| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4175 Registered: 6-2000 |
This was the wood you selected for the top of your Further guitar:  With the template for size reference:  And a closeup of the figure:  I understand from Bob that the body should be assembled next week. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4176 Registered: 6-2000 |
I also saw the neck in progress this afternoon. There's still a lot of work to go, but it should be ready when the body is completed.  | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1060 Registered: 10-2002 |
Wow, that's some beautiful maple. Even rough sawn the figure jumps out. Graeme | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4196 Registered: 6-2000 |
After it's sanded, the Maple looses some of it's "oomph," but here is the stack getting ready for body assembly:  The three dimensional grain will pop out again once the finish hits it. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4336 Registered: 6-2000 |
The body is well under way:   The fingerboard is on the neck and the peghead is rough shaped now too:  | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4602 Registered: 6-2000 |
I wrote to Mike about this when it happened, and now for the Club update. When carving the neck last month, a big, ugly snot showed up near the 12th fret. This was not something that we could tolerate:  So we had to chop off the body and get a new neck constructed:   The new neck is ready for veneers and its fingerboard next week, and should get back in carving the first week of June. It's got even heavier figuring than the first one. Back on track now! | ||
| mgreen
New Username: mgreen Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2007 |
Ok, are we all set with the rest of the specifications, regarding inlay, peg head etc? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4626 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the back of the peghead:  It's Purpleheart like you requested. Don't mind the glue spots, rough shaping and the burn in the Cherry - they are only temporary. I'll be happy to call you to review the rest of your specifications. Just tell me what time works well for you. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4658 Registered: 6-2000 |
Your guitar is in carving now:   Sorry there's a little motion blur on these photos, but you can still tell that things are movin' right along. | ||
| mele_aloha
Intermediate Member Username: mele_aloha Post Number: 167 Registered: 1-2007 |
Was that snot in the neck due to a cold? LOL | ||
| mgreen
New Username: mgreen Post Number: 6 Registered: 3-2007 |
can i get some feedback please. I am in Europe and would like to know status. Thank you. | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 509 Registered: 11-2004 |
Michael, In case you missed it, Mica just added a baby boy to the family. She's been away from work, but if I read correctly is planning on being around sometime soon. I know it's an expensive call, but a phone call would probably get you a quick answer. Hang in there =) Toby | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4755 Registered: 6-2000 |
About half-way through finish now:    | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 696 Registered: 9-2005 |
Pretty. Awesome. Pretty Awesome! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1297 Registered: 10-2002 |
Just Pretty full stop. I love the further guitar shape and this quilt sets it off perfectly. Graeme | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2586 Registered: 7-2004 |
Lookin' REALLY good! Bill, tgo | ||
| mgreen
New Username: mgreen Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2007 |
I'm real concerned that the "book match" is not close. I assume it will not be too noticibe once the electronics and wolf are added but I have serious reservations. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4777 Registered: 6-2000 |
The short story is that I don't think you will be disappointed with the grain of your guitar in person, it's an absolute stunner. Here's a longer explanation: The bookmatch is a regular old bookmatch. The only wood missing is the kerf of the bandsaw blade and the minor sanding to get things flat. Even though a lot can happen grain-wise in that small space, Quilted and Flame Maple don't really ever look bookmatched if you look closely. Here's some more pictures of your guitar. This one is pretty straight on and with a flash:  If you concentrate on just a small area, you can see the symmetry of the bookmatch:  Enlarged for an even better view:  And again from a slightly different angle:  What shows up with the figured Maples is the grain direction. It's the changes in the direction that make the interesting and shimmery effect we all enjoy. When we slice across a plane, a given area of the left side of the bookmatch has the grain going up, while the same area on the right has the grain going down, but before we cut it, the grain was continuous. It's sort of hard to visualize, but think of Les Paul guitars you've seen, with the Flame Maple bookmatched to center. On one side, the same shape of figure looks light in color, and on the other side of the bookmatch it's darker. Look at the back of this one on Gibson's website and you'll see what I'm talking about. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1641 Registered: 4-2004 |
