| Author | Message | ||
| tmoney61092
Advanced Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 208 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hal, i understand you are getting scared about this, but that is not the actual shape, you need to look at the white outline because i believe that they will cut/sand it down to that. also, the white lines aren't alined(look at the top of the body) so this is not what it will be like. i'm certain that Alembic knows what they are doing so just relax and enjoy the show :-) ~Taylor Watterson P.S.- it's looking good ;-) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 28 Registered: 9-2009 |
Taylor, Thanks man. You know I know, you are right. Absolutely right. That was very comforting Bro. I am going to take your advise for-real, and enjoy the moment. Actually small tears of joy fell from this grown man's face. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6382 Registered: 6-2000 |
The blessing and curse of seeing how it's done, not just the finished product. I promise we'll also sand off the "FRONT" and "BACK" designations too  Even that inner white line is the edge of the core - the top will wind up a good bit within that since the body is rounded over. Deep breaths! | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2009 |
Toma_Hawk Spirit #2 frequency with of The Alembic Mothership, was successful. Soul transmission to the Toma_Hawk assembly had finished... Toma_Hawk01, had received 100% of the Orange Ship's soul transfer, deep from outer space. The life forces of the Orange ship created the pulse of life to the Toma_Hawk01. Only (3) 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...  | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 31 Registered: 9-2009 |
Mica, the contrasting colors are wonderful. It's great to see my "route 66 " freeway sign... (without the neck) Watching this bass come together, is fun. (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 09, 2009) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 32 Registered: 9-2009 |
Long after my fatherhood rolls are over, my guitar will be there... Long after my work and service in the work-world are over, my guitar will be there... Long after my relatives, friends, and neighbors had moved away or moved on, my guitar will be there... After that... nothing else really matters (anyway). | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 432 Registered: 11-2006 |
hey you are speaking always with yourself.. do you have time to work a little ? | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 33 Registered: 9-2009 |
At 45, I am learning how to play now. I still have 30 years to work. Now my question to you... How do you find the time to play all those alembics and still keep a roof over you and your families head? I am sure you had to work and be great at something... Right? As far as speaking to oneself, you obviously read my remarks, so I can use your logic and count you as 1. Reading is an invisible thing, my friend. It takes more to write something down... (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 10, 2009) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 34 Registered: 9-2009 |
Pierre, I had read many of your comments, and I find your approach and choice of words out right direct, and sometimes showing no compassion at times. I remember you having a hard time with showing patience for a member's custom bass. I felt your comments were very discouraging to Alembic customers and somewhat, indirectly disrespectful to the people who give more than 100% everyday building dreams musical instruments and equipment. In reference of my membership for over 2 years, and having read countless number of threads with your name along side, I find your remarks on my FTC thread, A typical Pierre comment. Pierre, ever since I been a member I never held a view in censoring people. If people ask dumb questions... Also, you probably know by now, I am very open with my views as well... So in a strange way, I think you are a very cool Cat too. You are different, and I like that too. Peace my brother Pierre! | ||
| tmoney61092
Advanced Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 209 Registered: 9-2008 |
guys, this is a happy time, Hal is finally getting one of his dream instruments. let's keep all the negative comments out of this so that it doesn't ruin the atmosphere of this joyous occation :-D ~Taylor Watterson | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 35 Registered: 9-2009 |
Taylor, To me, the most sacred area on this site, is the FTC thread. With every picture Mica shows, the dynamics of the thread changes in a very positive and magical way. It hard to knock something down, when pictures are showing beauty and progress in a very positive direction. Besides, I know the Toma_Hawk is beautiful, just like everything I embrace. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1656 Registered: 6-2002 |
You only have to look around the many pictures on this site to see that there is such a diversity in tastes relating to what people like and like less about Alembic instruments. Thankfully we don't all share the same taste. I think that diversity in what we as musicians want to feel under our fingers, hear with our ears and see with our eyes are some of the factors that push the alembic designers and craftspeople to stretch their own skills in order to realise our dreams. All of us have benefitted and continue to benefit from the experience alembic gains from creating the diverse instruments that we want to play whether we like the shape, look, feel, sound or even price of a custom job. I'm comforted in knowing that whatever challenges alembic have had to rise to in making Tomahawk or any other bass will ultimately make my future instrument even better than it would have been had it been made today. Knowledge is knowing at tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. It's all good stuff. Jazzyvee | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 839 Registered: 7-2007 |
