| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7324 Registered: 6-2000 |
We asked Tony to send the bass back to us so that we could make the satin neck as you ordered it. There is a little more involved than just sanding. One important thing is to not sand too much and to hit the underlying layer of finish. Then you must decide on the gloss / non-gloss boundary. We mask off the area near the body with fine-line tape and sand up to it. At the peghead end, we sand the entire Maple edge of the peghead as well - it looks best this way. If there is a bevel, we leave that glassy (as in this case). We're coordinating with Tony regarding shipping the bass to you, and should have it all boxed up again tomorrow, ready to depart on Monday. | ||
| jay_r
New Username: jay_r Post Number: 9 Registered: 3-2011 |
Your bass bliss is near! Enjoy!! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7327 Registered: 6-2000 |
And a nice picture from our showroom area:  | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 927 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have to say that what Alembic does with the satin finish on the neck is really perfect. The transition from gloss to satin is way better than just dulling the gloss with steel wool, it just looks and feels perfect. Well worth it. With a beautiful instrument like this, everything should be just perfect. I'm tempted to hop in my car and drive to California just be able to check it out before it leaves the factory! | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 837 Registered: 11-2006 |
Sooooooooo nice Mica..... thanks, lot of thanks and congratulation for the work. You can sand, sand but not too much, but quickly  Edwin: don't touch my bass, just play it !? If you meet Stanley, he can also play with, but not too much... | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1361 Registered: 11-2004 |
Such a beautiful bass. There is a lot to be said for understated elegance, isn't there? Looks like a bass wearing a tuxedo. I'm happy for you Pierre-Yves. Especially since it appears as though that tailpiece is dead center too!! | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 928 Registered: 5-2002 |
Well, I was joking. I live almost 2000 km away! | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 838 Registered: 11-2006 |
I know you was joking Edwin I too | ||
| tubeperson
Intermediate Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 166 Registered: 5-2005 |
I think Edwin really wanted to tell you he was going to drive up to the factory and "kidnap" the bass. That is how gorgeous it is! Who could blame him? Can't say I'm not tempted, thank the Lord I am on the east coast. I wanted to put a smiley face here but can't find them to insert. Any helpers out there? | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 839 Registered: 11-2006 |
What kind of madness I can read here !!LOL !!! I give you this one, please copy/paste | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 842 Registered: 11-2006 |
whats happend now ?? No answer to my mails, I don't know if the bass is in the plane or not, I will start for hollydays on friday... I see now a new error very unsightly and quite serious in my opinion: we see the mechanism of the machineheads because the holes were not centered. I saw immediately that the holes were badly done, I did not think to say it because I thought it would not see too much. Now I have all the pictures I realize that it is visible. What do you suggest? Have you machineheads where we do not see that the mechanism (Shaller). For which reason the holes are not they placed correctly??    | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 955 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think this might be camera angle, Pierre-Yves; none of these shots are straight-on. Notice, for example, that in the finished front shot, you can see the left side, but on the right you only see the bevel. The same is true, to a lesser extent, on the back shot, and in the opposite direction in the unfinished shot. The variation in perspective not only changes what you see, but throws your photoshop boxes off as well. I think I'm right on this; I truely hope I am - she's just too damn pretty! Hope you have her safe & happy in hand soon. Peter | ||
| deburgh
Member Username: deburgh Post Number: 70 Registered: 3-2007 |
What a beauty! I think I would agree with Peter, if you look at the angle of the strings coming off the nut, they look perfectly symmetrical. Either way, you're got something special with this one! Enjoy | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 843 Registered: 11-2006 |
ok please could you stop with this story of photo angle ? THANKS The back view is straight on and the red circle show clearly what I mean, even the last picture | ||
| toma_hawk01
Advanced Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 376 Registered: 9-2009 |
Chaos, rumors, hype, and theories! A true makings of a reality show spectacle. "Nothing to see here... move on..." In the end, I am sure there will be a beautiful happy ending. I have much faith here... Peace and Love, Hal- | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1266 Registered: 5-2006 |
Pierreyves observations are 100% correct ;-) I can find some of this "neat" little flaw details on all my Alembics. To me it shows these instruments are made by hand and not fabricated in a mass production line. None of the "flaws" on my Alembics bother me at all, the "playing area" has always been perfect on any Alembic I laid my hands on. To me that's what really matters. To find those "flaws" in most cases, you really have to look hard. Once you've found them, they will seem to be more pronounced. I think it depends from person to person how much this affects the level of joy you get from your purchase. This wouldn't bother me, because it's only visible if you see the instrument straight on and when it’s completely standing/hanging still. As I write, I'm looking at five Alembics hanging on the wall. None of them meet the above criteria (I'm not seeing them exactly straight on) But that's just my opinion Bass looks awesome, congrats! I really hope you can see the beauty of the "complete picture" (the instrument) and enjoy it for at least a 100 years (I'm not being realistic on that last part, but I can hope what I want) :-) If not, I hope the replacement will be perfect and won't take too much time (they've showed amazing swiftness capabilities with Hal's Toma_Hawk) There's a lot of $$$ involved, so you have the right to be picky Either way I hope you will end up happy! :-) Btw: Blackened also had some flaws (which I have learned to love) Mica was extremely nice and fast to get things solved. (though I'm still waiting for a certain package, Mica?) ;-) For instance: They must have mixed up our neck finish request… I got the Satin finish, though I was assured (also in the ftc) it would be glossy. I was a bit shocked and disappointed when I first held her, but love it (the satin neck) now. When I look at the Satin neck I smile and think of the extremely nice people (especially Mica) that worked hard to make my dreambass reality. Most important: when I play it feels great! I keep the other flaws for myself.  Maybe we can start a quiz in the miscellaneous section: "find the tiny flaw in my Alembic" Bring on yer non centred tailpieces, crooked tuners etc.  (Message edited by fc_spoiler on May 17, 2011) | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 678 Registered: 9-2008 |
