| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1386 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's some under construction shots to help tide you over through the long wait:     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 |
That's a very attactive sandwich in the second picture. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1415 Registered: 6-2000 |
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:  You can really appreciate the figuring once the finish hits it. | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 270 Registered: 6-2002 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Here's the adaptation that Susan and Mike came up with:  and with some suggested shell:  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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
