Bob was spraying today when I was taking pictures, so I don't have anything fresher than Monday for you:
 

 
Sometimes I am accused of being to understated, so just to make sure I am clear, the bass started getting sealer coats (before any tint) today. Next week I'll get you some nice ones!

Too cool! It's amazing to see this long dreamed-off project turn into reality.  
 
I love the headstock!

Here's the bass with the sealer coats:

The Quilted Maple is totally 3D. I know you will love this bunches.

I have seen my future. Nikki Sixx will be very full of envy!
Danno

Steve,
 
You must have gasped when you saw the 3D photo.  I know that I did.  Just awesome.
 
Jeff.

Unbelievable!  The quilt is absolutely killer.  Once it gets the extra oomph from the amber part of the 3-tone burst finish it will be deadly...
 
Hey, Danno -- screw Nikki Sixx. This bass in a tribute to Thunderfingers - the late and great John Entwistle.
 
When I first realized how amazing JE was and fell in love with his playing he was using a Thunderbird, and when I first saw them live that's what he played. My all-time favorite rock bass album is Quadrophenia, and JE used a T-Bird there, too.  Most Alembicians who are Entwistle fans think of JE with one of his Spyders, but for me JE and T-Birds are forever linked. So, my first dream bass was a T-Bird...and then in 1974 I fell in love with Alembics.  When JE started playing Alembics in '75 it was perfect!  
 
The Alembird is my tribute to John Entwistle, and it's also an homage to the Thunderbird, which is (still) my favorite non-Alembic bass. I wanted to capture some of the unique tonal qualities of the T-Bird, along with the body shape, which is why we used a mahagony neck and the T-Bird's odd pickup placement. The quilt top is really just a veneer (for the pimp factor) that won't affect the tone.  It's a five string because I don't play 4 much anymore.  
 
If you want to get an Alembird as a tribute to Nikki Sixx, that's cool.  May I suggest killer quilt and a see-through black finish?

Hey Steve,
 
How about an all Ebony and Purpleheart one?
 
Your Bass looks fantastic, by the way.  I've always been a big fan of the Thunderbird... Gibson's only truly successful (and lasting) Bass.  
 
Rami

Rami:
 
I assume you don't mean an ebony body, because that sucker would weight 20 lbs. easy!
 
I wanted to use an all mahagony neck because that's what the T-Bird's neck is made from, and I was trying to create an Alembic that sounded a bit like a T-Bird. Mahagony-necked basses have a unique and distinctive sound, and an ebony and purpleheart neck would be change from the sound I was trying to get.  That's why I didn't use a sustain block, and that's why I used the T-Bird's pickup placement.  
 
If you just want to copy the look of the T-Bird,    
you would have the freedom to play around with neck woods, pickup placement, etc.  My concept was different, though.  
 

Hey Steve,
 
I was just teasing about the wood choices - I'm a little biased.  
Your T-Bird's going to be awesome.

Hey Steve,
That is amazing, A ture T bird for all times.
Doug

Steve,
 
Can't wait to see the end result.  Looks like it's going to be another one of a kind bass.  Be sure to post pics upon the arrival of your baby.
 
Darrell

This one gets my vote for a featured custom spot!

would love an update on this project I'm a big T-Bird fan

It's hard to beleive that Mica started this thread two years ago!  To your credit Steve, you are a very patient man and that patience has obviously paid dividends for you in the form of an awesome bass collection.  Frankly, I think that many of your fellow club members, including myself, are more anxious than you are to see more pictures of progress on this project.  Perhaps Mica will take a bit of her very valuable time and give us a few updated photos.

I'm also one of the foaming at the mouth for a new picture silent masses.  I think I check this thread more than my own ftc thread lol.
 
- Jim