'03 SC Signature Standard 5-string

[hieronymous]

I recently became the guardian of this fine bass. When it first came up for sale, I wasn't particularly interested; then I noticed that it was almost exactly what I was plugging into the custom quote generator on my own! So I haggled a little (just a little - the seller was quite nice actually) and snagged it!  
[img">http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/54185.jpg[/img]
  It's a five-string, originally tuned BEADG, but I always intended to restring it EADGC. Which I did. And I love it!   A while back I got interested in getting a six-string bass - fortunately I got a cheap one, because I quickly learned that I'm not into the low-B. I've been playing bass for twenty-five years now, and it has just never appealed to me - of course there are other players who use the low B that I like - it's just not for me. But I loved the high C string, so I've been on the lookout for a five-string with the high C.   Another thing I love is short-scale basses. I've got a few vintage ones, but this is probably the first "modern" short-scale that I've owned, and again, I love it! I'm going to take it back to the mothership at some point and have new bridge saddles and a new nut put in - it works as-is for the time being, but I notice that when I pluck the low E with my thumb, you can hear the string moving in the too-wide saddle.   Here's one more picture taken with flash showing off the flame:  

  While I'm at it, here's the

[tbrannon]

Looks good Harry~  I'm looking forward to a few video/sound clips of it too!

[rami]

That's a real beauty Harry! I also enjoy the high C string on my 6 string Basses.   I've never tried a short scale 5 string and I wonder how the low B string would sound.  I'm sure on an Alembic it would sound great - tight and crisp.  But I'd imagine on lesser Basses it would sound  rather muddy and floppy.  A high C seems to make more sense on a short scale Bass.
I also look forward to sound clips of it in action.
 
I'm a big fan!
 

[kenbass4]

Wow, Harry
 
So, are you pricing the SUV you're going to need for next years gathering?
:-)
 
Ken

[bigyouth]

Beautiful bass
I have the same(4string)

[hieronymous]

Thanks guys - I will try and record something soon.  
 
The previous owner had put DR Lo-Riders which I normally like, but they felt really loose on this bass. I can't really comment on the low B because I don't have much experience with them and restrung this bass after a couple of days. I think I remember reading somewhere here on this forum, though, that Alembic now discourages short scales with low B strings.  
 
But so far the low E is great!
 
Ken, actually the case for this is nice and compact - this year it was either the double-neck or the Exploiter - hopefully next year I can bring both the double-neck and the SC. (Assuming of course I don't end up with something else! I was actually planning on bringing the Telembic next time but it's still in Massachusetts and I think I might leave it there for the time being...)

[keurosix]

Hey Harry,
Did I read correctly that you have a cheap 6 string bass? Why not tune it EADGCF with a hi-C and higher F? This would give you an extended top range piccolo bass into guitar range great for chording and melodic phrasing. Worth a try!
P.S. I have a 6 string bass with a low B and I love the symmetry: a four string bass in the middle with another string on the top and the bottom. Makes the 5 string a little awkward conceptually and in execution.
Kris

[keurosix]

Hey Rami,
I can tell the difference of my low B string on my 34 scale Europa to my 35 scale Modulus Graphite Quantum TBX thru-neck. While the Europa is clean and accurate, it is weak in power and authority compared to the Modulus. I have a burning question: You have some absolutely beautiful 36 scale Rogues with Ebony neck laminates. Can you describe the difference of the low B from these monsters to a normal 34 long scale bass, say one of your Excels? I am dying to know. Esp fretless tones.
Kris

[hieronymous]

Hey keurosix, I actually considered selling my Ibanez 6-string, but I'm hanging on to it for now, just in case I need a low B! I don't feel like I need the extra range that an F string would provide - I am just loving the SC 5-string so much! The baritone part of the doubleneck goes up into that range, in case I ever need it.
 
As for the symmetry, I was basically playing the 6 like a 5 and ignoring the low B, so the SC feels perfectly natural. But that's just me!

[3rd_ray]

Harry, what are the fingerboard dimensions on your Ibanez 6-string? (width at nut and width at 24th fret) I tried a Soundgear 5-string in a store a while ago and the neck seemed not as wide as most 5-strings. My next bass will probably be a 6-string and I'd like to make the neck width smaller than normal. Alembic shows 2.0 inches at the nut for classic taper. My Carvin 6-string is also 2 at the nut. I'm wondering how much smaller I can go using BEADGC. Maybe 1-7/8?
 
BTW, nice SC! I like that walnut.
 
Mike
 
(Message edited by 3rd_ray on August 01, 2008)

[3rd_ray]

Kris, I'm using the high C and higher F on my Carvin 6-string. It works pretty good. Like Harry, I hardly ever used the low B, so I tried this as an experiment and ended up keeping it that way. I can see how EADGCF would be weird for guitar players, but it works for me. I just don't think of it as a guitar.  
 
Mike

[hieronymous]

Mike, I'm going to have to get back to you on the neck width of my Ibanez, maybe when I get home tonight. To tell the truth, I don't have much experience with 5- and 6-string basses - heck, even my 4-strings come in so many shapes and sizes that I don't think I know what normal is!
 
Here's another shot of the bass - I'm not thrilled with the lighting/color, but it's another view of the flame.
 

[rami]

A low B is cool for some stuff.  It 's useful for certain positions as well as reaching to the basement for notes.  I have a Bach Suite in C Major which runs down to low C.  That's alot of fun to play on a 5 or 6 string Bass.
I feel weird holding a guitar.  I'm not used to the high B & E strings.  
 
To whatever floats the boat!
 

[82daion]

Looking sharp, Harry!
 
I love the flame pattern in the walnut.

[mcdonger]

Beautiful bass. Makes me kinda wish I kept my SC V. Enjoy it.