Heart of Gold
FEATURED CUSTOM
This month's featured custom with its beautiful golden quilted maple top, amber lights and delicately carved heart omega, surely is a bass with a Heart of Gold. She's just waiting for the right person to be her Valentine. Just about everything to do with this bass is golden. From the golden depth and abundant figuring of the top to the 24 karat goldplated hardware, it's just dripping with gold.
This was not achieved by sheer coincidence, but when Beaver Felton of Bass Central decided he wanted an exceptional bass to compliment his existing stock Alembics, he called Susan to discuss the details. When customized the bass would showcase options beyond those of the standard Series II. Standard features include side LEDs, inlaid Alembic logo, continuous wood backplates, goldplated hardware and book matched peghead. But this bass offers more.
Typically we inlay the sterling silver logo on the Series II bass with mother of pearl in the cloud and abalone with the dragon circle. This one is even more special. James inlaid mother of pearl and abalone, along with red and blue pearloid to create the majestic rays. The task is never easy, but in light colored woods it's is extremely difficult. There's no way you can use any fill, and as usual, James did a great job.
Ususally we use red superbright LEDs for the front Laser LEDs, but this time we couldn't resist going for the gold and using amber lights. The lights are one thousand times brighter than the side LEDs and always a crowd pleaser. Don't worry about battery drain - the LEDs come on only when you're using the 5-pin cord and power supply.
The LEDs are drilled through golden mother of pearl oval inalys. The amber light spills over the shell and creates a warm, mesmerizing glow.
Likewise for the sidemarkers, amber LEDs it must be! The side LEDs are each inlaid in a sterling silver circle, so even when you're not plugged in, you can see the position clearly.
Standard issue on the Series II is goldplated hardware. Even though it's a standard feature for this model, each piece of brass is buffed to a brilliant shine after the setup is completed. Then we send the individual piece out for gold plating. Even the slots in the bridge saddles and string nut are plated.
The Heart Omega is cut with a bandsaw then carved to its lovely graceful form. The standard Purpleheart accent laminate has been enhanced by adding a thin Maple veneer beneath, creating a 7-layer body sandwich.
Though it's hidden from view in most of these pictures by the Bookmatch to Center option, we've made this neck from Maple and Ebony, with a central laminate of Purpleheart. The Ebony adds a distinctive fundamental sustain unmatched with any other wood combination in our experiece.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Series II 4-string bass
- Golden Mother of Pearl oval inlays with amber Laser LEDs
- 5A Quilted Maple top bookmatched to center
- 5A Quilted Maple back bookmatched to center
- Heart Omega body shape with Pistol Grip
- Crown peghead shape
- Polyester finish with satin neck feel
- Maple, Purpleheart and Ebony neck laminates
- Continuous wood backplates
- Side LEDs in amber
- Inlaid logo with shell and rays
- Goldplated hardware
- Price available on request
Offered by:
Bass Central
181 Oxford Rd., Suite 107
Fern Park, FL 32730
407-740-5619
