Here's the body laminations:
 

 
It's a really outstanding piece of wood for this body shape. Hope you like it too!

It's beautiful.  Thanks!!

In carving about two weeks ago:
 

 
I know your bass is in spray now, so things are zooming along.

Mica,
 
I hadn't seen this earlier. It's absolutely beautiful.  Thanks so much for posting the picture.  I didn't realize how far along it was and that's great.
 
Knowing how far along the bass is, I also just wanted to remind you, Val and (I think) James that I had wanted a rounding off of the edges of the fretboard where the top of the board meets the sides, so that the edge is pre-worn (which it gets to be naturally after a few years of playing). Nothing fancier than that. I think James had lightly sanded and rounded off the edges on the original version of my bass and this would be the same thing.
 
Thanks again for all your help and that of everyone at Alembic.  I can't tell you how much I've appreciated the attention and responsiveness. I think it is not only the uniqueness and craftsmanship of the instruments, but also of the customer relationship that makes Alembic so special.

Mica, Val:
 
Any new news or pictures?  
 
Thanks,
 
Rick

Hi Rick,  Valentino's on vacation until the 23rd, but I saw your bass in the setup room today:  

 

  In preset, it will get fretted, the custom hole pattern drilled and then sent back to spray for the last few coats of finish.

Seems a shame to put any holes in that glorious top ...

Mica,
 
Thanks so much for the new pictures and update.
Adriaan is right in saying that it seems a shame to put any holes in that glorious top, but without the holes (and there'll be a lot of them) and the electronics that go into them, the beauty of this bass would truly only be skin deep.  
 
The unique Alembic electronics and the willingness to customize them to give me the flexibility I wanted is why I ultimately chose Alembic to create my bass. I've already built 3 basses myself and so much of even the top end basses contain electronics that I could have or have already put into my home-crafted instruments.  Alembic is one of the few crafters out there who not only offer something special and different on the body end, but also on the pickups/electronics end, too.   It's also why I had no problem waiting the extra 6 months to have it come out right. And, it sure looks like it's coming out just right!!!  Perfection is definitely worth waiting for.

That top almost looks poured on.  Nice!

Drilled the real thing now:
 

 
Shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks before we're shipping this one, it's scheduled for rubout early next week.

Sir, that is a mighty fine bass you are receiving. I love the Dragon Wing basses.
 
 
Oh, by the way, any chance you know a Fred Kessler?

Wow!!! It's awsome.  Thanks Mica!
 
And thanks for the compliment, Applejuice. However, I don't know any Fred Kesslers.

Mica,
 
Any new news or pictures?
 
Thanks,
 
Rick

Bob's got the tailpiece made (it's a hand made part) and it's in spray. As soon as that last part is done, we'll spend a couple of days finishing up the rest of the detail work.  
 
I didn't know we were out of the Dragon Wing tailpieces when I gave you the last update, sorry 'bout that!

Mica,
 
No problem.  Thanks for the update.
 
--Rick