Selector switch issue...

[toma_hawk01]

Hey, I don't mean to be antagonistic but  initially I thought it was a great idea for Alembic management to move the selector switch around the bridge pickup, but frankly I wish they'd never made this a standard configuration.
 
It was my understanding, Stanley Clarke kept ramming his fingers against the selector switch, and therefore a design discussion lead to a new selector switch location (as we see today).  
 
I wished Alembic never changed the original location of their selector switches, and I hope they bring it back without an extra charge.
 
If an artist want the selector switch to accommodate them, let them pay for it. However, for me to want a standard, and pay extra to have a standard is confusing.  
 
I plead for Alembic to keep the selector switch back on the horn.
 
Pretty PLEASE!
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[tmoney61092]

Hal, i'm guessing you're selector switch is getting in the way now? i don't see how the selector switch being on the horn could have got in Stanley's way unless when he plays chords he strums at the bottom of the neck
 
~Taylor

[darkstar01]

I hit the selector on my distillate all the time, and my hand has the cuts to prove it. Mines on the horn. Anyone know if there's a different cap other than the arrow one that will fit it?

[charles_holmes]

I took my cap off and just turned it around and it really helped to stop hitting the point of the cap.

[crgaston]

I had mine built on the horn.  No extra charge, as far as I remember.  But if there was one, I didn't care. And still don't.  
 

[toma_hawk01]

The Toma_Hawk's selector switch is perfect and ideal.
 
However, I am interested in a bass that Stanley would frankly, never play... A fretless electric bass.  
 
Therefore, without any precedents of his injuries with such basses, I seek a traditional selector placement without an extra charge.  
 
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[terryc]

Mark King had the selectors moved when he had his three S2's built, he was using a borrowed one and to quote
I had the selector moved to the bottom of the bass because I was beating the s**t out of my hand when I strummed  the strings, blood everywhere
This may have contributed to the position change, that was way back in 1988

[toma_hawk01]

Terry, that's because of the body design...  
 
With more wood, you're forced to move your forearm closer toward the neck and potentially near the danger zone of the selector switch (on the horn) while slapping.  
 
With my Toma_Hawk design, my striking hand is between the neck and bridge pickup... (center-is where I like to be) and away from any danger.
 
Therefore, the selector switch is fine for me at either places, because of the way my bass body was designed. Esthetically, I like the switch on the horn, and for my next bass, I want the traditional, and original placement.  
 
I want another Toma_Hawk, but fretless.  
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[darkstar01]

I don't know, Hal.  
I don't have any regular strike zone, I play as free as I can. I don't hit my selector every time I play, but it does get in the way, and I honestly don't notice it until the tune is over and my fingers are bloody.  
Here's where we probably disagree- I don't think body shape dictates technique. That is to say, I don't approach playing a Fender jazz any differently than I do an alembic of any kind.

[serialnumber12]

While playing various alembics at last years chicago gathering ive knoticed i kept hitting the selecter switch (unintentionally)turning the bass off during playing & switching between pickups as well as banging my fingers/Diamond Ring against that switch so im all for the movement of that darn selector!

[jacko]

Hal...With more wood, you're forced to move your forearm closer toward the neck and potentially near the danger zone of the selector switch (on the horn) while slapping.
 
Everyone I've ever seen slapping has their hand in roughly the same position so that their thumb is over the last fret on the fingerboard. Are you saying you're playing slap with your thumb not hitting the fingerboard? Interesting technique.
 
Graeme

[serialnumber12]

those two knobs under my neck p/u are vols & are always in the way, the 3rd knob is the master vol & Nor does my bass have a selector switch.
 
(Message edited by serialnumber12 on August 20, 2010)

[serialnumber12]

And i believe thats why alembic (after#12)   moved all the guts to the rear of their bassses for playing comfort.

[toma_hawk01]

Exactly.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[toma_hawk01]

As a crescendo and climactic or dramatic affect, Stanley strums his bass.  
 
That's a Stanley Clarke signature bass riff... besides his repetitive, and cyclical fingering patterns.  
 
However, his strumming style of playing the bass, pose the greatest risk of injury for those basses with the traditional selector switch on the lower horn.
 
However, I think if Stanley or whoever want to change the standards, let them pay for it. Why should Alembic adopt Stanley's standard when most people don't play their bass like Stanley Clarke?
 
I don't think, under normal finger playing the bass, anyone would find the original position of the selector switch a problem. However, even if this is the case, Alembic should address the issue(s) on a case by case issue. Nevertheless, why charge extra for an original standard location. Why should anyone be judged by Stanley's standards (or anyone for that matter)?  
 
If people want a true Stanley Clark bass, on the crown it wouldn't read Alembic, it would read Spellbinder ...and we know the great success of those basses, even with the selector switch removed off the horn.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 18, 2010)