Kev Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) So, I figured it was time to start a new build thread! I have long been found to be drooling over the Instagram/Facebook feeds of Alpher Instruments, and after much deliberation I have an amazing build commissioned! Had some good chats with Chris and we are slowly hammering out the final spec, at present it reads as follows: [b]Updated 16.05.2015[/b] 5 String Mako Elite - 24 Fret Body: AAAAA Marbled/Curly 1 Piece Claro Walnut Top: 'Specialist Grade' 1 piece Buckeye Burl Neck Wood: 'Ribbon' figured Two-Tone Indian Rosewood Fingerboard: Ziricote Pickups: 2 x Nordstrand Bigman Preamp: Nordstrand 2 Band EQ with Coil Pan Hipshot A Bridge and Ultralite Tuners Carved Wooden Control Knobs A few pictures of the (uncut) woods chosen so far. They look incredible in the raw form as it is, I cannot wait to see them oiled! Claro Walnut: Buckeye Top and Ziricote Board: Early days, but I intend to keep this thread fully updated Edited July 2, 2015 by Kev Quote
LukeFRC Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 nice! I like the back/body wood that they use as much as the AAAAAAAAAAAaAAAAAAAAAA+ grade top woods Quote
Kev Posted February 21, 2015 Author Posted February 21, 2015 They have some superb suppliers, thats for sure One piece Buckeye Burl is not something you see too often, and I fell in love with that Walnut as soon as I was shown it. Quote
gary mac Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 They have some lovely looking wood. Can't wait to see the finished instrument Kev. When would you expect it to be completed? Quote
Kev Posted February 21, 2015 Author Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) Nine months or so I reckon, so should be a 2015 delivery Edited April 18, 2015 by Kev Quote
gary mac Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) Be a nice Chrimbo present for you. Edited February 21, 2015 by gary mac Quote
Kev Posted February 22, 2015 Author Posted February 22, 2015 [quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1424559136' post='2697799'] Be a nice Chrimbo present for you. [/quote] I am hoping it will be more of a Halloween present Quote
gary mac Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 [quote name='Kev' timestamp='1424564665' post='2697905'] I am hoping it will be more of a Halloween present [/quote] Enjoy the anticipation anyway. Will you sell me your lovely Wal once the Alpha arrives? Quote
Cameronj279 Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 That is going to be one very pretty looking bass! Picked a great cut of buckeye for the top too, just the right amount of 'in your faceness' about it. Quote
eude Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 That's going to be a VERY cool bass! Love that fingerboard Eude Quote
Kev Posted February 22, 2015 Author Posted February 22, 2015 [quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1424568035' post='2697936'] That is going to be one very pretty looking bass! Picked a great cut of buckeye for the top too, just the right amount of 'in your faceness' about it. [/quote] That is exactly why I chose it. Some Buckeye is just too much, but I love the waves and colours of this piece, and no bookmatching! Quote
Jellyfish Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 Might have had buckeye on my own Alpher if I hadn't spotted a prettier top... I think it'll look truely fantastic once they've properly sanded and oiled it up. Looking forward to more pics! Quote
Bigwan Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Hate buckeye burl, but like that a lot! Quote
Descendent Posted February 25, 2015 Posted February 25, 2015 I have an Alpher Mako fretless that Chris & Alex built for me last year - you won't be disappointed! Their one-piece bodies and tops are something else. Alpher's attention to detail is incredible and customer service is second to none too, as I'm sure you've found out. It's so hard to resist ordering another one, haha! Quote
Merton Posted February 27, 2015 Posted February 27, 2015 Ooooh this looks purdy! Looking forward to seeing it develop Quote
Kev Posted March 10, 2015 Author Posted March 10, 2015 So, my big block of claro walnut has arrived from California, and looks like it is big enough for a 1 piece body and a 1 piece neck! Quote
Cameronj279 Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) Not normally fussed by walnut but it is a very pretty (and surprisingly large) cut of it! Are you going for a walnut neck too? Edited March 10, 2015 by Cameronj279 Quote
Kev Posted March 10, 2015 Author Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1425976139' post='2712839'] Not normally fussed by walnut but it is a very pretty (and surprisingly large) cut of it! [/quote] And that is what it looks like dry. Just wait until it is oiled! The figuring is going to be insane Quote
Wooks79 Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='Kev' timestamp='1425972113' post='2712799'] So, my big block of claro walnut has arrived from California, and looks like it is big enough for a 1 piece body and a 1 piece neck! [/quote] Will you be scrapping the Buckeye burl then and going full Claro walnut? Quote
Kev Posted March 10, 2015 Author Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1425979849' post='2712880'] Will you be scrapping the Buckeye burl then and going full Claro walnut? [/quote] No no no, still the walnut body with buckeye top Quote
PlungerModerno Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='Kev' timestamp='1425972113' post='2712799'] So, my big block of claro walnut has arrived from California, and looks like it is big enough for a 1 piece body and a 1 piece neck! [/quote] Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Those are lovely pieces of timber. Watching with interest..... Quote
Toasted Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Specialist Grade no less.[/font][/color] Quote
Jellyfish Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) Man, that's gonna look stunning. Here's my body, untouched, next to the finished thing. Now imagine how good yours will look...! Edited March 12, 2015 by Jellyfish Quote
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