| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1564 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's that bear claw inlay mock up:  The idea here is mother of pearl with silver for the claw section only. Size is approximate. Hope you like! (Message edited by mica on April 08, 2004) | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 18 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mica, I absolutley love the bear claw. Just like my daughter, it's adorable and delicate. Susan outdid herself!! And what a surprise...I wasn't expecting any mock up until next week. The journey has officially begun. I can't wait to see the rest of the guitar as it evolves. Thanks, Jonathan | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1599 Registered: 6-2000 |
Mike and Susan worked out the following design for the body shape:  Hope you can tell how cool this looks. | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 149 Registered: 11-2003 |
Beautiful! | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 428 Registered: 7-2002 |
Here's this piece of Coco Bolo I found today, freshly sanded down; I think the lower part would look great. Let me know how you like it.  | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 27 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mica, As I told Val, I thought building a guitar with you all would be like buying fake Rolex watches from the peddlers on Fifth Avenue - you'd show me something, I'd make and offer, you'd show me something else, I'd counter-offer...and so on, until we had something we could both agree on. But, between the inlay and the body designs, you guys are dead-on with the first try. Quite frankly, your incredible collective gift is taking the fun out of this whole process...and I couldn't be happier!!! Keep working your magic. Sincerely, Jonathan | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 449 Registered: 7-2002 |
Here's a picture of the mockup that Mike made today; we all really like it and Susan has approved it. Hope you like it too.  | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 450 Registered: 7-2002 |
While working on the design for your guitar, Mike had to figure out the layout of the hardware and electronics; when he brought the mockup by the office he had this with him, so I took a picture of it for you. Here's a sketch of the guitar with pickups, bridge and tailpiece.  | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1332 Registered: 9-2002 |
Really nice ...that extended-upper-horn-balance-point- omega-cut-out-3/4-body (oof) really works for guitar too and the knobby peghead really match!!! Paul TBO | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 28 Registered: 12-2003 |
Val, Looks great! I'm really glad we went with the knob peghead. I think the crown would have interrupted the overall flow of the guitar that seems to follow a natural taper from base to headstock. It's much 'sexier' this way, for lack of a better word. Thanks for the pics, Jonathan | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 179 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jonathan, This is a really striking guitar. What are the electronics going to be? | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 453 Registered: 7-2002 |
The electronics are going to be just like yours Hollis, standard Skylark configuration. Valentino | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 182 Registered: 11-2003 |
That's going to sound sooooo sweeeeet! With the thru-neck w/purple heart lams it'll sustain all the way into tomorrow! | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 29 Registered: 12-2003 |
Hollis, Thanks for the encouraging words...nice to have another brother-of-the-six-string amidst this kingdom of bass players (though not a finer group around!) I think the Skylark configuration will be perfect for me. I tossed around the idea of Further and Series electronics for a bit. But, when all is said and done, I've always been a basic dual humbucking kind of guy...and not very circuit savy. I think the vast capabilities of the other electronics would be completely wasted on me. So I decided to channel the money towards the overall aesthetics instead. Take care, Jonathan | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 186 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jonathan, I LOVE my Skylark! Every time I play it, I am amazed at how many subtle little adjustments are available to me. The highs can shriek or cut through just enough and all points in between. The lows......well.... it's an Alembic! Amazing lows. I first came to this fantastic club with a desire for a Further.... A Further is still somewhere on the distant horizon....maybe one day. When I decided to "settle" for a Skylark, (I laugh at my own ignorance at even thinking that I was settling for something, as if this were some kind of "lesser" instrument) I had no idea what an eye opening I was in for. I'm sure that the Further is every bit and more the guitar I imagine it to be, that being said, it will be years before I have mastered my Skylark. Every day is a new learning expierence with this beautifully understated instrument. My only regret is that I didn't get one sooner. I'm a better guitarist for the knowing. I'm sure that your Orion has already taught you this lesson....These are just damn fine guitars! You new custom is beautiful... It's a privilege to get to watch it being built. Enjoy, and don't forget to breathe! Hollis | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1653 Registered: 6-2000 |
With the Skylark electronics here's the layout:  Before we get too far into the build, we need you to think about the side jack. The location in the drawing above is about the only place we can fit it and leave the controls in a somewhat logical order. The big restriction is that the jack needs to be placed at 90 degrees to the edge of the guitar, no tilting. If we tilt it, there will be some of the jack hanging over the edge, and it just doesn't look good. If this sidejack location isn't acceptable, then we'd have to go for a face-mounted jack. Let me know what you prefer. | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 31 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mica, To be honest, I wasn't even aware that a side-mounted jack was an option here. I'd much prefer it to be face-monuted. Thanks, Jonathan | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1664 Registered: 6-2000 |
I know Valentino is posting some pictures he collected later, but I'll be a tease and show you the side view of your body halves in a position they'll never be in again:  More to come soon... | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mica and Val, If the grain on that coco bolo looks half as good from the front and back as it does from the side, this wait is going to kill me! Jonathan | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 454 Registered: 7-2002 |
I think the grain on the top looks even better... This was taken just before Chip glued the neck to the body; here he's holding the sides against the neck for this shot. Chip does not play guitar, a little bass every now and then, and he said HE wants this guitar, it's so gorgeous.  | ||
| dadabass2001
Intermediate Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 138 Registered: 6-2002 |
Val, Is that coco bolo quarter sawn? I haven't seen CB looking like that before. Mike | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 455 Registered: 7-2002 |
A shot of the back before the body halves are glued.  | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 456 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Mike, no, this was cut just like we always do. It's just a very sweet piece of wood. Valentino | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 457 Registered: 7-2002 |
Chip is done with your neck and looks pleased with it. Love the peghead veneer. I thought I took a close-up of it, but I guess I did not. Next time.  | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 37 Registered: 12-2003 |
Val, I can't believe how much progress there's been in such a short amount of time. That coco bolo you picked out is really spectacular - unbelievable grain. Thanks for the pics, Jonathan | ||
| bassman10096
Advanced Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 393 Registered: 7-2003 |
Jonathan: The wood is beautiful. I really like the body shape for a guitar as well. I'm waiting with baited breath for this beauty to come together!!! Congratulations. Bill | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 39 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thanks Bill. I was wondering how the body style would look, scaled down for a guitar. I think it'll come together beautifully. Jonathan | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 43 Registered: 12-2003 |
Val, Had a very nice conversation with Mica this afternoon. I had called just to let you know that Georgia, Mara and I are going to be away from Thursday, returning Sunday. We have a wedding on an island off the coast of South Carolina and, regretably, I will be Internet challenged until we get back. Just didn't want you to think I was ignoring any e-mails during that time. Hope all is well, Jonathan | ||
| mint_bass
Intermediate Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 176 Registered: 1-2004 |
that top wood si so nice i think that is one of the best examples of coco bolo ever i like the body style the shape is cool have fun on your trip andrew | ||
| jalevinemd
Junior Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thanks, Andrew. Valentino actually found this gem when he was digging in the coco bolo mines! I simply described the general grain pettern I was looking for and he did the rest. I can hardly wait to see what it looks like once it is sanded and sprayed. Jonathan |
