| Author | Message | ||
| oggydoggy
Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 53 Registered: 3-2003 |
Mica or whomever, I would like to get some more info on Serial number:150-75 it is written on the head stock. Thanks, -Ed | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 120 Registered: 1-2004 |
(Message edited by the_mule on June 13, 2004) | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 121 Registered: 1-2004 |
That's an oldie I guess, do you have any pictures at this moment? | ||
| oggydoggy
Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 54 Registered: 3-2003 |
The Mule, Not at the moment, the ones I have are too big to post on here. Soon, -Ed | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 404 Registered: 6-2002 |
Kind of on this subject. If you go to www.cerious.com, you will be able to download a program called Thumbs Plus. I find it is a useful tool to manage picture size. It works great!! I think there is a 30 or so trial period on it. When my trial period runs out, I will buy it. Good stuff. I really want to see these pictures!! If you email them to me, I will resize them for you. That goes for anyone here too. Michael | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 475 Registered: 7-2002 |
Here's what we have: 1975 4 string shorts scale series I bass Koa top & back birch body ebony fretboard maple/walnut neck mother of pearl oval inlays According to the last owner, the bass was retrofitted with blue leds ( not by us) The tailpiece has been moved further down the body and a string tree has been installed between the tailpiece and the bridge. We think this was done so that regular long scale strings can be used. The tailpiece and the PF6 card were replaced here at Alembic in 1993. That's it. Valentino | ||
| oggydoggy
Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 55 Registered: 3-2003 |
Valentino, Thank you, Any chance of getting a new Wood Card made for this bass? A few more questions: The tail piece is skinny piece of brass atop a piece of what appears to be walnut. did you guys do this? also the heads of the screws are somewhat stripped can I get new ones from you or could I just buy them locally? Finally what is the PF6 Card? Thank you very much, -Ed | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1751 Registered: 6-2000 |
We didn't always have a milling machine to make brass parts, so many of the early tailpieces were made as you describe. You can see some "revivals" of this style on the Tribute guitar and Brown Bass (and even this month's Featured Custom," though we make the brass thicker than on many of the early ones. The anchor screws are nothing special - if you have trouble finding wood screws locally, please call us to order over the phone. The PF6 card is the preamp card with the trimpots. The Wood Card won't have any other details than is listed above. If you want a handwritten version of these details, please email your request to help@alembic.com and include your mailing Also, is the serial number actually written on the headstock? I'd expect it to be stamped into the wood. | ||
| oggydoggy
Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 56 Registered: 3-2003 |
Mica, Yes it is stamped, sorry for the misunderstanding. Thanks for the info, you guys are the best!!! -Ed | ||
| oggydoggy
Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 59 Registered: 3-2003 |
here are a few pictuers from which I bought the bass from. and Michael resized for me, hope to have some of my own pictures soon    | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 672 Registered: 5-2002 |
Beautiful! | ||
| oggydoggy
Member Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 60 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thanks, looks even better in person. And the sound......WOW | ||
| haddimudd
Junior Username: haddimudd Post Number: 36 Registered: 6-2002 |
A short scale with long scale strings? Interesting! Why wouldn't one just cut off the overlength of long scale strings and then use them like short scale strings? Sweet bass really! But then again, it's an Alembic, what else did you expect?  Hartmut | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 692 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hartmut; one reason why one wouldn't just use long scale strings on a short scale bass is because of the difference is tension. An E string stretched to be in tune on a long scale bass has to be stretched tighter than the same string stretched to be in tune on a short scale bass. Long scale strings on a short scale bass are not going to feel as taut as they normally would. Of course that is not necessarily a bad thing; just a difference to be considered. | ||
| haddimudd
Junior Username: haddimudd Post Number: 38 Registered: 6-2002 |
