| Author |
Message |
Darrin Huff (dhuffguitars)
New
Username: dhuffguitars
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 8:54 am: |  |
I guess it is an honor to have Alembic making a version of my bass?!? The Thuya bass shown above, is Curt's Z-5. If you would like to see more pics of the bass headover to my site http://www.dhuffguitars.com where you can see updates of his, and my other customers basses.
thanks,Darrin |
Darrin Huff (dhuffguitars)
New
Username: dhuffguitars
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:42 am: | |
http://www.ctbasses.com/4-7dragonettiFretless.html
here is another example of what you are wanting....... |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 72
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:34 am: | |
Darrin. I've fixed the post above to include a photo credit to you. Sorry about that man, I honestly meant no harm by it. |
Matthew Wilkinson (skerik1)
New
Username: skerik1
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 9:41 pm: | |
Look at my bass!!!
http://www.dhuffguitars.com/matt.html
Also, here's a concept drawing I made with photo deluxe:
http://www.ctbasses.com/~mattwilk/bass.jpg
Yay! I can't wait!
--Matthew |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 73
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 10:27 pm: | |
Hey Matthew,
I've seen your bass. Definately going to be sweet. Darrin does some great work. That's a nice piece of crotch walnut.
I'm interested to see if you like the shorter scale. I know the Alembicians here that play the medium scales swear by them. I might end up getting a medium for my next bass!
Matt
Imagine how sweet it would sound with some Alembic pickups and electronics in it ;) |
Matthew Wilkinson (skerik1)
New
Username: skerik1
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 9:52 pm: | |
Yes, I am quite excited to see how the shorter scale feels. Darrin assures me that I'll like it just fine! :-)
I wanted 29 frets for more range, yet I didn't want to have to have a huge cut-in on the lower horn. It's kinda based off this instrument here:
http://www.ctbasses.com/LES4string.html
This is Les Claypool's bass made by Carl Thompson (but you already knew that...). Notice the bridge position--similar to how many shorter-scale Alembics are. With a "standard" neck length, and a bumped-up bridge, the fretboard ends where your standard run-of-the-mill board would end.
Ya follow that? I don't! lol
--Matthew |
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 673
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 11:35 am: | |
The red arrows indicate where the upcurve for a neck through body needs to be added. Your drawing will work fine for a set neck design, but the labor involved in making a continuous curve with sharp angles by the neck on a neck through is very high.
We made a neck through Epic as a custom order. From the front, you couldn't tell at all (the bookmatch to center made it work) it was a neck through. Kris told me after he carved that bass I better charge a lot next time, as it was very demanding of his time.
The quick sketch above ceratinly will need some more work (blending the curves better, making the bottom a mirror image). I wasn't excited by the lower horn in your drawing - it certainly needs to be wider. The roundover brings the top surface in 3/4 of an inch, and that horn looks narrow enough that it may overlap.
If you're interested in having the lower horn pointing outward as in your original drawing, I suggest we put more pressure on the upper part of the curve, to echo the scroll and the give it the "meat" it will need to survive the roundover. The drawing below also adds some substance above the side omega.
If either of these general ideas are very close, let me know and Kris and I will review the design together and make the final drawings.
Also, the scrolled horn was not part of the quote for this bass. |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 78
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 12:21 pm: | |
Hi Mica
Making the design work for the neckthrough is totally cool. I kept screwing up the body/neck joint so I just did the body. I definately did not want the sharp corners, I just couldn't draw the round ones properly. And the bottom horn on the black image with the arrows is right on. Very Alembic!
I figured as much about the quote. And the scroll may or may not go. The rest of the body is looking good so far though. How much for the scroll, done similarly to the bass Darrin made with the Thuya above? And can you do another body image similar to the black one, but with an extended pistol grip upper horn?
Thanks so much Mica
Matt |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 80
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 11:18 am: | |
Mica,
Can you tell me what the warranty is like on Alembics? I'm talking about things like delamination or cracking as the woods are adjusting. I realize that I'd have to pay for shipping and insurance round trip, but is that something that I would also have to pay to have fixed?
Thanks
Matt |
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 675
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 4:20 pm: | |
The warranty is for one year. We rarel have warranty work to perform - we just make them so we don't have to fix them.
If repairs are covered under warranty, return shipping within the United States is also covered. You only have to get it to us.
I only know of only one Alembic where a joint delaminated, at that was back when I was about 5 years old. It's a pretty good track record.