My bet is that at E string's pole was moved outside to doesn't bend that string too much towards the center. The A string's just followed it and may be this explain why they are clearly moved outside (no angle could justify such un-alignment)... But this just doesn't explain why not assume the same at treble side (note how G string is angled towards center). As far as I see by picture, it should be better to keep A and D poles closer to center, maintaining strings less angled (as in D string), and move E and G poles outside to keep the strings more straight (as in E string). May Alembic could think about change their templates... | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 679 Registered: 9-2008 |
Couldn't express my self better than Flip did | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 844 Registered: 11-2006 |
sorry double post, discus error (Message edited by pierreyves on May 17, 2011) | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 845 Registered: 11-2006 |
thank you for your testimony fc-spoiler. It is true that I am not in the same state of mind because I think that the defects identified are inattention, and personally I would know how the holes correctly placed. It is also true that one must have a look of experienced photographer as I am to find these defects and it is true that beauty is not too comprehensive affected. It is also true that I have not found these defects in other low ... but I'm more attentive considering the price paid. Getting back to some comments that I will not, if the bass was in my hands, these posts would not exist. (google translate) It might be the angle or the lenses or whatever else. Although the machine heads wrong position won’t affect the instrument I am just completely speechless that such mistakes can happen on an instrument I paid more than $17,000 (one year before delivery). This goes on top of other mistakes, communication issues. I am not even questioning the value I am investing for this instrument as I was aware of it from day one. But, the way the whole procedure is being handled is simple way out of what someone could expect. Too bad. (friend translate) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Advanced Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 377 Registered: 9-2009 |
P, Here's something to cheer you up Brother...  This simple mistake is now worth 2.7 Million dollars. Clearly, perfection is not all it's cracked up to be... Peace and Love, Hal- | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 846 Registered: 11-2006 |
Here is an abstract of some conversion I had with Susan few minutes ago: I am delighted to have this magical bass (despite some flaws): I will now go on holiday look at what I can photograph in the wild: flowers, insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, vipers and landscapes. I'm going to Croatia is a beautiful country in Europe which unfortunately keeps track of the Balkan's war in 1991. here is the page I did on my trip last year in Croatia: http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/trentin_croatie_batraciens_reptiles.htm | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 720 Registered: 4-2004 |
Pierre, you only requested that the tailpiece be centered in your work order... you made no mention of the tuning pegs! | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 847 Registered: 11-2006 |
LOL, I hope the entire bass is straight !!  | ||
| toma_hawk01
Advanced Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 378 Registered: 9-2009 |
I can't stand box cakes, or just add water crap... I love stuff made from scratch. Some preconceived mistakes, are not mistakes at all. Make me a cake from scratch, and just like that! Break some rules, and create something different... that's what created the birth of the Blues. Flaws keep you humble, and it helps you become enlighten to things that are more important in life. Hand made, is hand made, flaws and all. It's still beautiful no matter what. "I bet you that bass probably sounds even better that way..." Peace and Love, Hal- (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on May 17, 2011) | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 848 Registered: 11-2006 |
for some people who had some doubt:  anyway, the peghead is wonderful | ||
| dlbydgtl
Intermediate Member Username: dlbydgtl Post Number: 106 Registered: 7-2008 |
Have a great holiday! | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 306 Registered: 7-2009 |
My friend, I think you are failing to understand that these pictures are not right. The slightest of angle from the camera will create distortions. If this is the case, and I think it is, then all this worry is for no good! I can not believe that this Bass would leave the woodshop, not to mention the factory, if it was not correct. I believe, like Brother Hal, that the little "accidents" are the uniqueness of the instrument. The Flavor! The wonderful luthiers at Alembic would not send you this Bass if it was not Magnificient! All the best to you and may you love this beauty for all your days. Nick | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 845 Registered: 1-2008 |
I don't know... our basses are not mass produced by a CNC machine; therefore, they are subject to minor variations. On one hand it's evidence of a hand-built instrument, but on the other hand I understand any mounting frustration on Pierre's part. When you spend this kind-of money on an instrument, I can understand the expectation of perfection... as unobtainable as that might be. Camera angle IS distorting things a bit, but there is a definite deviation. I have some original artwork that I have collected over the years: one of my favorites is of a young woman looking seductively over her shoulder. I love the painting, but there is brushstroke adjacent to her back that looks a bit out of place. I don't think the artist completely mixed the colors prior to applying them to the canvas. But it is the artist's brushstroke and I accept that for whatever it is... intentional or not. I sometimes notice the area, but usually not. It's a beautiful painting from a very talented artist and it's mine... brushstroke and all. Enjoy your work of art Pierre... it is drop-dead gorgeous. | ||
| nnek
Member Username: nnek Post Number: 55 Registered: 8-2009 |
Having been in the custom business for over 30 years with materials and assemblies that allow no chance at a do-over, I can fully sympathize on both sides... It looks to be a truly wondrous instrument in spite. measure twice, cut once . Nnek |
