Author Topic: Alembicized Fernandes Masterhand "Strat" (Read 1865 times)

lbpesq · « **on:** May 07, 2006, 01:50:12 PM »

Hey everyone. After nearly two years of living at the luthier's, I picked up my modded Fernandes Masterhand yesterday to play at the Cannabis Freedom Day gig. It's still not finished, but the Alembic guts are all installed and the inlays completed. The bridge saddles are RMC piezos, but aren't hooked up yet. The guitar will have a blend knob to go back and forth between the Alembic magnetic pickups (electric sound) and the piezo (acoustic sound). The Piezo will also be wired to operate a guitar synth. The Alembic guts are three pickups that look just like the ones in my Series 1, low pass filter, and 3-position Q. The pictures don't really do the color on the inlays justice. They are a lovely green (with, my wife insists, some blue tint, though I don't see it). I'm thinking about knobs from Roger at THG, perhaps rosewood or something to match the fingerboard, with green abalone tops to match the leaf inlays. May I also take this opportunity to suggest a new category in "Showcase" called "Alembicized Instruments". I also have an Optek Fretlight Tele with Alembic guts I would post. Mica? Dave? Any interest out there? +

It will soon be going back to the shop for the rest of the work. (yea and boohoo!) Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on May 07, 2006)

speicky · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2006, 01:54:50 PM »

Wow, Bill,

what a breathtaking piece of art. Thanks for sharing the pics with us...

Christian (the faker)

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2006, 02:33:23 PM »

Love the inlays! So what are the woods?

tom_z · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2006, 02:51:05 PM »

Great looking guitar Bill! kind of strat-like - I love it. Congrats and enjoy! =)

Peace
Tom

(Message edited by tom_z on May 07, 2006)

csissom · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2006, 03:24:01 PM »

Cool guitar Bill!

And I second that motion for a Showcase featuring Alembicized instruments. I don't have one, but would love to see what other folks have done.

Curt

applejuice · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2006, 05:36:55 PM »

I like the inlays, man. How does the guitar play?

bigredbass · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2006, 06:02:29 PM »

I think your inlays have gone to pot.

J o e y

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2006, 08:20:29 PM »

The work is being done by Gary Brawer who did lots of work for Jerry. He has one of the few pleck machines (I think they're called). The guitar is mounted on it and the computer reads the frets and levels them accordingly is how I believe it works. All I know is every time Gary sets up a guitar for me, I'm blown away at how well it plays. He puts a curve in the side of the frets (perpendicular to the frets) so your hands glide smoothly up and down the neck. And oh the neck on this guitar! It must have been designed with me in mind! When all is said and done, I'm going to have a lot of fun switching between this one and my custom Further.

Bill, tgo

kmh364 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 08, 2006, 05:20:06 AM »

Pretty *'n nice, Bill! That'd cost a pretty penny to do as an Alembic. Enjoy!

flaxattack · « **Reply #9 on:** May 08, 2006, 05:31:03 AM »

sweet stuff bill
lets hope young punks continue to get busted so you can pay for all this,.
:-)

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 2006, 05:49:39 AM »

very, very sweet.
Definative inlays and a classic look.

Congrats,
Mike

lbpesq · « **Reply #11 on:** May 08, 2006, 06:52:13 AM »

Thanks guys. It was quite a trip playing it for the first time on stage. I literally picked it up on the way to the gig! But how could I not play this one at a cannabis event? I really looking forward to spending some time with her in the studio.

Dave:

I'm not sure of the woods. They are certainly nothing special by Alembic standards, but the construction is definitely Hippie Sandwich. The top and back might be walnut. The core appears to be maple, but might be ash. The neck stringers are a little red, so I'm thinking vermilion. I'll be bringing her up to Santa Rosa when I get a chance and I suspect I'll get the definitive word on the woods then.

So how about it, Alembicized Instruments added to Showcase?

Bill, tgo

spliffy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2006, 12:26:34 PM »

hee hee, if one of your pots need to be replaced, you will have a hard time figuring out which one... sorry bad joke, but I am spliffy!

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** May 08, 2006, 07:20:47 PM »

Bill; that's not something I could just up and do, but I'll bring it up at our next meeting.

lbpesq · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2006, 11:01:22 PM »

HALLELUJAH ... FAR OUT ... YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!! IT'S FINISHED!!!!!! After two years "Tina" (named after my wife) is done! (At least until I figure out the next tweak). Here she is:

The controls are a master volume; filter; 3-position Q; 5 position pickup selector; magnetic/piezo pan; synth volume; and synth patch selector. Mods by Gary Brawer, electronics by Alembic and RMC, inlays by Larry Robinson, knobs by THG. I'm stoked. If I get this excited from this one being completed, I could be in serious trouble when my Further comes home! Bill, tgo