The Hossenfeffer III Build

[Gilmourisgod]

Annnnnnnddddd..... Its not a Ric Clone. Here's my inspiration, the Alembic Balance K:

And I need some TB Hive Mind Action. I tried subtly messing with the body shape, and realized after much time wasted that it CANNOT BE IMPROVED. The headstock, however is another matter. Here are (6) versions I've drawn with options for the headstock design. "Option 1" is the standard Alembic headstock profile, the other 5 are my own scribblings. I have a clear favorite, but I won't divulge it, hoping somebody pitches in their opinion:

Options 4-6 are takeoffs on a Bigsby Merle Travis style headstock, which Leo blatantly ripped off and toned down for the original P and J bass designs. Option 6 shows the Warmoth bridge, all the others show the Hipsot D style.

A few specs:
32" Scale
Richlite Faux Ebony Fingerboard with 24 Frets. the dot markers are just placeholders for now, might get Fancy with them.
5 piece laminate neck beam, flame maple and purple heart
Hippie sandwich = Cocobolo top, Maple center layer, sapele mahogany back
Two Humbucker soapbar, not drawn yet.
Passive electronics, Master Volume/Blend/Master Tone. Thinking about a Strat style jack
Partially chambered body with F-Hole
Two bridges shown, one the Hipshot D Style, Option 6 shows the Warmoth Streamer/Corvette style. Definitely want a two piece, the Warmoth seems to harmonize better.
Brass nut
Hipshot or similar ultralite "Y" shaped tuners.
Bound fingerboard and headstock with Cocobolo cap
Double-action trussrod and two CF bars, haven't decided on type, might go with a spoked wheel adjuster like Alembic does to keep the headstock clean.

The only body change I'm thinking of is maybe holding the little "horns" either side of the "Heart Omega" heel cutout within the natural curve of the body. They look a little fragile flying out in the breeze, maybe an Alembic owner can tell me if they have a tendency to get snapped off.

Advice Massively Appreciated

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I like the option 2 headstock. It sort of reflects the omega cutout on the body. Related to that: I can see keeping those little “wings” inside the body lines.

 

[dwizum]

My vote: second headstock, Warwick bridge. I think the curve in the Warwick matches the body better. As much as I appreciate the Bigsby headstock, 99.99999% of people who see it are going to think Fender, and that would be a shame.

And that's my favorite Alembic body shape, also probably one of my all time favorite bodies hands down! I like your spec list. This is going to be good!

And I agree that the horns might be better if they were a little more tame, although it's probably going to be one of those things where it's hard to get it right once you mess with it...

 

[I-Am-The-Slime]

I like the original, sorry... Although, going with the Ric one would fit your style

 

[T_Bone_TL]

I'd take option 2, but I really prefer option 2.22 where the headstock cutout matches the shape of the cutout on the tail (scaled, presumably.) But as usual, I ain't you.

 

[Lesfunk]

I like option 1 or 2 for the headstock.
I’m not a fan of the nutsack cut out at the bottom of the body.
It does look fancy but moves the bridge too far to the left.
The instrument would have to be short/med. scale to comfortably play in the first position.

 

[cholyoke]

Option 2.22 (the matching cutout mentioned above by T_Bone. Option 2 is good, too. The string holder in option 6 looks better than the straight one. If you don't want to keep the heart horns, make the cut out match what you did in headstock 2. The symmetry is nice.

I am looking forward to watching the build.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I'd take option 2, but I really prefer option 2.22 where the headstock cutout matches the shape of the cutout on the tail (scaled, presumably.) But as usual, I ain't you.

I actually tried that, but it looked like too much detail crammed into too little space, maybe I'll take another crack at it as Option 7.

 

[Slidlow]

Option #2 then #2 and finally #2. In that order.

 

[Slidlow]

Actually I doo see something to consider changing on the body. The waist looks a little thin to me. Maybe just a hair wider.

 

[ctmullins]

So excited to see this getting started!!

I agree about the body shape being perfect, but the headstock considerably less so. I would never have thought to do a Ric-style headstock on an Alembic-style body, but that actually looks pretty harmonious. #2 works as well, but it still looks a little too large. All of the first three suffer from non-straight string pull, which is no big deal, except for people who think it's a big deal. All of the second three - the four-on-a-side family - are hideous. Was that a cruel test?

The D-style bridge looks great, but honestly the Warwick looks even better. Too bad they put a big "W" on it.

Strat jack - just no. No no no. That would be like putting a big chrome winch bar on the front of a Silver Shadow. Or building a large glass pyramid in front of a Renaissance royal palace-turned-museum. No no no.

I read somewhere that the point(s) at the body end of most Alembics was intentional, to ensure that owners always used a proper instrument stand and not just lean it against a chaise. Somebody with more credentials will come along and confirm or refute that, I've no doubt...

32" scale should work well here, good call!

 

[dwizum]

the Warwick looks even better. Too bad they put a big "W" on it.

For my Warwick-bridge-equipped bass, I just tell people it stands for Wicked Awesome. Since Gilmour is from the MA area, I'm assuming he can pull off enough of a Boston accent to make that work...

 

[Beej]

I like the idea of something original in the headstock that echoes the body shape somehow. I'm not a huge fan of their original shape, the Ric does surprisingly flow, but it's a Ric; the Merle looks interesting to my eye, but I also think most will think it's a Fender, plus it's just not as pleasant a visual accent against the body. I think I'd keep pursuing different shapes until something original, complementary and flowing emerges. Maybe try some headstock shapes that incorporate the "nutsack"? Jeez @Lesfunk I've never thought of the heart omega that way but now I can't unsee it.

I'm also another vote against the Warwick bridge which I presumed stood for "Wank" for many years.

 

[Peteyboy]

I vote for Option 2.22: The Nutcracker.

 

[postalflunkie]

Sub'd
I like both two and three, but I'd lean toward the Rick headstock with a matching Cocobolo cap

 

[TerribleTim68]

I'm gonna buck the system here and say option 3.

 

[TonH]

I prefer option 3 and nr 2 second best.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Actually I doo see something to consider changing on the body. The waist looks a little thin to me. Maybe just a hair wider.

Bite your Own Tongue, Sir! I like my basses thin-waisted, and if that isn't a voluptuous body shape, I don't know what is. I actually tried a little fiddling around the edges, and.... nope. Everything I tried detracted from the whole, which may say more about my crappy eye for curved shapes than the design itself, but I honestly don't think that shape can be improved on.

I built a new body for my Steinberger XP-2 a few years ago, I had noticed that the OMEGA HEART CUTOUT (if we can all refrain from calling it the "Nut Sack", I'm certain some female builders in particular would find this thread more inspiring ) was a nice shape to allow finger access to headless tuners, so I'm not opposed to the idea of single vs. double heel cutout, just kinda been there/done that for me. Hopefully you can see some vague hints of Alembic in this build, which was what I shot for.... and missed a little

 

[Gilmourisgod]

And for you Spiteful Merle Travis Deniers, feast your eyes! That headstock is NOT KIDDING, and it's not "your bass looks like a Fender", its "Your Fender is a Blatant Knockoff of a Merle Travis".

 

[eriky4003]

Reading the title quickly, I thought it said the Hasselhoff build.