Who owns this series 1?

[Mlazarus]

Has anyone seen this series 1 bass. What year is it? What scale is it. This is an ideal bass for me because the neck pickup is farther away from the 24th fret allowing me to pop easier. The pickup selector is moved making slappers play easier as well. If it is a 32 scale, then it's the perfect match for me. I may want to trade my 82' LSB series 1.

[mica]

You'll find that the newer the Series I/II the farther away from the end of the fingerboard the neck pickup is. This reflects the change in playing style over the last 50 years. Though be aware that the farther away from the fingerboard the less "bassy" the bass pickup (neck pickup) will be. It's just one of the tradeoffs you have to consider when ordering a custom bass.

[Mlazarus]

I remember you told me that mica. My truss rid plate is 1/2 inch. I full inch would be better for me and at that distance i think it will still be bassy.

[jazzyvee]

Hi Milazarus, i can confirm what Mica points out from my own basses.
The middle bass has the neck pickup right on the edge of the truss rod plate and has the warmest and most full bottom end and enough popping space for a more disciplined popper than me.  :-)


The other two with the neck pickups further away, are also really bassy but less PHAT sounding though are more punchy.

Also sometimes I use the double thumbing technique which is much easier on the outer two basses with more space in the truss rod area. I hope you find a bass to try before you buy to make sure things are comfortable. Happy Hunting.

[Mlazarus]

Well, the 1/2 inch space is juuuust enough to pop, but you have to be more conscious where the hand is landing when you transition from the regular finger playing to poping or your index finger will hit the pickup. One solution is to just slap and pop between both pickups. That would be over the middle dummy pickup. It feels awkard at first because its not  my normal playing position. Playing a musicman or pbass is extreamly easier when slapping and poping because there is so much space to play with. The Series 1s seem to require more presicion playing but when it finally becomes muscle memory of finger placement, its just as easy again. I enjoy my series 1 and may keep it.

[rv_bass]

Can you lower the neck pickup to avoid contacting it when popping, then balance the pickup volumes with the trim pots?

[Mlazarus]

Lowering wont help. It has to be sgifted back.

[Mlazarus]

The height of the string are just enough for the tip of the finger to be placed under the string. Especially if you take the non-flush truss rod plate off. Unlike the pbass height where you can practically slip your whole hand under. Lol. I also  don't want to raise the bridge to much either because i love the low smooth balenced action between the nut height and bridge height. These problem of certain series 1s are minor with good work arounds. Like how the selector swith can be moved as well. Alembic is aware of ALL of this feedback from over the years and made the most refined and precise improvements.

[Mlazarus]

AAhh, Jazzyvee,

i just saw your YouTube vid of your playing your Alembic bass. What year is it?
 
I noticed the wider space between the 24th fret and neck pickup.

[jazzyvee]

Ouch, that makes me cringe. hahah i love that track. That bass is my SC Deluxe which was my first alembic it's 2001 and i got it new from a UK dealer in 2002 clearance sale as they were not going to stock alembics anymore.  I fairly recently upgraded the eletronics to Anniversary.

[Mlazarus]

What is the best way to set up for a youtube video and have others see you when they go to a youtube Alembic bass site? I may want to do this myself.

[jazzyvee]

if you have people subscribe to your channel then they will get notified of new videos you put up. I don't really spend much time on you tube mainly because there are far too many adverts spoiling the experience of watching anything for any length of time..

[Mlazarus]

I'll look into it though.

[Mlazarus]

It turns out that lowering the neck pickup to the lowest point by taking two of the screws out will bottom out the neck pickup. So i do have better clearence for popping than before. If i can route the wires into a deeper gully. I can probably make the top of the pickup sit almost flush with the body. Then adjust the volume.