This thing showed up this morning...the prototype wooden crate Mica mentioned in the thread about shipping.  I missed Mary's call to confirm my shipping address by about 30 seconds on Tuesday, and since I've got shows Friday and Saturday, we decided to test this box and overnight the Dragonfly.  I had to use a drill motor with a screwdriver bit to open it...Test Successful, guys!  Unfortunately, by camera battery is dead now, but I did manage to get a couple of shots before it died.

  Behold!  The very first inlaid logo with a Black Tahitian M.O.P. cloud!  This is the only one worth a dang.  I'll try some more when I find my charger.  It sounds amazing!  The neck pickup is the be-all-end-all Authoritative Voice of "This is God! Are You Paying Attention?"  It's so meaty yet articulate, and when I go down low it sounds like there's all kinds of bass boost happening but without any mud.  Must be the ebony!  Blend the bridge in and it sounds like two basses playing in unison!  Master volume is a must have, since the two together are much louder than either soloed.  The bridge pickup is great, too.  So far I've been able to find a great punchy jazz bass tone as well as an almost Star Trek: The Movie V'Ger sound.    All my experimenting so far has been with the F1X set flat and the filter channels on the SF2 off.  It sounds soooo good just by itself!  I must admit I was a little nervous about what it was going to sound like.  I've never ordered a custom instrument before, and have always been kind of picky about how an instrument sounds.  I played close to 20 Moduluses (Moduli?) before deciding on the one I've had for the past 12 years.  The Alembic had some bretty big shoes to fill, and initial imprssions indicate that it's busting the seams out of them.  It even sounds good with the filters and the CVQ knobs all the way up, which is good in case I get confused by all the knobs.  I can always fall back to that!   The wood is absolutely gorgeous.  There's even a little pinstripe between the vermillion accent lam and the mahogany that I had never noticed in the FTC.  Looks like walnut???  Very tasty little surprise detail.    I's not all that heavy, surprisingly, and it balances perfectly for me.  It's a bit of a strech playing it seated, but standing it's no problem at all.  Oh, and the Dragonfly inlay!!  The FTC pictures do not do it justice!   On the down side, it is still adjusting to the system shock of California-to-flight-to-muggy Georgia Spring.  The neck was totally flat when it got here, I've loosened the rods a bit but now am just letting it adjust itself for a while.  I'm about to pass out anyway since I barely slept last night.  Which also explains why I sound like a raving lunatic right now.  Alembic definitely makes the best Kool-Aid.  Mica, Susan, Ron, Mary, James, Jason, Val and everyone else at Alembic, THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this dream a reality for me.  You guys are the best! YeeHAH!!  (Message edited by crgaston on May 10, 2007)

COOL BOX.

COOL CLOUD!

Awesome crgston,
 
You don't sound like a raving lunatic, you sound great and normal! I can't begin to even imagine the smell when you open the case.  
 
But I would love to be in your shoes and I can't wait but it looks like I will be for a while.
 
I'll go back and look at your other pics until you get batteries.
 
Congrats s'''oooo much!!!!!
 
Aloha, Paul

Charles,
 
The word congratulations just isn't sufficient at times like this.
 
You gotta get some pictures for us- I've followed your build thread closer than any of the others- I NEED resolution!
 
Enjoy it bro!
 
Toby

Thanks, guys! Paul, you're right about the smell.  It's probably bad for brain cells, but it sure is nice! Here's some more details... Back of the neck where the ebony gets all chocolatey...

  The secret pinstripe...

  I asked for no maple in the headstock lams.  They're walnut and either mahogany or vermillion...

  There will be more to come over the next few days.  My  bass stand is in our trailer right now and I've got to learn a Bon Jovi song (I play in an alternative country band, for crying out loud!) for a private party tomorrow, so...      Toby, check your yahoo email.  (Message edited by crgaston on May 10, 2007)

Bon Jovi is now considered alternative country. Roll over Ernest Tubb.

Charles:
 
Congrats!  It must feel great.  I love the neck recipe.  May you make beautiful music together for many years to come.
 
Bill, tgo

Better stay behind the chicken wire with that one,but rest assured you have arrived.

Charles..... who says you can't go home?.........
Oh yes, great detail pics. Hopefully I'll get to see it in person one day.

Beautiful. Keep the pics comin!

Charles,
 
Absolutely gorgeous- I'll bet it plays even better than it looks.
 
Got the email, thanks for that.
 
Toby

Hey, that is one beautiful looking bass.  I can't wait to see the rest of it.  I am sooooo jealous.  Maybe one day I too can join the ranks of a custom alembic.  Anyways, congrats!!! and Aloha.

Hi Charles,
 
I've been looking at your FTC thread. It's one of the most beautiful bass which I have ever seen. Please upload many pics of this beauty on Showcase!
 
Toshiaki

ooohhhhhh mmmmaaaaannnnn, nniiiicccceee!!!!