Well put Jazzyvee! Hal, Enjoy, revel and bath in the comfort of this FTC. All the best, Art | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2301 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hal - the French can be a little direct sometimes, don't feel offended. (This coming from a Dutchman, a nation proud of its bluntness.) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 36 Registered: 9-2009 |
"If its not broke, don't fix it..." (I agree...) The Toma_Hawk is a solution (an answer) to an age old question, and problem I had with basses in general -- (for a very long time...). Over the course of my (45) years and beyond, I had seen a win-fall of beneficial changes made to support Lead/Rhythm guitarist, which enhanced their playing-skills. As fast as it takes to write these short words, more changes had already occurred, and will continue. However, in comparison to basses there's still very little changes in comparison to the guitar. The Alembic company has always been at the forefront of making extraordinary basses and advanced electronics, pushing evolutionary, and revolutionary steps, sprints, and charges toward change. "What is a bass?" (I have no idea what that is...). "What is an Alembic Bass?" (Oh, are you in for a treat!) From the first time I strapped on my first Alembic S1 (27) years ago, the sound was above everything else. My long scale S1 commanded attention not only for its great commanding looks alone, the sound was glass shatteringly clear too. But in all honesty, it just got too heavy for me over the years, and for the long haul. I would tell my band mates jokingly: "It hurt so good... Let's play the long version now..." Although the Alembic Short body would be my next choice, but finding one available was half the battle; especially when people rarely part from their 1970's vintage Short body Series. (which I desired the most...). So, after finally finding my 76 shorty, I was very pleased. I feel like I can assess, and understand why Stanley Clarke and other bassist loves shorties so much. First off, these basses are very beautiful, practical, and elegantly designed lighter than long scales Alembics. However, the most important attribute I love about them the most, they're very fun to play. The action is s perfect, its truly unbelievable. The Toma_Hawk: I can't speak for Stanley Clarke, or Pierre Yevs for that matter... but, the Toma_Hawk Bass is "that" next evolutionary step beyond the Short Body design for me. The Toma_Hawk is my dream bass, yet it follows and honors legacy of the Alembic Short Body's curves, horns, and top crown. The subtle changes of the Toma_Hawk -- along the lower ends makes a huge playable and favorable differences in comparison to my 1976. Some may think, it takes a famous Artist to validate their interests/ideas. Well, if this was something I believed, (which... it isn't) the Toma_Hawk wouldn't exist in the first place, and the chances are, I would be still waiting. But, what I find most interesting: "The best ideas comes from, the people/groups you would least expect...." The best ideas, comes from people like you. It's true. I can't tell you how many emails I received from other bassist who provided technical, and musical support for the Toma_Hawk. Finally, there's no accident why the Toma_Hawk plans are bestowed in trusted hands of Mica, Susan, Ron and "The Dynamically Awesome Alembic Staff" -- "Its home, where it should be..." With this in mind, Toma_Hawk can't be anything but an awesome Alembic Bass for me, and that is the best news my heart can't express with this thread alone. Mica, Ron and Susan know my joys beyond the Internet, and written words here. They seen so many people express their joys in so many ways and still counting, and its because we are so amazed by such talent, workmanship, and most importantly -- they care to listen with care. My cheers are to Alembic! PS... I have my popcorn popped every Thursday/Friday -- at the close of business (COB) ready for the high 5's for those who can feel the magic unfolding with Mica's picture of progress!!!! Peace to all - (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 11, 2009) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 38 Registered: 9-2009 |
[A Size Comparison] The bass to the right, (The Toma_Hawk) is a rendering copy from the actual picture of an Alembic Short Body Cocobolo (shown to the left). I was also curious how The Toma_Hawk would look if it was a Cocobolo wood grain. Perhaps, in the future, I will have a Cocobolo Tommy, but first things, first...   (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 12, 2009) | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 434 Registered: 11-2006 |
God save us | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 339 Registered: 5-2009 |
Part of Gods plan might be letting us have Alembics; Instant Karma for the good" Children Of The Universe". A reward perhaps? | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 39 Registered: 9-2009 |
I could come back hard, but I have too much love for the good people here, and I respect the teachings of my parents to comment. So I will just say: God bless you too Pierre... ...For I will just pick up my cross, and carry on with my blessings... (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 12, 2009) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 41 Registered: 9-2009 |
