| Author | Message | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 167 Registered: 12-2004 |
Rory, It's a Rory tribute! I'll have to buy you dinner next time I'm around San-Fran-Psycho. I did change a bunch of really subtle things, though, we'll have to see if you can spot them. Hugh, my wife is convinced that I act like a 12 year old, but Desert Storm was 14 years ago. Hard to believe it; a lot of water under the bridge since then- wife, kids, establishing a career. I would say, though, that Desert Storm was the real turning point in my life. I thought about having the Big Red One inlaid (where else but at the first fret!). Mike- I thought about the heart omega headstock, but it just didn't work for me. I like the hearts at the tail, but not on a 6-- they seem to look best on a 4 or narrow 5 (Hi Flaxman!). Brad | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 168 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hugh- I just got what you must've meant (he who laughs last thinks slowest). I may be infantile, but I was baptized after the age of majority. Couldn't resist a bit of the old paronomasia. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 311 Registered: 7-2002 |
Brad, I know what you mean about the 6. A bit wide maybe for an Omega. I have a 90' Elan 6 that has purpleheart laminates and a rip roaring bottom sound. I can imagine what yours will be like with the ebony!! Can't wait to see it finished! | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 285 Registered: 12-2004 |
I suppose this falls under "Customer to Factory" rather than the other way around, but here are some pictures from my recent visit:      Well, that about sums things up. | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 90 Registered: 12-2004 |
Brad Looks like you went with the maple fingerboard. :-) Is your neck/fingerboard the Alembic classic 'series' width or the comfort (wider) width? Paul | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 853 Registered: 6-2002 |
Might I be so bold as to submit that the fingerboard is covered in tape? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3654 Registered: 5-2002 |
Adriaan; you could be so bold, but then folks might get the impression that you missed the little smiley face that Paul inserted at the end of the sentence. :-) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 854 Registered: 6-2002 |
Call me hypersensitive - but it's a regular happy smiley, not the ironic one. Ah, humbug! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3656 Registered: 5-2002 |
You're right; it is the regular smiley face that says I'm in a good mood and not ;-) the one that winks at you. Global communication in the 21st century is so complex! <g> | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 855 Registered: 6-2002 |
Dave, let not our musings obscure the focus of this thread - thoroughly NICE bass. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3657 Registered: 5-2002 |
An absolutely gorgeous bass! Edit: I've changed my mind. I can't really tell, but now I'm guessing classic taper. (Message edited by davehouck on April 19, 2006) | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 286 Registered: 12-2004 |
Paul, Dave was right the first time-- comfort taper. I have lots of pictures; I didn't want to swamp everyone with them. Maybe I'll parcel them out and post them every little bit  . The fingerboard is covered in an ace bandage-- removal pending the results from the plastic surgeon. Is there a smiley for "I'm just making things up?" The cocobolo, as is cliched, does not properly show up in photos (well, at least at this resolution-- the 8 megapixel closeups that I have do show the freakyness of it). Brad | ||
| lidon2001
Intermediate Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 133 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hi Brad, I love how red the wood is. Amazing. It's been 30 minutes. That's a little bit. PICS! Happen to catch one of a "burly" custom Essence shaped morsel? You have a true winner there. Tom | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 91 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks Brad. I'm going to Alembic on Tuesday, and I'm hoping to find a classic 5 or 6 string neck that I can compare to my Rogue. Hey, which is faster, an 'ace bandage maple' fingerboard or a 'masking tape maple' fingerboard? I bet they're both slower than rosewood. Paul | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 288 Registered: 12-2004 |
I think that the real deal with the masking tape is that there is you never have to worry about the frets protruding due to changes in humidity. I didn't get a chance to play it (since most of the hardware is missing!), but Valentino assured me that it does add a real mwah to the tone. Anyhow, hippy sandwich anyone?  And here's Valentino reprising his sometime role as guitar stand. Photo is complete in that the bass has its complement of shop dust.  And here's one of the back of the headstock, showing off those awesome neck laminates:  Giddy like a schoolgirl, Bradley | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 331 Registered: 12-2004 |
