(x) Help with Custom Ordered bass, 95C9263

[basser-x]

Hello All,
 I purchased this bass at the Dallas Guitar show this past May and I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. It's obviously a custom order with the initials "CS" on the 12th fret. Any info and specs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for letting me join the Alembic club!
Ray Mauldin

[jazzyvee]

WOW that is a superb bass

[Twocan]

Just beautiful! Signature electronics with the balance of that body design and the looks to boot = win win win

[mica]

Cool custom bass! This was ordered as a "Signature Deluxe with a Europa body" and that pretty much describes what you've got. Here's the details from the file:

serial number: 95C9263
model name: Custom bass
model number: CSB4
top: Burl Walnut
accent: Maple laminate
body: Mahogany
back: Burl Walnut
body shape: Custom Europa (upper horn 2 frets shorter and 2 frets access lower horn)
neck: 5-piece Maple and Purpleheart
scale: short, 30.75"
fingerboard: Ebony
inlays: Pearloid (plastic) ovals with "CS" @ 12th fret in oval
pickups: Alembic AXY4
controls: "Signature" volume, pan, filter x2, Q-switch x2, side-mounted mono output
finish: Satin Natural Polyurethane (oil-look)
originally made for: Larry Morgan Music, TX
birthday: August 14, 1995

The original owner registered in Texas, and by their request we did the "CS" inlay @ the 12th fret.

[basser-x]

Thank you, Mica for the info. It really is an exceptional bass and very well made!

[basser-x]

I meant to ask- when you say "Signature Deluxe," would that mean a Stanley Clarke or Mark King Signature?

[mica]

Stanley are Mark models are almost the same except for the scale/body shape. I guess yours is closer to an SC model because of the scale length, but really, in its heart your bass is all custom.

[keith_h]

There are are also some construction differences between the Signature and Signature Deluxe. I can't get to the product pages to provide links but one of the differences I remember is the Signature neck uses veneers between laminates whereas the Signature Deluxe uses all laminates.

It is hard to tell what model something is at times due to all of the options you can use to customize and instrument. There are some customer small, standard body basses (i.e. Stanley body) that pop up from time to time with custom serial numbers yet started off in the order process as Essence basses. IMO it is usually easier to use the electronics pkg and neck recipe to classify an instrument to general model but again with all of the options you can pretty much turn any base model into something else.

[tx196059]

In any event, that is an excellent bass, and sorry I missed the Dallas Guitar Show this year. Congratulations!

Joe

[Twocan]

Looks like it's currently for sale on Reverb.

[keith_h]

Yes it does appear to be for sale. Here is a link to the page:

https://reverb.com/item/5626631-alembic-signature-deluxe-w-europa-body-1995-natural