Here's another perspective... Obviously, the picture of the model playing the bass loves the sounds, which requires the method(s) of: "thumping, and popping" and in order to execute this technique effectively, the bass player does something with his entire body, before using his hammer like, swinging arm and hand. Notice where he positions his legs and upper torso in somewhat of a forward and downward bending position... this gives him (2) important physical objectives: 1. Stability, and 2. Balance while in that position, his arm and hand are closest to the bridge. I call this: "The Bass Attack Position" for obvious reasons. Therefore, when it comes to funk, and the nature of this style of playing, The Toma_Hawk Bass will be my definitive, and quintessential tool. This is my hybrid; for it is the first bass I can soon honestly say, was designed for thumping and popping with best intentions. When it comes to thumping and popping basses, I desire less wood restricting my forearms, and wrist motions, but importantly, with the Alembic Series style, sound, quality and engineering which makes this bass above my wildest dreams in owning. Simply speaking: The Toma_Hawk Bass is my "Make no apologies; take no prisoners; and make no excuses "thoroughbred" bass designed for "THE FUNK" and "everything that is left-over..."  | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1667 Registered: 6-2002 |
The Funk The Whole funk Nothing but the funk. Hey, not sure if it's something I missed in one of your concept development threads, but are you having the neck pickup closer to the end of the neck like Clarkee does or further back as on the signature basses which i presume would give you more space for popping and presumably a brighter tone off the neck pickup. Also I wondered if you had worked out the relationship between the position of the bottom of the neck, the bridge and the body length to allow the natural position for your slapping thumb to be in your preferred location. I imagine that for any given bass/body you could ask alembic to position say the 24th fret to be further into the body, allowing first position to be easier to reach which would involve moving he bridge further back in the body and allow you to slap over the base of the neck or you could ask them to move the 24th fret further away from the body than normal allowing slightly longer stretch to 1st position but allowing your thumb to be placed off the neck. So if you did this on two different basses of the same design and a constant strap position your thumb would be in a different place on both basses and ignoring the tone controls etc, would give you a different default tone due to where your thumb naturally fell. I hope I'm making sense. I'm not sure if that's clear but for a sort of example. Mark King has his bass virtually under his armpit and that position allows his forearm to be almost parallel with the strings and his thumb to be naturally over the bottom of the fretboard which is where he does his slap thing. His slapping tone is much thinner and toppier and more percussive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yioVmqlt2Fk Clarkee has his bass in a lower positon and has a wider angle between his arm forearm and the strings and his thumb naturally falls between the bottom of the neck and the neck pickup which would I think give him a meatier and more bassy tone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrav_MSMjNs If he had his bass in the same position as Mark he'd be slappng at the nut.... ( I jest) . He would be slapping higher up the lower end of the neck and have a brighter default tone. I know when on gigs I'm supposed to be concentrating on the music but today I was doing quite a bit of slapping and was trying to work out why i find slapping more comfortable on my SC than my Europa and so this sort of came to mind. I prefer not to slap over the neck as I find the sound too thin for me. So when I use my sc, my thumb fortunately falls between end of neck and neck pickup. However on my Europa the natural position of my thumb is over the bottom of the neck so I have to move my arm backwards to get it between the neck base and neck pickup which i am conscious I have to do when playing. So to cut a long story short, I just wondered that since your bass has been designed for your particular style of slapping etc if your design took those variables into account so that when you pick up the bass your thumb falls naturally into your sweet spot. Sorry for the long thread. I'm off to bed.....zzzzzzzz Jazzyvee (Message edited by Jazzyvee on September 13, 2009) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 42 Registered: 9-2009 |
Good question Jazzyvee... Susan lead the discussion on this very question last March on whether the pickup (neck pickup) would be closer to the neck than the norm. Based upon Susan's suggestions, I was in total agreement with having the pickup close to the neck, as possible. Fortunately for me, that questions was not very difficult because my 1976 Shorty's pickup was perfectly positioned for hand and thumb. My neck pickup on my shorty is 0.59 inches (14.94 mm) to the 24th fret. (As shown below...)  