| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1179 Registered: 6-2000 |
Your Quilted Maple custom Mark King is shaping up in the assembly department: The neck is rough shaped, fingerboard in place with the Mahogany body gluing up:  At the same time, the top laminate and accent veneer are under pressure with the back next in line to the left:  Front Amber Laser LEDs up close. These will be less obvious unilluminated once they are sanded down:  Also, check the flame figure in the maple neck. | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2003 |
Mica, Thank you for taking the time to post these great photos!! I was hoping to see the bass in an early stage such as this. It will also be nice to have these photos to look back on in the future. You posted these on my birthday- thanks for the present!! Mark | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 233 Registered: 7-2002 |
Welcome to the club Mark, and a happy birthday to you! Valentino | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 695 Registered: 9-2002 |
Lang zallem leeve -lang zallem leeve - lang zallem leeve in de gloria in de gloooooo-riiiiiiiiiiiii- aaaaaaaa in de gloooooooo-riiiiiiiiiiiii-aaaaaaaa! Hippippip ....HURRAH Hippippip ...Hurrah HIppippip ...Hurrah and welcome from this side of the pond Mark. Glad to have you here and that you want to share with us these precious moments (uh-uh ...I REALLY have to start some church) Please be so kind to post some pictures of the bass with the amber leds finished. I really would like how that looks! Paul the bad one | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thanks for the welcome!! I'm thrilled to be a part of the Alembic experience. I will certainly post photos upon completion. Looking down on the flame maple neck while playing will keep me in goose bumps. My only question is: can the surface of the leds appear like glass or must they be opaque after sanding? Mark | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1201 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'm sorry I wasn't clear originally. The surface of the LEDs almost disappears after the final sanding. They aren't at the decorative stage yet. The clear plastic lens turns whitish when you cut it. When the bass is completed, the fingerboard will look blank until you turn up the LEDs. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1214 Registered: 6-2000 |
Got sealer?  Now you can officially say "wow!" 'cuz it's looking so goooood. I think we're still a month out until you see it, there's still an awful lot of work to do on this bass. | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2003 |
That is exactly what I said to myself when I first saw the photo- "wow!" I also noticed the middle neck laminate is flame maple- "double wow!" I can't thank you enough for the photos! It is going to be so cool to look at them in the future as well. Mark (just curious: on the stereo jack, which pickup is tip and which is ring?) | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2003 |
(received 12/05/03) I’ve been speechless for the past month except for frequent ‘wow(s)!’. This bass is truly amazing. It was what I had in mind and far beyond. The woods and construction are beautiful. The whole experience has been an extra thrill for me because I have never seen an Alembic in person before. I was quite nervous to open the case at first! Playing the instrument is a joy and the sound is to die for. It almost plays itself! Every part of the bass stands out. Every time I look at the peghead, I admire the flame maple sandwich with quilt maple top and back, surrounding fine lines, and purpleheart at the tip ...wow! Also, the flame maple neck laminates with purpleheart and a center flame maple neck laminate of a different shade! ...double wow! That was a nice surprise! Thank you!!! The quilt maple body is finely sculpted and beautifully matched to center. The wood is so three-dimensional that everyone feels they must touch it- ouch! don't touch!  . I am also able to grab more attention away from other soloists with the amber laser LEDS. When in the power off position, the LEDS look to me like glass bead fret markers…they’re cool on or off! The case is huge! I love it! I’ve got the Alembic bug! I would like to thank everyone at Alembic for the hard work and dedication that goes into making bass guitar creations. May you never find a vaccine for the ‘Alembic bug’. Mark Biggs level43@juno.com extra note: I play this beauty stereo through two Trace Elliot 400W amplifiers and four 4X10H cabs- I'm the first on my block! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 847 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother Mark, I'm so glad to hear everyything went well! 2 (two) trace Elliots to 4 (four) 4x10's ???? I hope you don't live in an appartment. David the loud one will love this. If you have the time and possibilities to post some pictures of the details you describe I would really appreciate. Especially how the Amber leds are coming out. Paul the bad one | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2003 |
