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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2192
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 7:03 pm:   Edit Post

No Sycamore to see yet, but here's half of the body getting glued:

in the clamps
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 485
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 7:24 pm:   Edit Post

If it is the Sycamore I am thinking of, it looks REALLY cool. Kinda like a whacky oak. Really beautiful. I can't wait!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2194
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 8:22 pm:   Edit Post

This probably isn't what you're thinking of, dela. This is more like really really WHITE Flame Maple. I do have a weird piece of Sycamore with that wild ray fleck pattern I think you're referring to.
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 74
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 2:35 pm:   Edit Post

Woo Hoo!

/e does the dance of joy

- Jim
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 76
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

I just wanted to clarify a point in case it had been missed (or maybe it's a non-issue anyways).

I want the Omega cut to be the "squashed" Omega not the fully circular Omega cut that I've seen on some other basses.

Thanks.
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 82
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post

Val checked for me and Susan did indeed have the "squashed" Omega already noted for my bass.

-Jim
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 87
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 3:03 pm:   Edit Post


I just thought I'ld check in and see if there were any updates.

- Jim

(Message edited by LotharTu on January 26, 2005)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2231
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 12:16 am:   Edit Post

Boy do I have an update. It seems your bass was completed while I was on vacation and moving, and I didn't catch many other build shots. But here's a preview of the finished work:

Jim's Finished

The white look of the sycamore was very successful. Also, this particular piece is very active, changing much from different viewing angles. In the couple of days we've been testing your bass, it's been very popular; I "caught" Valentino playing it yesterday and Mike was having fun on Monday night.

Shipping should be within a day or two.
flaxattack
Advanced Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 345
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 12:44 am:   Edit Post

gee mica your up late...;lol
very nice look
jeff
Member
Username: jeff

Post Number: 96
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 6:05 am:   Edit Post

Beautiful bass with nice proportions. The Sycamore does look similar to a flame maple as Mica stated and I am wondering, does it sound similar as a tone wood on the bass? Jim, is there a story behind your choice of a top wood?
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 88
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 6:12 am:   Edit Post

Thanks for the update Mica.

Ok first off I'm very happy seeing that the bass is almost done but...

"But here's a preview of the finished work"

Preview as in "the input jack hasn't actually been drilled yet"? I ask because it is supposed to be mounted on the side and not the top.

If it's shipping in a day or two then I guess it's already been drilled.

Also, it looks like it has gold straplocks on it. I had noted that I wanted the regular stap pins instead of staplocks. Could you get those swapped out for me or just toss a pair of stap pins in the case? I perma-attach my strap so I need the pins instead of the straplocks.

Also, how is the weight?

- Jim


(Message edited by LotharTu on January 27, 2005)
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 89
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 5:04 pm:   Edit Post


Mica, I'm curious to hear what Val and Mike thought of the bass since there don't appear to be many sycamore top/back ash core basses that go through there.

How's the tone? If you closed your eyes what would you think the neck/body was made of if you didn't already know?


(Message edited by lothartu on January 27, 2005)
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 90
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 5:21 pm:   Edit Post

"Jim, is there a story behind your choice of a top wood?"

Yep, it's in the original dreaming thread here
http://alembic.com/club/messages/402/12961.html?1101028616
byoung
New
Username: byoung

Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 9:28 am:   Edit Post

Jim,

I can tell you that the bass is light. Very light (to me, anyway). On a 4" strap, hardly even noticed it was there.

She is a truly beautiful instrument. Very bright looking, like bleached maple. A real tow-head (I was going to say blonde, but that doesn't do it justice).

Brad
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 91
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 10:55 am:   Edit Post

Brad I've got a couple of questions if you don't mind,

So you'ld say that the picture above is much "darker" than how the bass appears in real life?

The picture above appears to favor the vertical figuring but it may just be the angle. How does the horizontal figuring look? What was your impression?

Did you get a chance to hear it? What was your impression of the tone?

Since you had it on a strap how was the balance?

Thanks again.

- Jim
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 631
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 5:10 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Jim.

I played your bass again a few minutes ago (with a strap this time) and weighed it as well. It's 9.4 pounds, feels very light, balances GREAT, it's easy to play and sounds most excellent, just like an Alembic is supposed to; nice, big low end, sparkling highs, I'm sure you'll have fun with it.


Valentino
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 5:29 pm:   Edit Post

Great, thanks for the info Val. I appreciate you taking the time to do that. I'm looking forward to spending time with the bass and seeing how all this is going to turn out.

byoung
New
Username: byoung

Post Number: 10
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, January 30, 2005 - 12:18 am:   Edit Post

Jim,

I'd liken the picture above to a cloud passing over when the photo was shot. It just isn't well-lit enough to pull out what the bass really looks like. The figuring looks lots better in person.

The balance was absolutely perfect on a 4" Moody strap. Not the least bit neck heavy; it struck me as being very light (I'm a bit biased towards heavier instruments, but I barely felt it).

Brad
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 03, 2005 - 4:32 pm:   Edit Post

Any news yet on a projected ship date?

Do I need to contact the dealer on this or will it be able to come direct?
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 96
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 03, 2005 - 4:46 pm:   Edit Post

Well not 30 seconds after my last post Val called me to let me know it shipped. :-)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1314
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 4:35 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats Jim !!
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 97
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 9:31 pm:   Edit Post


thanks Dave. Having fun with all your Alembics? I saw that you got a 6 string recently.


(Message edited by LotharTu on February 05, 2005)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1317
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 6:29 am:   Edit Post

Jim; I've had the six string for a long while, I only just recently posted the pics. And yes, I'm having fun!
serialnumber12
Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 89
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 7:14 am:   Edit Post

hey dave congrats on your alembic moderator gig!what will you be doing ?
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1318
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 8:06 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Keavin! I think it's mostly just helping out around the board. Mica and I are working on a new feature that's still in the early planning stage. I live across the country from Santa Rosa, so I won't be able to look up serial numbers or anything like that. And I still don't know anything more than I did before, so mostly I'll just be trying to find previously posted information, pretty much like I've enjoyed doing up to now, only perhaps in a more organized fashion.
serialnumber12
Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 90
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 10:02 am:   Edit Post

great, so now the club will be looking forward to seeing your employee project!!!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1326
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post

Hah!!! I am hoping to get my Essence back in a few more weeks. It has an interesting mod; I'll post pics.
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1913
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 10:49 am:   Edit Post

Hey Brother Dave,

congrats on your "promotion". Well ..huh ...oh .. I don't know if it IS a promotion. Although ...I've always admired your way coping with questions and using the computer and internet tools by doing this.
Other side of the country ...HA ...what you call a country ...the rest of the world calls it a continent but ...(aaaah good'ol but again) ...it IS a small world after all!

Paul the bad one
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1327
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 11:25 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Paul! And you are right, continent would have been a better choice of words! <g>
lothartu
Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 99
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 6:08 am:   Edit Post

Hi all, I hope everyone is well; just a couple of questions.

1) Did the bass make it back to you ok? Everything cool?

2) Any ideas yet on the little inlay? A sketch on the back of a napkin or something.
lothartu
Intermediate Member
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 103
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 4:52 pm:   Edit Post

Any news?

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