Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: plantbrain on October 05, 2009, 06:37:41 PM

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 05, 2009, 06:37:41 PM

This appears to be in mint shape, flame maple top, purple heart body, side red LED's.
 
I've been looking for a couple of years.
Took awhile, but finally happened.
 
Would have liked a nice blue CA buckeye tops, but the maple is pretty nice. Has the 30 neck.  
 
My question is on the 30 strings sold by Alembic, how would these compare to the various other strings available? Is there something specific about the strings?
 
I bought a lot of different strings recently to try different ones out. I want to compare.
 
I use to live in Cotati for 3 years. Not far from Santa Rosa. I'm in Sac now.  
 
Tom

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: kungfusheriff on October 05, 2009, 07:21:02 PM

Because of Alembic's bridge design and the cut of many of their headstocks, you'll need an extra two inches or so of string winding length. For instance, you can string a 30 Alembic with 32 or greater strings but I'm not sure that other makers' 30 strings will be long enough. I use 34 DRs on my short-scale '82 and never had an problem.
Is it you that snagged the eBay bass with the $2600 BIN? If so, you got a beautiful instrument.

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: toma_hawk01 on October 05, 2009, 09:25:38 PM

Welcome Tom, I am in Modesto CA.

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: David Houck on October 05, 2009, 09:37:33 PM

Hi Tom; congrats and welcome!

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 06, 2009, 04:03:24 PM

Thanks all,  
I've long wanted this bass, so I knew what I was getting. Good deal on it, and except for the wood top, pretty much everything I wanted. They have a similar bass on there now for 2x the price.
I have no intent of selling it.
 
Every bass has it's own personality and tone(same with every player).  
 
I'll give the strings I have a try also, I think with the type without that cloth wrap at the tail ball, they should all work dandy by simply a cut then.
 
I want just wondering if the Alembic short scale strings had a special sounds etc, rang out better etc.
 
Opinions there?
I understand these might be subtle differences.
 
Tom

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: adriaan on October 06, 2009, 04:17:29 PM

Well, they're like roundwounds, except the outer wrappers are elliptical. Pretty bright sounding nonetheless, as I recall.

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: keith_h on October 06, 2009, 05:58:26 PM

I use the Alembic strings on my Brown Bass and have been happy with them. They are essentially a nickel wound round wound as far as the sound goes. I use other manufacturers on my other long scale Alembics. About all I can suggest is try them and see if they work for you.  
 
Keith

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 08, 2009, 11:43:11 AM

Well, received the bass and wow, better shape than I'd thought.
 
The side LED's I thought might be cheesy, but they really are a really nice touch when playing. Tone is awesome in the higher registers.
 
Came with dead flat old strings, likely since the bass was made.
 
Old as the hills.
 
Anyway, I wanted to see what some bright strings sounded like, I used some bright steels, DA's, they snapped apart before I got to tighten them(2 of them!). So I used the alembic strings, .45-.105s.
 
Sounds really good.
 
The maple flame is really a nice look.
I have a modulus string with the gold + maple flame also.
 
I might adjust the action some and reduce it.
I have a dozen other strings to pick and chose from, including some Fodera, but I chose to stick with the Alembics after the string snapped.
 
Gosh, this bass is awesome, my significant other just rolled her eyes.  
 
Tom

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 08, 2009, 11:46:50 AM

I'll get pics up in a bit.
 
Tom

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: elwoodblue on October 08, 2009, 12:30:43 PM

What fun!! ...looking forward to pics.
 
There's some good info about setting up Alembics in the must read and FAQ sections...and be sure to read about adjusting pickup height, since it's a little different process from most other basses.
 
 
Congrats

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 09, 2009, 11:50:39 AM

An Alembic Stanley Clarke Signature series, 1998 near mint condition bass, 30 inches scale.
 
(http://[url=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/plantbrain/resizedscbass.jpg]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/plantbrain/resizedscbass.jpg[/url])
 
(http://[url=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/plantbrain/resizeSCbassbody.jpg]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/plantbrain/resizeSCbassbody.jpg[/url])
 
and the side LED lights, great for dark venues.
 
(http://[url=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/plantbrain/sideviewofLEDs.jpg]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u312/plantbrain/sideviewofLEDs.jpg[/url])
 
Been looking for one for the last 4 years.
Now I can die happy.
 
 
I did read the FAQ's section.
The pick ups are about right near as I can tell.
It will take me a bit getting use to the bass.
 
 
Regards,  
Tom Barr

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: elwoodblue on October 09, 2009, 12:05:10 PM

Wow,
 Beautiful, thanks for sharing.

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: 3rd_ray on October 09, 2009, 12:21:11 PM

Wow is right! I like that flame! Any pictures of the purpleheart back? Great price too.  
 
Mike

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 09, 2009, 02:30:21 PM

It's got a mahog back, the purple heart in a laminate through the front, I thought it was all purple heart(would had been a rare find indeed), however, the bass has only a 1/4 purple heart below the flame maple top, then mahogany on the sides. Maple neck through.
 
Sweet bass.
 
A mark king sig series with the omega, buckeye blue burl, coco top, 2 purples through the neck.  
Maybe later, I'm too happy now
 
Tom

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: David Houck on October 09, 2009, 05:32:15 PM

Tom, tell your significant other that we said hello!  By the way, Flame Maple looks great in changing light situations, such as when you and your significant other are sitting in front of the fireplace on a cool autumn evening.
 
Looking at the pics, I notice that the mounting screws for the pickups are not installed correctly.  At some point you may want to remount the pickups correctly.  However, if they are fine where they are and are not loose, then there's no hurry.  As Elwood Blue pointed out, be sure to read the FAQ on pickup height adjustment before doing anything with them.

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: plantbrain on October 12, 2009, 08:28:56 AM

Ahh, she don't care haha.  
I looked at the Alembic FAQ/user manual section, that's a really useful web available section.
 
Thanks for the support.
I've also come to realize that Alembic is pretty involved with the clients, and it does not stop at the original owner(why should it? It's still an Alembic!)
 
I think this selfless attitude and true concern is really evident here. You have a lifelong supporter and fan due to that approach.
 
I drove by Cotati, my old hometown yesterday. I think I might stop in at Alembic on the 1st Wed of the month to see the shop, it's right off Todd Rd, about 6 min from where I used to live off Sierra Ave exit south.    
 
I stopped in at Modulus in Novato to get a part, they are really nice. I needed work done on an older Ex Factor Kubicki when I was going to UC in Santa Barbara, Phil lives there and I talked to him for quite some time.
 
Neat place to live when you meet folks in person that care and are passionate.
 
Tom

Title: 1998 Stanley Clarke Sig series
Post by: David Houck on October 12, 2009, 08:47:41 AM

Tom; be sure to call ahead.