| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2589 Registered: 6-2000 |
Finally! The perfect piece of wood for your project:  From a distance, you can see the nice distribution of Birds-eyes and the nice gently quilted pattern  Up close, you can see the Birds-eyes are nice and dimensional. It's very hard to find a piece of wood this wide (10 onches) that is clear of defects and mineral deposits (those grey and brown streaks). | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 452 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mica, Susan, many many thanks for this great news! I already knew that it is most difficult to find a big enough piece of Birdīs Eye Maple for my Dragon Wing. Wow, the wait was worth it. This piece is really gorgeous. I think it will be a great Dragon Wing in classic JE style! I am really eager to see it developing! Many thanks and many greetings to you all! Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 138 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wow, nice piece, and the second pic is great; such incredibly fine detail in the wood. Congratulations, Oliver, John would be proud........ | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 453 Registered: 7-2003 |
Chris, many thanks for your kind words. After my two Spyders I thought a Dragon Wing in the classic JE Spyder style would be great. Of course not the spiderwebs, I have them already on my Spyders. But the classic birdīs eye maple top and back, the vintage amber color, same electronics than on my Spyders, dummy hum canceller, big hat knobs and pickup selector and master vol on the front lower horn. What do you think? Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| ajdover
Advanced Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 233 Registered: 11-2003 |
Ollie, I'm jealous already! That's a beautiful piece of wood for what is undoubtedly going to be a beautiful bass. Now, where did I leave my checkbook and Alembic order form .... Best regards, Alan | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 139 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oliver, what do I think about your plans? I think Ausgezeichnet! On a sentimental note, it's funny how the Bird's Eye Maple figuring almost resembles teardrops, which many of us shed following John's passing. A fitting tribute, indeed.... Best of luck with this project! Chris | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 438 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oliver, Classy concept. Very cool. It's going to be awesome. John | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 456 Registered: 7-2003 |
Susan,Mica,Val, any updates on my Dragon Wing? Many greetings and many thanks Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 744 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Oliver, Chip is in the process of putting it together. It's moving along... Valentino | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 457 Registered: 7-2003 |
Val, any possibilities to see some actual photos of it beeing in the make? Many thanks Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 746 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Oliver, I am afraid pictures are going to have to wait a bit. Mica is swamped these days and frequently out of the office. I will pass on your request but do not be surprised if you don't see pictures for another few weeks. Things will be back to what passes for normal around here late next month, hopefully. In the meantime hang in there...it's always worth it.  Valentino | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 793 Registered: 11-2003 |
Oliver, I haven't been keeping up with FTC for a while now and wasn't aware of your Dragon Wing project. Congratulations, I'll have to keep an eye on this beauty as she develops. Sam | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 458 Registered: 7-2003 |
Val, many thanks for the info. Of course I will wait as I know that it is worth waiting.... Sam, many thanks for your kind words. I am sure it will turn out as I have planned it to be. Chris said in a mail before that the birdīs eyes remind him of tears we all cry for John, still... So maybe I should call it TEARS FOR JOHN.... I am really eager to have my 3rd Alembic with this bass and a slightly smaller case than the Spyders have. It is really a hard job taking two huge Spyder cases to the rehearsals..... :-) Many greetings Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2611 Registered: 6-2000 |
This is a few days old, but I spied your neck before the veneers were glued on:  Chip had the template on the work in preparation for finding the right spot for the decorative faces. More to come! | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 794 Registered: 11-2003 |
TEARS FOR JOHN is an excellent and fitting name, Oliver. It's quite a tribute. Sam | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 459 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mica, wow, this was fast. Many many thanks for another great picture! Mica, was it clear that I wanted to have the headstock veneer front and back like on Johns Spyders and not a matching veneer to the body? I think yes, but I just wanted to make sure. Sam, yes I also really like the name. This was a great idea from you. Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2633 Registered: 6-2000 |
