| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1183 Registered: 6-2000 |
Your Ebony neck laminates are in the stack on the left:  These drying racks serve to secure the laminates if they're still a little wet at the center when we slice it. These were at 12% when cut, still a little wet for us. We keep them under pressure while they finish drying. I wasn't too impressed with the Bird's-eye I saw last weekend. I've got a request in with our favorite wood supplier for the right Ebony for the top. He should be back in touch by Thursday. In the meantime, we will make the inlay artwork and get that part of the project finalized. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1225 Registered: 6-2000 |
First stage of the neck:  and up so close:  The Mahogany looks lighter in these pictures than in real life. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 807 Registered: 9-2002 |
Okay ...let me refrase this: you call a bass with ebony laminates and an ebony top a "simple" bass. Now ..."simple" ...huh ...maybe .. but defintely not modest. I'm really curious how "simple" this is gonna be. Paul the bad one | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1402 Registered: 6-2000 |
Buncha new Ebony going up over in the wood bank (you've got pick of the litter on those new posts). Sorry I couldn't email you - we've been working on all the computers here and I don't have email access at the moment. I'll be in the office very briefly tomorrow and then I'll be back on the 21st. I may come home with more Ebony, so we'll go over your selection at that time. | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi mica that's nice macassar! i particularly like 3138 'bars' may i please see 3138 with the template outline on the boards, and also flipped around, outside-edges in, with the template outline? are the boards long enough to get btc peghead-veneer slices from the top center? is there any gabon to look at? questions, questions, questions . . . thanks, and best regards marc | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 315 Registered: 7-2002 |
hello Marc, welcome to the club. Mica is not in the office at all today; her post was made Wednesday/Thursday night, so she meant that Thursday she was going to be in briefly, not today; she'll be back on Tuesday, so she wont' be able to satisfy your requests until later next week. Valentino | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1412 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'll get the pics done up for you as you've asked. You can check in later tonight for them. I stopped by my main wood supplier's place on Monday. He said everyone is moaning at him for Ebony, and he hasn't seen a new shipment in over a year. I bought a bunch of Macassar from him (pretty much what he had left), and that will be up here by mid February, but it's not darker than the selections I have right now. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1416 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the 3138 reversed:  and with a touch of the acetone to get a feel for its darkness:  We need to go over the enlarged baby bass design with you. Here's Kris' full scale cartoon of the design:  and also superimposed on the wood at close to the proper scale. Without a template yet, an outline would be a tall order. Anyway, after you digest all this let me know what you think. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1417 Registered: 6-2000 |
Oops - here's that superimposed jobber:  | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi mica thanks for the new images. i have a couple of observations 3138 did look better with the numbered board on the right, compared to the way we have them now. if we go with 3138, i'd like the boards the way they were in the original image in regard to body shape, kris's design has a different bottom shape, and it seems 'hippier'than the original EvH 'baby bass': http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/3287.html?1067286141 i understand that there are several issues involved in scaling a design to a larger body size. if possible, however, i'd like the bottom cut to be identical in shape to the original: a graceful double-scallop cut with a 'minipoint' on the centerline, rather than two dimples with a round bulge on the centerline as it is in kris's 'cartoon' the shapes of the horns are perfect, but i'd like the horns and the hips to be more symmetrical in size, as in the original baby bass: either bigger horns or smaller hips. could you try moving the waist a little further toward the bottom? that would take same mass away from the hips if kris could work a bit more on those two aspects of the design, i'd appreciate it since i can't have a gabon ebony as i had hoped, i need to think some more about the top wood. once again i'm considering a figured purpleheart, as i mentioned in a recent message. do you have any figured (flame or otherwise) purpleheart in stock? i'll try to call you in a little while best regards marc | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1420 Registered: 6-2000 |
Nice to speak with you this morning. Took some acetone to your neck and that "wacky" wood so you could see them together:  We'll post the next revision of the body shape tomorrow. I think we're on the same page as far as the lower shape and the slope of the hips. The horns on the baby bass aren't particularly symmetrical to my view. I think on the scale dup version they're pretty much spot-on to the baby bass. Once we get the rest of the shape nailed, I'm sure it will all blend in well. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1421 Registered: 6-2000 |
Oh yeah, check the wood bank for the acetone over a slightly larger area on the top. | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2003 |
