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Alembic Club » Factory to Customer » Austin's Coco Bolo Classico » Build Record / Discussion » Archive through December 29, 2009 « Previous Next »

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mario_farufyno
Advanced Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 388
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, man, now I'm getting anxious too!

Want to see this giant soon badly...
gregduboc
Advanced Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 281
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Sunday, December 20, 2009 - 3:48 am:   Edit Post

I'll help!

BUMP.
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 515
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Monday, December 21, 2009 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

Bomp Bomp Bomp, Bomp Bomp.. :-)
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 191
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Monday, December 21, 2009 - 5:08 pm:   Edit Post

BUMP, indeed.
briant
Advanced Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 396
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 2:36 am:   Edit Post

Healthy BUMP.

I want current pictures. Like with a newspaper.
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 525
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 7:56 am:   Edit Post

I am a square

what does BUMP mean?
chrisalembic
Member
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 100
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 8:13 am:   Edit Post

Lady Bump perhaps? ;-)



(Message edited by chrisalembic on December 25, 2009)
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4249
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 8:21 am:   Edit Post

Isn't that the guy from those stupid milk commercials? Looks just like him! lol

Bill, tgo
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 194
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 12:27 pm:   Edit Post

a bump, jazzy, is just a post that's intended to bump the thread up to the top of the page so HOPEFULLY someone pays attention and gives me an update. so in asking what a bump is, you have provided a bump.

BUMP.
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 2316
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 2:30 pm:   Edit Post

austin
if i got some stain and refinished my classico would you be interested?
oye vey......

adding my major BUMP to the cause

i wonder what the longest build in alembic's history actually is?

I know of the scandanavian twins that i saw when i visited the factory 5 yrs ago.
those were 2 his and hers instruments with incredible inlay work on the back and necks that the owners requested no photos be published of. i have a couple but wont post or email per val and mica's request
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 731
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 4:48 pm:   Edit Post

Secret inlays? I'm intrigued to say the least.
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 621
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 6:32 pm:   Edit Post

OK - (he says, banging his Paul TBO Memorial Beer Bottle on the desk) - PICTURES!!!

Peter
ps - Flax, I wouldn't think of asking you for the pix - but I will say you're a cruel tease! :-)
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 529
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 7:55 am:   Edit Post

Thank you for the explanation. Since my first BUMP was untintentional, here is my official BUMP
pauldo
Advanced Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 387
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 11:49 am:   Edit Post

Random factoid BUMP

Did you know that Walter Carlos is now Wendy Carlos?
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4256
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 2:05 pm:   Edit Post

Actually, I believe they are now both dead. But they are still musical - they're decomposing!

Bill, tgo
briant
Advanced Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 397
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 6:28 pm:   Edit Post

BUMP

What did you get this bass for its third Christmas?
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 196
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 6:36 pm:   Edit Post

fourth christmas, brian. fourth.

BUMP.
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1141
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 7:42 pm:   Edit Post

Austin,

Reading through, it's obvious that you've sent emails... have you called and spoken with anyone at Alembic? Just curious.

I've been watching this one since it's inception and have been wondering for years what was going on.
briant
Advanced Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 398
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, December 25, 2009 - 9:41 am:   Edit Post

"fourth christmas, brian. fourth."

Ouch. Sorry man.

Painful holiday bump.
gregduboc
Advanced Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 294
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Friday, December 25, 2009 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

BUMP BUMP

Greg
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 795
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, December 25, 2009 - 11:00 pm:   Edit Post

Austin,

As a fellow Alembic owner and one who's gone through a lengthy build process to receipt of instrument, I'll offer the following ...

Yes, it is very frustrating. I will be honest and say that at one point I was on the verge of cancelling my order ... only to pull back from the brink once common sense set in. I've learned the following over the build period for my instrument (which I now have):

1 - Excellence takes time. And it is worth every minute.
2 - Family owned companies aren't like "cookie cutter" companies in that they have the time to dedicate to single instruments (unless you're talking "custom shop" instruments). As a result, they pay attention to the slightest detail, which takes time.
3 - Customers expect a lot from Alembic since they're paying a lot.
4 - Alembic does its best to provide updates, but again, there is no one dedicated 24/7 to do that (I won't go into whether they should have someone doing that or not - that is a decision for Susan, Ron, Mica and crew to make). Call them, and they'll be more than happy to update you, trust me.
5 - The more you change things mid stream, the more you add to the desired delivery date. I know this first hand. ;-(
6 - Alembic will err on the side of caution when there is a build issue at hand. In other words, they'll defer to you for input before making a change. Again, another thing I know first hand. This adds to the time it takes to make your instrument. But, in the end, you get exactly what it is you tell them you want. I know I did.
7 - Patience is indeed a virtue.
8 - Once in hand, you will have the instrument of your dreams, and all the frustration will wash away. It did for me, anyway, when I was playing along to the Who this afternoon, a smile on my face.
9 - The look on the faces of fellow players when they see your instrument is worth the wait. Everyone who sees (and hears) my bass is blown away by the looks and the tone. To have bragging rights like that ... well .. the four years was worth it to me.
10 - In the end, you will get what you want, in spades.

