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I know this has been said before but I can never work out how Martin does the pickup routing etc at such a late stage when the bass has been finished. It just makes me admire his skill even more
Matthew
Matthew
I am a little worried about the saleability of the instrument iof it has my initials on it - but I think that if they really dislike it then maybe they could just order a new compartment cover and replace them entirely. My thoughts were that although the bass is built to my specs, I want people to know it!
And this was it's a little more specific to me.I think I might have used the wrong word with 'engraving'. What is the process actually called? How do they do it? Is it with lasers? Or all done by hand? This steep learning curve is very exciting for me...
Aidan
Geez it's all going swimmingly around here !!
Mistahbenn - Not to far to go now !! These last finishing touches seem to take an age. We all know what a perfectionist Martin is and he won't let you have it until it's 100% finished. Don't worry about a timescale, it'll be well worth waiting for
I was speaking to a local luthier yesterday and took 'Jezebel' with me. He also had no idea how Martin routs the pickup cavities without cracking the finish, so it's not just us players who are stumped
Needless to say, Jezebel received much ooo-ing and aah-ing
Aidan - On my Sei, I had my signature inlaid at the 12th fret. Initially, I thought the signature would be etched into metal, as suggested on the Sei site. However, Martin had the idea of a Jazz bass inspired inlay of mother-of-pearl with my sig laser-etched into it. Luckily I have small writing so the signature is actual size.
Maybe it would be possible to have something inlaid into the compartment cover ??
Mistahbenn - Not to far to go now !! These last finishing touches seem to take an age. We all know what a perfectionist Martin is and he won't let you have it until it's 100% finished. Don't worry about a timescale, it'll be well worth waiting for
I was speaking to a local luthier yesterday and took 'Jezebel' with me. He also had no idea how Martin routs the pickup cavities without cracking the finish, so it's not just us players who are stumped
Needless to say, Jezebel received much ooo-ing and aah-ing Aidan - On my Sei, I had my signature inlaid at the 12th fret. Initially, I thought the signature would be etched into metal, as suggested on the Sei site. However, Martin had the idea of a Jazz bass inspired inlay of mother-of-pearl with my sig laser-etched into it. Luckily I have small writing so the signature is actual size.
Maybe it would be possible to have something inlaid into the compartment cover ??
That looks really nice. To have my initials on the compartment cover was actually Martin's idea. I'm not sure how he's planning on doing it but I'll make sure I find out before he does. What stage of the process the this happen? Right at the end?
Aidan
Aidan
Yup, right at the end after the bridge, pickups, tuners....
I really like it. I know that it seriously affects the retail value, but hey, I'm never selling so I dont care !!
I really like it. I know that it seriously affects the retail value, but hey, I'm never selling so I dont care !!
Here's my latest Sei (the eighth one! aaaaagh!!). It has to go back to the finishers (Martin Sims) as the lacquer is "wavy & bubbled" where the fingerboard meets the top edge of the body - you can see the way the light is in the pic.
Saying that, the macassar ebony looks rather yummy, huh?
Saying that, the macassar ebony looks rather yummy, huh?
Looks fantastic Kevin 
Shame it has to go back, seems Martin is having real problems with quality control from his finishers. As he is a perfectionist nothing will come out until he is happy but these delays must be a right royal pain!!
Shame it has to go back, seems Martin is having real problems with quality control from his finishers. As he is a perfectionist nothing will come out until he is happy but these delays must be a right royal pain!!
Holy crap Kev - that looks awesome - even with the botched finish! What wood are the wings made of? I can see you have a maple neck with mahogany stringers - I've seen this bass in the workshop but pre-finish - it's amazing how it simply comes alive with some sanding and finihs applied - can't wait to see it completed - and I'll defo see you in August... the wait for my bass is going fine but things are progressing a little slow - hopefully Martin will start gluing it together in the next week or so - my bass is going yo be ....f-ing amazing.
M
M
Looks fantastic Kevin
Shame it has to go back, seems Martin is having real problems with quality control from his finishers. As he is a perfectionist nothing will come out until he is happy but these delays must be a right royal pain!!
Kevin
I agree, it looks totally fantastic and it's a great bit of maccasar you have got. I would also say that it is a pain to go back to the finishers but better now than when you have got it. You would never be happy with the way it is now.
Regards
Matthew
the wings on my singlecut are alder - was gonna go for mahogany to start off with, but we reckoned the alder / ebony combination would complement the mahogany / maple neck woods.
The hardware is going to be gold - I suggested that after seeing the lacquered bass (originally, we were gonna just use black), I said the gold would be a nice contrast - like gold foil wrapping on a bar of chocolate!!
Villex jazz style pickups to grab that full range acoustic tone, with teh classic jazz sound, that's the final piece in the puzzle.
The hardware is going to be gold - I suggested that after seeing the lacquered bass (originally, we were gonna just use black), I said the gold would be a nice contrast - like gold foil wrapping on a bar of chocolate!!
Villex jazz style pickups to grab that full range acoustic tone, with teh classic jazz sound, that's the final piece in the puzzle.
