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Alembic Club » Factory to Customer » Rusty's Custom Series II 5-string » Build Record » Archive through March 13, 2014 « Previous Next »

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rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1104
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - 8:37 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Slawie! I can't wait to see the Maple with finish on it! To quote Mica in the email she sent me with the pictures of the wood, " ...with finish they are going to be crazy amazing!"
stout71
Intermediate Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 196
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 6:44 am:   Edit Post

The vermillion neck laminates are standout. It's a nice switch from purpleheart and will look really cool against the blue sunburst finish. I will be watching this build with great anticipation!
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1105
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 11:30 am:   Edit Post

I agree Jerry! I love the orange & black combination!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8118
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 - 6:05 pm:   Edit Post

More stuff happening...

Gathering up the body woods:
assembly

Getting ready to glue the back to the body core pack (core with accents in place):
assembly

Rough neck shaping:
assembly

Making the neck flush with the body:
assembly
Uses some very cute hand planes

First steps in backplate construction:
assembly

Next week the top should go on. More pictures then!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 11287
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 - 6:29 pm:   Edit Post

Great pics!! It's amazing how it all comes together.
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1116
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 - 6:55 pm:   Edit Post

WOO HOO!!! It's starting to look like a bass!! I'm seeing some "Alembic Snow" for this Christmas! Thanks Mica! You just made my weekend!!
hifiguy
Senior Member
Username: hifiguy

Post Number: 407
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 - 7:25 pm:   Edit Post

Lordy lu, that is going to be a drop-dead beauty!
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1948
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 - 8:38 pm:   Edit Post

Love it! That headstock is smashing!!!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3846
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 - 9:31 pm:   Edit Post

Well this one certainly is taking shape Rusty, you can already see how dramatic the maple quilt is so imagine what it will be like when it is sprayed.

Jazzyvee
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1118
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks guys! Art, I have always loved the Knobby headstock! I never thought I would have the chance to own one myself, but now I will! Jazzyvee, I will be visiting the factory next month so I hope they have some finish on it by then & I can see the quilting in person!
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1122
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, February 14, 2014 - 1:13 am:   Edit Post

Mica, if you haven't already disposed of it, I would love to have a slice of the neck recipe from the excess you cut off. I can pick it up when I come out next month.

Rusty
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1124
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Sunday, February 16, 2014 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post

I'm suffering from photo withdrawal! Got any new ones Mica??
moonliner
Advanced Member
Username: moonliner

Post Number: 216
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 1:37 am:   Edit Post

Your bass is really zipping along nicely! The knobby headstock is a beautiful touch.
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1126
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 9:00 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Keith! I love the Knobby!
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 1087
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 11:16 am:   Edit Post

Love it Rusty!

G
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8131
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, February 21, 2014 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post

Friday is sometimes picture day around here!

Top with the recess for the truss rod cover:
assembly

Whole show with everything but the top and fingerboard:
assembly

Before the top can go on, the hollow core access needs to be reestablished:
assembly

Chisel details on the top before it's glued on:
assembly

No pictures of the top getting glued on, it's really not a photogenic process.

Fingerboard is gluing now:
assembly

It's looking so bassy now :-)
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1128
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, February 21, 2014 - 5:00 pm:   Edit Post

Thank You Mica!!! Every Friday may not be picture day (as much as I would love it to be!!) but when you do post it is OH SO worth the wait!! The neck looks so thin & sexy!! If I didn't know it was a 5 I would think this was 4 string neck. I can't wait to wrap my fingers around it!!!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8138
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 6:38 pm:   Edit Post

Only a couple of pictures today, but they are good ones. Now it's even bassier...

carve

carve

Miles to go of course, but you can see the whole idea at once now.
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1137
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 7:30 pm:   Edit Post

WOW!!! That looks awesome!! You can really see the figuring in the Quilted Maple, it's going to look incredible with finish on it! The neck dimensions look like they are going to be perfect! My biggest fear when I commissioned this build was that it would replace my SCSD & I would only want to play the Europa, those fears are growing with each new picture!! Keep 'Em coming though!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3886
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 10:45 pm:   Edit Post

