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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3726
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 5:11 pm:   Edit Post

Look! It's wood!
core layout

These pencil lines are where Chip is mapping out all the pickups and controls, so we can get the interior "plumbing" done. You'll be seeing more photos real soon.
ox_junior
Advanced Member
Username: ox_junior

Post Number: 353
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 5:36 pm:   Edit Post

Mighty fine piece of walnut there! I'm sure Major Dover will be majorly happy!
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 602
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 7:00 am:   Edit Post

Alan,
I start to get jealous.... :-)
When it is done maybe I will place the next order?

Oliver
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 413
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 12:27 am:   Edit Post

Hmmm .... I've seen that workbench before ....

Thanks for the pics Mica. It look's great already, and I know Chip is doing a great job. Can't wait to see it come together.

Hope your Mom is feeling better. Please extend my best wishes to her and everyone at Alembic.

Alan
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 415
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2006 - 8:51 am:   Edit Post

Oliver,

I should be the one to be jealous - you have your custom Dragon's Wing to be proud of!

Mike,

Yes, I'm majorly happy! I'll be Colonely happy when I get it!

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3754
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, November 09, 2006 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post

More action in assembly recently!

These won't be in this position for long:
assembly

Back view:
assembly

Front view:
assembly

Peghead with rough shape:
assembly

And Chip checking the postioning before gluing the neck to the body:
assembly
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 418
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 2:20 am:   Edit Post

Mica (and Chip!),

Looks awesome. It's shaping up exactly as I wanted it. Chip is doing his usual outstanding job (as is everyone), so please extend my thanks to Chip (and all).

Wanted to know if it's possible to do an amber tint as on Oliver B's Custom Dragon Wing. I really liked how that looked. If it's extra, let me know and I'll contact Beaver to discuss price.

Thanks again for the pics - it looks great and I can't wait to see more of my bass in construction.

Alan
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 605
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 3:40 am:   Edit Post

Alan,
it really looks gorgeous.
I am really eager to see the finished bass.

Oliver
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 419
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 9:57 am:   Edit Post

Ollie,

We're both eager to see it! LOL!

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3769
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 2:07 pm:   Edit Post

The last picture was a dry fit, this is where it got wet with glue:

in pipes
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3888
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - 4:57 pm:   Edit Post

It's been carved enough to be ready for routing:
ready to route

I think the custom program still needs to be written for routing, but that shouldn't be much of a delay.
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 425
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - 8:12 pm:   Edit Post

Mica,

Looks great. Before we go into routing, can we take one more look at the body shape? As you'll recall, we decided to make things a bit "bigger" in the event I didn't think the body shape was what I was looking for, and this will be a chance to make any changes if needed. As it stands now, I think the upper horn needs to be more parallel to the fingerboard (as you guys told me previously - I should have listened to the experts! :-)), and the headstock looks a bit wide from what I can tell from the picture above.

Anyway, looking good so far - can't wait to get my hands on it!

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year,

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3918
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 7:12 pm:   Edit Post

Here's the body straight on and a full-length view.

body

full length
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 429
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 10:15 pm:   Edit Post

Mica,

I think we need to flatten out the upper horn a bit so it's more parallel to the fingerboard. Again, this one's on me - I should have listened to your advice in the first place. I'll leave it to you guys as to how we go about it, e.g., pencil lines to show how much is going to be shaved, Photo Shop, etc.

Thanks again,

Alan

P.S. I damn near walked out of a place in Hong Dae yesterday with a coco bolo Stanley Clarke Deluxe - all $7K of it. I had to leave before I did it - my wife is visiting and I think she would have killed me!
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 460
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 6:33 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

Any news? No pressure, just curious. I know you guys are busy, and there's no hurry here.

Thanks,

Alan

P.S. My SC Signature Deluxe is awesome!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4025
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post

Glad you're enjoying your SC!

