Questions about Short Scale Series I

[omega_heart81 (omega_heart81)]

Hello! I'll receive my '81 Series I in three days, but I need an extra set of strings for some records I have to do in the next weeks.
The actual owner of the bass did use long scale strings, cutting them. I guess it's not a great deal... I'm already looking for the short scale version of the DR Low Riders or D'Addario Xls, but all I find are Rotosound and La Bella! What do you use on your short scale bass? I'm looking for 040 or thinner strings.
Another question: before I get used with Series control, I would need to know how I can set all the knobs in flat... can you help me?
Thanx!

[Valentino Villevieille (valvil)]

Hello Alfredo,
 
Series I electronics do not really have a 'flat position, other than for Q switches I guess.  What you have is the following : 2 volume controls, 2 tone filters, 1 for each pickup, and 2 'Q' switches, also 1 per pickup & 1 pickup selector  switch.  The 'Q' switches are flat when they are up, I believe, and give  you a 6 db boost in the middle position and a 9 db boost in the bottom position ( hope I don't have this reversed). The filter knobs operate between 350hz and 6000, cutting all frequencies above the chosen setting; if the knob is rolled all the way forward, everything is coming through, if it's all the way back nothing over 350 goes through; most folks use a setting somewhere in the middle;  this gives you a much wider range of tonal control than a regular bass/treble set-up.  
For the strings, I suggest you contact your local dealer who should be easily able to look up which manufacturers make short scale sets, and can order you some.  I'd also suggest looking up some of the websites.  I think D'addario makes  a short scale  XL set, not sure about   DR.
 
Good luck, and congratulations on your new Alembic

[omega_heart81 (omega_heart81)]

Hello... my name is Armando, not Alfredo ;-)
However I think that I'll never need all these controls on a bass, so I was looking for the flat position... I'm sure that the bass is just great, but if I'll realize I don't need all those knobs, I'll probably downgrade to a Signature Deluxe or something similar :-)
I've got this Series I 'cause the actual owner lives here in Europe so I don't have to wait for months... and he did accept some used gear as a partial trade :-)
It was just a lucky lucky thing! I was looking for a short scale Series I for more than a year!!

[Wayne McLemore (wayne)]

Armando-
 
Mica or Ron would be able to say if there is a true flat setting on the Series electronics.
 
From my experience, I'm thinking that you should start with the Q's in the up position (no boost) and the filters wide open.  That's gonna be sending evrything the strings are doing (under 6,000 Hz) through to the board or amp.  You can then roll off some highs as needed.
 
When you get comfortable with the way the filters work, then you can start fiddling around with the interaction of the Q switches and the filters.
 
Then when you get used to that, you get a Superfilter and go into frequency fiddlin' overload.
 
Good luck.  I'm sure that once you get used to it, you'll never want to go back.  I always thought that I'd never want or need anything more than the 3 position Q's on a Series I, but when it came time to get my second Series, I went with the continuously variable Series II package and I absolutely love it.
 
C-Ya...........wayne

[omega_heart81 (omega_heart81)]

Well, you're probably right about the controls, but I never needed tweakings... I usually choose a bass for its flat sound: if it sounds good in slap and fingerstyle, I get it :-)
I'll give a try to the bass... I'm looking forward to get it!! I hope I'll not be disappointed. Thanx a lot for your councils!

[Valentino Villevieille (valvil)]

My apologies for calling you Alfredo, Armando, I'm still not quite sure where that came from .   It's definitely not because all italian names sound the same to me, since I am an italian myself, born and raised there.  
 
Have fun with the series one, and by all means let us know what you think.
 
Valentino

[omega_heart81 (omega_heart81)]

Wow! Where are you from?? I live in Southern Italy!
About the bass: I'm really afraid to discover that all these features have a big influence on my playing... what happens if I'll have to change bass?? ;-)

[Valentino Villevieille (valvil)]

I was born in Naples myself , Armando, another southern boy...
 
About the bass,  I think you'll like it just fine. If however you have a hard time getting the sound you are looking for, try these boards and give us an idea of the sound you want (like song names or band names)  and most folks here will be happy to try to help.
 
Ciao
Valentino

[omega_heart81 (omega_heart81)]

I live at 100km from Naples... I'm sure that I'll like all the hardware of the bass: the short scale, the ebony fingerboard, the hollow body. My only concern is about the electronics. I think that if I'll not like it, I'll probably downgrade to a Signature. I've never liked to tweak more than a knob to find the right sound (the only knob I tweak is the pickup balance :-).
I'm used to Weng? necks, I'm happy to return to maple/purpleheart combination, though... it has a wonderful feel, even if Weng? is great! I definitely love Ebony fingerboard!

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi Armando,
 
first of all, congratulations with the purchase.
About strings: I remember I used 'd Addario XL's on my old Danelectro-bass. 'd Addario is a wide spread brand in Europe so: that would give no problems. I think you'll find Pyramids also in short scale, as well flatwound as roundwound.
Don't bother about the knobs on an Alembic SI. I don't know if you also play guitar but think about the controls on a Gibson Les Paul. I KNOW the tone control is different (filter principle) but you have to consider the Volume knobs as part of the tone control of your bass. The easiest way to get comfortable with a Series bass is to start working with only one PU, say the bridge one. Just see how it's working. Wayne is right: just leave the Q-switch on zero (upwards). You will see (and feel) that it's already something: a Alembic with 1 of those PU.
The second step is to just ADD a more bassy sauce on top of the bridge pick-up by adding some neck-pick-up. You'll see the tone will change dramatically. Again by turning on the filter you can decide what kind of bassy-sauce you want.
The q-switches can be used only as part of accents (for solo or some pieces) or as a definite part of your sound.
I always say: It will take some time the Alembic playing you, than you'll play the Alembic. Just accept that as a mere fact. NOBODY om this site mastered a Series-bass at his or her first touch. I mean the sonic range of that bass, I don't mean teh playability because the latter is astounding. You will experience that the things you always wanted to do on a bass an just won't work out, now will work out! Believe me!
But: the electronics ...that's another chapter. It will take some time of tweaking before you'll find the sound that IS you! But you'll FIND it, in the end... someday ...once ....
 
Paul

[omega_heart81 (omega_heart81)]

Well, it's sure that I'll try every possible configuration... but the fact is that I simply don't need all these things! This is why I was looking for the flat position of the controls. I never liked to eq my bass sound... in my humble opinion, the right sound doens't need to be adjusted. I guess that these controls allow to sculpt the sound in a better way than any other preamp, but I just wanna see/hear what these electronics can do for me :-)
My luthier told me that Alembic basses are not completely hand made... but I just don't understand how a machine could work such a masterpiece... however I wanted to say thanx to all of you! I also wanted to thank our kindest Mica for all the great responses and for the wonderful brochure I've received some months ago. It's just great! I'm sooo happy to find such a beauty here in Italy... here all the players use the usual basses (Fender, Musicman etc.) and these beauties often collect dust in a shop. There are lots of NOS Signature basses here! If I don't like anything of this Series I, I'll always know that I can get a Mark King Standard in a while ;-)