Patience young grasshopper. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1545 Registered: 7-2004 |
Bradley: I see you went for the double bevel too. And the Valentino head Omega. Looks very cool. I was thinking of this too, but decided on the double bevel only. On your's, with the standard Omega, the little headstock one balances very nicely visually. Someday our babies will get to come home! Bill, tgo | ||
| georgie_boy
Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 83 Registered: 8-2005 |
Beautiful!!! It seems that the combination of the mind, together with the beauty of Mother Nature and a little help from the best luthiers in the world can provide something of such beauty. Long may the union last!! | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 350 Registered: 12-2004 |
George, Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm waiting for inlay, and then (hopefully) the process should be a little more predictable (except for the wait for Ron's bench time). Oh well, it'll get here when it gets here. I've had quite a run of good things happening since I ordered the bass (20-odd months ago), maybe bass being built == good mojo. Bradley | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 463 Registered: 12-2004 |
So, I'm wondering. Alembic used to make cream/brown/clear pickups (maybe they still do, haven't seen any, though). What do y'all think about having cream colored pickups installed? Bradley | ||
| the_8_string_king
Advanced Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 301 Registered: 9-2005 |
Wow, that looks exceedingly awesome, and reminds me in a lot of ways of my own custom in progress (in the very early stage). Shoot... I'd been thinking about the double-bevel... and now I might have to ask 'em about the peghead omega... it looks freakin' awesome! | ||
| bassjigga
Member Username: bassjigga Post Number: 95 Registered: 8-2005 |
You should get the peghead omega on yours 8SK. It looks so cool with that head, especially if you have it in the body. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Advanced Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 303 Registered: 9-2005 |
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Limited though funds be, the $250 minus dealer discount isn't too hideous for the front & back bevel -and it REALLY makes the peghead look extra-exceptionally sharp! The peghead omega just pushes it over the top! I'm really curious how much extra the mini-omega is. (And I've asked 'em!) I'm assuming it would be less than the big omega -since it's smaller and would presumably entail less labor. You've really got a striking beauty there, Bradley! The Coco Bolo is gorgeous, the headstock is over-the-top awesome, and for me, your neck came out especially awesome. The maple/purpleheart/ebony combo is awesome-sounding and awesome-looking... and yours came out especially awesome. The way your two outer Ebony laminates go into the peghead and seem to turn... it's really awesome. Visually, you've got one of my favorite Alembic necks, definitely the best-looking one I've ever seen with that specific recipe!!! | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 464 Registered: 12-2004 |
Mark, I've got to tell you... the Omega looks a lot better in person. Bradley | ||
| the_8_string_king
Advanced Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 307 Registered: 9-2005 |
Thanks for the word! I'm pretty much sold. It's just a simple matter of the moolah. I was already nearly sold on the dual bevel, but holy smokes, the mini-Omega just makes an already visually stunning form substantially more freaking awesome. (You do realize now that may blame you, if I get it, don't you?) Congratulations on a stunning custom! It's definitely one of the top 5 Coco Bolo Balance Ks I've yet seen. The top is gorgeous enough, but when you add in that killer peghead, and then the awesome neck in-between, it's an absolute knockout!!! It's also making me drool and wonder and contemplate 'cause my own custom has just begun, and it has several (of the) same/similar specifications (Balance K Omega, crown headstock, Coco BTC, upgraded custom neck) ... so I'm vicariously enjoying your bass, hope you don't mind! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 60 Registered: 10-2006 |
No doubt about it - the headstock omega is way slick. But I'm enough of a D'Angelico fan that it looks just a bit weird without the little brass "pineapple" in it. Peter | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 465 Registered: 12-2004 |
Vicarious away! I was lusting after Rory's 6 string when I ordered it. Bradley | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4685 Registered: 5-2002 |
Bradley; here is a previous thread on pickup colors. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 475 Registered: 12-2004 |
Mmmmm... colored pickups. Bradley | ||
| the_8_string_king
Advanced Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 333 Registered: 9-2005 |
By the way, Brad, I just added the dual peghead bevel and mini-Omega to my order... and I consider YOU responsible!!! Thanks!!! Your bass looks awesome! |
