin 811952 Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 724 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 7:19 am:    Jeff, They will make Direwolf good as new, or better (if that's possible!). It will be worth the wait, and Direwolf has now become another learning experience for the great minds at Alembic; an awesome work of art they will remember forever for the beautiful piece it is and the challenges "getting it right" presented. Hang in there and try not to lose too much sleep over it, because Direwolf is in the best of hands... John tom_z Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 397 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 8:43 am:    Kevin - I can't answer your shipping question for Flax, but I recently shipped my Skylark back for some TLC. I shipped it in it's case in the same shipping box in which I received it. I wrapped the case in bubble wrap, and used that popcorn shipping stuff to fill the ends of the box. Granted it was a much shorter hop from Southern Nevada than from NJ. No problems, in any case. Got her back and she's as good as new. =) Peace Tom tom_z Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 398 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 8:46 am:    UPS - by the way. lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1318 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:24 am:    Doesn't UPS deny claims if the shipper uses a used box? Bill, tgo keith_h Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 442 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:37 am:    Bill, I think your correct on the UPS damage statement. I've even been told by one of their stores they would only insure a package I needed shipped if they packed it. However from some of the packages I've received via UPS a used box might be safer. Why would they need to drop kick an already torn and damaged item? A new box on the other hand cannot be allowed through unscathed. :-) Keith flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1122 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:48 am:    well guys..... here;s the scoop..... and you are going to cringe... firstly if you are having to ship a bass back to alembic and you need a box- let mary or mica know and they will ship you an empty and you can ask for a return label in my case i did not know this....and who'd a thunk that i would have to send it back? so i had ups build a box and pack it balls to the wall...i have a great relationship with my local ups store as all my business stuff gets dropped there. they did a great job the insured value was 15,000 as that is the replace cost. i shipped 3 day air. now for the bad news cost to me? $500!!!!!! the bass was delivered to alembic in 18 hrs. why? easy.... internal staff at ups saw the insured value and said- get it out of here!@!!!!! i did not ask for full reimbursement for the shipping as it is exhorbitant- but ya know what? it got there in one piece and that was my goal alembic and i agreed that we will discuss a small reimburse/barter? before tribute ships my best advice- let them pack it for ease of mind. you'll get gouged, but was 500 bucks a lot to spend to ensure it got there? no........ flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1123 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:58 am:    btw- alembic did clean up some scratches on wolf- never lift a bass over your head with a ceiling fan present! and we tweaked the electronics to twin volume controls and no pan not having the wolf is worse? than having no weed! spliffy Member Username: spliffy Post Number: 56 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:01 am:    500 bucks to safeguard a $15,000 bass is a small cost to pay. Having said that.... ouch! I am interested to find out what is causing your bass to do what it did! flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1124 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:26 am:    this is a particulalry dark grainy coco bolo and a very oily type sample of this wood.the area of saturation is right over some tight dark grains. my guess and maybe theirs as they dont seem to really know exactly why either is even though these types of woods are aged for a long time before it even gets sold to alembic wood changes with time and i am guessing again that as this wood gets more stable or the oils dry,its porosity is changing causing a sponge like effect. so james sprays it.. it sits... gets buffed out- sits again and we wait to see if the absorbtion continues.its almost like a vacuum.think about having a hardened clear coat being absorbed. so all they can do is spray until it saturates the wood and stops we had this same situation right before it was ready to ship originally and it took 3 weeks to fix- that was in another spot right below the wolf at 7pm flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1125 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:29 am:    we had hoped to hold off until tribute was ready, but once i saw some more migration and a "pimpling" effect traveling over one particular grain....in 3 different spots we had no choice but to return it lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1319 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:35 am:    While UPS may know how to pack the guitar case in a shipping box, I certainly would not leave it to them to properly pack the instrument in it's case. The most critical issue in packing a guitar or bass for shipping, air travel, or any situaion where someone else is handling it, is peghead support. Talk to any luthier that does repairs and they'll tell you that by far the most common damage from shipping is a broken peghead. The overwhelming majority of instrument cases support the neck only and the peghead hangs out in midair where it is susceptible to the whiplash caused by the crate falling, being thrown, shifting in the cargo hold., etc. When shipping or travelling by air, be sure to add bubble wrap, padding, foam, old T-shirts, whatever, inside the case to give support to the peghead. Bill, tgo 811952 Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 725 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:17 am:    ...and to think I always thought "drop-ship" meant something else! ;) Glad it got there okay. Sounds like cocobolo still doesn't like to play nice, even after all these years of building stuff from it... John flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1126 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 8:37 am:    my wolf went right into its case and right into a box surrounded with bubble wrap and solid styrofoam on the exterior and then 2 