As for the Toma_Hawk, the neck pickup will be even closer for reasons mentioned, but also factors related to the mere size of the bass as well. So when I do feel the surge to thump and pop, my thumb is almost always over the neck pickup. As for the neck pickup height, it's plum and even with the ebony fingerboard. Therefore, it sits just a hair below the height of the 24th fret. Thus, when I pop and thump, my strings never make contact with the pickup itself. However from glance, you might think the strings and pickups collide or come into contact... but this is not the case. When it comes to a bass groove, I prefer more punch, and crunch (at the front)similar to the definitions and timing of a Mark Adams. Which reminds me, to mention that Mark too, played Alembics. Here's a very rare picture of Mark Adams taken from the 70's, with the Group Slave. By the way, the S1 Mark is playing an Alembic bass that looked exactly like my first. Clearly, this bass holds a presences, and the sound was awesome too. A bass "that" big, and heavy, had to sound good .  The notes from the bridge pickup are much darker and deep, and yet very melodic and smooth when running a flurry of rhythmic funky fills. Therefore, I will accept best practices as to where the bridge pickup is placed. (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 13, 2009) | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 345 Registered: 5-2009 |
Would it be prudent to bring in new experiments with sliding pickup design ? | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 43 Registered: 9-2009 |
I would encourage an improvement Sonicus. Go for it. However, if you are referencing sliding pickups for the Toma_Hawk, that would totally be out of scope with production, and my necessity. Keep in mind... New experiments with sliding pickups, would be classified as a project in the areas of research and development. Also, prior to R&D for this new concept for sliding pickup, should require a feasibility study first, and then, an acceptable design. Anyway, it would equal to a lot of money. However, there are always an easier and cheaper approach... Take an old bass, and start routing a larger area which enable your pickups to slide, then purchases Alembic pickups, electronics, and pots and make notes of your observations. On a positive note, I do think it make sense to build a custom guitar to fit any desire. On a fun note, I think I seen a bass with a bottle opener too, and as wild as that seems it still makes sense because playing the bass can dehydrate you to the point of craziness if you see a bottle and no opener... Good Luck. (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 14, 2009) | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1669 Registered: 6-2002 |
a (Message edited by Jazzyvee on September 14, 2009) | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 346 Registered: 5-2009 |
Hi toma hawk01 I have a pending project that I might consider to do that with. I have a Bass and some pickups already that would be functional as components for such an experiment. I would need to work on a solid slide rail design that the pickups would slide on that would not fail and get in the way of creativity. The ultimate design could incorporate a servo controlled rack and pinion position and height rail. controlled by a lockable dual concentric potentiometer located on the face ( top) of the instrument maybe next to the pickup selector switch. Perhaps a more simple design would be better that would require you to relocate the position and height manually would be less problematic. Sorry I am just thinking out loud here again ! | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 849 Registered: 6-2002 |
Didn't this puppy have adjustable pickup positions?  | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 347 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes . This Bass the Great #1 did have adjustable pickup position! I love this Bass ! But look at how the pickups are mounted. I don't know how much of a height height adjustment was possible with that design. I would love to check this bass out up closer now and play it, I used to see Jack play this Bass. I have seen it from only 3 feet away but that was in the mid 1970's. This Bass had an awesome sound especially after the super-filter modifications. You can really hear it on SUN FIGHTER and 30 SECONDS OVER WINTERLAND. | ||
| toma_hawk01
Junior Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 44 Registered: 9-2009 |
I would have to see a finish product of a adjustable pickup system. Personally, I don't think you could design an adjustable pickup system without including the height adjustment too. Adding a sliding pickup rail system is one thing, but somehow, you are going to need to adjust the height of the rails too. What about multiple pickups... will they each have a separate rail and height adjustments? Lastly, what will it look like when complete? Esthetically speaking, if it don't have "look's to kill" for you, then perhaps such projects from the past may had been killed for the same or similar reasons. However, if this is your custom, and you want something like this for your sanity and comforts, then by all means please do this in peace. I am sure it could be done, and probably there may be solutions like similar to a "kit" you could install. But far as my Alembic(s) going under the knife to have something like this... "Sorry man -- I don't have your guts, I can't get on that ride -- it spins to fast, and I'll get too dizzy." (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 14, 2009) | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 351 Registered: 5-2009 |
Hi toma hawk01 In my posting 346 I mention "RACK AND PINION POSITION AND HEIGHT RAIL" . Yes Sir , of course you need a height adjustment . I might be working with a CAD program with a friend to illustrate and show dimensions. I think 2 versions would be in order ; one with servo control and one manual adjustable ,perhaps with an Allen wrench or knobs. At any rate this would be months or even a year or so in the future if I pursue it. It should work but it might look like a project out of a robotics contest in the prototype stages , lol lol lol !!!! |
