| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2666 Registered: 6-2000 |
Saw this and I knew it must be your bass:  It's waiting for the neck, the clamps are just to keep things flat and ready to glue to the neck. I asked Chip to open up the clamps so we could see clearly what was going on:  I especially like the placement of the bottommost swirly bit On to the back:  Love how the top and back are successive slices - it's very cool. And finally a side view, complete with squishy glue:  When Chip was figuring out the placement of the body on the top, he found a small defect in the area that was going to wind up in the scrap pile. Sorry you weren't able to influence the template placement, but in this case, there was only one obvious choice, and it just worked out that the defect could be avoided. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 232 Registered: 7-2002 |
Mica, WOW, and thanks so much for the photos! It looks incredibly beautiful already but I am confused about the body laminates. I did not ask for the wide laminate to be Purpleheart. That said, is that a maple laminate between the Coco and the purpleheart or just a glue line? If its Maple, Cool. If it's glue I'm afraid we have a problem. Mike | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 764 Registered: 7-2002 |
That's maple on either side of the purpleheart. Valentino | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 233 Registered: 7-2002 |
Excellent!!! That will look even better than I had hoped! I am so pumped up! You were so right when you said I should just trust Chip! | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 234 Registered: 7-2002 |
Mica, Any shots of the neck? Val tells me that it is shaped and the fingerboard has the side LEDS'! How 'bout if I ask nicely? Please,pplease, oh Please? | ||
| ed_r
Junior Username: ed_r Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2005 |
What kinda glue is that? | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 518 Registered: 11-2002 |
I was about to be obnoxious and say "wood glue", but noticed that Mica was already much more specific: it's "squishy glue". Nice grain, and the placement is wonderful. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 235 Registered: 7-2002 |
Thanks Bob, These pictures have me really wound up! It's so exciting to see the bass in various stages of gestation. You know, the strange thing about Cocobolo is that it appears so different in its' raw form. It was so hard to visualize the color from the wood bank photo. And this being my first custom, makes it a little scary. You're always second guessing yourself. I guess "In Val/Mica/Susan/Chip/James/etc... we trust" should be my motto from here on out. | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 520 Registered: 11-2002 |
I know exactly what you have gone through on the color of coco bolo. The raw wood looks completely different, and even those acetone wipes don't really get you to the final thing (and I still hate destroying any of that wonderful oil...). It's still going to change. I don't understand why these pictures look so dark - there's no finish (or "paint", as Mica prefers) on it yet! Though I think that for whatever reason, the colors in those two body shots (?!) are probably fairly close to how it will turn out. And the grain is still going to move around, as the rounding of the edges and so forth occurs. It's still in the process of becoming an instrument, and I'm also looking forward to seeing just how wonderful it turns out. Trust is a good thing, at least with these people. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2707 Registered: 6-2000 |
The neck:  and up close to see all the dinstinct layers:  It's a really attractive arrangement, I'm liking those little Maple veneers a bunch. Ed - nothin' sexy, it just plain ol' titebond wood glue. | ||
| ed_r
Junior Username: ed_r Post Number: 47 Registered: 10-2005 |
I was wondering if you used hide glue. Guess not;) | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 237 Registered: 7-2002 |
OH MY GOD! I LOVE IT!! It's turning out even better than I imagined! The color of the Flame Maple really compliments the center arrangment. And those extra Maple lams should look pretty cool when it comes time to carve the Heart Omega, eh? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2786 Registered: 6-2000 |
Big picture day for you, Michael! These are all from the carving department:    Backplates still getting fitting details:  James finished the MD inlay:  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2589 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wow!! | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 159 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wow is right! Killer neck wood combo, and a pistol grip to boot (and a heart omega to come?!). Great concept, Mike, best of luck. Chris | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 246 Registered: 7-2002 |
