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Archive through January 09, 2015sonicus30 1-09-15  9:31 pm
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adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3203
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, January 09, 2015 - 10:59 pm:   Edit Post

The plan that Steve alludes to is probably best described as a modern-day Alembic with some vintage 70s features, a "Balance-K meets Brown Bass" vibe if you will.

Then one day I woke up to find my custom dream was materializing and had grown Series II electronics. And so it doesn't have the center body laminate or the side leds either, which would only distract from the plan.

In this case, what makes it special is perhaps a bit of restraint. As Goethe said, "In der Beschränkung zeigt sich erst der Meister."
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 3862
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2015 - 12:48 am:   Edit Post

Adriaan , In deed . I like where this Bass design is going !
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 957
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2015 - 9:43 am:   Edit Post

Stunning bass

Can't wait to to it with hardware
stout71
Advanced Member
Username: stout71

Post Number: 242
Registered: 7-2011
Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2015 - 9:54 am:   Edit Post

Wow. Every time I think I've seen it all, a new one takes center stage and delivers. That neck recipe is stunning. It looks similar to the one in my next build. Congrats. I have a new respect for Walnut as well!
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1815
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 8:49 am:   Edit Post

Beautiful wood choices as always from the evles at Alembic. This is a heart stopping neck/body combo!
Mike
groovelines
Senior Member
Username: groovelines

Post Number: 781
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post

Simply gorgeous.
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3206
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 1:40 pm:   Edit Post

A little history on how the wood recipe evolved ...

The elves started off with lots of Mahogany and Vermillion, and perhaps a little accent:
Mahogany and Vermillion

Attention turned to the body sandwich, which was going to have a Myrtle core, as would befit a proper Brown Bass. But some Purpleheart would add a little visual interest, hm ... Well, I love pistacchio nuts, but this started to clash a little, even if only in a Photoshop mock-up:
Myrtle and Walnut Myrtle, Purpleheart and Walnut

Anyway, one of the things I learned about hippy sandwiches is that you can't add a wood species in one area, and not have it return in another. So what to do with the Purpleheart?
Brown with Ebony and Purpleheart Brown with Walnut, Walnut and Purpleheart

With the greenish hue of the Myrtle core only intensified by the Purpleheart, a Mahogany core would perhaps help harmonize the colour scheme:
Mostly Purpleheart Mostly Maple
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3207
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 1:54 pm:   Edit Post

You may have noticed that a few posts ago I mentioned "restraint" as a keyword in the design. It should nonetheless be perfectly clear that I did my utmost to steer the project away from such nonsense.

Mica did a mock-up of my "bookmatch-to-centre-laminate" idea on a bass most of you will recognize, when it was still under construction:
Bookmatch to Centre Laminates mock-up
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3264
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, October 02, 2015 - 4:53 pm:   Edit Post

Some of you may have already have seen this on Instagram, but it's just way too fabulous not to include it here.

davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 11962
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 06, 2015 - 5:47 pm:   Edit Post

Nice shot! I like how you can see the Maple body laminate inside the pickup and bridge routings.
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 293
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Thursday, October 08, 2015 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post

Such a cool design, love it
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3710
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 - 2:57 am:   Edit Post

That's an incredible neck recipe.

Graeme
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3711
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 - 3:02 am:   Edit Post

That's an incredible neck recipe.

Graeme
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3282
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2015 - 1:27 pm:   Edit Post

Another snapshot ...
hangin' out
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 316
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2015 - 1:34 pm:   Edit Post

Looking most excellent!
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1755
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2015 - 4:34 pm:   Edit Post

So pretty!!!
edwardofhuncote
Senior Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 705
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2015 - 6:18 pm:   Edit Post

I never noticed before how the Bal-K Point body sorta' mirrors the crown headstock. Nice touch!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 11994
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, December 04, 2015 - 6:30 pm:   Edit Post

Yes; the lines on this body are quite beautiful.
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3283
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2015 - 2:22 pm:   Edit Post

There were a couple of considerations getting the body shape right, and the elves came through every step of the way.

Sometimes on the 5 and 6 strings the point ends up a bit bulky, even if in proportion to the added width, like on Left is Right - but perhaps it wouldn't need to be quite as scaled down as on Dragonfly. Just a word in Mica's ear, and the vestigial tail got reduced to this beautiful confluence of curves and straight lines, in contrasting colours - all in one go (as far as I'm aware).

I didn't realize at first, but the original Balance K doesn't have the elbow contour either, and itkind of accentuates the symmetry, I guess.

