| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3726 Registered: 6-2000 |
Look! It's wood!  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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
More action in assembly recently! These won't be in this position for long:  Back view:  Front view:  Peghead with rough shape:  And Chip checking the postioning before gluing the neck to the body:  | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 418 Registered: 11-2003 |
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 |
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 |
Ollie, We're both eager to see it! LOL! Alan | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3769 Registered: 6-2000 |
The last picture was a dry fit, this is where it got wet with glue:  | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3888 Registered: 6-2000 |
It's been carved enough to be ready for routing:  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 |
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 |
Here's the body straight on and a full-length view.   | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 429 Registered: 11-2003 |
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 |
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 |
Glad you're enjoying your SC! Here's a quick mock-up of the slight reshaping:  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:  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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Alan, that's a beautiful bass! | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 473 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mica, Any new developments? Not pestering, just curious. Thanks, Alan | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 483 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mica, Update, please, if you will/can? Thanks, Alan | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4368 Registered: 6-2000 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
The routing program is done, but we haven'trouted yet. Here's the front routing sketched directly on the bass:  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 |
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 |
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. |
