Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: slawie on October 10, 2010, 07:45:25 PM
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I was wondering after Mica's post in the September Featured Custom thread that
Alembic will not make a Small Standard body Long Scale bass.
How many people have one/have there been built?
Mine is fretless 34 does that count?
slawie
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/87397.jpg)
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How does that balance?
Interesting position of the pickup selector switch too.
Jazzyvee
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No problem with balance.
I moved the clip lock from where it is in the picture to behind the neck where it used to be.
I use a leather strap with about 2 wide and wear the bass a little higher than normal just slightly lower than Geeky. This position also helps with the stretch/reach for my left arm to reach the lower fingered notes.
I have also done a 180 degree spin on the pickup selector so that when it is pointing to most back position all pu's are off.
click one step forward = back pu
next step fwd = both pu
next step fwd = bridge pu
For me it is less to think about.
slawie
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I ordered one in 1990 and a very young Mica back then said no can do.....
So that means they were done in the 70's or 80's; Mica said to me that the neck would dive... May be yours weights less because it has no frets in the neck! ;o)
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slawie -
What's the story with the strap button location in the picture? Were you experimenting? Did somebody own this before you (perhaps a lefty?). I've seen instruments with odd button placements before but never figure out why they were there (usually lefty or some sort of alternative strap arrangement.
If I tried to play with something like this, the upper edge of the body would be covered with dents from hitting the mic stand or my amp!
David Fung
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David; my guess is that the lower horn button position was a previous owner's attempt to make it balance better.
Lalo; I don't know how many were built, but at some point Alembic realized that most customers who purchased a 34 small body bass did not like the way the bass balanced. So they quit offering them. There are some owners who like them, and for whom the balance is not an issue. But for most folks, it just doesn't work out very well.
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I read somewhere in one of the threads here that they made 8 total, including the one I now own that was originally made for Steve Fossen of Heart. With a wide four-inch strap, the balance is fine, and the reach, while not as easy as my Rogue body, is not too difficult. Besides, when we play Barracuda, I'm accurate!
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David,
That button location was my attempt at getting a better balance. It did improve the overall issue
of neck dive but only marginally.
There are a number of filled hole where the previous owner did their own experiments and has
probably significantly devalued the bass (If I was ever to sell it.)
Gee Ken I have 1 of 8 indeed a rare bird. I agree with you about Barracuda it does become a little taxing espescially if the guitarist wants extra lead solo or the crowd loves it and an a repeat verse/chorus ensues.
Such is the price you pay.
The 2strap works OK as it does have a bit of grip on the untanned (raw)side so no real problems.
Clip locks are the only way I will ever strap on the bass as I feel safe it wont drop to the floor.
Just the thought makes my freckle pucker.
slawie
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I too have heard that there were just a few. I personally have owned 2. I never had problems with balance because of my playing technique. I rest my right forearm on the body, creating all the counterweight needed to offset the neck. I do that with all small standards. It's not because of the balance issue, that's just the way I play.
I parted with the long scales because I have short arms! Otherwise I would have kept those too. Right now my longest small standard is 32 inches.
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Boosty shoulder strap connects to the bottom horn of his Famous SpaceBass, and it works well.
Too Cool!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/87418.jpg)
Peace and Love,
Hal-
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 11, 2010)
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Slawie, I have always admired this long scale small standard of yours . It takes me back down memory lane as well .
Wolf .
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By the way Slawie,
I love everything about your bass, and I think it's the best fretless bass I ever seen Alembic made.
Everything about it looks consistent, and meaningful for what an electric fretless bass should be.
I wish I'd own it, you lucky guy!
Peace and Love,
Hal-
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I've got 2, made in 77 - fretted and fretless. Balance is different on the two basses, but I think some of that depends on strap, and how i'm holding my arm that day. I'll take some better pictures and post. Mica recently told me they've made very few of them.. love mine, though... fretless image at http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/83001.html (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=1239) way down towards the bottom
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A few years back, Mica and I had similar discussions regarding - long scale small standards and medium scale, five string small standards. I was impressed by how adamant she was in her unwillingness to undertake either build and very struck by her sincere concern about building any Alembic with a balance problem. Somewhere in the archives, there is a thread by a new owner indicating Alembic did build (IIRC) a medium scale SC five string. As might be expected the added neck weight caused balance issues.
I'm glad things seem to work out acceptably with that beautiful fretless. The aesthetic of the long neck and small body is striking.
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I think this would qualify...
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/69967.html?1252437256 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8286)
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that is a BEAUTIFUL bass you have there!
~Taylor
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Thanks (if you're referring to me!).
In keeping with the thread, from day 1 (in '79) I repositioned the strap button to the back of the neck (visible in pic 3) and have never had balance issues. I have always used a 2 1/2 width strap for weight-spreading (as I have on my Fenders as well).
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Your bass looks beautiful Lenny!
The strap button is a couple of inches
closer to the head-stock than mine.
It looks as if it would have no balance problem at all.
Let me see;
Mark (mavnet) has 2
Lenny has 1
Michael (dela217) had 2
slawie 1
Six so far accounted for. I wonder where the last 2 are?
slawie
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Since my posting of owning 2, I've found another here in the New Orleans area. It has a purpleheart top and a maple back. It looks like its been around the block a few times. The finish is mostly missing off the purpleheart top and there is lots of player wear.
Only one more left to find!
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Wow Dela..... how do so many unique Alembics end up in the NOLA area? Is there a cosmic vortex centered around you that draws them there, or something? Retro Appeal is 32, no?
On a related note, when I sat down with Mica to iron out the specifics on my custom (Small Standard, 30.75, six string) she almost said no. Despite a totally Ebony/Purpleheart neck, I assured her that neck-dive was the least of my concerns, and Susan voiced approval from her office!!!! Great bass, and with a wide strap, she stays right around that 1:00 position.
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Maybe this is number 7 of 8.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/31037.html?1260402072 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8418)
Owned by Tim Morris (seriesIII) or is it a repeat?
slawie
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Slawie & Ken ______ Really cool. I think I vaguely remember one or more of these Long Scale Small Standards hanging across from the glass counter at the old Alembic , 60 Brady St. location back in the 70's.
(Message edited by sonicus on February 26, 2011)
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Slawie,
That's the one I now own. It was for sale at a Guitar Center as a Stanley Clarke Signature, so I didn't correct them. That's why my comment about Barracuda, as Steve Fossen owned this bass during the recording sessions for Little Queen. We're still looking for the last one, sorry!