| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1987 Registered: 6-2000 |
Just a neck so far, but it's a start!  | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 131 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mica, Thank's for getting a picture up. Another fine example of the elven smiths of Alembic hard at work! Ai Elena!! Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1668 Registered: 9-2002 |
yeah right ...what he said!!!! Paul the bad one | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2004 Registered: 6-2000 |
Collected a picture of the Ash body before assembly:  | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 135 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mica, that figuring is PERFECT!!! Now I REALLY can't wait to see the top on it. Ken (TEO) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2039 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's some pictures of the components:  Those stripes look cool  There's still some glue smears on there, so don't worry about the slight color differences, it is beautiful.  Here's the body assembled. Caught before routing  That Walnut looks sooo goooood. Will post more as interesting things happen. (Message edited by mica on October 27, 2004) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1730 Registered: 9-2002 |
The wood visualises the sound coming out of the PU ...cool ...really cool! Paul the bad one | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 139 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mica, Thank you for making my day!! That last one is my work computer's new desktop. Hey Paul, looks like I've joined the walnut crowd, huh? Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1732 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ahi tem refarna tü thi laaäksi. Ent thol "brrrooooom". Ne??? Paul the badly ridiculous one BTW ...did THE liked your choice too???? | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 677 Registered: 7-2003 |
Makes me wanna be in "the walnut crowd", too. Nice contour lines in the figure of that top. They look a little like rippling water. Pretty. Bill | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 140 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well, I'm offically on my lunch now, so work can't get mad at me now! :-) Paul - If you mean Susan, well when I picked the top out, she was in a closed door meeting the entire time, so I never had a chance to talk with her. If the instrument is under construction, she must think it's pretty awesome, right? If you're talking about my senior mangement, she was suitably impressed when i picked it out, and she's even more impressed with the latest pictures. Bill- Yeah, the figuring is what sold me on this piece too. In fact, I had originally discounted walnut as a wood choice, because I'm really not a "dark wood" fan. If you look at my Rogue, the color is dominated by the creamy color of the buckeye rather than the blueish color found on most. This piece of walnut just had so much contrast, I loved it immediately. Thanks for the compliments, both of you! (actually they should be directed to the Noldor* working on this piece of musical art) Ken (TEO) *Elves that were noted for their talent with creating artistic objects | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2060 Registered: 6-2000 |
When I found your bass last, it was fully carved and ready for it's first coat of spray:  I suspect you'll see several coats of spray on your bass when you visit in a week. I'll ask Bob to hold off prepping it on Friday morning so you'll get a chance to see it before sanding for the next coat. | ||
| the_mule
Advanced Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 307 Registered: 1-2004 |
Ken, the Excel model with two instead of one pickup makes all the difference (visually) in the world to me! And the choice of woods: brilliant! There's nothing like the look (smell) of walnut in the morning... You must be sooooo proud! Wilfred | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 145 Registered: 10-2003 |
SEE??!! They DO work quickly! Mica, Looks FANTASTIC!! That'll be my NEW desktop today. Can't wait to see it next week. Ken (TEO) | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 146 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wilfred, Yeah, actually I have to credit Jeff for giving me the idea of going with 2 Fatboys. I have a Rogue with 2 MXYs and I was looking to get a completely different sound out of the Excel. You know, justification for Senior Management for a second Alembic. Ken (TEO) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2078 Registered: 6-2000 |
I know you're disappointed you had to reschedule your visit but I thought you'd like to see the sealer coats:   Got a fuzzy pic for the truss rod cover:  | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 147 Registered: 10-2003 |
WOW!!!! Sorry...I'm a little at a loss for words... Ken (TEO) | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 148 Registered: 10-2003 |
Okay, I think I can form words now... When I picked the wood out, I could just see a "hint" of flame through the "ripples". With the finnish, the flame is almost the dominant feature. Maybe this will be one of those cases where depending on what angle the bass is held is what will determine which pattern is dominant. This bass is coming together FAST!!! Ken (TEO) | ||
| echo008
Intermediate Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 141 Registered: 2-2003 |
Congrats!!! this looks to be one hell of a nice Excel (one of my favorite Alembic shapes). I love the purpleheart laminates in the neck! and the figuring of the ASH and the figuring of the Walnut!!!! and the truss rod cover...and.... damn I want an Excel. - Tom | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 683 Registered: 7-2003 |