Here's a quick mock-up of the slight reshaping:
reshape

This just shows the approximate amount shaved off and the main angle. I want to keep the upper horn the same shape as it is now, with the curve as pointed out here:
detail

The actual carving will look slightly different (better that is!), but at least you can give me the go-ahead that we're on the right track before the wood has been transformed into dust.
mtnst8
Junior
Username: mtnst8

Post Number: 29
Registered: 8-2006
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 11:19 am:   Edit Post

Wow, Alan! That is a beautiful top. Looks like raindrops in a pond. Love it. This has been a fun one to watch.

Brad
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 463
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 3:05 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

As the Super Bowl is only two days away ...

After further review, I think what we have now is closer to the body style I'm after. I compared pictures of Entwistle's Spyder, the body shape my bass has now, and the body shape with some of the upper horn shaved off. I think what we have right now is just about right. And I agree on the curve of the upper horn; John's basses had even more of a curve there from what I can tell.

Bottom line - let's go with what we have now. Sorry for causing so much trouble, wasn't my intent at all. Also sorry I didn't get back to you sooner - I've been at Osan Air Base the past week, and had spotty access to the net.

Can't wait to see more. It will be the bass of my dreams I'm sure.

Thanks,

Alan

P.S. I love my SC! What a bass!
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 464
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 3:09 am:   Edit Post

Brad,

Drops in a Pond - hmm, maybe the title for a Custom of the Month? It is a beautiful top. I had the opportunity to talk it over with Chip when I was out there in August of last year, and he did a fabulous job in choosing the wood. I don't think I could have done a better job myself. I love maple tops of all stripes - flame, quilt, bird's eye, etc., and this is a beauty in my view. I also like coco bolo - my DW and my SC are beautiful examples of this wood.

And trust me, this has been fun for me to watch as well!

Best regards,

Alan
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 963
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 12:45 pm:   Edit Post

Alan, that's a beautiful bass!
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 473
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 5:30 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

Any new developments? Not pestering, just curious.

Thanks,

Alan
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 483
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 9:38 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

Update, please, if you will/can?

Thanks,

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4368
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 9:44 am:   Edit Post

Hi Alan,

Your post #463 says to "go with what we have now" but I'm not sure if you mean the way the bass appears now, in post #3918 or my mock up in post #4025. With this clarification, we can get the rest of the carivng completed.
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 484
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 8:42 pm:   Edit Post

Mica,

I meant go with what is shown in post 3918. My mistake, and sorry for the confusion.

Thanks,

Alan
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 490
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:33 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

Any news? I know you guys are busy, so if there's no news, that's cool.

Thanks,

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4457
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 6:55 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, the carving is now completed and Bob has finished the routing program. This should get on the router next week and into spray. I'll send another photo when the routing is done.
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 491
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 12:04 am:   Edit Post

Mica,

Thanks, appreciate the update. I know you must be busier than a one-armed paperhanger now that Val has moved on.

Can't wait to see it.

Thanks,

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4583
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 4:37 pm:   Edit Post

The routing program is done, but we haven'trouted yet. Here's the front routing sketched directly on the bass:

preroute

This has the pickups positioned very similarly to the one in the Sotheby's auction. Some of the earlier versions of this bass has the neck pickup a little closer to the end of the fingerboard. Let me know which you prefer.

If we put the neck pickup closer to the end of the fingerboard, it will have a bassier tone. We'll also spread out the humx pickup too, so the spacing between the three pickups will be equal.

Only one chance to get it the way you want it, so we're checking each step of the way to get it just right.
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 499
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 7:35 pm:   Edit Post

Mica,

Can you tell me how far it is in inches from the end of the fretboard to the edge of the neck pickup? That will tell me if there is enough space between them for me. Though it's not my strongest technique, I do a little slapping and popping every now and then and need a little room. Just want to make sure there's enough for that.

Thanks,

Alan
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 4590
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 7:31 pm:   Edit Post

You're looking at 1.5 inches in the above picture. That's a good amount of room, but the pickup can be moved either direction very easily.

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