The dove is releasing the branch from his open beak passing it to Noah as the symbol of the covenant not to flood the earth again.
 
The final inlay will have a golden pearl twig that will stand out much better against the white pearl of the doves breast as well as the ebony fingerboard. Mica and I are working on the new version of it for all your viewing pleasure.  
 
-Susan

Susan,
Thanks for the clarification. Make a note to myself: stay out of FTC discussions ...

Here's the golden twig version scaled to the 7th fret:  

  And here's your body in the vacuum press:

 I admit it isn't much to look at, but it is neat when I can get a shot of something while it's happening.

Here's that peghead mockup I thought I would get done in the morning:
 

 
Disregard the logo under the strings. I'm just concentrating on the cross placement right now.

Adriaan,
 
Make a note to yourself:
 
Disregard previous note and keep on posting!
 
-Susan

Susan,
 
Agree on logo in back of peghead. That will be pretty unique and a great solution.  Thanks :-)
 
The Dove looks great at new scale and with improved colours.  Thanks for the fret move (my wife has a thing about the ratio of space above and below -- where below needs to be longer than above).  Like most wives (dare we admit it) she is correct :-)
 
NO problems on the body... The sooner I get to play this thing the better...  Yearning for 35 of low B :-)  I'm going to cut and paste that other body shape for my next fretless...
 
Mica,
 
I think the new cross mockup looks great.  If you are happy with it then I am OK to lock this one in too.  That has the be the fastest custom inlay discussion I have ever seen!!!
 
ANY photos you have of the production process for my bass along the way are appreciated.  I don't recall seeing a body in the vacuum press before -- sensational :-)
 
BTW, my 1st Son (I have two daughters) is due in early August...  How blessed am I to have two new toys to play with at the same time!!

Sean,
 
Your wife is correct, as is most senior management just ask any of us! The mock ups we do are just to give the customer a visual of the direction we will take so you won't be too apprehensive while we do our thing with it. Your wife's natural affinity to this space ratio is called the golden rectangle made popular by Leonardo da Vinci, a master of perspective and proportion. It appears all over in nature and I like most artists utilize this in the placement as well as the proportions of a design. Unless centering an object is intregal to the design it automatically has that space ratio- thank the wife for noticing.
 
Congrats on the expected arrival of your son.
 
-Susan

Susan,
 
Okay, I'll bite ... Beautiful colours on the leaves, hard to believe it's only a mock-up. Now you can clearly see where the stem ends, it makes perfect sense.
 
There seem to be two general themes to the inlays: positive/happy/christian or sixties/hippy/pagan. Must be an odd range to cover as an artist working on commission ...

In spray, but not yet sprayed:  

 Looking good!  

 Sorry, this is a little out of focus. I can't touch the instruments in spray so it's the best I could do. I know you'll be happy to see the circular grain pattern on the peghead.

Oh my, it's gorgeous - time to think up a name -- anyone???  The purpleheart neck laminates really set of the Coco body well.  I know the maple laminate is standard, but it surely brings out the light in the Coco as well.  Nicely carved -- who did it?
 
You are right Mica, I am VERY excited about the knot in the peghead.  Once setup and the cross on, it will still be quite visible :-)
 
Mmmm... It's definitely a female (the dove will further soften it), but it's 35 and it's going to be played in a funk/rock style... Mmmm... There has to be some classic American names that would suit?  What are some famous Gospel/Motown type names -- and please, not Aretha!!!
 
Kind Regards,
Sean.

Martha

Tony Garcia did the carving on your instrument... he's amazing, you should see him at work.
 
Valentino

Valentino,
 
In a couple of years I hope to order my 1st Series II then maybe I can seeit carved in person :-)
 
Sean.

I suggest Mahalia, after Mahalia Jackson my favourite gospel singer.
 
 
Valentino

Nice one :-)
 
My wife says Alembia...  To your knowledge has anyone called their bass this before?