This is the neck I was bringing up to the office when you were on the phone with my mom:

  This will be hidden under the peghead veneers:

YAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!  :-)  Thanks very much Mica!  Can you change it to Jim's custom signature tho?  
 
I'm SO happy to see this.  Thank you very much!  
 
- Jim Tussing

Jim's custom signature deluxe actually... Sorry. So excited I can't type!

I already caught that and changed while you were reading  
 
(Message edited by mica on March 01, 2007)

:-D  Well, I'll be showing off my new dental work for a while!  Thanks for the close-up!
 
- Jim

This is the top wood that my mom and I dug out of the stacks a few nights ago:

 
Even though you've already seen this wood, it seems appropriate to include it on your thread.

For the curious, here are the original specs of my bass:
 
Alembic Mark King 5 Deluxe
Top/Back: 5A Quilt Maple Top, 3A Quilt Maple Back
Balance K Body w/Tummy & Elbow contours
Anniversary Electronics
Heart Omega
Red side LED's
Abolone inlays
Inlaid Alembic logo w/shell
One ebony, two purpleheart neck laminates

Man, I dreamed up a very similar MKD 4-string on the Custom Quote Generator a couple of months ago.  Only differences are that mine was spec'd with a blue buckeye burl top 'n' back, blue side LEDs and standard Sig electronics.  Even the neck laminates were the same.  You should wind up with a killer cool bass, Jim.

Hey, Jim!!
 
Yayyy!! Yer little monster finally hatched!  Glad to see ya made it! Ebony lam, cool!
Can't wait to see the progression!
Congratulations, Jim! The next few months will be memorable, Enjoy yourself!
 
B Cool, Mike    (the 'Ho....)

Congrats, Jim!

Hifi, Ho, King,  
 
Thanks! First time I've ever done anything like this and am looking forward to watching it take shape. Is it done yet?  Is it done yet?  Is it done yet?  :-)

Have you considered getting continueous woodplates for the back, Jim?  They really look awesome -especially on highly-figured woods like Coco Bolo and Quilted Maple.
 
One other thing you might consider: they've got a REALLY bitchin' amber tint I've seen 'em do with Maple basses... you might ask 'em about it, I think there are probably an example or two floating around on the site.  Maybe they could show you/refer you to a picture.
 
I think I'd have to get the amber tint if I were getting a Quilted Maple Alembic... but that's me!
 
Oh yeah, one other thing.  I recommend you consider kicking out a few extra bucks for 3-position Q switches... they'll add a lot of flexibility.
 
Look forward to seeing your Balance K get built, Jim.  It's looking like they'll be working on ours about the same time, so we'll see 'em built together!

Thanks King!  I will ask about the tint.  I had thought about the continuous wood backplates but didn't think it was really worth the $ to me. Besides, I am kinda going for that nautical feel that brass gives. Come to think of it the tint might even accentuate that. I am getting the 3-pos Q's though (0/4/8). I'm also replacing the pickup selector switch with a regular 3-pos toggle too - I don't like that weird pie-shaped selector they use.  
 
Anyway, thanks for the great advice!
 
Regards,
Jim

C'mon, Jim, get out some more of that old, moldy money you have layin' around, and spring fer the continuous wood backplates! And while yer at it, I'll even let you pay for some for mine!!
 
LOL!     Mike......

Hahahaha!  Noice!  Oh sure, Ho, goad me into it... BTW, how did you know my money was mouldy?  You haven't been sneaking around my tool shed have ya?  :-)
 
- Jim