| Author | Message | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 319 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mica, I was wondering if you have any updates yet? Also, are any of the replacement Rogue electronics ready? Are the brass plates for my Essence 5 ready yet? Thanks (please don't forget about me!) | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 376 Registered: 7-2002 |
If one works at Alembic, forgettting about you, Rami, is not possible. I'm not at work and won't be until Wednesday, and Mica is also off until then. We'll post an update when we get back. Valentino | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 321 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mica, ET's coming home! It's leaving today and UPS guarantees delivery by 10:30AM tomorrow. As well as the finish problems, it would also be an opportunity to upgrade it's electronics to the quieter Rogue electronics. So that leaves 3 Basses with those electronics that I still have. Are there any on the horizon to send me? Thanks Rami | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1503 Registered: 6-2000 |
We're still waiting to get the 1/8" brass for the backplates. Apparently this is now an exotic item from our regular suppliers. Wow - that's fast on the shipping. Must cost a small fortune. DP was on Jon's bench today getting reassembled. Tony reports I'll have the other Rogue electronics by the end of the week, so do you want me to hold off shipping DP or send them with the ET? | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 322 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mica, I'm actually quite worried about DP. I spoke with Valentino today and he thinks (and I agree) that DP, ET and the Black Byrd should all stay with you for a while after they're completed. I want to make sure that their finishes are stable enough so that these problems don't re-occur. It did cost a small fortune to ship DP and ET, but for such master works of art, I couldn't do any less for them. However, I don't want to have to do that ever again. I don't know what is a suitable length of time to be sure the finish is stable enough (3-6 months perhaps?), but I'll leave that to your discreton. Do you know if that crack in DP's body was in the finish or the wood? If it would be possible to ship the 3 Rogue electronics while ET, DP, and Black Byrd are with you, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks again Mica | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 340 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mica, Any news??? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1612 Registered: 6-2000 |
I called and left a message for the jeweller today - where's the gold logo? I hope to hear from him by tomorrow. I'll let you know as soon as I know. I put on "Change (Makes You Want to Hustle)" before I called to get the Byrd-vibe going. Actually, we wound up listening to Byrd the rest of the day. | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 341 Registered: 6-2002 |
That's the funky Bassline of the GREAT Chuck Rainey. I still LOVE that CD! I was also wondering about the other stuff (The twins & the Rogue electronics). Thanks Mica, Best wishes! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1620 Registered: 6-2000 |
ET is waiting for DP to join him in the shipping room. Since you indicated you wanted us to hold on to them for a while, I'm sorry I didn't tell you that ET was ready and waiting. DP is in the spray booth still. The Rogue electronics are also ready, but I'm holding them back for shipping until Monday. Then I'll have your HEAVY 1/8" brass plates for the Buckeye Essence ready. You'll get a pretty good-sized box from us next week. Did I mention the plates were HEAVY? You will love them. Since there's more than a few people who want to change out from plastic plates to brass ones later, we are working on a couple of solutions. Many will find the additional weight of 1/8" brass unacceptable, so we've got a platic "booster ring" we can use as a shim under a standard brass plate in development. ALso, I've got a sample of some plastic on its way here that has the look of the satin finish brass. Will help on the weight fo those sensitive to it. Maybe I'm overreacting to the weight, but the 12 inch square of brass we finally managed to find was much heavier than I expected. I will drop you an email with the tracking number of the package on Monday. | ||
| effclef
Intermediate Member Username: effclef Post Number: 145 Registered: 1-2004 |
Mica, if you don't know about www.mcmaster.com (McMaster-Carr) for metals and other hardware, take a look. EffClef | ||
| bkbass
Junior Username: bkbass Post Number: 37 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hey Rami,is this one in your hands yet?How'bout some pix?Between you and Val,you gentlemen have lighted torches to guide the rest of us down that dark decisions on options path. | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 345 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Barry, Still waiting... I knew that it would be long. Going on 2 years now! I can't imagine anymore customs after this. Cheers, Rami | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1733 Registered: 6-2000 |
