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valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 441
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 8:38 pm:   Edit Post

Yes Bob,

Rami's were continuous as well...
The pants?
they are purpleheart with ebony & graphite laminates....
I have a pair that are solid purpleheart too...;)
Gonna have to find some coco bolo pants next...
Valentino
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 443
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 9:42 pm:   Edit Post

Here's the shot of the crown omega from the topDSC10050.jpg
bob
Advanced Member
Username: bob

Post Number: 204
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 10:06 pm:   Edit Post

Looking at that, I'm almost surprised you didn't go for a mini ebony stinger... but I guess that might have been overkill.

As one would expect, the balance and proportions are just perfect. And it's a rare treat to see the laminates inside the holes for the machine heads! I've been messing about with bridge blocks and pickups lately, and always get a kick out of seeing the wood cross-sections, but hadn't thought about taking out a tuner.
rami
Advanced Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 342
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 4:49 am:   Edit Post

Val,

Your Bass is just over-the-top awesome! I suppose working at Alembic (next to Susan and Mica) allows for opportunities of creative influence that most of us can only dream of.

I love your selection of Coco-Bolo (very grainy), just perfect for the continuous wood everything. (Love those pickups!)

Rami
bsee
Intermediate Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 131
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 11:23 am:   Edit Post

Has anyone seen this bass lately? We haven't heard from it in a while, and I thought I wasn't the only one hoping to see it get to completion.
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 485
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 2:41 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Rami,

I missed your post back when you uploaded it.

Hello Bob,

I see it every day I'm at work...:-) Also everyone who comes in for a tour gets to see it.
The finishing process is over. At the moment I'm waiting for my 2 bridges to be done, then James can do the preliminary set-up and the hardware can go to the plater. After it gets back here, the electronics & the hardware can be installed. Then I'm taking it home un-upgraded (no interference at my house, cell phones don't even work and you get no TV signals without cable or a sat dish), until it's my turn on Ron's bench.
Right now, it does not look all that different from the last pictures I posted, so now I am waiting until there is something new to show, before I post anymore pictures. And then you'll see lots of shots.


Valentino
bsee
Intermediate Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 132
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 5:49 pm:   Edit Post

It looks like I might be visiting the shop next Wednesday. I look forward to the opportunity to see it in person!

-Bob
pace
Junior
Username: pace

Post Number: 13
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 5:14 pm:   Edit Post

In person it is a beautiful sight to behold.... I regret not taking my camera into the shop when I was there the other week..... I am sure we'll see this body used again~ perhaps for someone who feels the triple O is too over the top, and the balance point is too plain.....

After seeing it in person I started dreaming up a double neck 8-string/mando-cello based on this body...... You are a very lucky man Val.

-Mike
flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 102
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 5:24 pm:   Edit Post

when is it ready???
ox_junior
Intermediate Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 152
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 3:50 pm:   Edit Post

Next peghead shape: Exploiter!!! Hee hee.

This bass is amazing. Can't wait to see the end result.

Mike
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 553
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 8:16 pm:   Edit Post

Just an update....
my bass came home about 10 days ago; it isn't quite finished, because Ron has yet to do the upgrade on it. In the meantime I am playing daily and having a blast...consensus among my musician friends ( & myself) is that it's the best sounding and easiest to play of my six Alembics. I would not change a single thing if I could go back. Oh yeah, it's also the best looking.
Someday (soon) there'll be pictures...:-)


Valentino
bsee
Advanced Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 341
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 8:21 pm:   Edit Post

Congratulations! I am so pleased that the bass came out well!
bigbadbill
Intermediate Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 126
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 3:04 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats Valentino! And pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 558
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 12:41 am:   Edit Post

took me a while but today we took pictures...DSC10103
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 559
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 12:52 am:   Edit Post

DSC10105
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 560
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 12:58 am:   Edit Post

DSC10104
shellfish
New
Username: shellfish

Post Number: 7
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 3:30 am:   Edit Post

I am absolutely speechless!
Never was but now! Is this really human built?
Look at that Tailpiece... and all... enchanting.

How do you fixed the bridge? Where is the brassblock? Below the Coco Bolo Veneer? And what material is the nut from? And... sorry too much questions.
If I ever have the chance for a custom this would be the shape!

Congrats Val, you must be the lucky one.

Kai
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 678
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 4:17 am:   Edit Post

God Valentino! The concept and the "in progress" pictures were very impressive, but the final product beats all! That tailpiece is amazing!

Congratulations. This one is definitely your best custom. The others are very sharp, but this one is probably the nicest Alembic I've seen.

