| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7677 Registered: 6-2000 |
Lots of pictures of the neck taking form...  glue drips  ears so the machine heads have a place to live  getting ready to veneer the peghead  veneers in clamps  a peghead is born! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7678 Registered: 6-2000 |
Oh yeah, and about that shamrock:   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 |
The shamrock is very cool! | ||
| stout71
Junior Username: stout71 Post Number: 45 Registered: 7-2011 |
That's what I'm talking about! | ||
| cousinvinnie
Junior Username: cousinvinnie Post Number: 31 Registered: 4-2011 |
Love the shamrock to be sure to be sure. | ||
| stout71
Junior Username: stout71 Post Number: 46 Registered: 7-2011 |
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 |
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 |
Birds eye Maple and a clover Another unique work of art in progress | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7731 Registered: 6-2000 |
OK, there's lots to share! Top lam getting ready to glue for the bookmatch to center:  and getting that center seam glued:  Getting the top ready to glue to the body and neck:  In the "big press" waiting for the glue to dry:  Out and ready to cut that shamrock:  | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7732 Registered: 6-2000 |
And now the "cutting of the clover" First, trace the template:  A little nip here:  Starting to cut with a sharp new tool:  A little deeper now:  And complete:  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 |
Beauty!!!! Cant wait to see it all completed!!! | ||
| stout71
Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 54 Registered: 7-2011 |
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 |
Beautiful cutting of the clover! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1487 Registered: 11-2004 |
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 |
Beautiful! | ||
| deburgh
Member Username: deburgh Post Number: 74 Registered: 3-2007 |
Wow, what an amazing build! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7750 Registered: 6-2000 |
Brace yourself...  Are you still breathing? Up close:  and the back view that you haven't yet seen:  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 |
Wonderful! | ||
| stout71
Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 56 Registered: 7-2011 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
One word.....WOW! | ||
| jzstephan
Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 99 Registered: 1-2012 |
 Steal Your Shamrock | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 1051 Registered: 7-2003 |
...this turns out to be a future classic..... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7822 Registered: 6-2000 |
I don't think you've seen the peghead with some finish yet, have you?  This was from a while ago, just sealer coats, but still looks great! | ||
| stout71
Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 67 Registered: 7-2011 |
Sweet! | ||
| stout71
Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 71 Registered: 7-2011 |
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." |
