Hi Gary,
 
Way to enter this group!  Welcome. Your bass is amazing!

Hi Gary,
 
I, too am in love with your bass.  The flames around the omega are very unusual and look great.  Can't wait to see the rest of the figuring pop when it gets some finish on it.
 
Congratulations
Bill (TBO - the bass one)

Welcome to the group and congrats on a really nice bass!

Here's what Mike cooked up for the more bird-like shape:
 

Yikes, that snapshot is really poorly exposed, but you can still see the form of the mock-up tailpiece.

Yup, thats the right shape. I'd imagine Mike will put the screw holes back of the centerpoint left & right of the A string slot/1 above the B string slot/1 below the G string slot.Might have to widen ever so slightly to put screws at either tip???Really responded well to my suggestion on that.
Do my eyes decieve me or is that already some finish on the wood? Gidyup!
This is such a creative arrangement of allowing the the construction to be monitered, your company is as unique as the instruments you make. I'm likin this...

That looks great.  You might want a little more metal than that in front of the B string, though.  It's probably fine, but it looks like there's so little there!  
 
I suspect there will be four bolts holding it in and located in the spaces between the strings rather than any outside of the outside slots.

Gary,
 
The bass is looking like a real beauty.  Mica's previous shot illustrates just how wonderful the basket-weavy, flamey walnut and the ebony neck lams will look with that gold hardware.  Nice job.

The tailpiece is usually anchored with three screws, I'm not sure how many Mike decided on with this design. Don't worry, there's plenty of metal in front of all the strings. Mike hand milled your tailpiece last night.   Finally had some good timing and got the bass before it was prepped:  

 Chip did a great job as usual positioning the wood on the front.  

 Kinda hard to appreciate without the backplates, but the back has a burst-like color change, it's remarkable.  

 

sweet

I'm absolutely delighted w/the beauty of this walnut,the more finish applied, the more eye popping the flame pattern becomes.
Any suggestions about making the final clear coat satin finish or gloss???
 I've seen you guys achieve incredible results both ways. The gloss is fabulous, but I personally love the satin.
Heads up everyone, the famous Amp & speaker designer/Bass player Phil Jones has started peeking at this project. Wouldn't be surprised if his own custom order ends up gracing the factory to customer pages here soon...We both find the very best hard to resist.

Gloss is better on dark woods. We can leave the neck with a satin feel if you find that you have a tendancy to stick to gloss finishes.   Tony has carved another Omega for you:  

 Now you'll have that other plane of symmetry you were after.  

 These pictures were taken right after he carved it - those rasp marks will be smoothed away of course. He rounded it out a little so you could see the Ebony laminates and reinforce the similar look at the two ends.

WOWHOW! The miniature omega cut just as I'd imagined it. Such a little detail, such titilation. Nice artistry Tony. I predict this option will be bigger than gold teeth.
Mica, I believe you're right about the gloss finish for this bass. And the satin for the back of the neck. By all means...
Just out of curiosity, what is the CWB???

That should be Continuous Wood Backplates, allowing us to see more of the figuring and color shift on the back.
 
Mike
P.S. Have I mentioned I LUV walnut!

Logo inlaid:
 

 
James did the preset on your bass today. That's where he does a complete setup, then takes all the hardware off. Over the next couple of days, Chris will buff and polish the brass and then we'll send it out to the gold plater.

I really love the grain pattern and color of this walnut, and that logo is stunning.  This bass is just darn good looking.