| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2508 Registered: 6-2000 |
We had a great visit yesterday with Paul. He had already picked out his top and back, and we were just going ot go over the custom inlays and other details. Well, that was before he got a look at a recent Redwood acquisition:  My mom chalked in the body and rough control locations.  Check out those blistery burls - fantabulous! | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 20 Registered: 12-2004 |
It's always great going to Alembicland...kind of like going to the Emerald City. You all are healers as well as artists and friends. This is a northern California bass and the burl coastal redwood top wood is from a primeval northern California tree. I call this bass the sun bass. Another "good catch" to Chip for remembering the extended horn template that was already made up. That saved a lot of time! Paul | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1896 Registered: 5-2002 |
The Sun Bass. I like it! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2033 Registered: 9-2002 |
hehehee ...Long live the Paul's | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2680 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hi Paul, Chip has finished working out the kinks for your peghead:  and with some notes:  Hopefully you'll be able to see where the original shape outline is, and how we had to shrink the cutouts for the knobby part to allow for the rays. We can also move the logo up a little more, and get a little more length out of the rays if you like. | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Mica! The peghead shape is perfect. You should move the logo up to the tip of the green arrow, splitting the difference between the top of the peghead and the cloud top's current position. The rays will look best with a longer length, the longer the better. I apologize in advance for the inconvenience of sanding inside those small cutouts! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1106 Registered: 9-2003 |
Burl Redwood! This is gonna be very nice indeed! Congrats, Paul! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 250 Registered: 12-2003 |
My Orion is burl redwood...beautiful choice for a top! | ||
| katana_6506
New Username: katana_6506 Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2005 |
Is this going to be a left-handed bass? | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 37 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks Kevin! Jeff, those chalk drawings are a bit confusing aren't they? We were talking about a lot of things, body inlays and continuous backplates and such, while Susan was drawing those. It's a right handed bass. | ||
| katana_6506
New Username: katana_6506 Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2005 |
Thanks for clearing that up. I can't wait to see the end result-the wood choice combined with the Triple O body shape=droooool.  | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 38 Registered: 12-2004 |
It'll be a somewhat unusual triple O, with an extended horn and a stinger tail. | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 199 Registered: 10-2003 |
You know, I considered asking for an extended horn before ordering mine, but wasn't quite sure how it would work out. Obviously I should've gone ahead and left it to the masters......best of luck with this bass, I'm sure it is going to be fantastic (Triple O's are my favourite...) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2706 Registered: 6-2000 |
Some more Burl Redwood goodness! First, a stack of lams with covers cutout:  Next, the new peghead, living on the end of the neck:  Finally, here's the body ready for all those laminates:  | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 157 Registered: 10-2003 |
Paul, Outstanding choice of wood...if I may ask, why the extended horn? Was this an 'appearance' decision, or a balance issue? Chris | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 40 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Mica, happy paislies! Thank you so much for the pics. It looks like I could play 'air bass' with it right now. Chris, the extended horn was just a case of function dictating form. I have a 32" small body, so I know about balance issues, lol! | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 227 Registered: 2-2005 |
From what I can see of the grain it looks really nice and it should look great once they get the finish on. Keith | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2721 Registered: 6-2000 |
Pete will be ready to carve your bass tomorrow, and we find there is some clarification needed on the bottom carving. The order states "Heart Omega" but we keep drawing stingers for it. I think the bass is trying to tell us something. Anyway, here's Chip's sketch of the 4-string stinger:  And a rought heart and stinger sketched on your bass:  Since I was there, you probably wouldn't mind seeing the front:  The Mahogany inserts are just to keep things nice while scraping - they aren't part of the finished bass. Anyway, get back to me on the carving detail so the chips may fly tomorrow. | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 42 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Mica Hope you had a great Halloween! The bass is to have a full stinger tail, using the 25th anniversary bass in your catalog as the model. It looks more heart-shaped to me than your above drawing. It also looks like a slightly larger cutout. | ||
| jerico
Junior Username: jerico Post Number: 21 Registered: 7-2005 |
Wow that is going to be gorgeous! Well, it already is... but you know what I mean. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 667 Registered: 4-2004 |
foth chip was working on your bass while i was there. let me tell ya... he was really really making sure that pistol grip bout was gonna come out right=- chip is just awesome when it comes to wood looks like another winner! the wood is splenderific.... wait til you see it after spray..... | ||
| the_8_string_king
Junior Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 26 Registered: 9-2005 |
Boy, what a beauty! Paul... I don't want to be presumptuous, as I don't know you... but... maybe you should get the stinger! Or at least think about it... once it's carved out... that's it... It looks like it would REALLY look sharp... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2723 Registered: 6-2000 |
Stinger it is, and I'm working on the carving detail to mimic the Sterling Stinger with Chip. Here's the Sterling Stinger:  And here's what I think is the heart shape Paul is referring too:  The Sterling's Stinger is wider and more open than others we've done (including David's which I believe was the first one like it). | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 43 Registered: 12-2004 |
Just remember, there are no mistakes...there's only custom! | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 395 Registered: 10-2002 |
Paul - this is looking like a really sweet bass - love the Burl redwood. I can't wait to see the finished article. Mica - the last two pics don't load ;-( Graeme | ||
| tbrannon
Junior Username: tbrannon Post Number: 33 Registered: 11-2004 |
Beautiful bass! That peghead has got some serious depth and movement going on. I love the purpleheart accent laminate. It really sets off the top. very slick indeed! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2730 Registered: 6-2000 |
Paul, confirm that this is the particular Stinger you areinterested in. Okay, let's try those pics again!   It helps to save in RGB mode when you want to display on RGB monitors (previous pics were in CMYK-oops!). | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2004 |
Confirmed by phone. My good luck that you answered, Mica. Sorry to take up so much of your time! A pleasure talking to you. You're such a wonderful multifaceted person. Thanks for your comments everyone. This bass will be busy with details, as I remember the very first Alembics were. Flax, the guys in the back finesse wood like Jerry finessed strings, don't they? I think a lot of it has to do with that big ol' room with the high ceiling and the great sound system... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2779 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the template for cutting your Stinger  It will look a bit different after the roundover and carving, and Peter is aware of your desire to have the tips carved thin like the Sterling in the big picture in the stairwell. | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 48 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks Mica. It's starting to look real shamanistic. Your mom speaks highly of Pete's attention to detail. |