Heyya Paul! The Trace amps are at .....my mother's house! Oh no!! (I'm going to buy a house next year) Absolutely on the photos, I will post them. At this time, however, the makers of said creation have requested that I refrain from posting any photos until further notice- hopefully not more than a few months. As soon as they give me the word, I will post photos. I'll post one of the bass with the Trace rig in the appropriate section as well. Mark | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 852 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thanks ...I can understand that request! So I'll keep on the top of my stool watching this screen LOL In the meantime: enjoy! Paul | ||
| senmen
Intermediate Member Username: senmen Post Number: 177 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mark, this one looks really nice! Very stunning quilted top.... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2003 |
Oliver, Thanks! The thought crossed my mind to select the wood myself but I'm glad I didn't! I can't imagine a nicer selection of wood. Mark | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2003 |
I have some electronics questions I hope someone can answer. I have anniversary stereo with front leds. I have the vol./tone knobs and leds pwr. -stereo/mono - pickup select switches figured out but there are 2 more two position switches (furthest from the input jack) that do not seem to do anything- what are they for? Also, at the time of the price quote, I was informed that there would be an led dimmer but I cannot seem to locate it. Thanks, Mark | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 337 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Mark, those switches are the Q-switches. One dedicated to each filter. They are two position ones, with off being up and down being on; when on, the q-switch gives you about 8 db of boost at the cutoff frequency you select on the filter. The dimmer should be inside the electronics cavity. Valentino | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2003 |
Valentino, Thanks for the reply! That clears most of it up. I am still foggy on the function of a Q-filter. I have heard of the term but cannot find any technical info. Is it a range of frequencies boosted or is there any actual filtering as the name suggests? Is there a cutoff frequency selection found in the electronics cavity? Mark | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 366 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mark; a good discussion of the filter and Q switch can be found here: http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/7213.html | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1434 Registered: 6-2000 |
The little trimpots in the cavity are for gain only, won't affect the sound at all. The dimmer is usually a large silver pot (which is actually a Series I volume pot that failed noise tests, but still works as a variable resistor just fine). Feel free to write or call me for more details. | ||
| level432
New Username: level432 Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thank you for the explanations! I can see the whole picture now! Mark | ||
| level432
Junior Username: level432 Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2003 |
It’s been a long time but I finally got around to opening the rear electronics cover and I do not see a dimmer pot for the LEDs. I only see a fixed resistor on the LED switch. Is it possible some basses are shipped without a dimmer pot – or am I just not seeing it? If there was one there, would it be connected in series with the fixed resistor? Many thanks! Mark | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3231 Registered: 6-2000 |
It's more than possible, many do. If you post a picture of the electronics cavity, I can confirm for you. It is usually a big silver pot, close to an inch in diameter. I'd be surprised if you missed it. I can get you details and materials to add it if it was overlooked. | ||
| level432
Junior Username: level432 Post Number: 12 Registered: 4-2003 |
 Hi Mica, I apologize for being so slow to reply (I had to find out how to compress photos) Here's the electronics - the upper left blue resistor looks like the only current limiting resistance for LEDS that it has. It would be very nice to be able to dim now and then What do I need? Many thanks, Mark | ||
| level432
Junior Username: level432 Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2003 |
Mica, Would it be possible to obtain the missing LED pot and installation instructions? Many thanks, Mark | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3768 Registered: 6-2000 |
Sure thing! Send me an email with your shipping address, and I'll mark the photo with instructions and send you the pot. If you have any questions after you get it, let me know. | ||
| level432
Junior Username: level432 Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thank you Mica! I sent an email with my address on 11/16/2006 - I hope I sent it to the right address. Mark | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3791 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hi Mark - yup, I got it in both places. I'll gather up the goods and ship to you early next week. | ||
| level432
Junior Username: level432 Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2003 |
Many many thanks, Mica! Mark |
