Olie, totally agree with you fretless would look best but no matter how many times I play donna-lee while wearing a sweatband i've got to come to the realisation that I'm not Jaco. Still haven't forgiven myself for defretting my last bass (not an alembic thank god)...

i like Olie's idea alot, you are amazing at designing on computer, what program are you using?
 
~Taylor Watterson

Believe it or not I'm using a combination of microsoft word and paint.  Paint is good for splashing the solid colour, word is good for selecting clear colours so that i can overlay the parts. This is probably the slowest way to design a bass, but is pretty satisfying.  BTW word is also useful for trimming down the size of the pics so they can be posted here...

Garth,  
 
As someone who had started this journey...
 
I can honestly say, this is a fantastic, and very personal voyage you are embarking.  
 
As you sail forward from the dock, the waters are always calm and tranquil, but as with any journey filled with adventure, you will find many things challenging.  
 
Your bass is unique, even Regal like... something of pure Royalty.  
 
I will be watching your develop and refinements  as the days go by... I look forward to seeing your creation progress to eventually enter the halls of Alembic - Factory to Customer thread.
 
I hope you the very best, and I wish you a safe return with your wonderful treasure -- enjoy the ride!
 
Hal-

Cocobolo

This must be about the best Custom idea I've seen IMHO !!!!
Just LOVE it!!
 
George

I'll be honest, I'm not keen on the headstock inlay. But then, it's not my bass design.
 
Love the body though.

Garth, I think that the bass will look cooler without inlays. It will leave the neck clear, so that when you look at the headstock inlay, you can follow the strings all the way to wherever you like. Or perhaps something puppet-related, that would give you bass a more dark/mysterious look.
That is one amazing design you've created... I really want to see it built. Congratulations
 
Greg

Just one other thing, how about instead of doing the Alembic sign in real colours, why don't you try it in a sort of outline way, perhaps out of some gold-platted material? Do you get the picture? Just like the normal Alembic headstock inlays, only bigger...
I think that would give it a more dream-catcher sort of look.
Greg

Yeah I love the look, it's a very stylish design. I wonder how bulbous the body would end up being as it looks probably the same length as the small standard body but with a more voluptious bottom.
 
I wouldn't say the pointy bottomed alembics are amongst my favourites but this one looks great and changing to that knobly headstock is better.
Jazzyvee

Hm, that knobby peghead would indeed look nice without the tuner ears sticking out. Perhaps the mothership would consider using the peghead and bridge/tail-piece design of those 1980s Japanese bolt-on Alembics?

... double post ...
 
(Message edited by adriaan on June 23, 2009)

so when are you putting your order in for this??? ;-)
 
~Taylor Watterson
 
P.S.- that cocobolo looks AMAZING

man its just beautiful.. very unique, elegant design... if you cant get it build now, maybe alembic could build their next showroom bass like this.. how about burl maple top, walnut body, maple/ebony neck, chrome hardware, etc... i am starting to dream now too ;-)

That bass is voluptuously feminine. I would slightly remove the pointed bottom (round it off) to look like this... to couture the Alembic emblem...  
 
I hope you didn't mind...