Peghead veneers in place:  The shiny places are glue spots, and of course will be sanded away before we spray. The Vermilion is a really nice color.  Nice Bird's-eye Maple on the back veneer. Lots of "tears for John." Will of course post more pictures as interesting things happen. | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 462 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mica, many thanks for the update and the pics. If I understand right we now put a vermillion veneer on the front of the headstock and a birdīs eye maple on the back of the headstock? Originally I had planned to have it like on Johns and my Spyders with a double veneer on front and back of the headstock. BUT I have to say that I like the idea with a vermillion veneer on the front and a birdīs eye on the back. What do you think/suggest? Many greetings and many thanks Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2644 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a double veneer, since usually there are 5 veneers on front and 5 veneers on the back in this style of peghead. We made a number of instruments for John with a number of veneer arrangements. Some had a different veneer on the front and back, some matched eachother but not the body, some matched eachother and the body. I'm very glad you are liking it - how did we know? | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 463 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mica, sorry for my bad explanation. With double veneer I thought about the same veneer of vermillion for the front and back of the headstock. I think Johns Spyders (like my Spyders) all had the same vermillion veneer on front and back of the headstock? So I think your suggestion is great: body front and back - birdīs eye headstock front - vermillion headstock back - birdīs eye What do you think? Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1027 Registered: 9-2003 |
Another Masterpiece for our friend from Dueren! Congrats., Oliver! John would be very proud. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 464 Registered: 7-2003 |
Kevin, many thanks for your kind words. I am really eager to see how it will turn out. But I am sure that it will turn out well. BTW: the "Tears for John" will of course also be played live with our WHO tribute band as I am currently already doing with my Spyder 4 and 8 and Johns personal Ovation Acoustic bass. Acoustic? Yes we are doing "Behind Blue Eyes" acoustic.... Many greetings from Dueren Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1034 Registered: 9-2003 |
Bitte Schoene! This should be another beautiful bass to add to your collection. I'm glad you're playing them instead of just admiring them. That's good news about the tribute band. Do you have a website and/or sound files so the rest of us can have a listen as to what you and your new band are up to? How are things in Deutschland at the moment? I hope the economy is better now. One of these days I'm going to ignore the strength of the Euro and get myself on a plane and come to the other side of the pond. A beautiful 22yr old blonde, blue-eyed Bayerischer (von Munchen) student in the motorcycle class I taught last weekend named Ramona reminded me of what I'm missing by not coming to Europe, LOL! Prost! Kevin (Message edited by kmh364 on September 04, 2005) | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 465 Registered: 7-2003 |
Kevin, many thanks for your kind words. Unfortunately we donīt have any website nor audio files yet. We are strongly rehearsing besides our daytime jobs because we want to hit the stages PERFECTLY. We currently have 20 numbers rolling and we are currently working on five more to have a good basic set. My all time favorites are REAL ME and 5:15. But we will also do THE QUIET ONE with me on lead vocals... :-) As for the economy here in Germany it is still not the best. If you ever come to Germany let me know. We have to meet..... Many greetings Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 799 Registered: 11-2003 |
Behind Blue Eyes is very nice acoustic. I saw it done on an episode of a popular tv series a couple of years ago. Anthony Stewart Head was the actor who performed it. Sam | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1042 Registered: 9-2003 |
Cool, Oliver! Thanks for the offer...I may take you up on it one of these days. When things are Komplett, you must give us a listen to the band! I hope you are also doing one of my favorite John-penned Who songs: "Success Story" from "Who By Numbers"! Who can forget that great video "vignette" from "The Kids Are Alright" movie, with JAE using gold records as clay pidgeons and a "Tommy" gun instead of a shotgun for skeet shooting practice, LOL! That's a good one for your 8-string Spyder! | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 466 Registered: 7-2003 |
Kevin, Success Story is not yet in our repertoire but I am investigating.... We are already doing TRICK OF THE LIGHT which I play of course with my Spyder 8 and it is really powerful. Yeah, the video out of TKAA is really great. Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1046 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ahh, "Trick of the Light"...from the last great Who Album "Who Are You", IMHO...another great tune! Be warned...once you play the verse of "Success Story" on your Spyder, you will be hooked. H*ll, I played it on my Orion 4 and couldn't stop playing it for an hour, LOL! | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 467 Registered: 7-2003 |
Dear Mica, any new photos on "Tears for John"? Many thanks and many greetings Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 254 Registered: 3-2004 |
Holy Cow!!! Oliver, I was somehow unaware of this project until I stumbled onto this thread today. "Tears For John" is a beautiful and proper name for this instrument, and she certainly seems like she's coming along nicely. I'm sure she'll be worth waiting for. Glad to hear you have your band together and are working hard on your presentation. I'm jealous that you're planning on doing so many of John's songs - right now our band is sticking to a "Greatest Hits" philosophy as we rarely play shows that are longer than an hour long - barely enough time to get in the most well-known songs (With the combination of Won't Get Fooled Again, Who Are You, and Baba O'Riley coming in around 19 minutes, you can see what I mean). LA audiences are picky and tend to 'zone out' if we play something they don't immediately recognize. Anyway....the bass looks great so far....congrats to Ollie and kudos to Mica, Val, and team for yet another Alembic masterpiece in the making. Cheers, Mike Bisch |
