Alembic Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: goran on May 01, 2026, 07:58:58 AM

Title: Darling bass question
Post by: goran on May 01, 2026, 07:58:58 AM
Hi I'm just wondering, do you know if Alembic ever did a 5 string Darling bass?
Would that be even possible since its a short scale, to put low B on it?

Thanks

Goran
Title: Re: Darling bass question
Post by: jazzyvee on May 01, 2026, 11:49:44 PM
Hi Goran, one of our members here has a Stanley Clarke Signature 5 string so Alembic certainly have made 5 string short scale basses with a low B, so i would expect they could do it with a Darling bass. Are you looking for a new bass?
Title: Re: Darling bass question
Post by: StephenR on May 02, 2026, 09:18:28 AM
Phil Lesh's last two 6-string Series II Alembics also were short scale. 
Title: Re: Darling bass question
Post by: edwardofhuncote on May 02, 2026, 09:37:39 AM
To Stephen's point, the scale is less of an issue than the body... a Balance-K like Phil's might work batter than Darling would for... well, balance.   :)

Both of my 5-strings are medium-scale. Neither balance great, but they are manageable. One is a Persuader/Spoiler shape, the other one is much like your Anniversary 5-string, but with a couple small differences. 
Title: Re: Darling bass question
Post by: goran on May 04, 2026, 02:31:35 PM
Jazzy, yea I'm thinking of it. :)

The thing is that I really like Darling shape, I had Balance K, but didn't like it (weird enough)

When you say short scale on Alembic, what does that mean 30" or 32", or both?

This shape is just so beautiful

(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.station-musicshop.de%2FWebRoot%2FStore8%2FShops%2F64398533%2F5D2C%2F4918%2F7297%2FEC22%2F2A50%2F0A0C%2F6D07%2FDE3F%2Falembic_darling-black-4706-viol9.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=274daa20b2b8950cd53538c6730e9f89df87a698ee6b8399438c1835ae15f587)
Title: Re: Darling bass question
Post by: rv_bass on May 04, 2026, 04:17:09 PM
According to the website, a Stanley Clarke short scale bass has a 30.75 inch scale 
Title: Re: Darling bass question
Post by: gearhed289 on May 05, 2026, 07:39:03 AM
32'' would be medium scale. Mica did once say that they can do a medium scale Darling bass. Such an incredible shape!