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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3862
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 4:03 pm:   Edit Post

Parts are brewing in assembly:

assembly

assembly

assembly
the_8_string_king
Advanced Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 250
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 3:52 pm:   Edit Post

Wow!!!

Yet another really cool and unique Alembic neck!

I've been seeing a lot of other really cool necks recently. Yours is also a special inspiration to me 'cause my next custom is gonna have the same woods in the neck -plus vermillion.

It looks awesome!
inthelows
Advanced Member
Username: inthelows

Post Number: 229
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Friday, December 22, 2006 - 5:58 am:   Edit Post

Nice combo on the neck! Sustain for days!
NLP
get_a_neck
New
Username: get_a_neck

Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 7:05 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks- I have thought about that neck combo for so long- it is great to see it exist. The miracle of life.

There actually is Vermillion in the neck- the pinstripe between the maple and mahogony.

The body stack will be: walnut top/ vermillion accent/ mahogony pinstripe/ vermillion pinstripe/mahogony core/ vermillion pin / mahog pin /vermillion accent/walnut back with walnut/vermillion in the headstock.

This is going to be fun
the_8_string_king
Advanced Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 365
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 7:28 pm:   Edit Post

Wha... wha... whaduyuh mean, Vermillion in the neck...!

Yuh... yuh beat me, pardner!

I thought I was the first person to come up with that combo!

Oh well! Both our necks look awesome!

Sounds like you've got a pretty well thought-out recipe, there! Look forward to seeing it!
bassjigga
Intermediate Member
Username: bassjigga

Post Number: 117
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 8:03 pm:   Edit Post

Don't worry 8SK... his is just a pinstripe ;)
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2052
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 9:16 pm:   Edit Post

Mark:

My in-progress custom Further has vermilion lams in the neck, as well as a vermilion core. The PH next to the ebony framed in maple on this one looks especially classy.

Bill, tgo
the_8_string_king
Advanced Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 372
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 9:22 pm:   Edit Post

I've been watching it, Bill, and "pretty freaking impressive" would be a massive understatement. Very tasteful combination of woods. It strikes me as a formidable contender for COTM!!!

Should be almost any day now, eh?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4116
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 2:53 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Jeff,

Bob got that new Superb Walnut sliced up and chalked out some references for your bass. These are the pieces you selected.

For the top:
top chalk


and for the back:
back chalked

Let me know if these selections look good or if you we need to make any adjustments.
get_a_neck
New
Username: get_a_neck

Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 10:11 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Mica,
I have to admit, I have been checking this thread a few times a day, and boy is it worth it.
Bob did a brilliant job laying out the wood. Both top and back are exactly what I hoped would work when I first saw the blocks of wood, not knowing the exact scale.

So, Approval is Given for the top and back- they are wonderful.

I couldn't help but mock it up in Photoshop, and it is beyond perfect. Perfection will look like crap next to this bass. While mocking it up, I became more sure than ever that I do not want the elbow contour- I want to see more walnut. Tummy countour stays- I am not changing anything from our last conversation.

I can't wait to see what the next update brings, and how the inlay idea works out.
I had asked for a tulip end to the fretboard. When would you need to know if I want to add block inlay to the last fret and scroll, like Rio or Little Bear?

Can you tell I am loving the process?
Thanks all,
Jeff
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2098
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 10:20 am:   Edit Post

Jeff:

Love the wood. This one's gonna be a stunner!

Bill, tgo
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4154
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 3:56 pm:   Edit Post

Here's the body parts getting ready for glue-up soon:
assembly
Vermilion and Mahogany accents with Mahogany core.


assembly
Top lam rough cut.


assembly
Back lam rough cut.
get_a_neck
New
Username: get_a_neck

Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 9:07 am:   Edit Post

Looks great Mica,
The vermillion/Mahogany Lams look great- I was worried my quest for subtlety would be too subtle. There are some amazing optical illusions in that photo of the stack of wood.
The top and back look awesome.