So... why doesn't every short scale bass make use of that option? Is the usually lower tension desirable? I would have thought for most people the overall size is a more important reason to go short scale rather than the softer tension. I find this a very interesting alteration to your bass. Quite inspiring. I believe I need to find a short scale bass in my area now to actually compare the tension to my long scale bass. I tried some short scales when I picked up my bass at the Alembic factory a few years ago, but I don't seem to have payed enough attention to the tension ("attention to a tension" - heehee, that's funny )... Thanks for the info! Hartmut | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 694 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think the desirability of lower tension is a matter of personal taste. Years ago, at the insistence of the guitar player I was playing with, I tried tuning down to D; I didn't like it at all. But on the other hand, the TI Jazz Rounds I have on my Spoiler are the lowest tension string I've played and I love 'em. A lot of 5 and 6 string players try to get a really tight B; and I would think that players who are after that "piano" tone probably go for high tension as well. I could see where it could be useful to have low tension strings on one bass and high tension strings on another; a good excuse to order a new bass, or a new double-neck <g>! | ||
| goatfoot
Junior Username: goatfoot Post Number: 50 Registered: 12-2003 |
I think the reason for the mod is that there is a wider selection of long-scale strings than short-scale strings. Probably the owner of the bass had a favorite set of strings that was only available in long-scale. I don't think you can just snip off the excess since if you cut passed the end of the silk wrap the string would unwind. I just put a set of 32" scale TI Jazz flats on my Brown Bass and the silk wrap of the G strings ends just at the tunning peg when tuned to pitch. If the string were any longer the string would probably snap when I attempted to tune it. As an aside ... I love these strings on this bass. They greatly improved the tone from the CX-3s that came with the bass. I imagine the CX-3s would sound alright on a fretted bass, but they just didn't work on the fretless. The TI's bring out the warmth and growl that I knew this bass had in her. I don't think they are low tension at all ... but I guess that I play with a pretty light touch. BTW, very nice bass, Ed. Great condition for a almost 30 year old bass. I love the mostly walnut neck, the tan pickups, and the thicker body. Later, Kevin (Message edited by goatfoot on July 02, 2004) | ||
| haddimudd
Junior Username: haddimudd Post Number: 41 Registered: 6-2002 |
I am sure this is heading a bit off topic but since I've read more than once about TI strings on this forum: What are they? I don't think I ever heard of them. Are they a new brand ("brand new" so to speak - heehee, English can be so funny )? The flats are real flat wounds? I am curious because in my world usually flats are the most desperately avoided strings, at least if you are seeking hi-fi sound with brilliant overtones - even on a fretless bass. Are these TI flats different? | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 414 Registered: 6-2002 |
The TI strings are Thomastic-Infeld brand strings. They are made in Germany. They come in round and flats too. | ||
| goatfoot
Member Username: goatfoot Post Number: 51 Registered: 12-2003 |
TI has been around for quite some time. They're imported to the US from Vienna. The Jazz Flats are true flatwounds but TI makes roundwound strings as well. I can't really compare them to other flatwounds first-hand. They don't sound thuddy like the sound Jamerson got out of his old set of DeBellas. But they don't sound like roundwounds either. On my bass they're warm and growly but not especially bright. I like snap-crackle-pop on my fretted bass (I use DR's on my 5-string Rogue) but I'm going for a more upright sound on my fretless. The TI's give me the sound I'm looking for. Later, Kevin | ||
| haddimudd
Junior Username: haddimudd Post Number: 42 Registered: 6-2002 |
Ah ok, thanks for the info! So they are good for upright sound but probably not for a "Pastorius" sound, right? I believe my personal preference still is roundwounds for fretless. Although I might yet have to hear the TI flats to appreciate them, who knows? | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 151 Registered: 1-2004 |
Edwin van Huik suggested to use medium scale strings (DR HiBeam) on my short scale Series I, because they add more 'body' to the sound, and after a week of playing I can only second that advise... Wilfred | ||
| hankster
New Username: hankster Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2004 |
Back to the string scale issue...I used to play a Gibson Les Paul short scale bass, and in those days shortscale strings were hard to come by, at least where I lived. I found that the problem of the lower tension was that it led to subtle tuning problems in the lower register that were tolerable in performance but excruciating in studio settings. The proper tension of shortscale strings prevented the problem. Rick |
