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Alembic Club » Factory to Customer » Jerry's 5-string Series aka "Shamrock" » Build Record » Archive through July 27, 2012 « Previous Next »

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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7677
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7:15 pm:   Edit Post

Lots of pictures of the neck taking form...

assembly
glue drips

assembly
ears so the machine heads have a place to live

assembly
getting ready to veneer the peghead

assembly
veneers in clamps

assembly
a peghead is born!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7678
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7:20 pm:   Edit Post

Oh yeah, and about that shamrock:

carving test

carve test

My son Erik was here today, and he asked me, "Is that like a shamrock, mommy?" This is a test carving for the proof of concept.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 10638
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7:31 pm:   Edit Post

The shamrock is very cool!
stout71
Junior
Username: stout71

Post Number: 45
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7:34 pm:   Edit Post

That's what I'm talking about!
cousinvinnie
Junior
Username: cousinvinnie

Post Number: 31
Registered: 4-2011
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 10:00 pm:   Edit Post

Love the shamrock to be sure to be sure.
stout71
Junior
Username: stout71

Post Number: 46
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 5:17 am:   Edit Post

So glad to see my axe finally taking shape. This is the first time I've seen the neck and headstock pictures. Just wait until you see the top, guys. I saw the raw samples. They are gorgeous!!
stout71
Junior
Username: stout71

Post Number: 47
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Monday, April 23, 2012 - 7:50 am:   Edit Post

Here are the pics Mica took of the top laminate blanks. Stunning.





[edited for picture alignment]

(Message edited by adriaan on April 23, 2012)
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 770
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Monday, April 23, 2012 - 1:22 pm:   Edit Post

Birds eye Maple and a clover

Another unique work of art in progress
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7731
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 8:43 pm:   Edit Post

OK, there's lots to share!

Top lam getting ready to glue for the bookmatch to center:
assembly

and getting that center seam glued:
assembly

Getting the top ready to glue to the body and neck:
assembly

In the "big press" waiting for the glue to dry:
assembly

Out and ready to cut that shamrock:
assembly
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7732
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 8:49 pm:   Edit Post

And now the "cutting of the clover"

First, trace the template:
assembly

A little nip here:
assembly

Starting to cut with a sharp new tool:
assembly

A little deeper now:
assembly

And complete:
assembly

This angle really exaggerates the roundness factor. I'll gather another more straight-on shot for you soon. EVERYBODY that visits here flips out over your bass.
jazzboy621
Member
Username: jazzboy621

Post Number: 63
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 9:09 pm:   Edit Post

Beauty!!!! Cant wait to see it all completed!!!
stout71
Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 5:07 am:   Edit Post

Wow. That sweet Birdseye is gonna pop like crazy when it's done. I'm on the edge of my seat and can't wait to see what comes next!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 10708
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 6:10 am:   Edit Post

Beautiful cutting of the clover!
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1487
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 6:41 am:   Edit Post

The picture of the shamrock halfway through carving is amazing. It looks like an organic version of something M.C. Escher would have produced on a good day.

(Message edited by tbrannon on May 30, 2012)
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1737
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

Beautiful!
deburgh
Member
Username: deburgh

Post Number: 74
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 1:56 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, what an amazing build!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7750
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 7:23 pm:   Edit Post

Brace yourself...















spray
Are you still breathing?


Up close:
spray

and the back view that you haven't yet seen:
spray

I'm working out the control pattern we discussed earlier, so ignore the Sharpie pen marks on the front.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 10730
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 7:31 pm:   Edit Post

Wonderful!
stout71
Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 56
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 7:41 pm:   Edit Post

I'm pretty sure I just had an eye orgasm. My bottom jaw is around here somewhere...
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1491
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2012 - 6:55 am:   Edit Post

Burl/Birdseye front, quilted back and some amazing flame in the neck.

Maple trifecta achieved!!!!
hammer
Intermediate Member
Username: hammer

Post Number: 134
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2012 - 9:15 pm:   Edit Post

Love your bass, especially the neck recipe and how all those wonderful woods can be viewed in the shamrock.
stout71
Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 59
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 - 5:47 am:   Edit Post

Brian - I'm certainly happy with it. Most of how it has turned out was expected, and a few really nice surprises have showed up too. It's really cool to work with a place like Alembic, because the people there are true craftsmen and artists. I just showed up with a vision and they are making it happen. My respect for their professionalism and courtesy is really high. I was expecting the clover cutout to look really cool, but I agree that when all the neck woods show through, it TRANSCENDS cool. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for more things to come as the build progresses. Thanks for the compliments!
hammer
Intermediate Member
Username: hammer

Post Number: 135
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 - 7:27 am:   Edit Post

Jerry: I hope your bass continues to progress as quickly as it has so far. When my son and I visited a few weeks ago to take a look at the further guitar they are building for him (it should arrive Friday) your bass was still in pieces with the neck glued up, but the body remaining to be put together. Mica showed us your top laminate which looked incredible as an unfinished, uncut board, and the "practice cutting" they were doing to get the shamrock "just right." To see everything all put together and an initial finishing coat this quickly is amazing. And you couldn't be more correct about the professionalism and courtesy. We got a 3-hour plus tour from Mica who stayed late so my son could play his new instrument. The trip was so inspiring that I'm now in the process of trying to figure out what I want to order for myself. (Thinking of a short scale signature in Koa).

Here's hoping that the remainder of your build goes as well and as quickly as the initial phases and that you're enjoying your bass in the near future.
stout71
Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 60
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 - 11:04 am:   Edit Post

You're getting your son an Alembic? Whoa - that is some seriously high praise. I'm pretty sure my kids will only see mine from a distance until they're well into their 30's. :-)

About the apparent speed of which the bass is coming together - it was in a really long queue after I put in the order. I think from the time I submitted it until things started getting cut was 6 or 7 months. There was a good bit of dialogue happening in that period, but it was still agony not to see any tangible result (not that I was in a hurry. I'm not). On top of that, Mica and I are still discussing some other details that have yet to be set in stone. Also, I'm told that the bass will go into a sort of hibernation for a bit while it's in spray. Not a delay by any means, but it's a lengthy process: spraying, drying, sanding, repeat ad nauseum and then rub out. It may be a couple of months before any new progress pictures show up on the thread.

I'd love to take that tour someday, but alas - I'm n the east coast.
wishbass
Advanced Member
Username: wishbass

Post Number: 282
Registered: 5-2011
Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 - 9:14 pm:   Edit Post

One word.....WOW!
jzstephan
Member
Username: jzstephan

Post Number: 99
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2012 - 3:21 pm:   Edit Post



Steal Your Shamrock
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 1051
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, July 06, 2012 - 3:28 am:   Edit Post

...this turns out to be a future classic.....

Oliver (Spyderman)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7822
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 5:36 pm:   Edit Post

I don't think you've seen the peghead with some finish yet, have you?

spray

This was from a while ago, just sealer coats, but still looks great!
stout71
Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 67
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 5:38 pm:   Edit Post

Sweet!
stout71
Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 71
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Friday, July 27, 2012 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

I just noticed the flame maple around the edges. Wow. Nice surprise. As Nigel Tufnel might say - "How much more maple can this bass get? None more maple."

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