Today's the day!  Tim dropped this wonderful logo by this morning. It took three castings to get it to come out right. I learned a bunch about metal casting today. He also had to wind up making it thicker than usual to hold its shape properly. James is the designated inlay artist - he's done all the inlays on your other basses. Once this inlay is done, we can get that back into spray. More soon! | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 351 Registered: 6-2002 |
Absolutely spectacular Mica! Is it in 21 or 24K? I still believe that (with all due respect to all the other Alembics ever built) this will be the greatest EVER! Thanks, Rami | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 231 Registered: 11-2003 |
It really is a masterpiece Rami! Enjoy | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1744 Registered: 6-2000 |
Rami, it's 24K gold. The first time he poured the metal, it wasn't hot enough and it cooled before reaching the top of the cloud. The second casting he quenched too soon, after about 10 minutes of cooling. The gold fractured. Tim had never encountered that before (and he didn't even think it was possible). Finally he got the kinks worked out and had a successful third casting, and he reports he can now make these with confidence (and with normal delivery times). | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 141 Registered: 9-2003 |
That's awesome, Rami. Just when I think you're done, you pull out another trick feature from a hat that kick's a**! Hey Mica, is it too late to get that on my bass? JUST KIDDING! LOL! I love that gold logo, and to get it inlayed with shell would look stunning, but I'm dying to get my bass soon (and I don't wanna spend another $1k to get it done, LOL!). I'll have to settle for the gold-plated surface-mount jammy sans shell. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1756 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hey Rami, Your other parts are in the spray booth, need only a couple more coats to get the pickups and knobs shiny like the rest of the bass.  These are prepped (sanded) and ready for the next coat. These will look even better than original, I know you'll love it. | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 355 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks Mica. Although I did like the orginal matte finish, it had a tendency to "Fog up" and had to be continually cleaned - even though I'd never touch them. Maybe it's the weird weather here. I'm sure the new finish will be more resistant (not to mention gorgeous). I like to think of those pickups as the ones that started it all - the continuous wood everything trend! Any news on the electronics? Thanks again, Rami | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1764 Registered: 6-2000 |
Yeah - I've got 4 sets here and Tony will perform the upgrades on Monday, so check your post box next week. | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 364 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mica, Any news? Have the electronics been sent out yet? Thanks, Rami | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 429 Registered: 12-2002 |
Dear rami, how many do own?,,,(alembics) | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 365 Registered: 6-2002 |
Way, way too many..... Although I got most of them when my dealer was liquidating his stock at half price or less. I probably wouldn't do it again though. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1815 Registered: 6-2000 |
Sorry, Rami, those electronics were not shipped yet. Instead of sending by post I'll get them on the UPS truck. It seems there's never enough time to make it to the post office (you have to present the package in person if it weighs over 1 pound). Then you can finally get all your Europa electronics in good order. We started the work on the logo inlay. It's really difficult to work with! The shell pieces are cut, and next is to fit them in the logo. Your bass should be back in spray by the end of next week. | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 366 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks for the update Mica. How are ET & DP coming along? | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 380 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mica, Any chance of pics? I'd love to see the progress. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1924 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'll make sure I get you some updated pics this coming week. When I was taking pictures on Friday, your bass was in the drying room. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1561 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi Rami, I know it's nothing of my business but if I read this thread it seems you are missing AND Evil Twin AND Dark Prince AND the newcomer Byrd. Yes? Jeeeez Rami ...that must be hard! Did they ALL need a re-finish?? I read somewhere about changing electronics?? I guess you are devideing your attention between the other basses in your collection?? Keep up the good spirit ...and be patient! Not for too long anymore I sincerely hope with you. Paul TBO | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 381 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks Paul, Yeah...., it hurts. But Mica has been very helpful and generous with support through it all. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1953 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's that fabulous 24k logo inlaid and even under a few coats of spray:  My dad saw it yesterday and was really impressed with the color. |