I am truly at a loss for words, but I will make an attempt anyway! I love the blend of colors. I know that they'll change once the finish goes on and I'm sure the photos are not color adjusted at this point but still I can see the potential richness in the combination. Thank you Val for your wonderful advice. And a great big thanks to you, Mica for continuing to post these awesome photos! I really feel like part of the family! Also, the MD looks just right, very classy and the abalone at the 15th fret has a nice combination of hues. I hope they're all that pretty! | ||
| southpaw
Junior Username: southpaw Post Number: 35 Registered: 12-2004 |
Congrats JL on a stunning bass! Feel free to pass any of your other lefty Alembics my way if you feel the need to thin the herd, I have a feeling this one will be number one at your house for a long time. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 249 Registered: 7-2002 |
Southpaw, You know there's a good chance I might just do that! The wife ( the real one ) thinks I ought to sell at least one of my others because between this new one and my 80' graphite series II, the others are probably going to start collecting dust. Not a fitting life for an Alembic! If I can actually bring myself to part with any, here's what I have; 86' dark brown cocobolo Distillate 98' figured/burled Walnut Europa 90' Cocobolo Elan 6 If I do, I will post in the For Sale section to give club mambers first shot at them. Mike | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 250 Registered: 7-2002 |
I almost forgot to say thanks to all the well wishers out there. I am so excited. I'm sure like many of you, this is the culmination of a life's dream! | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 263 Registered: 7-2002 |
Val, Just wanted to inquire about the extra cocobolo that was to be sent to THG Knobs. How does that work ? Should I contact him directly about my wishes? Als, Any idea how long it takes for a custom knob order? Michael | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 491 Registered: 11-2004 |
Michael, that's beautiful! The 12th fret oval "MD" is a really nice touch. Does the 3rd fret oval say anything? It's hard to tell from the pic. BTW, is "The wife (the real one)" a little bit of subtle Mormon humor? Rich | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 264 Registered: 7-2002 |
Rich, Thanks, the third fret is probably a very nice piece of abalone, it doesn't say anything other than "look at me" ;) .The "Wife" comment is taken from an older thread on the club where someone refered to his Alembic as "The Wife" | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 493 Registered: 11-2004 |
Michael, I was just trying to make a little bit (obviously a VERY little bit) of Mormon humor myself. Hope to see your new bass one of these days. Rich | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 265 Registered: 7-2002 |
Rich, I'll let you know when it's actually in my hands. Val tells me it may be January before I see it. Maybe we could have another "Alembic Day" some time next Spring? I don't think it's going to leave the house much with all the winter weather. Mike | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2862 Registered: 6-2000 |
Heart Omega during carving: Pete's still got more to do, but you can see the form starting to emerge. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 269 Registered: 7-2002 |
Mica, seems like with the power outage and server going down, I've lost your latest photo posting. Can you repost when you get a moment plus any interesting updates? Thanks Michael D. | ||
| hb3
Junior Username: hb3 Post Number: 49 Registered: 2-2005 |
This bass has pretty much driven me mad. I'd love to see additional photos. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 283 Registered: 7-2002 |
Mica tells me additional photos will be coming soon! The bass is presently in the beginning stages of finish. A sealer coat as of yesterday! This is the point where you start to get a knot in your stomach from the anticipation of the "Grand Unveiling". Now you start second-guessing yourself wondering: A. Did I make the right choices? B. Am I going to love it or be disappointed? C. Was I crazy for doing this in the first place? D. Will I be homeless after the wife sees the creditcard balance? E. Would I do it again? (see answers below) A. Hope so, B. Love it, C. Most definitely YES! D. Hope not, E. If I have to tell you the answer to this one, then you're not a true Alembician! The bright spot for me is that Alembic has seldom failed to delight. And so I say... In Susan/Mica/Ron/Val/Mary/Chip/James/etc. We Trust! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2926 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's that heart in carving again:  and a new one with some finish on the bass:  | ||
| pace
Intermediate Member Username: pace Post Number: 197 Registered: 4-2004 |
Simply Amazing!!!!! Congrats Michael, This one is really something else... The amount of time you spent in the past couple of years obsessing over details really shows!!!  |