Bill
flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 200
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 7:31 am:   Edit Post

WOW- thats awesome val....
love the tailpiece and the wood pickup covers....
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1739
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 8:39 am:   Edit Post

Val ...I'm sorry but this model isn't really my cup of tea. Although ...as admiring everyone who stands out of the crowd -like all Alembic players do "in terminis"- it counts for me.
Nice bridge ...absolutely and really made ads being part of the unusual design.
For those who saw: Val installed a height-adjustable nut in ebony (if I'm well informed it is the second one installed after Brother Bobs "most-hidden-bass"). Val ...is it a Series II with no general volume or a Series II with no general volume but with volume-pan combi???
Anyway ...congrats!! Hope she gives you the sound you were after?? Did the coco-bolo laminates worked out in stead of the ebony and the purple hart??

Paul the bad one
tom_z
Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 57
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 9:49 am:   Edit Post

That is an exquisite instrument. A true masterpiece. Congratulations Val.

Tom
pace
Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 68
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 10:00 am:   Edit Post

Are those bridge saddles ebony Val?!?

lbpesq
Intermediate Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 110
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 10:10 am:   Edit Post

Val:

I bet you are VERY happy with your new bass. Absolutely gorgeous! I'm not usually a fan of wood PU covers, but I am blown away by yours with the continuous grain pattern through the top & PUs. By the way, I hate to be the one to break it to you, as you may not have noticed, but someone obviously f**ked up. THEY FORGOT TO PUT THE FRETS IN!!!! LOL

Bill the GUITAR one
rraymond
Intermediate Member
Username: rraymond

Post Number: 153
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 10:34 am:   Edit Post

Holy Batman, what a tailpiece! The rest of the bass ain't so bad, neither! ;-)

Reid
basstard
Intermediate Member
Username: basstard

Post Number: 120
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 12:32 pm:   Edit Post

*gasp*

*jaw drop*

*DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL*

Val, this thing is just amazing. Absolutely, stunningly beautiful. And that dark cocobolo... it's *the* top-wood of my dreams.

I think there's no need to congratulate you - you're probably so much in love with your new-born beauty you don't care much about congrats... ;-) But congratulations anyway!!!

Man, I'm envious...

(Message edited by basstard on October 30, 2004)
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 561
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 1:32 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks everybody,

Mike, the saddles are indeed ebony and so is the nut.
I actually have a second bridge and a second nut both gold plated brass.

Kai, the bridge has curved rails and recessed hardware.
The bridge block is there and, as you suspected, it is covered by a veneer of coco bolo.

Paul I know this shape is not your cup of tea, but that's ok, I certainly do not expect everyone to like it. As long as I do everything else is secondary :-)
I ended up choosing maple/purpleheart/ebony for the neck and I am very happy with the result; the sound is all I was hoping for and more. James did his usual outstanding job with the set-up and the logo inlay, and made the ebony saddles and the nut. This bass almost plays itself. The electronics are series II with no master volume.

I am really stoked about the tailpiece among other things; the bottom part is ebony, the top gold plated brass. Mike did a great job of turning my sketches into a workable tailpiece, and Susan's counsel was invaluable as always.
Reid, the Batman idea is one that generally comes up when discussing the tailpiece; another favorite is the Klingon one.

Bill, you 're right, how could they have forgotten that? Heads will roll...


Valentino

(Message edited by valvil on October 30, 2004)
eastcoastepic
Member
Username: eastcoastepic

Post Number: 92
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 2:02 pm:   Edit Post

Absolutely, positively, the most stunning fretless bass (sorry Rami) that I have ever seen. That tailpiece is magnificent and all that continous Coco Bolo is a wonder to behold.

Another unreal creation...definetely makes my 'top 5 greatest Alembics ever' list.

Congrats, Val...play in good health.
Chris
smichaels
Junior
Username: smichaels

Post Number: 31
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 4:41 pm:   Edit Post

This is one of the coolest Alembics I've ever seen...guitar or bass! The ebony saddles are a great touch.

Sean
marcm
Member
Username: marcm

Post Number: 54
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 6:15 pm:   Edit Post

valentino, that is one of the most beautiful musical instruments i have ever seen. it is truly a masterpiece

play it in good health
bigideas
Junior
Username: bigideas

Post Number: 24
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 6:54 pm:   Edit Post

i'm trying to find words, but i'm stumped...

i'm gonna go with brilliant, wonderful, beautiful, and amazing... but those seem a little weak.

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