Steve,
 
Good phone meeting today, 20 frets are depicted and we're making the changes we discussed. As Mica said, the chips are going to start flying. Mike loves new projects like this. More posts to comein the next few weeks.
-susan

Right.  We will go with 22 frets, and to slighlty improve access to the upper frets we will move the neck out one fret beyond where it joins the original T-Bird's body.
 
One of the challenges of this project is that the original T-Bird, as cool as it is, has some serious ergononmic flaws.  Because of the large headstock and reversed body design on the original, the T-Bird is notoriously neck-heavy.  The body design also creates terrible access to  the T-Bird's upper frets -- it's hard to play much past the 17th fret.    
 
Alembic would never design a bass with these kinds of design problems.  But, the whole idea behind this project was to build a bass that looked like the T-Bird, but with Alembic's build quality and electronics (not to mention 5 strings). With that concept, there's no way the thing won't be neck heavy and afford decent access to the upper frets. We can tweak it, though, by using a small headstock, Hipshot Ultralight tuners and tweaking the neck/body joint.
 
T-Birds are cool.  Alembirds will be cooler - and they will sound amazing!  Can you say growl?

Sooo... It's gonna be a 5-string???
 
It's gonna be helluva unusual bass - can't wait to see it happen!!!

The neck of the Alembird:

  And the top will be this wood:

 

Wow!
 
I better get to work and re-learn The Real Me!

I love it Steve! I see an Alembird in my future! In black of course. Fantastic top. You will be one happy customer.
Danno

Danno - black with black hardware! Now that would be a gothic bass!

Steve,  
 
It's great to see that work on this very interesting project is progressing.  And, once again Mr. Wood, you have somehow managed to secure another awesome piece of wood for your bass!  Is this because the Wickersham's cannot help but bestow these honors upon you because your name is Mr. Wood, or is it because you have acquired one of the world's best collections of Alembic basses?  
 
Speaking of awesome basses, are you tired yet of your Series II in Quilted Cocobolo?
http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/411/2889.html?1060212764
 
Mine needs company.

Here's how to get the killer wood out of Susan and Mica: make a HUGE pain in the ass out of yourself, and wear them down.  It works for me!
 
 

Okay, just so no one gets the wrong idea, Steve is just kidding.  I'm sure he knows how to be a HUGE pain in the ass but Mica and I have never seen it.
 

Hey Steve,  
John from Seattle... do you still have my Maple series II? What all is your quiver these days?

Wasn't really thrilled with the Rosewood fingerboards, then Bob dug up this relic that Mom thought would be perfect for your project:  

 This is a chunk of Braz. Rosewood we've had stashed for abotu 30 years. It's not wide enough for a top, even an Essence. Got more wavy grain than usual for a fingerboard, so thought we should check with you first if you wanted us to use it.  

 Close-up look, hard to tell much for the plan view.   Let mom know if you want this or have something else in mind.

30 years old Braz. Rosewood?
I would surely know what to do, but I'm not entitled to answer for Steve... ;-)
 
Very interesting project BTW!
 
Wilfred

Is this a trick question?  Why would anyone say no?
The stuff is beautiful - let's do it!

At first Chip thought the Maple pinstripes in the neck were too faint. But then he realized we were bookmatching to center, now he wants to keep the original neck:

  He even has the veneers on the peghead: