I'm still president of the anti-cone league. Sorry buddies but I don't like that shape. But hey ...as I said, difference is a most beautiful thing. Can imagine all the bass players in the world having a strandard point Alembic ...yuk. (Oooh ... I can imagine two things: more earthquakes and Fender would be a high end brand LOL).
Sorry: I saw a picture with a six string bass large body with balanced point and omega cutout with a cone headstock and THAT WAS beautiful and VERY stylish.
Essences and Europas are ok with cones. Rogues and Elans have slanted bodies so I think they are better with slanted headstock.
 
Back to topic: the fan headstock REALLY works with this design.
 
Paul TBO

As usual, the kudos for this bass's design ultimately go to Susan. I called to place the order, I had planned to order a Std. Pt. body - with the Fan peghead - and in Wineburst. In no time at all, Susan had me convinced that I should go with the Balance K body-style.  
 
Man, was she ever right!

Susan is right most of the times and in th emost unusual woodworks: try staircase on her!
HA!
 
Paul TBO
 
Mmmm ...that internal joke could be to deeply hidden.

No, I think I remember: at some point, Susan designed a staircase, or perhaps a well (area containing) for a staircase... and I'm kind of wishing it was spiral, but I don't think that was the case. There may be a picture somewhere (not here), but I've never seen it.
 
I suppose I could search, but that's really slow and I'm working again tonight .

Brother Bob,
 
hang in there man... we know you can do it!
We are all backing you up.
You know ...you should start a website with alll those funny graphs to indicate were precisely you are located in the sea of work on you trip to completion.
Wink-wink.
 
Paul the bad one

This is a bit off-topic, but since someone mentioned spiral staircases ... My grandfather was a carpenter, and apparently he was rather good at staircases. He left us a scale model of a spiral staircase, which is very nice - though it is collecting dust in my parents' attic, I'm afraid. Also a scale model of a big ocean steamer (S.S. Oranje) that he built from scrap pieces - this was in the depression years, when he was out of a job and money was short - nothing short of amazing. Plus he built a mandolin, which isn't tremendously playable but has a nice butterfly inlay near the soundhole (a la Gibson) and a 6 string banjo. There's also a violin lying around somewhere, but I'm guessing that was bought in a shop.

Here's the Wineburst on:  

 

  I don't remember doing continuous wood plates with a burst finish before - it looks cool!  The staircase must be the one in my parent's house. It's got 2 ninety degree turns (so four of the steps are cut at 45 degree angles). The carpenters did not think we could fit a staircase there - but my mom designed it and they built it!   Adriaan, maybe you can give those pieces a vacation from the attic and share them with a local woodworking group for an evening. Right now at our Sonoma County Museum there's a show of "Artistry in Wood" so see if there's any wood shows around your area that could appreciate your grandfather's work.

Good grief - I thought the bass looked just spiffy in bare maple, but that's an amazing finish!
 
Mica, thanks for the suggestion. I do not dwell in carpentry circles, and don't know if there are any wood shows here in Holland. Sure sounds like a nice idea for a family outing.

Reid,
 
This project keeps getting cooler and cooler.... The pictures are awesome, and as we all know, they don't even come close to the real thing!
 
Wow!

Uhmm, Mica, Susan, Bob, et al - I don't know what to say... how about, I'm astonished.
 
Reid

GReat idea that wineburst on the maple!!!!! subtle and I keep saying ....now this HAS STYLE!!!!
 
Paul TBO

That's looking very well indeed! The burst on the continuous wood plates is perfect! Definitely one of the best examples of a wineburst Alembic I've ever seen. Reed, you're such a lucky man!
 
Wilfred

Very nice, Reid!

beautiful work, folks!  I love the burst scheme
 
I had to post just to also comment on the neck laminate used as hold-down fixture ...
 
I think I will try to commission Alembic to build me some maple / puple heart wood clamps!  I would be the envy of every woodworker I know!

It's getting reeeeeeal close, Reid:
 

 
Even got the logo fitted today. I bet I'll be posting a finished shot on Monday, just hope you can stand it 'till then