Author Topic: SC Brown Bass Fretless (Read 487 times)

goatfoot · « **on:** January 05, 2004, 09:43:46 AM »

It may be a while before I get my own pictures scanned but I saved these pictures from the BassNW site before they took them down.

goatfoot · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2004, 09:50:57 AM »

Here's a close up of the front.

The top and back are walnut. It has a nice swirly grain to it, esp. near the bird.

My other Alembic has a burl walnut top. The two look very different. The BB has a matte finish while the Rogue has a high gloss finish.

goatfoot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2004, 10:00:08 AM »

Here's the back. I was shocked to find that this bass needed 5 nine volt batteries, but four are for the side leds.

And here's the headstock.

I was surprised to find that the Logo and tuners are chrome when the bridge and tail piece are brass. At first I didn't particularly like that but it has grown on me. Does anyone know if Stanley's bass was similarly mismatched? (Message edited by goatfoot on January 06, 2004)

bracheen · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2004, 10:59:56 AM »

Very nice. I used to not be a walnut fan but more and more I'm liking it lately.
I don't know about Stanley's personal bass but I've seen SC basses with that combination.

Sam

malthumb · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2004, 08:07:06 PM »

I can say for certain that the bass I got from Stanley has the chrome tuner / brass bridge arrangement. Other Alembics I have owned had the same arrangement.

James

bob · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2004, 10:20:55 PM »

Is it just the photos? To me, the tuners (at least the parts you turn) look to be black. And whatever that logo is, it most certainly is not chrome - it might actually be real silver.

I thought I had asked for a bronze logo on mine, to better go with the brass bridge/tailpiece, but ended up with a logo like this one. I can see why silver might actually be a better choice: it blends better with the turquoise silks on the Alembic strings, and even the strings themselves, and it also seems to clash less with either black or chrome tuners.

Now that I have red silks, I might want to revisit the matter - but as usual, someone(s) at Alembic had really good taste, and I agree with the choice they made at the time.
-Bob

(James, you're being coy - there must be a good story in here about getting a bass from Stanley, and since you brought it up, it seems only right that you share it with us. Don't make us break out the bamboo slivers...)

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2004, 11:36:58 PM »

I looked at the quote generator and the choices for the logo listed there are bronze, gold plated, and silver.

goatfoot · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2004, 07:19:01 AM »

You're right, Dave. The logo is silver and the tuners are chrome.

I too would like to hear about you buying a bass from Stanley, James. Do you own THE Brown Bass? Any bass that SC played would be special, but owning THAT one would be truely be something.

I never thought of trying to match the logo/tuners with the strings! Ha.

I'm not entirely sure I'll stick with the CX-3's. I'm thinking of trying TI Jazz flats or Pyrimid flats. OTOH, this bass is not as bright sounding as my Rogue. So maybe I won't like flats. I'm also thinking of trying DR Sunbeams. Has anyone tried any of these strings on an Alembic fretless?

Kevin

adriaan · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2004, 08:47:23 AM »

Kevin,

That's a really great-looking bass! Congratulations!

TI Jazz Flats on a fretless Epic sound great, but not very bright. Is your Rogue a fretless? Not sure how much highs you lose on a fretless compared to a fretted bass, but it seems like a safe bet that you do.

Next up I'll try TI Jazz Flats on my '88 Spoiler, which is fretted, so I'll know what they sound like on a neck-through. The Spoiler is extremely bright with fresh roundwounds.

By the way, the Spoiler also has brass hardware with the brass logo, but chrome tuners (Schaller).

(Message edited by Adriaan on January 06, 2004)

malthumb · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2004, 05:47:11 PM »

Bob & Kevin,

Sorry....Not trying to be coy. I've told this story a few times on this and the previous (Yahoo) Alembic Club. Back in the summer of '00 Stanley was liquidating a lot of his gear as part of a divorce settlement. I made him an offer on his Series I Omega body and he accepted.

It turned out to be a mind-blowing week for me because this bass arrived one day and my Mark King / Series II custom order arrived two or three days later. Alembic overload!!

Pictures of the bass are in the Showcase in the Artist and Their Alembics folder http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1995.html?1071418214 and the Series I Basses and Guitars folder http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1374.html?1029014626

This is not the Brown Bass. The asking price for that one was too rich for my blood. Last I heard, Victor Wooten has the Brown Bass.

Peace,

James

bob · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2004, 06:55:04 PM »

Sorry, James - I did of course see the shot of Stanley holding your bass, just never made the serial number connection in that post. But the other one is perfectly clear, no excuse...

Peace, indeed.