is wolf getting a brother? coool!!!!!!!!!!! lol it looks fine- its not btc the symmetry is in the angle of the grain away from the neck not the actual appearance of the figuring both sides dont match exactly in appearance but if you look at it- the grain is fine and it evens out perfectly by the brisge pickup one thing for sure, Bob knows how to lay out wood he's pretty much taught everyone at alembic. (Message edited by flaxattack on August 23, 2007) | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1303 Registered: 10-2002 |
It looks perfect to me. Especially in the last pic. You're going to be very happy when you see it in person Micheal. graeme | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5448 Registered: 5-2002 |
I love that last pic!! Beautiful! | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 147 Registered: 7-2004 |
I love the explanation.. to me it even becomes more evident when you bookmatch a piece of spalted maple that also has figure.. in some ways mirrored, and yet.. heh. --T | ||
| mgreen
New Username: mgreen Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2007 |
Yes, the new pics are amazing. Thank you for the additional post!! I have seen some funny things with lighting and angle that can really change the way maple can look. Thanks again. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4921 Registered: 6-2000 |
Glue can be alarming at this stage, but thought you'd want to see a pic of the inlay in process:  | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1759 Registered: 4-2004 |
my wolf brotha!!!!!! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4943 Registered: 6-2000 |
Peghead inlay:  Both the cloud in the logo and the lightning bolt are in gold mother of pearl. | ||
| mgreen
Junior Username: mgreen Post Number: 11 Registered: 3-2007 |
Looks great Mica! Perfect size. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4966 Registered: 6-2000 |
Still a little glue in place, but you get the general idea:  We've never carved this many letter in this small a space. It might be hard to tell in the photo, but this is a very nice golden color slab of shell. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4968 Registered: 6-2000 |
Wolf inlay is done as well:  | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1810 Registered: 4-2004 |
what no drool? the gentler of the wolf den,... looks great | ||
| mgreen
Junior Username: mgreen Post Number: 12 Registered: 3-2007 |
Is it too late to add Guitar Hero™ controls? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 5308 Registered: 6-2000 |
Already safely in Michael's hands, here's the finished shot for the rest of the folks that have been following this guitar:  | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1777 Registered: 10-2002 |
Very nice. Play it well Micheal. Graeme | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6567 Registered: 5-2002 |
Great guitar! | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1979 Registered: 4-2004 |
another member of the wolfpack is born thats a sweet guitar mike play it in good health......... regards direwolf | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3095 Registered: 7-2004 |
Suhhhhwwweeeeeettttt! Of course one might suspect that I'm partial to Furthers. This one looks real nice. Enjoy (I'm sure you will!) Bill, tgo | ||
| mgreen
Junior Username: mgreen Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2007 |
In response to the last few post, I must tell you that what really impreses me about this guitar is that it sounds as good if not better than it looks if that is possible. While we all know Alembic products sound amazing, I did loose sight of that during the production process. I was playing it last night, and it truly inspires creative playing as promised by Sue and Mica. Now that some time has passed from the construction process, I can really just enjoy this guitar. I did make one major mistake. I made the guitar too nice! It was very tempting to get caught up in all of the custom possibilities. I don't even think about taking this masterpiece out of the house. But since I got to have that "sound" when I play out I'm now considering a stock model Tribute. Perhaps Mica can post a pic of the back of this guitar. The matching flame maple back is quite amazing. A few of the other features that you may not notice, locking gold tuners, purple heart wood on the back of the peg head, and an internal dimming switch for the LED's. Also, the gold mother of pearl throughout is a great unifying touch. If anyone has any questions or needs advise let me know. | ||
| californiaman
New Username: californiaman Post Number: 10 Registered: 6-2008 |
Michael, you are truly blessed. I'd be inspired too, it I were you. Todd | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6728 Registered: 5-2002 |
Michael; if you want, post some pictures in the Showcase section of the board. |