We just got back well from the hospital with our 9lb5oz Erica Jean. She is our third child and this is my third Alembic.
what a country
jags
Member
Username: jags

Post Number: 82
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 7:20 am:   Edit Post

then you should name this one, erica, or maybe EJ
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1064
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 4:22 am:   Edit Post

Congratulations on your new arrival Jeff. Not even an Alembic can compete with the birth of a child.

Graeme
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4198
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 5:28 pm:   Edit Post

First off, congratulations - that's wonderful news!

Some builds have all the luck. Every time I'm go in the shop with camera in hand, your bass is up to something interesting.

The tulip end of the fingerboard:
fingerboard

Peghead veneers stacked up very nicely:
venees

The neck as a whole:
neck

Inside of the top and the core readying for the glue-up:
assembly

Backplates cut from the back laminate:
plates cut

Your future battery cover:
future battery cover
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4235
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 7:21 pm:   Edit Post

First day in carving:
carving
get_a_neck
New
Username: get_a_neck

Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 1:02 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, thanks Mica, it looks great.
I really appreciate all of the photos.
Valentino and I had discussed carving the neck a little thinner than usual for you guys, but I don't want to compromise tone or stability. I love the fat/narrow neck on my Spoiler 4, but am used to a thinner neck on a 5 string.
What do you think?
Thanks again,
Jeff
bassjigga
Intermediate Member
Username: bassjigga

Post Number: 160
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 8:45 am:   Edit Post

Jeff/Mica,

I'm curious about the accent laminates since I'm also going to have vermillion. With age, will the vermillion and mahogany lams/pinstripes on this blend together as the vermillion browns? How pronounced an effect will age have? Right now that orange in the vermillion has such a nice contrast with the mahogany.

Beautiful bass btw Jeff.

Dave
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4315
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 1:15 pm:   Edit Post

There's not alot of contrast right now. Here's the peghead veneers with the hue removed:
not much contrast

I tried to see if I could approximate the browning. It's not really that successful, but maybe it will help some:
the browning

If you keep the bass out of direct sunlight and other strong UV sources of light, you'll minimize the amount of browning the Vermilion goes through. But it always darkens and gets less orange, more "bricky" with time.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4339
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 5:08 pm:   Edit Post

Got some attention from Cody in carving this week:
carving
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4901
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 6:11 pm:   Edit Post

That looks nice!
mele_aloha
Member
Username: mele_aloha

Post Number: 65
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 4:36 pm:   Edit Post

I can't wait to see this, gorgeous! This is a beauty! Wow!

Alembicsville all the way. Congrats!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4428
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 4:41 pm:   Edit Post

Got a little finish on it now...
spray
Looks really sharp!
tbrannon
Advanced Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 361
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 5:52 pm:   Edit Post

Seriously awesome with the finish on it!!

Mica: inquiring mind(s) want to know- what's the deal with the blue one in the background with the angled pickups?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4436
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 6:05 pm:   Edit Post

It was ordered that way, I never asked why. It's going to be refinsihed in black.
the_8_string_king
Senior Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 502
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 6:28 pm:   Edit Post

WOW!!!
tbrannon
Advanced Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 362
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post

Mica wrote, "It's going to be refinished in black."

Must be Danno's. =)
artswork99
Junior
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 21
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 9:26 am:   Edit Post

Wow, this sure is impressive work!
funkyjazzjunky
New
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 9
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 9:58 am:   Edit Post

What a lovely walnut instrument!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5769
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 8:14 pm:   Edit Post

Fell off the radar for a while, but with a custom inlay now complete:
inlay

and getting ready for dad's final calibration:
setup
it won't be long now.
funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 311
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Monday, January 19, 2009 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post

Spectacular Bass
deburgh
Junior
Username: deburgh

Post Number: 50
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Monday, January 19, 2009 - 9:30 am:   Edit Post

Absolutely stunning!
robinc
Intermediate Member
Username: robinc

Post Number: 119
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Monday, January 19, 2009 - 1:34 pm:   Edit Post

O.O

another stunner!

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