About the scroll, the shop labor will be between $225-355 depending on the time. We won't charge above the estimate, even if it takes us longer to do. My mom thought you might like an adaptation of this scroll from our "kit" guitar:
We've got a Thuya burl coming up that will do a non-bookmatch to center. Our supplier is still looking for a wider piece in his inventory for a possible BTC. |
Darrin Huff (dhuffguitars)
New
Username: dhuffguitars
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 6:35 pm: | |
The scroll on my bass being referenced is carved on both sides... does that est. do both sides for Matt? |
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 676
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 9:13 am: | |
No, Darrin. The existence of a scroll of any kind on this yet to be made bass is still undecided. |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 81
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 4:52 pm: | |
Mica,
I'd definately want the horn scrolled front and back. The scroll on the kit guitar isn't bad, but it's not scrolly enough for me. If you can do the scroll like Darrin's then go ahead and add it to the quote. Otherwise I'll need to figure out what to do with the upper horn.
Thanks |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 82
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 5:05 pm: | |
BTW Is the kit guitar actually a kit you sell!?!? I'm figuring you don't, but if you do I'd be interested in picking one up.
Matt |
Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Member
Username: dela217
Post Number: 92
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 5:13 pm: | |
I don't think that the "kit" has been available since the mid 70's. I remember reading about them, seen one of the basses in a picture, but never got the chance to check one out in person.
I think the scroll on the kit guitar is very dainty and sweet. I like it a lot. Not too overpowering. Michael |
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 687
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 5:22 pm: | |
The scroll quote is based on time, so twice the time and twice the price will get it to you. Thanks for pointing that out, Darrin.
Kris can get the templates made on February 24th. So gather any changes before the deadline. Then we can start getting this bass built.
I think the design with an extended pistol grip will be so close to Valentino's that it will practically match. Anyway, you seem pretty dedicated to the scroll. Let me know if this changes.
The kit guitar is a project from more than 30 years ago. The idea is we send you a pile of wood, the pickups, electronics and hardware and you get to put it all together. We didn't sell many, and I only know of one person that ever finished one. We've had a stack of these bodies in the corner of shop ever since then. I figured we should just go ahead build them ourselves.
|
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 83
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 5:36 pm: | |
Thanks for the info on the kit Mike. I too like the way the scroll looks on the kit guitar. It goes well with the rest of the look. However for mine I am looking for more scrolling.
Mica, Darrin had made a good point to me on the phone the other day. Would it be possible to get a full size drawing of the bass before the templates are made? The body is good to go conceptually (The black picture you did with the red arrows), I'd just like to put it on a piece of cardboard so I can see approximately what it's going to look like full scale.
Did you build all the kits? And if not what would you charge if I were to want to buy one.
Matt |
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 87
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 3:55 am: | |
Hi Mica,
When you have some free time could you do some acetone swabs on the Redwood Burl, and the Wacky Walnut in the showcase and perhaps the Madrone Burl? I still have yet to decide on a piece of wood for the top and back.
Thanks
Matt |
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 779
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 11:43 am: | |
Here's the Redwood Burl:
This wood always looks really nice. I'll get the other ones for you shortly.
We're not selling the kits - we're making the guitars and selling the finished instruments. I've put that project on a slightly lower priority for now.
|
Matt Bulmer (prime)
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 88
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 9:21 am: | |
It's either that or the Wacky walnut for me.
Will either of those pieces bookmatch to center?
Matt |
prime
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 89
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 7:43 am: | |
Hi Mica when you get a chance could you acetone the Wacky Walnut. I'd like to go either with that or the Redwood.
Matt |
mica
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 837
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:05 pm: | |
Hey Matt - I have to reclassify that Wacky Walnut to Mutant Myrtle, after smelling it, there's no mistake. Still interested?
Both the Redwood and Myrtle are wide enough for BTC.
-Mica
|
prime
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 90
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 1:22 pm: | |
Absolutely... Positively... YES
Oh and for the redwood is that thick enough for the top and back or do I need to get another piece for the back?
Thanks Mica
Matt |
mica
Moderator
Username: mica
Post Number: 839
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 3:07 pm: | |
If you decide on Redwood Burl, we'd have to find another piece of for the back - I have several sets that are very similar to the one you were interested in.
Here's 503 and 504 acetoned:
It seems like it will look like slightly greenish Koa. These are two unusual pieces, that's for certain. |
prime
Member
Username: prime
Post Number: 92
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 8:39 am: | |
Let's go with the redwood burl. I'd say I'd take the other burled piece in the woodbank if it didn't have the flame. Do you have any other pieces that are just heavy burl like the piece above?
Can you send me a copy of the final body design? I know it'll be a bit larger than the bass will end up being but it'd be nice to be able to judge the shape at a more appropriate scale.
Thanks
Matt
P.S. My address I've sent to you via email. |
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