Now is everyone aware of the pinch?
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3288
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 - 4:14 pm:   Edit Post

Getting ever closer to the finish line - rubbed out ...
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 4690
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 - 4:24 pm:   Edit Post

Superb !
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 330
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

Looking incredible! I too opted away from from both the elbow and tummy contours. Great choice!
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3299
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, January 15, 2016 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

Oh goodness ...

rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1777
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, January 15, 2016 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post

Absolutely Gorgeous!!!
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3724
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 9:29 am:   Edit Post

Oh My!
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 337
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 9:38 am:   Edit Post

Good Grief that is so cool!
edwardofhuncote
Senior Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 779
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 12:25 pm:   Edit Post

Looks like this one is on the home stretch... won't be long now!

Anyone but me ever wish these pictures from that particular room had just a *little* wider angle? =)
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 1795
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 2:01 pm:   Edit Post

@edward...Totally!

What a spectacular bass...thanks Adriaan for sharing the FTC stuff, enjoy!
elwood
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3300
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 2:02 pm:   Edit Post

The latest I've heard Ron started the calibration, which he does on Series instruments two at a time, yesterday. So home stretch indeed!

Fun fact: after the calibration, the hum canceller gets affixed permanently, and only after that they install the straplock studs. Not sure if otherwise those would interfere with the Series calibration - there's bound to be a rational explanation.

Gregory, I'm with you on those pictures - though not every person who orders a custom actually wants to see pictures, or have a Factory to Customer thread, so it's easy to see why Mica would want to limit the scope ...
rv_bass
Intermediate Member
Username: rv_bass

Post Number: 171
Registered: 8-2014
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 4:18 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, very nice, that thing is gonna shake some earth! :-)
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3310
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 07, 2016 - 11:21 pm:   Edit Post

Apparently the straplocks do not necessarily go on after the humcanceller is secured in place. But I'm OK with that..

Another snapshot (hanging out with one of the old gang) ...

stephenr
Intermediate Member
Username: stephenr

Post Number: 190
Registered: 9-2014
Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2016 - 9:26 am:   Edit Post

Beautiful bass! The "extra" string is the only thing keeping me from a severe bout of jealousy :-)

I just love walnut. I finally played a Balance K Alembic recently and as I long suspected that is my favorite body shape both visually and comfort wise. Looking forward to your reactions when the wait is over and you have it in your hands.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 2237
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2016 - 9:35 pm:   Edit Post

I just saw this very bass yesterday. Definitely a standout of what's in Santa Rosa right now. It was kind of fun to see it right next to the one that's behind it, very old school!

Enjoy, it won't be long now!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8823
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 1:51 pm:   Edit Post

And the coveted sofa reclining shot:

14507 reclines
edwardofhuncote
New
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 2:09 pm:   Edit Post

Adriaan, your bass is amazing, and I agree with Edwin, so very cool to see it hanging there next to one of the first few dragon hatchlings come home to roost. I know that particular bass well... it's the very one that finally cemented my resolve to order a custom. Many many nights I laid awake pondering- "restore vintage classic or build new classic"?

No regrets, but I'm delighted to see it's being fixed, and now that your wait is almost over I'd imagine you're quite tickled as well! =)

Congratulations & Compliments, however premature.
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1883
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 2:54 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats!

Now how about that European Alembic meeting? :-)
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3311
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 3:37 pm:   Edit Post

Gregory - yes, tickled pink, or at least nearly there!

Flip - any plans?
rv_bass
New
Username: rv_bass

Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2014
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 4:23 pm:   Edit Post

Very nice! I noticed there is no pickup selector. What are the electronics?
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3312
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 4:32 pm:   Edit Post

They are Series II, but without a pickup selector.
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61

Post Number: 1804
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - 2:44 am:   Edit Post

She's gorgeous Adriaan! Congratulations!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 12080
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2016 - 4:47 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats Adriaan! Wonderful!
germansal
Member
Username: germansal

Post Number: 85
Registered: 8-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 - 4:20 pm:   Edit Post

woowwwwwwwwwwwwoowwwwwooo gorgeus
pierreyves
Senior Member
Username: pierreyves

Post Number: 1301
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 - 1:19 am:   Edit Post

I could buy it !! the tailpiece are now centered curiously from several months on all basses I see.... congrats, very nice art work !
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 3314
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 - 2:41 pm:   Edit Post

I've had a preview of some glamour shots that Mica took, and if you think she's looking gorgeous now, well you ain't seen nothing yet!

Word is that she is being picked up at the mothership for shipment later today. Hm.

IT WILL BE HERE IN A MATTER OF DAYS! (Pardon my loudness.)
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 796
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 - 3:09 pm:   Edit Post

Very beautiful, prachtig ding Adriaan!
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 366
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 - 3:11 pm:   Edit Post

So cool! Awesome feeling!
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 4837
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 - 11:43 pm:   Edit Post

Absolutely fantastic ! Congratulations!
alemboid
Intermediate Member
Username: alemboid

Post Number: 176
Registered: 5-2003
Posted on Monday, March 28, 2016 - 2:34 pm:   Edit Post

Whoa.....I can taste it with my eyes and the flavor is all Alembic!!!

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