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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 1386
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 6:56 pm:   Edit Post

Here's some under construction shots to help tide you over through the long wait:

in clamps

body lams

peghead

wood detail

Derrick sent us his own large slab of redwood to build the faces on this bass. We also made the peghead facing veneers for the best match.
davehouck
Advanced Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 309
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 7:57 am:   Edit Post

That's a very attactive sandwich in the second picture.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 1415
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 6:08 pm:   Edit Post

Now that it's got the sealer coats, we're gearing up to do the inlay. There's a few in line before yours, so we have a little time to refine the design.

Here's the bass in spray:

wo13708

You can really appreciate the figuring once the finish hits it.
dela217
Advanced Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 270
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post

Oh my gawd! THAT is nice! That is a beautiful wood. Nice and yellowish. I like that a LOT. Redwood..Hmmmm...
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 942
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:33 am:   Edit Post

Oh ...huh ...why do we call this REDwood. It's one of the most beautiful YELLOWish woods I've seen. It has a tiger design.
The sandwich is amazing. I thought the core of the body was redwood. And do I see some purple heart and maple there too???

Paul the bad one
mattheus
Member
Username: mattheus

Post Number: 96
Registered: 5-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:56 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, tigerwood!!! That's cool. And now we're looking for a piece of bearwood..... or was it beerwood??

Mmmm, I'll ask my neighbour...
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 953
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:11 pm:   Edit Post

Will you please stop sipping of your bass Mattheus ...there will be only strings left.
Oh no ...NOW I completely get it: Paul the good one's bass must be made of beerwood! Yes ...well he says he uses his head as an amplifier by bitting his bass.
Must be quite something to see that happen on stage!

Paul the bad one


Waiter ...and one refill for the bassplayer ...but wait until he stops playing HA!!
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 323
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:32 pm:   Edit Post

The body wood is vermillion and it has purpleheart accent laminates and maple pinstripe accents.

Valentino
bigbadbill
Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 72
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 8:45 am:   Edit Post

The top on that bass is fantastic. Ok, that's another wood noted for the future....

Shaun
denglert
New
Username: denglert

Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 9:43 pm:   Edit Post

Thank you Mica for posting these beautiful pictures of my bass. Also, thank you all so much for the nice comments. I saw this beautiful piece of "redwood" in a carpenter's shop off of Rt. 101. I thought it would make a pretty bass, but I had no clue it would look this great. I couldn't be happier...and it isn't even done yet. Can't wait to see more pics. Thanks again, -Derrick
denglert
New
Username: denglert

Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 3:20 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Mica,

I was wondering if I might see the design for the inlay? I'm very interested to see what Susan has created with my archaic drawing.

Also, I was wondering if there are any more pictures, or if you could take some more, of the bass with the sealer coats on, i.e. side, back, and headstock views?

Thank you so much.
-Derrick
bassman10096
Intermediate Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 118
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:52 pm:   Edit Post

Great looking top and sandwich, Derrick! Looking forward to seeing the inlay and finished bass. Congratulations.

Bill
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 1446
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 7:48 am:   Edit Post

Here's the adaptation that Susan and Mike came up with:

line art

and with some suggested shell:

mockup

You had requested the bass clef to stand out more, so my mom selected golden colored agoya shell for the clef, then black Tahitian mother of pearl for the stem of the D and the E. The oval is ebony and bound in silver and ebony.

I'll get you some more photos of the other parts of the bass later today.
bassman10096
Intermediate Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 131
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 3:30 pm:   Edit Post

Derrick:
I like the way your inlay blends monogram with music symbol. I'm also partial to placing the medallion style below the tailpiece. Looking forward to seeing this come together. Very nice looking.

Bill
bob
Intermediate Member
Username: bob

Post Number: 144
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 9:53 pm:   Edit Post

I've been in sort of a "quiet mode" lately, but I am paying attention, and at least a couple of times today I've found myself staring at this inlay design for minutes on end.

I gather that you (Derrick) get overall credit for the concept, and I've seen a couple things recently suggesting that Mike does really nice work, but I've got to believe that the key here is a good dose of "Susan magic".

I look at this and see a dancing couple, perhaps in the style of Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers(?), not that I'm really a fan of such, but there is somehow a similar grace, fluidity, balance of contrasts, and of course the very clever bass clef used as the D.

I think it is absolutely perfect, and wouldn't change a thing. Makes me wish I had more interesting initials.
-Bob (RFN)
susan
Junior
Username: susan

Post Number: 17
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 8:02 am:   Edit Post

Hi Bob,

As inlaid initials go this one is one of the nicer ones. Yes you are correct, Derrick had the concept of incorporating a bass clef into it. Since I had been sick for the last three weeks and didn't want to delay any orders, it's hard to draw with your head pounding. I sketched out what I had in mind and gave it over to Mike to make the fine line drawing for Mica to photoshop.

I totally see and agree with the Fred Astaire/ Ginger Rogers dance image, I can almost see the dip and floating chiffon skirt.

BTW- thanks for the props.

susan (THE-The Head Elf)
denglert
New
Username: denglert

Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 8:33 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Valentino or Mica,

Just wondering about the progress of the bass. The last I heard the inlay was in and the bass was back in spray. It must be pretty close. Also, wondering about an ETA.

Thanks,
-Derrick
susan
Moderator
Username: susan

Post Number: 35
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:26 am:   Edit Post

Derrick,

Your instrument is being worked on as I type. It could possibly be ready for shipping by Friday or early next week. It looks great.

-Susan
denglert
New
Username: denglert

Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:11 am:   Edit Post

Oh my!!! Thank you so much for the update Susan. I'm so excited. I catch myself daydreaming about it all the time. I don't normally dream when I sleep, but recently I have having wonderful dreams about this beautiful instrument. It probably isn't healthy thinking about it this much. This is my first Alembic, so I'm sure you all understand how I am feeling right about now. Anyway thank you for the update, can't wait to hold it and play it.

-Derrick

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