Alembic Piccolo Basses

[moongerm]

So far I have only seen the EVH 25" scale Piccolo Bass build. http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/3287.html?1043886558


Have there been any others?

[rv_bass]

I think there have been versions using the Darling body and have various electronics.  Here’s apparently one on Pinterest:

https://www.google.com/search?q=alembic+piccali+bass&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgrc=h4Djv6tGXriQwM:

[FC Bass]

Edwin (EVH) also has one in the modern EVH shape, they were made for his daughters :-)

[mario_farufyno]

Ooh, I'd love to hear it!

[moongerm]

Likewise, I wonder if there are any more?

[FC Bass]

I'm pretty sure they're on this recording:

[mica]

What's your definition of a piccolo bass?

[mario_farufyno]

isn't picolo a bass tuned one octave above regular bass?

[moongerm]

Yes one octave up from a typical E, A, D, G bass guitar tuning.

[moongerm]

The Piccolo an Octave up in addition to the Tenor A, D, G, C tuned basses from what I have always known, were both Stanley's ideas. I am sure most here know this already and.... some may have even seen his Piccolo bass lowered from the ceiling at his shows in the 70's (from what I heard).   

Here is the brief story from Carl's site for anyone interested in the history: Stanley owns two Carl Thompsons, both piccolos. One is a 34" scale (the first piccolo ever), and the second is a 32" scale. When the first bass was being made, Stanley was so excited, he told Carl to bring it over the minute it was completed. Carl Thompson ended up hand delivering to Stanley at 3:00 in the morning! The second bass has a more interesting story. Stanley had just accidentally broken the headstock on his CT, and it could not be fixed before his next recording session. Carl was working on a 32" scale short bass at the time, and offered to lend it to Stanley. He modified the nut, finished it up quickly and gave it to Stanley.

One of the two piccolo basses mentioned above were used on 3 tracks on School Days.  I believe it is used on this track, more recent than School Days, Just Cruzin:   

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I have only heard piccolo bass tracks (from Stan and others, Brian Bromberg) with non-Alembic electronics/basses. I am curious to hear and see what it is like on an Alembic.

[mica]

I was searching for your definition including scale length because over the years, I have heard people refer to any tuning higher than a standard EADG as piccolo, so I wanted to make sure we were talking about the same thing. I don't have a tally of how many piccolo basses we've made, but my quick brain-index search says there are least 25 I can think of off the top of my head. These days it's one every year or two, we make more baritone guitars. Edwin has the shortest scale one, but we've made them up to 34" scale length.

[mario_farufyno]

Oh, guys, have to share... Stanley playing Quiet Afternoon on the Carl Thompson. Lovely.

[moongerm]

Thanks for sharing Mica. Hopefully someone one day will post what one of those Alembic piccolos sound like .

Regarding the Tenor bass, did Alembic make the first ever A, D, G, C Tenor bass for Stanley?  If so when was that, 70s or 80s?

[moongerm]

Mario, yes what a great tune and arrangement!. Lovely indeed.

[mario_farufyno]

Flip, thanks!