| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2512 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the wood you picked out when you and your family visited a couple of weeks ago:  We were going to make him a Spalted Maple Excel last year, but opted for Walnut since we didn't have anything stunning in the Spalted department. We chanced upon these pieces with great flame figure, great color, great spalting, and not totally punked out.  Back is pretty, like the front. They look so cool on my pinball machine! | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 174 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks for posting these, Mica!! Hmmm...maybe you could line the sides of the "Space Invaders" with the leftovers... Ken (TEO) (Okay, this make the third Elvish Ring...errr...Bass...has to be the last, right?) | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 180 Registered: 10-2003 |
Any word on this one yet??... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2621 Registered: 6-2000 |
 Top and plates awaiting assembly. For spalted woods, we use a wood stabilizer, that's why it looks like there's already finish on it.  One half of the back with a temporary filler piece to hold the shape until the whole thing is glued together.  Same story on the other side.  Even without finish, I manage to take only blurry peghead front pictures.  Looks nice too.  Here's what the neck looks like for the bookmatch to center recess and truss rod access cavity. | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 181 Registered: 10-2003 |
GASP!!!COUGH!!!! OK, it was definetly worth the wait... THANK YOU!!! P.S. Sorry, Paul TBO...it's a cone peghead :-) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2068 Registered: 9-2002 |
***yeaks*** Anyway ...this spalted instrument has the true elfish look Bwearnegh hurlas lorghai thon (mmmm ...that will do) Paul TOBO | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2632 Registered: 6-2000 |
Some more progress, this time from carving:   It's looking like a real bass now! | ||
| tbrannon
Junior Username: tbrannon Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2004 |
*gasp* I think I am in love.....beautiful, simply beautiful. | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 183 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, Tobin...That's exactly what I thought when I saw the wood. :-) Ken (TEO) | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 187 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ken, that looks FANTASTIC.....the wood is spectacular. And a series bass too? Wow, I'm jealous! Enjoy!!!! | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 300 Registered: 10-2002 |
Wow, can't wait to see this one finished. The ebony neck laminates really set off the spalted maple - in all, the 'colour scheme' looks to as near perfect as possible. Graeme | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 184 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Shaun and Graeme! With the black spalting, it was really a no-brainer to go with the ebony neck laminates(not to mention the other benefits). I really can't wait to see the front now, because as cool as the back looks, the front is so much more figured. Ken (TEO) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2651 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the front, ready for preset:  The flame figure is just awesome, and of course, looks much better in person! | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 186 Registered: 10-2003 |
WOW!!! And here I was just thinking, "I really shouldn't ask Mica for an update yet, she's too busy" and here's an update!! Did I say "WOW!!" yet? Ken (TEO) | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 361 Registered: 10-2002 |
Now that really does look special Ken. The figuring is fantastic. WOW! indeed. Graeme - the 'jealous a hell' one ;-) BTW, what electronics are you having? | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 188 Registered: 10-2003 |
Graeme, It's a Series II with a Rogue body shape. (My Favorite of the Alembic Line)There's some other custom features that shall reveal themselves over time. :-) Ken (TEO) | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 364 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm with you on the Rogue being one of the 'best' body shapes (out of a range that are all pretty good).However, I'm pretty sure, once I can afford it, I'll be going for a Balance 'K' series II for my next bass. Graeme | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 188 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ken, that's dazzling! looking forward to seeing updates! | ||
| tbrannon
Junior Username: tbrannon Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2004 |
Ken, I said it before and I'll say it again... I love this bass. Absolutely stunning. If I had the bucks to build one, I'd just tell 'em, "Make it like Ken's!" -Toby | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2863 Registered: 6-2000 |
After the preset (note the mounting holes for the tailpiece), prepped and ready for another coat of spray last Friday: Sorry I didn't get the 12th fret inlays before the board was taped, but you can just barely see them through the masking tape. You've got a pretty good idea of what they look like though! And here's the peghead today, ready to get the logo inlaid: | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 192 Registered: 10-2003 |
