Hi
I have alluded to this build in a more general update thread but now it's time for
@impmann to have his very own
We are still crystallising the final spec on things like electrics, etc, but the build has started
Broadly, it is planned to do a Andyjr1515 take on the wonderful and timeless Alembic 6 string electrics. It won't be a clone but will hopefully make a passing tug of the forelock in the overall vibe.
Here was the outline:
It is planned to be as light as we can reasonably make it - with semi-acoustic type of hidden routing in the mahogany back (but no f-hole), with a camphor laurel top, cut through to the mahogany at the edges and arm-relief.
The top, which will further contrast and enhance with the finishing, is this lovely piece here:
I think it will look superb as the figuring darkens and cuts through to the mahogany. I will use a 2mm wenge demarcation veneer between the two layers.
The neck - which is gluing while I type - is 5 piece: maple/ purpleheart/ mahogany/ purpleheart/ maple. Here it is before gluing:
It will be through-neck, showing at the back only, as with my recent piccolo bass:
Also like the piccolo, it will be concave carved at the back:
This does two things - it takes quite a lot of weight out (the piccolo - same size as a 6-string electric - is less than 6lbs), but also allows a much slimmer neck to body transition:
So, the wood's being glued,
@impmann has just posted a very exciting bridge to me, there will be some exciting custom pickups following closely and THE SHOW'S FINALLY ON THE ROAD
Comments
Well, @impmann posted me his bridge which arrived this morning. Badass or what?!
The neck laminations have glued nice and tightly - ready for tidying up through the thicknesser. This blank will yield two necks - the other one for my 'piccolo bass turned into a 6 string electric' project that I will be running in parallel with this one.
The timber is from David Dyke. Always tip-top quality. This one has an unexpected bonus - it turns out that it's birds-eye
That's going to look great on both builds!
All in all, pretty much done then. Maybe a bit more angular than @impmann was hoping but, hey, I think that's being just a wee bit fussy.
The cling-filmed block is to keep it flat.
I've wiped the glue squeeze-out off the join with a damp cloth - you can see how dark the figuring is going to get once the finish is on
There are some rich colours in there, probably better seen in this sunshine shot:
This is going to tone and contrast with the mahogany back beautifully...
Talking of sunshine, the camphor laurel is a very 'hole-y' wood. It's very stable but many of those burrs are actually gaps. Here's the sunshine shining through:
These will be filled with epoxy mixed with ebony dust - I keep a jar of ebony sandings just for this kind of job. When it's done, it will look like it was always there and, indeed, further enhance the look of the burls...
Next job is to finish-thickness the neck beam and cut out the two necks from it
Apologies for the lack of progress the last couple of days. MrsAndyjr1515 let me loose on the plumbing while the central heating is off. Severn Trent is probably wondering why Carsington Reservoir is looking a little empty.....
Anyway, the bandsaw and thicknesser beckons. Tomorrow, hopefully....
This, you may say, looks just like the last picture of the neck beam
Ah - but you see, there IS a difference. It is now at the finished width and is completely square on all sides.
From that altogether unimpressive visual start, then suddenly (well, an hour later truth be told) this happens!
What's that if it isn't magic!