(Message edited by marcm on January 22, 2004) | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi mica i checked out your new postings; thanks! 503 'wacky walnut' is now the prime suspect for my top, but i'm taking another look through the wood bank to see if anything jumps out and grabs me ok, here's what i found: the boards i like best are: superb walnuts 242 'melange' and 236 'high contrast radiating flame'; redwood 1701 'dense burl with flame' (which is probably actually too red for me, though i can't tell from the image); and the cocobolo 3121 'dark & unusual color' if i went with 236, i'd want the boards to be upside-down relative to their orientation in the image, so that the little 'pouch' of interesting figure that is presently at the top of the image would coincide with the 'baby's bottom' of the body. the nice figure at the opposite end, presently at the bottom of the image, would make a beautiful btc peghead if i went with 3121, i'd want to keep the sapwood. as in 236, there's a great btc peghead just waiting to happen, at the top of the image. ah, now i see that half of 3121 got used for the back of courtney's beautiful tribute. i guess that rules it out so the two 'most probables' for me are 503 'wacky walnut', actually myrtle; and 236 'high contrast radiating flame', upside down. 242 'melange' is also a possibility about the horns: i love them exactly the way kris drew them, which looks just like on tania's bass. by "more symmetric", i was referring to a desired symmetry between the width across the horns and the width across the hips: i'd like the bass to be somewhat less steatopygous. we'll see what kris comes up with tomorrow and then let's talk thanks, and best regards marc p.s. one more thing: i know that sometimes you fill in voids in boards. if the smallish voidy-looking things are in fact voids, could they be filled with ebony? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1426 Registered: 6-2000 |
Added some pics in the wood bank. Try 1322 and 1505 for the Maple Burls we were discussing on Friday. Here's that w-i-d-e piece of Bloodwood:  and with a closeup:  The voids in Myrtle are frequently filled with Ebony. (Message edited by mica on January 25, 2004) | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi mica the burl maples are beautiful! i especially like 1322 'scattered burls'. when kris has had a chance to revise the body outline, could i please see it superimposed on 1322? if we go with 1322, i'm leaning toward an ebony laminate under the top, as we discussed; and ebony peghead veneers, front and back we may be getting close to building the 'simple' bass! best regards marc | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 970 Registered: 9-2002 |
It's getting lesser and lesser simple IMHO Paul the bad one | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi paul the original idea was to use the birdseye-maple board that you can see at the top of the 'for harrison' thread. unfortunately, when the board was sliced for the bookmatch-to-center, it was funky inside. at that point i asked mica to find me a board of gabon ebony, so the bass would be just two woods: mahogany for the neck and the body, with ebony neck lams, an ebony top, and ebony peghead veneers. unfortunately there are no gabon-ebony boards to be had. i don't want to use macassar abony for my top, though it is a very beautiful wood mica and i looked at woods from several vendors, and then we decided to go back to where we started and look at a few alembic maples. when i saw 1322 with an acetone wipe, i came pretty close to falling in love with it it'll still be a simple-looking bass: no back laminate, only one accent laminate, black peghead, 20th-anniversary electronics, and blackened hardware. simple and understated, but it'll be an alembic! marc | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 971 Registered: 9-2002 |
I say "amen" to that! BTW: the 1322 is nice indeed. Especially in a bookmatch to center set-up. You still for the enlarged EVH baby-bass design? Paul the bad one | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2003 |
thanks! yes, i am. mica anticipated that the design might not scale up so easily: the shape is beautiful for tania's tiny bass (22-inch scale!), but when kris scaled it up to the size of a 34-inch-scale small standard, it was too massive. so now he's working on the waist and hips to get better proportions also, if you look at the outline superimposed on the macassar ebony, the bottom is not the classic EvH shape: it's a bit baroque. i won't approve the design until i see an EvH 'baby's-bottom'! marc | ||
| janriviere
Intermediate Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 110 Registered: 5-2002 |
Marc, is it the original EVH bottom and body you are after? Like in these medium-scaled bodies? I guess that Edwin’s baby bass is the small version of them. Cheers Jan     | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi jan the shape i'm looking for is very close to the original EvH shape. the main differences are that i'd like the upper horn to be straight, slightly extended for balance but with no hook; and i'd like the bottom cutout slightly less pronounced, just as the original 1970s point design was gentler and less 'pointy' than the current point. also, i'd like the body to be very slightly longer in proportion to the width across the hips your basses are beautiful! what is the lighter top wood? i don't recognize it, but i like it marc | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2003 |
p.s. to jan i've also requested a half elbow contour, as on your lighter bass, and a half tummy contour. the contours are the legacy of playing a p-bass for thirty-plus years, but seeing the half-elbow on your EvH, i am reassured that it is a very good choice aesthetically as well marc | ||
