Here's that juicy top relaid out to avoid the awful crack:

  and the pretty back:

 It will darken up to match the top. It was almost the same color as the oxidized surface of the top before we sliced and sanded.   Caught the Walnut you provided just as Kris was sanding it down to the thickness for the accent laminates:

  And a nice stack of wooden goodies just waiting to get glued up:

And the neck in glue-up from about a month ago:

And a couple from after the glue dried:

 

Nice pictures Mica. What a sandwich up here, I love the combination !

Body parts just hanging out in the press:
 
What you're looking at here is the top laminate (which will be bookmatched to center) with its accent laminates on the left, and on the right is the body core (with some of the preliminary plumbing done) and the back laminate already glued together.  
 
As the neck is prepared for the next step, these parts are clamped between boards.

Body parts just hanging out in the press:

What you're looking at here is the top laminate (which will be bookmatched to center) with its accent laminates on the left, and on the right is the body core and the back laminate already glued together.  
 
As the neck is prepared for the next step, these parts are clamped between boards.

Not quite ready to join everything together, but getting closer:

 All the internal plumbing and that upper body half "rib" you requested are in place.  And the peghead bevel forming:

thanks Mica, these are looking great, I really like the peghead

Hi Rick, welcome to the board!

Hello Rick, and welcome again.
Boy, I could swear there are two tired eyes on the left of the back laminate in the second picture from the top.
 
Mike

Every time I see a new picture(s) here, its like fresh meat to the lions!  
 
I love this bass!

thanks to all and glad to be here. This is my first Alembic so it took awhile to design. lots to learn....but can't wait to get it!

So.
What is this RIB???
What does it do???

Good question.  My guess is the rib is the routed section in the upper horn.  Maybe it's there to bring the weight down, or to adjust how the bass is balanced...?

it is to add stiffness to take out a potential resonance in the upper body half