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toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 105
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 9:59 pm:   Edit Post

The color concept was Susan's idea, and I think its beautiful. After Mica showed me some examples, I was floored by the contrast of colors.

Stripes ads a sense of danger too; like the dangers one senses of the colors of a coral, or king snake. These colors, naturally alerts the human Psyche almost instinctively. "WATCH OUT!"

Nature is very fitting for this bass, for which it pays homage to the great Native American culture and colors.

oddly, I can't help but think of the striped ribbons of those old classic racing cars at Monaco of the 1950's and 60's too.

This neck is beautiful in so many ways, and you get to see the colors of the neck, on the front of the bass too, and that is very cool!

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 20, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 106
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post

a mini rendition...
gregduboc
Intermediate Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 186
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 5:55 am:   Edit Post

Hey Hal!
Man, congratulations!!! What a feeling it must be... Watching your dream being carved!
I'm following this one, no doubt. I really want to see this wood with the finishing touch.
Congratulations again Hal, you are now part of the special part of the club, the Custom Owners!! I can't wait to be part of that!

Greg
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 107
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 10:34 am:   Edit Post

Here a touched "rendition" of the side view of the Toma_Hawk...


Vermilion-FRONT/Maple veneer/Purple Heart/Maple veneer/Mahogany-CENTER/Maple veneer/Purple Heart/Maple veneer/Vermilion-BACK

It looks dangerously, venomously-poisonous, it's ready to strike.

toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 109
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 3:42 pm:   Edit Post

Greg,

Man... you have the baddest bass I ever seen. (second to mine...) :-)

Knowing you are watching this bass with watchful eyes, say more "than what meets the eyes..." my friend.

Your comments are always appreciated, and welcome like fresh air!

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 21, 2009)
altgrendel
Intermediate Member
Username: altgrendel

Post Number: 105
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 4:22 pm:   Edit Post

Yea, that combination of neck lams always reminds me of racing stripes too.

(Message edited by altgrendel on August 21, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 110
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 6:28 pm:   Edit Post

The Toma_Hawk car is my next project :-)
I love bold stripes!



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 21, 2009)
gregduboc
Intermediate Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 191
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 10:02 pm:   Edit Post

Hal, this is really a bass I want to see!!! I fell in love with the shape, I find it very authentic and original.
I'll always keep an eye here!

Greg

ps. I wanna ride on that Toma_Hawk car!
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 112
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 1:02 am:   Edit Post

With the Toma_Hawk, what I find most intriguing with the shape: I can't tell which end of the bass, has the most dominate/passive characteristics. Both ends: the crown, and the body has (what I call) "a point to prove."

It feels like the the body wants to lead you into its arrow pointing position, and yet the crown also has it's powers to lead too.

Shapes are indeed magical.

As for cars... look at the AMC Pacer...

That car would be HOT for modern times, if the back of the car, were actually the front...

The back of the car, to me, was the money shot, the killer look. The windows, the room, and openness... That would be very a very modern looking car. (Take a look at one, and see what I mean...)

Just an example of what happens when design lack balance on both ends...
JMHO :-)
gregduboc
Intermediate Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 197
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 7:21 am:   Edit Post

Hal, I think there is one thing for me that really represents what I see when I look at the Toma_Hawk: It wants to be played. Hard. And honestly, I wouldn't want anything else.
Just a thought on my mind

Greg
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 117
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:47 am:   Edit Post

I believe all shapes, should have a function.

When I see a sail boat, the first thing I see is the magnificent canvas. Its always such a joy, to see the sails grabbing natures winds, and seeing the canvas wave patterns against the backdrops of the deep blue seas. Just looking at the sails without wind, is beautiful enough; but when the winds are full, and the boat is in full motion, that's heaven.

Looking at the age of my 1976 Alembic Short body, there are some premier features I would never change. Some people prefer thin guitar bodies, and some people don't. I always ask myself, thin compared to what?

My 1976 Small Body (width) is 1.75 and it's perfect. If that size was tried and tested with the 76'er and it lasted this long (and still going strong...) then why change the formula?

I have a great "baseline"...

First, this is an Alembic Bass. There's a strong reputation and legacy that embodies every one made. The Toma_Hawk bass will be of no exceptions.

This bass will have all meat to take on:

1. Over a multitude of finger "plowing" of Stanley Clarke...

2. Over a multitude of thunderous thumbs and hits of Lewis Johnson...

3. Over a multitude of pops and slaps of Mark King... and...

4. It will look like a light saber from Star-Wars in the dark.

If it stays half as in good condition as my 1976 (30 years from now...) I will be a very happy old man. :-)



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 22, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 122
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:30 pm:   Edit Post

Toma_Hawk Spirit #1 frequency with of The Alembic Mothership, was successful. Soul transmission to the Toma_Hawk assembly has begun...

