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Alembic Balance K "inspired" (semi-replica) build

#41
Having tried my hand at coming up with an original body design, with mixed results, I realize how hard it is to design something with a flow and proportion that works. The balance K body is perfect as is, but the Alembic headstock never really grabbed me, I think its fair game, and an opportunity to put your own stamp on it.
 
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#42
The pieces I cut are about .100" (just under 1/8"), and i made sure to joint the face of the plank flat to make a tight join-able surface prior to cutting each one.
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that way i dont have to worry about surfacing the thin piece & take a chance on shredding it in the planer or whatever.
Then I glue the thin pcs. onto the core plank,(with some MDF as a clamping caul to spread out even pressure & after it's dry, run it through the wide-belt sander to take the veneer down to the thickness i want, (for the wenge that is about 1/32") before starting over with the next layer.
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#44
Rôckhewer said:
Good question..... the body is going to remain just how they designed it... However, I am seriously considering using MY headstock design....
now, does it "go" with the body in an aesthetically pleasing way? meh... debatable.
But it does serve the purpose of making it mine.
At the same time, keeping the body original, preserves the the purpose(s) of why I'm even building this. (which I might get into in detail later).
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I love Alembics and the Balance K is one of their finest designs. personally i think you're headstock design looks great with it.
 
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#48
Rôckhewer said:
Does anyone know where I might find specs. / dimensions of the parts of an Alembic 5 string bridge?
They are fairly basic little items, & im sure I can build one... it would just be alot easier if I didn't have to guess at dimensions; )
thanks
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There is one TB'er who owns one of these, I'll try to remember who and give you his forum name, maybe he can hook you up. He has a balance K in his avatar.
 
#50
I've made around dozen of that kind of bridges. My bandmate turned the round parts, I made the rest out of different size brass bars with just drill press and Dremel bits. Brass is actually very nice to work with even with hand tools.
 
#51
I think the guy I'm thinking of is SamJ, also founder of the Fender MIA club. His avatar is a balance K. Other people must have balance K's, seem to remember him posting a NBD thread on it, but I could be wrong. You may be better off posting on Alembic Club, if the bridges are identical, somebody should be willing to measure one for you. I don't have the metalwork skills to make one of these, probably have to use a stock bridge.
 
#52
MPU said:
I've made around dozen of that kind of bridges. My bandmate turned the round parts, I made the rest out of different size brass bars with just drill press and Dremel bits. Brass is actually very nice to work with even with hand tools.
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exactly. ...like i said...i don't forsee a problem with the ability to create such a bridge.
it would just be nice if I could get some dimensions of the components involved.
So if anyone has an Alembic. ...
could i trouble you to throw a ruler on your bridge?
 
#53
(Forgive the unsolicited musings....)

I am of two minds regarding the Alembic bridge.

On the one hand, as with everything Alembic, the workmanship and finish are top-notch, and the mechanism appears to be constructed with tight tolerances and smooth operation.

On the other hand, the design strikes me as rudimentary and inelegant. It looks like a very nicely made version of something I could cobble up myself in my garage. It's functionally identical to the classic Gibson Tune-O-Matic, while looking brutish and pedestrian in comparison to the streamlined form of the TOM.

And the beautiful shapes of those tailpieces are (for me) completely marred by the unsightly screw heads sitting right in the middle. Something that beautiful should have a sleeker look to it. Ideally, the fasteners should not be visible, but even using Allen screws instead of Phillips-head would look better.
 
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#56
ctmullins said:
(Forgive the unsolicited musings....)

I am of two minds regarding the Alembic bridge.

On the one hand, as with everything Alembic, the workmanship and finish are top-notch, and the mechanism appears to be constructed with tight tolerances and smooth operation.

On the other hand, the design strikes me as rudimentary and inelegant. It looks like a very nicely made version of something I could cobble up myself in my garage. It's functionally identical to the classic Gibson Tune-O-Matic, while looking brutish and pedestrian in comparison to the streamlined form of the TOM.

And the beautiful shapes of those tailpieces are (for me) completely marred by the unsightly screw heads sitting right in the middle. Something that beautiful should have a sleeker look to it. Ideally, the fasteners should not be visible, but even using Allen screws instead of Phillips-head would look better.
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Problem with the TOMs is they're now on Epiphones and all sorts of budget basses.You look at an Alembic bridge/tailpiece and you pretty much know what it came off of no matter how pedestrian it may appear to the eye. Whose (two-piece) bridge looks better in your opinion? Warwick? Those are nice.
 
#57
RBrownBass said:
Problem with the TOMs is they're now on Epiphones and all sorts of budget basses.You look at an Alembic bridge/tailpiece and you pretty much know what it came off of no matter how pedestrian it may appear to the eye. Whose (two-piece) bridge looks better in your opinion? Warwick? Those are nice.
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Perception by association is intellectually dishonest. But you're right, those guilty of it don't even understand what it is, thus the TOM is looked down upon. I really like the TOM, provided the studs are locked solid in the body, and the threads aren't sloppy.

The Hipshot D is cool, except it's ungainly and looks too much like an A that had a sex change. The Warwick stuff is nice, but still not as elegant as the Gibson style, and still guilty of exposing unsightly fasteners. My favorite two-piece bridge is a floating wedge of Ebony, with the strings anchored through-body instead of a bolted-on tailpiece.

Hipshot A is my current benchmark though. And the original BadAss, 'cause it's just so, well, Bad Ass.

But now we're pretty far off-topic, and I've stolen too much of @Rôckhewer 's spotlight, so I'm heading back to my balcony seat now.... ;)
 
#58
ctmullins said:
The Hipshot D is cool, except it's ungainly and looks too much like an A that had a sex change
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The only thing i dont like about my hipshot D is the fact that the springs dont have a proper "seat", where the rear of the spring meets the rounded area of the body of the bridge, and they shift to the right.:
WP_20150703_14_12_16_Pro 1-1.jpg

ctmullins said:
But now we're pretty far off-topic, and I've stolen too much of @Rôckhewer 's spotlight, so I'm heading back to my balcony seat now.... ;)
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no sweat man, & you don't have to sit in the balcony if you don't want to, ...I think there are some orchestra pit seats still available. ...:bassist:lol....
 
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#59
I like two piece bridges. My Les Paul DC (same bridge as regular Les Pauls) is by far my favorite palm mute position. Granted, that's not how I (and most others) palm mute an electric bass, but it has just always been a favorite.

In fact, I totally want to do a two piece bridge build on a future bass. At least I'd have a chance to work with neck break angles (assuming the forward bridge piece is higher than a standard one piece bridge, of course.)
 

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