Author Topic: My first alembic help (Read 140 times)

adimanto · « **on:** May 29, 2008, 03:50:39 PM »

hi i'm alan a lefty bass player from italy,i want to buy an alembic but I'm not shure of wich one?i love the body of stanley clarke ,but i have a lot of questions about it like:it's tuned eadg?the string it's floppy?it different to play from my stingray 5?
the sound is low like the other basses?thanks for help me

bonesrad · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2008, 04:15:06 PM »

Hi Alan,

Welcome aboard. One quick question, are you looking for a 4 string or 5 string? In my opinion, the Stanley Clarke model is more suited towards the 4 string.

Bones

adimanto · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2008, 12:28:56 AM »

Hy bones i'm a bit bored of the five string I'm loking for the 4,thank's alan

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2008, 08:15:20 AM »

The short-scale SC models do not go well with a 5-string if you play a low-B. It should play better with a high-C.

You may have balance issues

bonesrad · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2008, 09:05:18 AM »

Alan,

I don't have much experience with the short scale Alembics like the Stanley Clarke but given you are going with a 4 string, I would guess standard tuning (EADG) should be no problem.

As funkyjazz mentions, the balance of the small body, even with the short scale, is an issue with some players (not all though). I've heard a wide strap combats this problem.

Your next issue is where to find the right Alembic for you. Being a lefty player really limits the supply of used Alembics. I look at eBay regularly and I can't remember when I saw a lefty Stanley Clarke. I'm sure they are out there but hard to find. You can always order one new (and you would be able to get everything you might want) but they are very expensive. If this is your first Alembic, I think it's very difficult to know exactly what you'd want in a custom. That's why I went through 3 used Alembics before I ordered my custom.

My suggestion would be to find any used lefty Alembic, try it (either by purchasing or trying in a store), and see if it works for you. If it turns out positive for you, then you can play it until you are able to order one to your desires. If you don't like it, you can probably sell it for right around what you paid for it.

Best Wishes,
Bones

matbard · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2008, 10:12:09 AM »

Hi Alan, cheers fron another Alembic fan who's in pursue for his first bass!

Saluti da Firenze!

- Matteo

keith_h · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2008, 10:35:46 AM »

I play a 4 string Brown Bass which is a small body short scale.

I have no problems with it balancing. I use a 2.5 - 3 wide strap fairly high up. It balances with the neck around 2 o'clock. One thing to keep in mind is this is not the type of bass you wear around your knees.

I tune mine E-A-D-G and have no complaints with the string tension. I do use the Alembic strings that it came with and not another brand or gauge. If you do your mileage may vary.

I cannot compare it to a Stingray but you will definitely get the Alembic sound from it. You should find it easier to play chords and such since the distance between frets is less than a long scale.

Hope this helps.

Keith

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2008, 02:03:25 PM »

I mis-read the orignal post. (I should have stopped working at my job and focused)

I thought Adimato was considering a 4 or 5 string.

You ask a good question about how low a short scale bass can go

adimanto · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2008, 02:17:20 PM »

ok thank you at all have respond to my question,what do you think for me that i am a lefty to buy piece by piece a new bass foe example from warmoth and put inside it the alembic eletronic for try how it work?

bonesrad · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2008, 02:28:36 PM »

Alan,

That's not a bad idea as Alembic makes Precision and Jazz bass Activator pickups.

As I mentioned before, another idea is to look for a used lefty Alembic, either the Epic or the Essence model. One of these could likely be had for a similar cost as your warmoth project. Then you would be able to get the full Alembic experience.

Happy Hunting,
Bones

adimanto · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2008, 03:37:32 PM »

I have already taked a look around about lefty model to sell but i have found nothing,i haved the purpose to try an essnce right handed and they sound a lot great but a bass maded for my self with alembic eletronic looks great,what do you think about warmoth project,they sell cheap parts or good one?

adimanto · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2008, 03:41:33 PM »

AS ANYONE KNOWS WHO IS ADIMANTO IL tell you about my nick name,if some one have readed the republic of platon,adimanto is the one of the best of this book!

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2008, 08:41:06 PM »

Hi Matteo; welcome to the board!

matbard · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2008, 04:29:35 AM »

Thanks a lot Dave.

Hi to all, I've been reading the board for months until I decided to do my first post. Alembic for me is still a dream, altough I have an F-2B and I'm pursuing for an SF-2. My dream bass would be a 32 Series II, maybe an 8-string like Greg Lake had in the late 70's. Altough I cannot afford it yet, I'm searching for a reasonable used bass to become part of the family...

Cheers from rainy Italy,

- Matteo