| janriviere
Intermediate Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 111 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yes Marc, you might need the extra weight on the upper horn if you go with a 34" instead of the 32" like I have. This original template of those two is perfect for the balance on a 32". The 4 string has 2 cocobolo laminates and a maple core. The 5 string has 2 figured walnut laminates and a maple core. Good luck with your project, I am curious to see the results of a "EVH signature" inspired bass. Cheers Jan | ||
| marcm
New Username: marcm Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2003 |
jan one problem is that tania's baby bass was made from a temporary template, which was later lost or destroyed, as were any notes on how the original EvH design was adapted for the baby bass. kris has the unenviable task of trying to satisfy a customer with very specific wishes that are difficult to realize in practice, but that's what elevates alembic above all other bass luthiers if the top horn has to grow a little bit for balance, that's fine, as long as there's no hook to the horn; mica says that kris isn't too concerned regards marc | ||
| marcm
Junior Username: marcm Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi mica it was a pleasure to talk with you yesterday, as always. i'm very excited that we're finally ready to move forward with the 'simple' bass just to review, i've chosen the maple burl 1322 'scattered burls' for my top. i leave the decision on the thickness of the ebony accent laminate to you and kris. please give me ebony peghead veneers front and back. i exchanged messages with roger at thg; he will wait to hear from you about some bits of 1322 to use for the knobs. we'll settle the details of the body shape (including the all-important 'baby's bottom'!) when you and kris have a chance to generate a new cartoon outline, maybe next week. all else is as agreed in the work order one final thought for the moment: since the main neck laminates and the body are mahogany, please ask kris to match the color and grain of the body wood as closely as possible to those of the neck. the closer he can get, the happier i'll be! thank you thank you thank you! best regards marc | ||
| marcm
Junior Username: marcm Post Number: 13 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi again mica i was just checking out ken's beautiful new rogue, and i had a thought i think the 'simple' bass should have a squidge more thickness in the ebony laminate, under the maple, than ken has in his rogue. you mentioned 3/32 as what you thought would be best. i'd be interested to know if ken's is a 3/32 lam, or a 1/16 mainly i think that, for the simple bass, the ebony should splay out a bit wider on the half-elbow contour please let me know what you think best regards marc | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1432 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the next revision overlaid on the top laminate selection:  The sketch is still a fairly rough plan. Kris and Tony understand about your requests for the sharper looking points that are cut out of the original shape. Kris drew the shape without the cuts then added them, similar to how they will be carved out on your actual bass. I think we've pretty much nailed the look you were after. Of course, we'll post pictures of the bass before we send it to spray so you can have a final approval and tweaking time. Ken's Rogue uses the standard 1/8" accent laminate of Purpleheart with a thin veneer of Maple between that and the Mahogany body. I'm still thinking the original 3/32 idea will work best. Much thicker, and they'll show more of the streaky color in the ebony and look less black, and I know this was an original concern of yours. I also like the idea the accent lam being thinner than the thinnest neck laminates by a good bit, sort of like punctuation. Let me know what you think. | ||
| mattheus
Member Username: mattheus Post Number: 99 Registered: 5-2003 |
This is looking amazingly cool. I always was very fond of that look on the EVH-signature basses! I can't wait to see the next step in the production...... I think there's a very unique bass coming....... Mattheus | ||
| marcm
Junior Username: marcm Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi mica so my ebony laminate would be thinner than the accent on ken's bass? that's the opposite of what i was thinking, but i get your points about streakiness, and about the thickness of the accent lam relative to the neck laminates. let's go with the 3/32 accent as you suggested i am much more concerned about the bottom: compared to jan's basses, above, or to tania's baby bass, the baby's-bottom carving in the new plan still looks smaller, shallower, and less rounded. to see what i mean, compare the new plan with the straight-on views of jan's basses. visualize the continuation of the bottom curves of jan's basses, as if they had not had baby's-bottoms carved into them. the mini-points on jan's basses do not reach that reference curve, while the mini-point in the plan for my bass does reach the reference curve of the bottom this is just another way of saying that jan's (and tania's) baby's-bottoms are more deeply carved than the proposed plan for my bass. i'd like the cutout on my bass to look more like the cutouts on their basses can we please talk on the phone today, before kris cuts the body? i feel really strongly about this, and i don't feel that the plan reflects the bottom-shape i'd like. i'll be sure to be home from 1 to 5 this afternoon, i.e., from 10 to 2 your time thanks mica best regards marc |