As always, each picture makes waiting for this more and more difficult. And I knew what I was getting into when I placed the order! So close, and yet so far... Even prepped for spray, that figuring just jumps out. This is just too cool! Ken | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 195 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well after viewing all the pictures that are visible in this thread (and those that PG&E apparently took away in the power outage), I've decided on the name of this exquisit instrument. Since the spalting reminds me so much of tongues of black flame on the board, and the flame figuring on the maple, I will call this bass "Gwathnar" or "Shadow-Flame" in Elvish. Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2184 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ok ...hoiw are the names of your basses in a rox?? Maybe we an invent some kind of story where the three of them are involved: "The fellowship of the Lwer frequency Kind" ...or "The Return of the Bass" ..."My quest to Big Bom and Beyond" ..."My steps on Low End Road" inspiring instruments anyway! I hope for your playing too! HA Paul TBO | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 196 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hey Paul, good to hear from you! How about this: Three Longscales for the Elven One under the sky Seven shortscales for DeLecarda in New Orleans Nine Spoilers for mortal men, doomed to perpetually upgrade. One Bonnie for The Bad One on his Belgian Throne. In the Land of Alembic, where the basses lie... | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 322 Registered: 3-2004 |
Outstanding instrument. Enjoy it with all your heart, soul and fingers. Danno | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2185 Registered: 9-2002 |
Right on the nose! Love you Ken! May Gwathnar be with you! Ooops ...wrong movie! PTBO | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2925 Registered: 6-2000 |
Still working on finding out why the index to the pictures from the begining of December broke, but here's the missing pictures:   | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2927 Registered: 6-2000 |
And a new one from today:  James is just stuffing all the electronics in place. I don't think the upgrade schedule for your bass is until the end of next week, but it will be ready if Ron gets a chance earlier. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2206 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother Ken, here the choice for bookmatch to center was really a MUST to do! Nice bass! Really! Oh weel ...ok ...you know my "tache de beauté" eternal discussion point but ...oh what the heck! Paul the bad one | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2940 Registered: 6-2000 |
Today, a shot with the humx in place and ready for the pickups:  | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 197 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mica, Many thanks for the beautiful pictures. As always, customer service that is above and beyond!! I forgot to mention a huge Thank You to James for the wonderful work on the initials and inlaid logo. (For those just tuning in, I was up for a visit on Thursday with my family, just before the electronics were stuffed. I have GOT to remember my camera on these visits!!) Ken (TEO) | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 610 Registered: 10-2003 |
That's an incredible chunk of wood. The chrome looks good on it as well. It's going to sound as awesome as it looks! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 467 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ken, she's looking better and better every time I look. and PTBO - the spalted maple really suits the cone peghead in my opinion. Another Alembic beauty. Graeme | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 198 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, guys! John - That's actually Nickle Plated hardware, which I have on my Rogue. Makes the hardware easy to maintain. Graeme - Couldn't agree with you more about the cone peghead...I just think it works so well with the body shape as well. That's why we have custom orders...you get what YOU want!! Patience...it will get here when it get's here...patience...it will get here... Ken (TEO) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3066 Registered: 6-2000 |
It's fully assembled, and someone needed to test it:  Will let you know when the upgrade is complete. | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 200 Registered: 10-2003 |
HEY!!!! NO FAIR!!!! :-) Looks great...here I was hoping that would've been me by now, but that's life with a custom. So Val, how is it, huh?? | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2273 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ooooooops .... that seems a frightening small body??? Well ...it's Bonnie's body I am used to ...ehhehehehee. Now ...seeing the young man's face and the joy he seems to have in letting ring that F ...we may conclude that Gwathnar plays AND sounds like she looks huh?? Paul TBO | ||
| kenbass4
Advanced Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 201 Registered: 10-2003 |
Actually, Paul, the Series Rogue shape is a bit LARGER than the standard Rogue, which as you know I already own. It will be just right. Ken (TEO) | ||
| crgaston
Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 69 Registered: 11-2005 |
Ken, (The Excited One?) That is absoloutely magnificent! I bet you can barely sleep tonight. What is that delicious accent wood? It looks a little too brown to be purpleheart in these pics. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 854 Registered: 7-2002 |
It sounds & plays great, Ken...very quiet even before the upgrade...I fear for your other two...they're gonna be jealous  Valentino | ||
| kenbass4
Advanced Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 202 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hey Charles, thanks! I wanted the accent wood to cordinate with the spalted maple and ebony neck lams, so I chose dark walnut as the accent. I think it works really well too. Ken (The Elvish One) | ||
| kenbass4
Advanced Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 205 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well, it's completed and HOME. Take a look HERE for more info! http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/25969.html?1141872049 | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3143 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's one I took while you were first testing the bass:  |