Mistahben, lovely bass...the Thuya root is a beautiful wood with the finish on it. Armstrongs and a Schack circuit will give you a great and very flexible sounding bass.
Kevin, really like your bass. Looking really nice despite the unfortunate finishing...sorry to hear about that and the inevitable delay
Im guessing that with your experience of ordering basses from Martin you know it will work out right in the end.
Im being very mean and not doing pictures of the SEI 8 until it is completed (
)
which may be a few weeks away given just how busy Martin seems as the moment. Whilst Martin and I have got most of the things required to finish the bass, a few last bits of hardware and the Ghost piezo circuitry still need to be obtained. To give everyone a teasing idea of what it looks like, the bass has an amazing warmth and depth of colour to it. Whilst some of the dramatic contrasts in the top wood have mellowed quite a lot in the finishing process, the result is a lovely warm slightly understated looking bass of unparalleled beauty to me. Needless to say Im very excited about it and finding this last bit of the wait hard going!
Kevin, really like your bass. Looking really nice despite the unfortunate finishing...sorry to hear about that and the inevitable delay
Im guessing that with your experience of ordering basses from Martin you know it will work out right in the end.Im being very mean and not doing pictures of the SEI 8 until it is completed (
)
which may be a few weeks away given just how busy Martin seems as the moment. Whilst Martin and I have got most of the things required to finish the bass, a few last bits of hardware and the Ghost piezo circuitry still need to be obtained. To give everyone a teasing idea of what it looks like, the bass has an amazing warmth and depth of colour to it. Whilst some of the dramatic contrasts in the top wood have mellowed quite a lot in the finishing process, the result is a lovely warm slightly understated looking bass of unparalleled beauty to me. Needless to say Im very excited about it and finding this last bit of the wait hard going!
Heard from Martin last Friday.
Fingerboard now got the inlaid markers - LEDs going in fairly shortly. With a bit of luck - I'll be able to pop up in the next couple of weeks to check out the neck profile!
As for the wrist - the fingers swell up a bit after playing and get a bit sore, about 60% movement now. The Physio has given me the go ahead to play golf now and wants me to work it as much as possible. Got another session tomorrow and to quote the Physio "We'll really work the wrist"
Good times
Fingerboard now got the inlaid markers - LEDs going in fairly shortly. With a bit of luck - I'll be able to pop up in the next couple of weeks to check out the neck profile!
As for the wrist - the fingers swell up a bit after playing and get a bit sore, about 60% movement now. The Physio has given me the go ahead to play golf now and wants me to work it as much as possible. Got another session tomorrow and to quote the Physio "We'll really work the wrist"
Good times
Here's my latest Sei (the eighth one! aaaaagh!!). It has to go back to the finishers (Martin Sims) as the lacquer is "wavy & bubbled" where the fingerboard meets the top edge of the body - you can see the way the light is in the pic.
Saying that, the macassar ebony looks rather yummy, huh?
Holy sh.....
Don't worry - I got my neon pink leotard on. (Normal work attire, just ask Howie!)
I'm working it baby.
I'm working it baby.
It's true !!! he told me that all T-SQL developers wear that.
I'll be ok when the nightmares stop.
Paddy taken his mind off of the pain in his wrist by having the top half of his arm covered with a tattoo that REALLY hurt. It is good though I have to say.
Anyway, there must have been a blue moon last night so I thought I would post something.
I am 8 months into my build now and I haven't heard anything so maybe I have been forgotten. I am so angry about it that I am going to leave it another 6 months then give them a call.
I went and bought another second hand Sei last weekend. This one is a headless 4 string with Zebra wood back and Buckeye Burl front. I got it from Gizmo (Steve) over on the BassChat forum.
It needs a setup (I will get it to the Gallery asap) but I think it is really good.
Paddy is taking it home for a try so at least it will get played properly for a while.
Cheers.
Geez, it looks like all is coming along great !! I can't wait to see pics of Mistahbenn finished Sei as well as the surprisingly easy to handle 8 string 
Kevin - The 'oil slick' looks great !! It's a shame about the finish and you'd think that Mr.Sims & Co. would want to impress Martin with the quality of their work
Sounds like with aid of a Jane Fonda video and the wearing of the obligatory neon pink leotard that Paddy's wrist is coming along nicely. I'm under medication already, so no more is needed to avoid the nightmares !!
Kevin - The 'oil slick' looks great !! It's a shame about the finish and you'd think that Mr.Sims & Co. would want to impress Martin with the quality of their work
Sounds like with aid of a Jane Fonda video and the wearing of the obligatory neon pink leotard that Paddy's wrist is coming along nicely. I'm under medication already, so no more is needed to avoid the nightmares !!
Who said it hurt!!!!! Not me - I'm a big hunk of pink, rubber clad man....
"Reach 2, 3, 4. And Stretch 2, 3, 4 - Feel the burn ladies"
Phone Martin - for all you know yours is at the finishers!!!!!!!
Anyway - play nicely or your headless turns neckless...
"Reach 2, 3, 4. And Stretch 2, 3, 4 - Feel the burn ladies"
Phone Martin - for all you know yours is at the finishers!!!!!!!
Anyway - play nicely or your headless turns neckless...
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