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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3750
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, November 09, 2006 - 4:16 pm:   Edit Post

Chip found some straight-grained Coco Bolo which he cut and sanded. Here's the selection for the top:
61109-1.jpg
We'll be missing the yellow hued sapwood completely.

And for the back:
61109-4.jpg

Since these are freshly sanded, the color is a bit brighter than it will be when finished. Even after ageing, these should still have good contrast, more so than the Signature model you already have.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 15
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 5:30 am:   Edit Post

Hi Mica

Many thanks for setting my FtoC. Re the woods I really like this and will probably go with you advice however do you also have any really whacky swirls or anything you think would go well for me to look at? I would like to get to selection of woods ASAP so any alternatives would be good.
Have a good day
Mike
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3766
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 1:47 pm:   Edit Post

I see we've some disappearing pictures again :-(

Here's the ones from the 9th:
top

back

and here's the ones I told you about earlier today:
top2

back2
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3767
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 1:48 pm:   Edit Post

The second set is cool since you can get the top and back from the same board. Let me know which set you prefer.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 24
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 2:22 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mica, WOW the set posted 14th Nov looks great. Lets go with this and can you thank Chip for finding such beautiful wood for my fretted bass.
Mike
the_8_string_king
Advanced Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 209
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - 8:47 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, I'm jealous!

Mica, please remember this as a PERFECT example of what I'd like for my BTC for my 6-string!
the_8_string_king
Advanced Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 210
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - 8:51 pm:   Edit Post

Uh... for clarification, I mean the November 14th straight-grained coco bolo. And please continue to hold that bubinga for me until I get my quote and have a chance to decide! I may actually get coco bolo on the front and bubinga on the back.

Yeah, if you could get me something like this for my top, there's little likelihood I'd choose anything else...
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3810
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 4:10 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mike - I've got the top woods noted for you as Chip's picks, the second two shot from the 14th. Glad you like them!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3860
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 2:54 pm:   Edit Post

Here's some more stuff happening in assembly.

Top, accents and core waiting for back laminate:
assembly

Peghead in area where we route the truss rod access (not visible in picture):
assembly

Not much to see, but it's your back laminate in those clamps, with the wood getting glued in place for the plate shelf:
assembly

Backplates for both basses (not including the battery plate which will come from the neck):
assembly
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 28
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 12:11 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mica
Just a quick question re the battery cover. This will be matching the back wood? Sorry to sound confused but you say it will come from the neck. This appplies to both my coco and walnut S2.
Many thanks
Mike
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3866
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 1:33 pm:   Edit Post

The battery cover is made from the neck wood, since the cavity rests on the neck. See this example for reference.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 31
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 2:51 pm:   Edit Post

Many thanks it all makes sense re the battery cover.
M
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 32
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 3:49 pm:   Edit Post

Just had a good look at the photos of both basses and they look great, thanks again,
M
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3874
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 11:20 am:   Edit Post

Body in the clamps:

assmebly
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 33
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 12:41 pm:   Edit Post

This is just so good...to watch your bass being built is as we say in the NW UK...."top" meaning great.
Peace
M
george_wright
Intermediate Member
Username: george_wright

Post Number: 111
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 1:56 pm:   Edit Post

Body in clamps? Hmmm.... Does that mean that, if the body has cavities, it doesn't get the vacuum clamp?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3875
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 2:29 pm:   Edit Post

It's builder's choice. There's actually three different clamping styles for body glue-ups.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 682
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 11:52 am:   Edit Post

Nice one Mikekyz I don't think I've seen a UK bound custom on here before, Wonder if it will make the Custom of the month when it's finished.

I wonder if there has been a UK COTM yet?
Small standard body (Clarkee ) shape too, my favourite. :-)

Jazzyvee
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3878
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

I know for sure that Custom in Stages was sent to the UK.
kenbass4
Advanced Member
Username: kenbass4

Post Number: 221
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

Hey, Jazzy.

Dragon's Wing comes to mind. Roger TVR is based (Bassed?) in the UK.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 34
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Jazzy, nice to hear from you. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that my pair make custom of the month, who knows :-)

Mica is quite right Custom in Stages was a UK feature. She is my first Alembic and I just fell in love with short scale, beauty and sound. There is something very special about these basses.