Be patient, my friend. Trust me - good things, and I mean very good things will follow.

V/R,

Alan

P.S. Bump, Bumpity, Bump Bump Bump!

(Message edited by ajdover on December 25, 2009)

(Message edited by ajdover on December 25, 2009)
mario_farufyno
Senior Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 406
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Saturday, December 26, 2009 - 12:58 pm:   Edit Post

Patience?

Don't say that, the man is waiting for 4 years! Man, I would be crazy... BUMP!
gregduboc
Advanced Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 297
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Saturday, December 26, 2009 - 1:05 pm:   Edit Post

Mario,
I think Alan waited for 4 years or so as well....
Poor guys... I can't imagine how that feels...!

BUMP

Greg
hb3
Senior Member
Username: hb3

Post Number: 452
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Monday, December 28, 2009 - 12:10 pm:   Edit Post

"Actually, I believe they are now both dead. But they are still musical - they're decomposing!"

Nah...he/she's fine....
hb3
Senior Member
Username: hb3

Post Number: 453
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Monday, December 28, 2009 - 12:15 pm:   Edit Post

"Actually, I believe they are now both dead. But they are still musical - they're decomposing!"

Nah...he/she's fine....
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 2321
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 7:58 am:   Edit Post

i hope you havent paid for this yet. think of all the interest you'd have missed out on.
alan
as appropriate as your comments are for "normal" production- 4 years is inexcusable regardless of what austin is being told

it couldnt possibly take 4 years (imho)to redo electronics and a new peg design.
considering there was nothing wrong (imho) with the original elec and peg as heard on my classico

what i am curious about is that chip is in the photos of early production and he has been gone for over 2 years now last i heard.

as obtuse as this may sound? maybe they dont remember how to make one.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6516
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 12:26 pm:   Edit Post

Sadly, some instruments do take a very long time. It isn't always obvious why. There are actual humans at work here, and there are times when certain projects do not receive attention, and there are times when the attention a project receives isn't obvious in the build record.

2009 was quite a tumultuous year for many of the people that work here. I choose to not go into details, but it's important that you know there's a reason that some projects that need input from everyone had not received the attention they should have, including Austin's bass. I am sorry for this.

I'm happy to report the circuit redesign is complete. I'm glad you had no problems with your Classico, Jeff. Since they are single coil pickups, they suffer from the same problems that other single coil pickups (like Series I/II) suffer. It's not to change the tone or to add functionality, it's to remove directional and high frequency noise from the system. So this one will sound the same, but in high noise situations, it will be quieter.

The peg had been a real problem. Again, I'm glad you were happy with the peg on the your Classico, Jeff. We were not, and some other Classico owners were not. It wasn't adjustable except in 1.5" increments. It was sometimes difficult to push the little tabs in to release the lock. It sometimes got cocked so it took a good bit of jossling to right. It sometimes rattled inside the bass if it wasn't extended more that it was retracted. The new design is completed for the peg. We're just trying to decide where to place the control for the continuous adjustment.

As far as the building, when that gears up again, and it will in the very near future, Kris will be making it, and he is the one who taught Chip and others how to make Classicos.

Austin, you have done nothing to impede the progress of this instrument. I repeat that I'm sorry for the long delay in updates and progress.
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 197
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 2:46 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks, Mica.
I really didn't mean to sound negative here, I'm just a little impatient. Of course I appreciate all of the work that everyone puts into these things, and I understand that with Alembic being the family company that it is, certain things can come up and take priority. Thanks for clarifying, and I can't wait to see what you guys have come up with.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6528
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 3:37 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks as usual, Austin for your kindness. I appreciate your response so much.
ajdover
Senior Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 796
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 5:43 pm:   Edit Post

Flax,

Yeah, four years is a long time, even for a custom instrument. As I said, the frustration at times was unbearable. I don't think that I said that it's a "normal" wait time, though. I also think you rightly point out that some things, at least to us, shouldn't take all that long. However, as Mica points out there are things that impact production that are out of our sight. This doesn't excuse it, mind you, merely explains it. Whether an individual is patient enough to wait that long is, of course, an individual decision.

And yes, I waited four years for mine. Actually, four years, 3 days, and 15 hours! But whose counting? ;-) The good news is I have the only near-replica of John Entwistle's Alembic in the world that is not in a museum or in private collections. Talk about bragging rights!

Alan

P.S. As far as I know, it took Alembic three years to make Entwistle's Exploiters.

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