So fish, is this SC you mention a used piece, or are you going to order one like that?
ALEMBIC is virtually alone in building short, meidum, long, or XL as a no-hassle option: you pays your money and takes your choice.
The balance/neck heavy part is just geometry: The Series-shaped instruments' upper horn just doesn't reach very far up the neck, and can cause a little balance problem because of it. With Stanleys, it's even a bit more pronounced because the horns are symmetric and short: This is why you really have to do some convincing with Mica and Susan before they would think about a long-scale Stanley. In short or even medium scale the body weight is enough to compensate out most if not all of the neck dive.
I play a long-scale Series-shaped Spoiler, a bit neck heavy, but I can live with it as I just had to have that shape and look. But I'm 6'1 and can easily see where it would be too big for shorter folks.
BUT . . several of the other shapes (Rogue and Europa) balance very well as well as the newer Balanced K's, etc., so this really doesn't have to be an issue.
Any of the short scale ALEMBICs would put out more than enough low end. Most of the short-scale myths survive from the old days when cheap basses with half-a***d pickups into the old amps of those days were fairly lacking. No such problem now. My only advice is that for ANY scale other than the 'usual' 34, your available string choices dwindle, you won't see as broad a range of choices.
The Series electronics are the best pickups/electronics in the world. You and your wallet and your ears will have to decide that one.
I do know this: After an Exploiter, an short-scale SC would feel like a ukelele!
To my way of thinking, the Balance K in your choice of electronics (the Anniversary electronics get you close to Series without the power supply) would get you a smaller, well-balanced axe that would be smaller and accomodate any scale you settle on, no problem.
Best of Luck,
J o e y