It already looks impressive. Keep that fear as the SCSD will be at risk. Think of it like this analogy. You have a custom Rolls Royce and a Bentley continental GT. both will give you a fantastic drive but with different characteristics. Some times you will drive the roller every day and think this is the best car in the world nothing could ever be better. Then one day you decide to take out the Bentley and even though it is not as highly specified on paper there is something about it thal you just can't get from the roller so you then drive that for a few days then think this is a fantastic car why on earth did I need to buy that Rolls Royce. So you then feel guilty for thinking that , get back in the roller and straight away you realise why you bought it. I go through this scenario with my basses all the time. The SCSD doesn't get gigged much or even played as much these days but that is mainly because most gigs I play have songs in the set that need a 5 stringer and as I prefer not to carry more than one bass to a gig the SCSD gets left at home unless it's a Stanley Clarke track. When I play it I enjoy it immensely and
am so glad I have it.

If you don't have an impending financial reason to sell it then my advice would be to keep both basses then look for just one more. :-)

Jazzyvee
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1138
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 10:54 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the advice & comforting words Jazzyvee! There is no danger of me selling my "Coco" (SDSC)! I love that bass & how easy she is to play with the short scale! I think that I will always feel more comfortable on a 4 string, but like you say, there is something to be said for variety! Even now I will sometimes finish the set on my Schecter 5 string rather than change back to my SCSD. Even though the remaining songs don't need the low B, it's a nice change to play them on the 5 sometimes.

Rusty
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8143
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 8:07 pm:   Edit Post

You probably weren't expecting pictures before your visit, but like I told you on the phone today, we were gonna bust through the backplates so we can tackle the control layout next week.

carve

OK, so it's only one picture. Next week, final carve and a sealer coat.
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1144
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 9:27 pm:   Edit Post

You're right Mica, I wasn't expecting pictures, so thanks for the nice surprise!! I can't wait to see it in person next week!!
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1966
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2014 - 8:04 am:   Edit Post

Looking Good Rusty! Have fun on the visit!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3901
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 2:48 am:   Edit Post

Yeah enjoy your trip and of course let's see some pictures of what's going on there.

Jazzyvee
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1145
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 10:22 am:   Edit Post

In 24 hours I get to see my bass in person! Yes, there will be many pictures to post! I can't wait!!
5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member
Username: 5a_quilt_top

Post Number: 267
Registered: 6-2012
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post

That's great, but IMO, there's waaay too much awesome-ness going on here to be captured by a humble camera...
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1149
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post

I agree David! Pictures NEVER do Alembic's justice even in the construction phase! I will have my video camera also to capture the streaming awesomeness! LOL!
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1151
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 1:10 am:   Edit Post

I got to see my Europa today! Words can't describe how AMAZING it looks even at this stage, & pictures don't begin to do it justice, but here's a few anyways! Mica had them finish carving the neck & body & put a sealer coat on it so I could see the figuring in the wood & even with just one coat of sealer that wasn't sanded or glossy, the 3D quilting was incredible! I can't wait to see this with the final high gloss finish! Thank you Mica, Susan, & all the workers who took time out of their day to talk to me & show me their magic!! This is going to be a REALLY special bass!!


The neck is PERFECT! Thin & slim just like I wanted it!


The backside may even be prettier than the front! I LOVE the neck laminates!


Continuous wood back plates look amazing!


I LOVE the Knobby headstock!


Mica & I came up with a control layout that I like & will fit in the cavity.

I shot some video too but haven't had a chance to edit it. I'll post it if it turned out any good.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3905
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 2:25 am:   Edit Post

Wow Rusty that looks a seriously good bass. The back quilting especially looks like rippled silk and the neck looks very slim compared to a regular alembic 5 stringer.
What is the weight like at this stage without all the brass hardware etc?

Looks like it will be a stunner.

Jazzyvee

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