| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2661 Registered: 6-2000 |
Awesome Spalted Maple top:  And it just keeps getting better close up:  Those little tiny flames are killer. | ||
| keith_h
Intermediate Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 199 Registered: 2-2005 |
Thank you Mica. I love it. The spalted maple is better than I imagined. I assume the continuous wood truss rod cover is off to the side somewhere? Keith (Message edited by keith_h on October 05, 2005) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2671 Registered: 6-2000 |
The CWTRC is indeed safe and sound - in fact, I saw it installed this morning, as your bass is nearly finished! Will post more pics in a day or two, it's a really fine instrument. I'm sure when you see it in person, you'll be blown away. | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 187 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hey Keith, Your top looks like one that I was originally considering for my back laminate, but the patterns didn't work well with the Rogue shape. Looks great on your Orion, though! Ken (TEO) | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 201 Registered: 2-2005 |
Ken, It was the pictures of your bass'es spalted maple that convinced me to go with it for the top wood. Thanks for passing this one up. At the time Susan and Val said they had some really nice and unique stuff. They didn't exaggerate. Mica, Yes more pictures please. I guess it's time to temper my exhilaration with the reality of the final payment. :-o I know the build quality will be excellent based on my two other basses but am genuinely surprised with the top on this one. Keith | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 222 Registered: 2-2005 |
Greetings, Anymore pictures or update on the status? Thanks, Keith | ||
| son_of_magni
Advanced Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 216 Registered: 1-2004 |
Wow! Isn't it really unusual to see such well defined flame in spalted wood? That is sweet... | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 224 Registered: 2-2005 |
Karl, Thanks. I was very surprised and happy with the flame. Just getting anxious for it to be finished. Keith | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2708 Registered: 6-2000 |
Will ship in a day or two, but it's done, looking good, and drawing lots of attention from anyone that visits:  The Q switch is there - it just landed on a particularly dark spot that makes it hard to see from this angle. | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 156 Registered: 10-2003 |
Keith, To be honest, I've never been a fan of Spalted Maple, but this is beautiful! The pattern has an almost hand-drawn, animation-like look to it. Quite unusual and very spectacular....give us a top to bottom pic when you receive her. Good luck! Chris | ||
| bassjigga
Junior Username: bassjigga Post Number: 13 Registered: 8-2005 |
That is ridiculous! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1167 Registered: 9-2003 |
Keith: Very nice! As I am, eh hem, slightly partial to Orions, that one is as unusual as it is beautiful!Please take plenty of pix and post 'em. THE CWTRC was a nice option not usually seen on an Orion. I should have gone for that instead of the gold-plated brass stuff I bought. Oh well, live and learn, LOL! Do my eyes deceive me, or is that the EMW electronics package? LOL! Of course! You gotta let us know what you think of the sound(s). This is probably the first fretless with the EMW. Enjoy, Kevin | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 226 Registered: 2-2005 |
Chris, I'm happy with the way the wood turned out. I will try to get some pictures but I have to purchase a digital camera first. Make that I'll get the wife a digital camera since she said "Get whatever you want" when we discussed me getting another bass. Kevin, Your eyes do not deceive you it has EMW electronics. I also have a fretted Orion 5 string but it has Essence electronics with a Q switch. I very curious to see how the tones compare. Now I just have to wait for the delivery. That's going to be hard. Keith | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 232 Registered: 2-2005 |
IT'S HERE!!!! Looks even better in person. Time to lock myself away for a while. Keith | ||
| basstard
Intermediate Member Username: basstard Post Number: 145 Registered: 3-2003 |
It's BEAUTIFUL. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2503 Registered: 5-2002 |
Very nice!! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1175 Registered: 9-2003 |
Pix? Sound's like? Impressions? Inquiring minds wanna know, LOL! Don't forget to eat, sleep, and breathe, Keith, LOL! | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 234 Registered: 2-2005 |
First the response for pictures. I need to get a digital camera first. I still use film and my scanner is broken so it will be a short bit before I can put something up. I will place them in the Showcase along with my Orion 5. The finish an fit are excellent. The pattern stands out much more in real life and the Ash body has a very nice grain. The CWTRC is great I wish I had it on my other two basses. Maybe Mica can root around the shop and find the cutouts for me. LOL I am happy that I went with the side lines on the neck. They do not stand out and have been usefull in helping me relocate my fingering when I get lost higher up the neck. They also allow for a clean look on the fretboard. I did have to adjust the neck slightly after receiving it due to the different humidity but everything else in the setup is perfect. While I haven't measured the action appears to be lower than my Brown Bass (and it is pretty darn low). I had the bass setup with D'Addario Chrome Flats and am very surprised how bright they are. I have never had a flat sound this bright when new. I am curious to see how they hold up over time (I am not a habitual string changer. I still have 30 year old tape wound strings on my Vox for that wonderful old thump). Now on to the EMW electronics. I have never played an Orion with standard electronics so cannot make a comparison. My Orion 5 has Essence electronics with a Q switch and my Brown Bass has Anniversary electronics. The filter and Q switch give me very similar results as the Essence elctronics when leaving the Bass and Treble controls flat. This is what I consider the classic Alembic tone/sound. Not as pronounced as my BB but noticable none the less. With the addition of the Bass and Treble controls I can expand the colour scheme of the filter much more. With them I have been able to get very close to the sound of my Jazz Bass (which I still play as often as possible). I suspect as I fine tune things it will be played less and less but never locked away. While the pan control does not allow for as much control over the pickup mix as the Anniversary electronics it is more than adequate. I also like not having to compensate for the volume increase when switching from single pickup to two pickup mode. Overall I like the EMW package the best of the electronics I own. I also like the Europa electronics but would need to compare them side by side to comment (Alan we will need to get together again sometime so I can do that. Pretty busy at work and with family at the moment so I'll pop you line when things are a little more relaxed.). Keith | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1183 Registered: 9-2003 |
But does it have that "MWAH"? LOL! | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 236 Registered: 2-2005 |
Kevin, Yes there's plenty of MWAH. Moi has also found that I can get a very nice non-MWAH also. :-) Keith | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1185 Registered: 9-2003 |
Afterall, it's all about the MWAH! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 483 Registered: 6-2002 |
But... then.. I was told it's all about the "O". ;) Mike | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1827 Registered: 9-2003 |
Keith: Congrats on your Orion being selected as the April '06 Custom Of The Month! Well done! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 378 Registered: 2-2005 |
Thanks Kevin. I was surprised when I got the note last week from Mica. I do feel honored. Keith | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1054 Registered: 4-2004 |
welcome to the club..... feels good huh? congrats your bass is now an alembic legacy | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 206 Registered: 2-2006 |
That wood is TOOOO COOOL. And FRETLESS super bass. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3572 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats Keith!!! | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 382 Registered: 2-2005 |
Yes Flax it feels good and thanks. Well Ollie as of last summer the folks at Alembic had a bunch of Spalted Maple. Might still be enough left if you want to order one (nudge nudge). Ken's Spalted Maple in the FTC thread has somemore good looking wood from the same time frame. Thanks Dave. Keith |