Wow! The Walnut/Maple/P-heart/Ash sandwich looks tasty. | ||
| jlpicard
Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 99 Registered: 7-2002 |
I am constantly amazed by the incredible pieces of wood (especially Walnut and cocobolo) Alembic manages to continualy come up with. I love the the purple heart set neck also! Congradulations! Miked | ||
| dannobasso
Intermediate Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 176 Registered: 3-2004 |
This will be a wonderful instrument. I have really become a huge fan of Excels. Mica turned me on to my first and #3 is in the works. Great stage bass, great tension for real hard playing, easy to adjust, very stable and ... oh yeah.. powerful with the fatboys! Congrats Ken, enjoy! Danno | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 149 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, Guys! This is shaping up to be one heck of a bass. When I went in the back to select my wood, Chip was with me, and when he pulled it out of the pile, I could see the Excel shape in the pattern. When I was discussing the ash body, I told Mica I wanted a "highly figured" piece, and boy, did she deliver! Since my Rogue has purpleheart neck lams, I had to have them on this one too. I don't think this one will take quite as long as your Kay bass Danno. I'm not having any unknown new materials used on it. :-) Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1769 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hal them nu krefi, Brother Ken ...think of a good name ...in elf ...something vibrant ...what was the name of th eold language the ents talked??? THis bass has some "wood-talking" over her!!! Paul the bad one | ||
| gare
Intermediate Member Username: gare Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2003 |
Very nice Ken..what electronic package will be in it ? Like Danno, I'm rapidly becoming an Excel fan, just got one and already planning the next. Love the neck lams. G | ||
| jeff
Member Username: jeff Post Number: 79 Registered: 12-2003 |
Ditto on the tasty sandwich! | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 150 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hey all, Well, the electronics are actually standard Excel, with the addition of a pan for the two pickups. I wanted to keep things simple with this one. (well, for an Alembic anyway) This one does, however, have some non-standard features. The fretboard is ebony, rather than pau-ferro, and it will have the oval inlays, with the elf-rune initials at the 12th fret(like my rogue). I'm still pondering the elven name, Paul. Slow for a human, fast compared to an ent. That would make me an elf, right? :-) Ken (TEO) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2171 Registered: 6-2000 |
This is a good picture:  This means your bass is almost done! Of course, it's a bit of a let-down looks-wise here, because this shot is after the final sanding with 3000 grit paper. It's only dull temporarily. In a day or two, we'll buff it up and it will shine brighter than even when you visitied it last month. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1820 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi Ken the Elf one, I forgot the official welcome words when meeting but I give you the text here. You know where that came from. Elanor  1 question. I know you play a 4 string Rogue and this is a Excel. The difference is -apart from the sound- a complete other body dimension. I always founded Rogue 4 strings far too small. Let me know how this compares when you got her. Paul TBO | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 152 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mica, Thanks for the new picture! I've been wondering about progress, and now I know. (Be careful about posting words like "almost done" in this forum though. It may cause me to start asking daily questions.) :-) Paul, Elen sila lumen omentielvo to you as well, elf-friend. I actually find the rogue body shape to be quite comfortable and EXTREMELY well balanced. I didn't find the Excel body to be overly large in comparison, and the long upper horn should keep the balance in check. I'll give a full report in the showcase section when I get it in...how long was that Mica??... Ken (TEO) | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 153 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well, I've finally come up with a proper elven name for my new Excel. What inspired me about this piece of wood was the rippled figuring in the walnut, almost like sound waved through water. In that vein, I will name this bass Morlindenen, dark water singer. Hopefully, she will be shipping out in the near future so I can have a truly Merry Christmas! Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1826 Registered: 9-2002 |
'Morlindenen" ...hmmmm ....Morlindenen ...sounds wonderfull. I would NEVER say to someone "Hey ....I got morlindenen" though, I bet they'll call a doctor. PTBO ...hehehehe ...or your old auntie: "Oh pour guy ...does it hurt?" | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2189 Registered: 6-2000 |
Done today, gone tomorrow:  | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 154 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks for the gumball, Mickey...err...I mean...photo, Mica! Looks incredible in the picture, and since I already know how much better it will be in person...Christmas won't come soon enough for me. Ken (TEO) | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 140 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ken I'm sorry I missed this!!! She looks gorgeous....fantastic piece of walnut! Have you got her yet? How does she compare with your Rogue? |