layers of corrugated 125 lb max protection.... like i said- they packed it well... flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1127 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 8:40 am:    spoke to the boys friday. last weeks sprays didnt take well. apparently the bass was moved to another room after spray and some shrinkage occurred. they resprayed on monday and its been sitting in the spray room since. since it wouldnt ship until 6.2 earliest,they will let it sit some more then james will do a rub out. ,if its stable, it might ship after the girls get back flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1128 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 10:25 am:    ok gang i need everyone to scrunch their eyes, thinnk real hard and say some prayers... :-) spoke to valentino late yesterday the finish seems to be holding and it may very well ship next week if all goes well keith_h Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 454 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 2:27 pm:    Flax, Happy thoughts ..... Good Luck ..... Keith jacko Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 664 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 12:37 am:    Fingers and toes all crossed for ya Jeff! Graeme mica Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3349 Registered: 6-2000 Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 5:37 pm:    Next week, James will rub out the Direwolf. So here's today's look at the inlay: After the rubout, we are planning to wait about a week before buffing, to observe if there are any changes from the friction. Will keep you updated of course! lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1345 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 7:56 am:    This looks so cool, even the wolf is drooling! I've got my fingers crossed for you, Jeff. Bill, tgo flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1132 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 6:44 am:    mica thank you so much -i am quite surprised and pleased to see a photo of me ole friend. bill- thanks and btw- i dreamt i moved to san francisco last night- swear! flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1141 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 5:38 pm:    how;s the patient? stable or in need of another transfusion? bsee Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1191 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 6:57 pm:    I was on the phone with Mica an hour ago and she thought you spoke to Val earlier about it. I guess not... She told me that she thought your bass got a rub out today. It was looking good, but they want to give it about a week to ensure that it is stable before buffing. Sounds like it's getting close. She also told me about some of the procedures they were going through to test the finish and it sounded really thorough. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1143 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 5:36 am:    thanks bob val called me round 10 pm ny time and pretty much said the same the rub out is going to be on friday. yes we be getting closer :-) bassfingers Member Username: bassfingers Post Number: 95 Registered: 11-2005 Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 3:30 am:    Hi Jeff, Glad to hear the Wolf is almost done recuperating.Gotta be a great excuse to put more pics up when you two are reunited. Best Wishes, Simon. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1163 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 9:42 am:    sad to say.... val let me know friday that it went back to spray as they are still not satisfied with the problem being resolved.... i know its not their fault and they are being cautious but this is getting very very depressing jalevinemd Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 465 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 10:03 am:    Sorry, Jeff. 811952 Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 740 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 10:15 am:    Jeff, I can't really suggest that you be patient, because it's becoming obvious that you have more of that than I could imagine. I can't help but believe it will be worth it when Direwolf is back in your hands, since you already know what you're missing. If they can't find a good solution to the problem, my inclination would probably be to accept the raised finish at the wood-fault-line as the reality of building a bass out of such dissimilar woods, and enjoy it for what it is (a massively wonderful instrument). It may ultimately be a candidate for an oil finish, which would look (and feel) great as well. At any rate, I think we all feel your pain yet envy that you'll get to play this wonderful Alembic again soon enough, and that it will be yours forever. Best of luck with all of it, Jeff... John spliffy Member Username: spliffy Post Number: 81 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 10:35 am:    Bummer! I can only imagine what you are feeling. Sure it's no'ones fault but still a real pain in the butt! Hope she comes home to you soon. Al bsee Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1206 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:01 am:    Maybe it's time to consider starting over, or at least re-topping the bass? davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4006 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 2:28 pm:    Jeff; just a reminder. Like any other of life's challenges, it's only depressing if you let it be depressing. flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1164 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 4:39 pm:    hogwash dave put your alembics in the closet for 4 months- dont play em and then get back to me jacko Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 697 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 4:42 pm:    Feeling for you jeff. Hang in there buddy. Graeme flaxattack Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1169 Registered: 4-2004 Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 7:02 am:    got a msg from val last night out of the blue' they have ordered what i am guessing is a different finishing material that will hopefully work better with the highly oily cocobolo which is the root of the problem... stay tuned he also left good news that the STB is moving along and that (am not being egotistical) its looking absolutely stunning and if i liked the photos in ftc- i aint seen nothing yet... spliffy Member Username: spliffy Post Number: 92 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 8:07 am:    Well????? How is Direwolf?