Found the backplates mid-prep:

  And also saw your bass in steup, already fretted:

Beautiful bass. The crew is finishing a 10 for me now. Down the road would like to exchange notes on the overall sounds between the  series elecs in this one and the aniv i'll have-- for future ref of course.

Beautiful instrument.  Does it have a 36 scale?

Yes, it's a 36.  
 
Valentino

Will it have a standard tuning of  B-E-A-D-G-C with octave strings?

There will be no mistaking that fingerboard for any other one.  Absolutely beautiful.
Rich

Yes, standard 6 tuning with octave strings.
 
Valentino

Well I'm back. This is a stunning combo of contrast with the body and fingerboard woods. I wonder, will the finderboard will be darker after the application of oil (?). Are the frets the thin high profile ones, as they look jumbo-ish? ARE THERE MORE PIX TO BE SEEN (dah!)?  
 
PS: Yea Todd, no problem!!
 
David

This is the rough positioning for the flock of tailpieces that Bob is considering:
 

 
Hmm... that last one looks a little crooked in the picture - the intent is for them to all have the same baseline.  
 
With the body shape, the position of the flock is somewhat limited, but hopefully you will like them. If it looks good, Bob will make the actual tailpieces.

Any possibility of the high string bird being at the same height as the low sting one? It would be a V formation....Hmmm. You know I have this issue with the string angle after the bridge. I would like there to be a steep angle with the highest strings. Am I gett'n crazy here or what? Does the above example make less difference on the higher strings considering they will be in octaves? Should I even worry about this (Dah)?  What about the possibility  of four birds as opposed to the three? Would that change anything? Are these going to be regular Alembic birds or something more sculpted? Thanks!!!

Hi David,  Here's the rounded ends I was talking about earlier today:  

 

  I'll ask Bob to map out more precisely for the V formation and get back in touch with you.

Hey David,  After we spoke today, Mary told me you wanted to see some shots of the back. Well here they are:  

 

  I'm mulling over some of the other tailpiece ideas and will be discussing them with James and Bob later in the week.

Sure wish I could be there when the orchestra first sees this bass!

 
 
(Message edited by adriaan on October 26, 2006)

Perhaps a little late in the day - but have you seen the bridge on Jean Baudin's Hideous Claw - which is sort of an over-the-top tribute to the Alembic style?