Have a great Christmas.

Peace
Mike
nate1884
New
Username: nate1884

Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Friday, December 22, 2006 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post

WOW. These are coming to the UK! Please post when you are playing out with these works of art (if you intend to). I'd travel the length and breadth of the country to here them sing.

Merry Christmas, a belated happy Hanukkah, and best wishes to all.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 36
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 22, 2006 - 11:57 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Nate
Thanks for the note. Im not touring these days but will be in the studio in the 2007 working with others. I will post some sound later in the year.
Happy Christmas to you and the Alembic Family worldwide.
Peace
Mike
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 685
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, December 23, 2006 - 8:30 am:   Edit Post

ok I've stopped drooling over your custom in stages. That dark Coco bolo is very dramatic and with the chrome it looks deadly.

All the best with your new bass and you to have a great Christmas.

Jazzyvee
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3887
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - 4:55 pm:   Edit Post

Got the fingerboard glued in place last week:
fingerboard

And today it's getting carved:
carving
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 38
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - 1:06 am:   Edit Post

Hi Mica, again such a beautiful instrument. My only slight concern is that I cant see the purple heart to match with my Walnut SCSII? Or am I missing something?
Peace Mike
bassjigga
Member
Username: bassjigga

Post Number: 93
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 6:23 pm:   Edit Post

Hmm don't want to alarm you mike but it looks like it's a maple accent with a purpleheart and maple pinstripes. Great lookin bass though.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 39
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 1:57 am:   Edit Post

Hi Bassjgga, yes you are right. I did not define in the specification so my problem however I am sure the bass will look beautiful and sound amazing. I think also the maple will help with the highs for when I give her a good slap, so maybe alls well that ends well :-) Have a great New Year to you and all the Alembic family.
Peace
Mike
bigbadbill
Advanced Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 280
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 - 6:37 am:   Edit Post

My Triple O had a factory to customer thread and is in the UK (as am I). Never made COTM though....

Nice bass Mikeyz. You're in the NW? So am I, near sunny old Blackpool....
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 - 9:50 am:   Edit Post

Hi Bill
All the best for 2007, thanks for your kind words. I am short scale convert and as a result selling all my other basses to fund these two projects. Yes the final chapter in finding a bass that really fits in all departments.
So it looks like we have a NW Alembic chapter. I live on the Wirral.
Peace
Mike
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4027
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 11:40 am:   Edit Post

Spotted in the setup room:
setup

setup

setup
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 45
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mica, as my son would say OMG. However I would say Oh My Guitar :-) You guys just keep turing the excitment volume up a notch with each day. This bass is just beautiful, I consider myself as a very fortunate musician to own such craftsmanship.
Peace
Mike
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4156
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 4:32 pm:   Edit Post

Also awaiting the calibration, both should be finished at the same time:

ready to calibrate
byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 503
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 4:41 pm:   Edit Post

Hey,

That might be mine to the left! If so, good sign. Did she make it out of the hall, Mica?

And: killer bass! Love the Series II Small Standards.

Bradley
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4161
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 7:18 pm:   Edit Post

Sorry Bradley, to the left is Michael's other bass with a Walnut top and back. Yours will be getting out of the hall right after Bill's does, that's the current lineup.
bigbadbill
Advanced Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 282
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 4:38 am:   Edit Post

I so wish that my neck could cope with the balance issues of the small standard body. I love the way they look. Beautiful bass!!!

I must say actually that my old SC was the best playing bass I've ever owned, and had fantastic depth of tone too (which sets me wondering, has anyone ever ordered a short scale Triple O)?

Best of luck with your projects Mike!
george_wright
Intermediate Member
Username: george_wright

Post Number: 116
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 5:01 pm:   Edit Post

Hey, as long as we're playing "is that mine," is that mine to the right? I'm looking at "closeu[p] of the front".
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4167
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 12:57 pm:   Edit Post

You are correct, George. Bob is getting 3 sets of custom bridges and tailpieces ready, including yours.
mikekyz
Junior
Username: mikekyz

Post Number: 46
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, February 26, 2007 - 11:48 am:   Edit Post

Guys, thanks for the kind words. Yes the SC is a top bass and I am really looking forward to getting my Coco and Walnut.
Peace
Mike

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