Only (4) more Toma_Hawk Spirits left, before the "Body electric" Toma_Hawk can depart the Alembic Mothership, and report for duty in spreading peace and love to the world with low frequencies...

To see this live communication from space, copy and paste this link to your browser...

http://alembic.com/club/messages/397/67578.html?1251002148





(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 23, 2009)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6351
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 - 7:44 pm:   Edit Post

More stuff happened to your bass this week.

Peghead veneers in place:
assembly

Designed a custom backplate for the harness side of the body:
assembly
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6352
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post

Body core and accent laminates together:
assembly
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8662
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 - 9:23 pm:   Edit Post

Very nice headstock lam!
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 143
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 6:07 am:   Edit Post

Toma_Hawk Spirit #1 frequency with of The Alembic Mothership, was successful. Soul transmission to the Toma_Hawk assembly had finished...

Toma_Hawk01, had received 100% of the Purple Ship's soul transfer, deep from outer space. The life forces of the Purple ship created the pulse of life to the Toma_Hawk01.

Only (4) more Toma_Hawk Spirits left, before the "Body electric" Toma_Hawk can depart the Alembic Mothership, and report for duty in spreading peace and love to the world with low frequencies...






(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 29, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 145
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 7:23 am:   Edit Post

Hi Mica,

You made my weekend...

I am happy to be "in" on the action... WOW!



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 29, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 148
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

Thank You Mica!

toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 149
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 5:26 pm:   Edit Post

How much do you love a Toma Hawk???

"This much!"

This picture is an actual concrete Toma Hawk and TeePee located in Saskatchewan Canada.



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 29, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 156
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 9:55 pm:   Edit Post

A cool strap for the Toma_Hawk...

toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 164
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post

I love the color of Salmon!

Reddish Orange to Orange to Pink... It's All beautiful colors to me...
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 166
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 9:54 am:   Edit Post

I was looking at Vermilion color variations on other Alembic basses and colors from the the Toma_Hawk's actual crown (shown within this FTC), I believe the Toma_Hawk's Vermilion top and back color may match the colors within my drawing rendition below.



Again, nothing is better than the real thing, and I'll be happy with any of many hues of a Vermilion wood, but its fun to predict while waiting for "the moment of truth".

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 02, 2009)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 167
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 10:39 am:   Edit Post

Here's the actual crown wood from Mica's picture I used to build and render this new Toma_Hawk body.

There's many factors for which which computer drawings are limited over real live pictures.

So, until Mica shows the actual pictures, my drawings validates nothing.

Mica's real pictures, are the key to my sanity and monitoring progress.

"For a picture, speaks a thousand words." :-)

sonicus
Advanced Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 299
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 6:29 pm:   Edit Post

Awesome computer drawings Mr . toma hawk01 !
enzo
Intermediate Member
Username: enzo

Post Number: 118
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 9:33 pm:   Edit Post

I never seen a more realistic computer drawing.

I loved the hearth beat one, very cool !
toma_hawk01
New
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 4:16 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Sonicus and Enzo.

I could draw this bass with my eyes closed now...
I can see it from every angle, and dimension.

It's everything I see a bass should be, and I am very humbled, and gracious for the support given to this end.

Thanks Fellas.


toma_hawk01
New
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 7:01 am:   Edit Post

I consider 1970's "The decade which the electric Bass emerged to the fore front...".

When you think about it, in (5) genres: Rock, Soul, Funk, Disco and Jazz/Rock Fusion-- the 70's pushed the electric bass to new limits in popular music like no other time.

Therefore, when I see a vintage 70's Alembic bass, I can't help but think of the pressures; the demands of the times; and the push for a better/higher quality material and sounds.

By the time the 80's and 90's music ran it's course which created the battle between digital bass and analog bass, and although the battle was pretty brutal (like when you listen to Miami Vice sound tracks, -- music of the 80's) Our Analog basses, had a huge hill to climb, but in the end, Alembics are still here.

Although with the few last surviving Alembics from the 70's, I find them more relevant than ever and I can honestly say: not one bass sends more chills down my spine than my 1976 shory.

With year 2000 in full swing, I believe music is headed back to quality and people want a real band again. They want new stuff, but with the quality and attributes of the old and wise.

My expectations are really set high for the Toma_Hawk.

Just a thought...

mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6378
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - 6:13 pm:   Edit Post

Here's some more things happening:
assembly

assembly

assembly
toma_hawk01
Junior
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 26
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - 7:00 pm:   Edit Post

Mica why is the tips of the vermilion wood sliced off?
toma_hawk01
Junior
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 27
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - 7:08 pm:   Edit Post

Both sides show a clean cut and not rounded...

Will it get rounded off at some point?

I hope so.


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