Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: mica on July 12, 2012, 03:23:33 PM

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: mica on July 12, 2012, 03:23:33 PM

This is what UPS delivered to Stanley Clarke about a week ago:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/135719.jpg)
  Series I 5-string EADGC (.090-.075-.060-.035-.025) Indian Rosewood top and back Wide Maple accent laminate Vermilion body Maple, Vermilion, and Ebony short scale (30.75") neck Ebony fingerboard 1.68 x 2.68 Mother of pearl lotus flower inlays Red side LEDs Small 2+3 Crown peghead with inlaid logo Hipshot Ultralight tuners Continuous wood backplates  The inlays are lotus flowers:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/135720.jpg)
  And the back:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/135721.jpg)
 No straplocks for Stan... we just drill pilot holes and he uses a large washer and wood screw to attach the strap.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: David Houck on July 12, 2012, 03:29:56 PM

Wonderful bass!  And great pics!

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: pierreyves on July 12, 2012, 03:32:23 PM

He was jalous of some parts of mine ? LOL !!! I was first to try EADGC tune ;-)) Anyway, very nice instrument, and standard pickup position, for easier slapping ?

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: hieronymous on July 12, 2012, 03:38:31 PM

Awesome! This is pretty monumental isn't it? SC using a 5-string? It fits him perfectly, since he seems to switch between the regular & tenor basses - now he doesn't have to!

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: mica on July 12, 2012, 03:41:10 PM

The pickup placement is split between the traditional very close placement that he's used to and the current standard... it's custom.  
 
This isn't the first short scale we've made with this tuning, but it's the first time for Stanley. He didn't like the wide necks on the 5-string basses he tried, so he asked me to figure out something that would work for him. I wanted the nut to be quite narrow and then to spread out at the bridge so the spacing was just a little tighter than the 4-strings we make for him.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: pierreyves on July 12, 2012, 04:27:48 PM

I see that his (bass) body is thinner than my blackwood ? because 3 backplates ?

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: mica on July 12, 2012, 04:49:49 PM

I know, right Harry?! He has been thinking about music that needed more range, and was ready to explore this possibility. Everything in its own time and ne dis jamais jamais.
 
It is thinner, Pierre-Yves. So that's why it has 3 backplates.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: 811952 on July 13, 2012, 05:04:40 AM

Pretty.  Nice to see someone at the top of his game trying something new!
 
John

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: pauldo on July 13, 2012, 08:12:48 AM

So Stanley uses Series I electronics and not Signature electronics?
I thought the SC bass in Chicago in 2009 was Signature?

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: pierreyves on July 13, 2012, 08:16:07 AM

Stanley had always used series I electronics, until he left mother's milk ;-))

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: rjmsteel on July 13, 2012, 08:52:49 AM

Ebony neck laminate too! Just stunning. I hope we will hear him playing this instrument soon.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: hieronymous on July 13, 2012, 09:16:09 AM

This was the first evidence: http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/135672.html?1342140970 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=17211)

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: hb3 on July 15, 2012, 05:58:13 PM

That's quite interesting!  
 
Something I've definitely been thinking a lot of lately.  
 
How's the balance?

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: wfmandmusic on July 27, 2012, 04:53:23 PM

Wow Mica what beautiful work!
Ken

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: jon_jackson on July 29, 2012, 04:02:47 PM

This makes me think of converting Scarlet to that configuration. Where does one get a C string of the right diameter or such a string set? Although, I would probably look for one closer to .030.
Jon

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: pierreyves on July 29, 2012, 04:52:05 PM

I use d'addario 0.28 & 0.30 XLB

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: edwin on July 30, 2012, 04:03:49 PM

With a high C string, it doesn't really matter what the scale length of the string is. They usually have the same winding the whole length of the string anyway. I use Sunbeam .030 for my high Cs.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on July 31, 2012, 06:45:08 AM

Edwin, are those DR Sunbeams?
 
VMG

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: edwin on July 31, 2012, 01:29:01 PM

That would be them!

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: jon_jackson on August 01, 2012, 05:02:55 AM

I found a set of DR HiBeams with the .030 so ordered them to try out the concept. I haven't used them before but know others here have. Thanks for the advice.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: alembickoa on August 12, 2012, 03:43:27 PM

Yup...

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: jazzyvee on September 04, 2012, 01:26:47 PM

Seems like NoTreble.com have not done their research.  
I think they are mistaking the 5pin socket for a Midi out.
 
 
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2012/08/01/alembic-unveils-stanley-clarke-signature-deluxe-5-string-bass/ (http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2012/08/01/alembic-unveils-stanley-clarke-signature-deluxe-5-string-bass/)
 
Jazzyvee

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: edwin on September 04, 2012, 01:50:22 PM

They also seem to imply that it can be had for $10k. Somehow that doesn't seem likely.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: FC Bass on September 04, 2012, 02:03:52 PM

The Alembic Stanley Clarke Signature Deluxe 5-string bass is expected near the end of the year with a price of $9,999.  
 
Signature deluxe 5 string lists for $11200 and has been there for quite a while I think...
 
Mr. Clarke's version would be about $20K I guess...

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on September 05, 2012, 08:19:55 AM

Many people have no clue what the knobs & switches are for

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: lbpesq on September 05, 2012, 08:33:04 AM

And lest we not forget - this Signature bass is actually a Series I - a bit more than $10K retail.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: xlrogue6 on September 05, 2012, 10:10:20 AM

Inaccurate information on the Internetses? Well I never...

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: terryc on September 06, 2012, 02:36:30 AM

For those who know eh??
Assumption is the mutha of all f***ups
Just because it looks like a DIN output doesn't mean MIDI.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: hieronymous on September 06, 2012, 05:50:48 AM

Hey, at least they were trying to give Alembic some love - unlike many of the people in the comments...  
 
Anyone want to shoot notreble.com an email to give them a heads-up? Be gentle!

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: terryc on September 06, 2012, 06:02:27 AM

Okay I did e mail them with this text
 
MIDI output on Stanley Clarke Alembic bass - review on August 1st 2012
Hi Guys,
         Just a note on correction,  I have gathered that you assumed the 5 pin socket is a MIDI out port well the truth is that it is for the DS- 5 external power supply.  
You see S I & SII basses either run on batteries but ideally use this power supply, two pins supply 18V +/-, two pins are the outputs for the pickups(which you can have in stereo) and the last pin is the ground.
An easy mistake though as it does look like a 5 pin DIN output.
Great site as well..keep up the good work!
 
 
Sounds okay?? I thought it did.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: FC Bass on September 06, 2012, 06:45:38 AM

I couldn't resist posting a comment :-)

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on September 06, 2012, 09:38:13 AM

Kudos to Edwin Hurwitz for trying to educate the masses on the site
 
VMG

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: edwin on September 06, 2012, 09:48:48 AM

Yeah, well, I guess I've just been in a mood of late.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: mica on September 06, 2012, 01:44:21 PM

I also wrote to Kevin at No Treble, and he wrote back with a very nice response.  
 
Thank you guys very much for helping us get good information out in the world. Your support really means to world to me.

Title: Stanley Clarke's New 5-string Short Scale Bass
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on September 06, 2012, 01:54:03 PM

The article has deleted the MIDI reference