| Author | Message | ||
| jseitang
Junior Username: jseitang Post Number: 35 Registered: 6-2002 |
anyone had any experences with 32 inch? the next alembic i'm planning is 32 inch and i wanted to know what peoples opinions are. thanks | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 283 Registered: 6-2002 |
Just great. | ||
| pas
Junior Username: pas Post Number: 14 Registered: 3-2003 |
I've had 3, still have two & as Tony the Tiger would say, "They'rrrre great!" | ||
| tkotmk42
Junior Username: tkotmk42 Post Number: 24 Registered: 5-2002 |
I am of Japanese descent and have small hand / short fingers. I found regular 34" scale to be too taxing, especially with standard point body. Now that I have 32" scale bass, I would never go back to 34". It is all good. Many of my friends played my bass commented on how much easier it is to play and how good it sounds. Then again, they don't own Alembics... | ||
| flaxattack
Intermediate Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 122 Registered: 4-2004 |
let ya know in 3 months,,, just ordered mine | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 588 Registered: 7-2003 |
Depends on the size of your hands. Mine are smallish and fingers are not especially broad. I believe that makes a 32 perfect for me - Easier to reach further, but not so small that my fingertips are too wide for the narrower fret spaces in the upper registers. Bill | ||
| kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 136 Registered: 8-2003 |
I'm six-foot-one and 160 with big hands and short fingers, and the one full-size Alembic I've played recently (MK Standard) felt enormous, in large part because of how far forward the bridge is set. My ex-Spoiler 4, which had a 32" scale, fit me really well. My short scale Small Standard fits even better with no loss of tone on the E string. Never tried a medium scale with a B string...is that among your plans? | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1499 Registered: 9-2002 |
Oh huhuhuhuh ...brother Jeff ...3 months ...3 ...three ???????? Mmmmm ...don't hold your breath on it!!! But hey ...it's nice to have this really optimistic people around. I would make that 6. Paul the bad one yep ...that was bad just kidding | ||
| the_mule
Advanced Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 230 Registered: 1-2004 |
My EVH is 32" and it's very comfortable to play. Actually, it's the most comfortable bass I've ever played, and that includes the rest of my versatile Alembic 'Rat Pack'. No matter how big or small your hands are, you can't go wrong with 32" IMHO. Wilfred | ||
| dadabass2001
Advanced Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 225 Registered: 6-2002 |
My '81 Distillate and my '73 Guild Starfire are both 32" and both are easy to love. Stanley Clarke spec'ed his basses for 30.75 scale. I won't argue with him.  Mike | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 777 Registered: 5-2002 |
On my 32", the lower registers are more comfortable. On my 34", my fingering in the higher registers is more precise. The best solution is to have at least one of each <g>. | ||
| kevin_k
Member Username: kevin_k Post Number: 86 Registered: 4-2003 |
I have short fat fingers...I played similar 32" and 34" 5-string basses...No longer have the 32"...I worried needlessly about moving to a longer bass...I would try all the different sizes I could, if I was undecided. Then go with your gut feeling. Later, Kevin | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 597 Registered: 7-2003 |
I've always favored shorter scales in a 4 string. My old Spoiler was and my new bass is a 32" 4 string. I love, em. Very easy on the lower frets, precise, but manageable on the upper. However, I'm leaning toward a 34 (even a 33?) when I Alembic builds my 5 string. Not because of sound, but because of the greater ease of fingering the upper registers on a 34. I've found that, for me, neck width and thickness are just as important as scale on a 5 string. Alembic's "Comfort taper" 5 string fingerboard 1.875" nut, 2.930" 24th fret) width is a bit wide for me. However, Alembic will build what you want on most models for no extra charge. I like the width and thickness Ibanez uses on its Soundgear 5 strings better (1.77" nut and 2.6" 24th See http://ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=SR405 for an all dimensions diagram). Others have said the same. I plan to try a number of other 5 string necks and dimensions before I'm ready to order, but having owned an Ibanez 5, I'd say it's pretty close to what I want. The other variation I've considered is building the neck assymetrical, with the thicker part under the low strings. I think that might relieve a little thumb fatigue, but I'll have to find and try one with that shape before I decide. Bill | ||
| somatic
Junior Username: somatic Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2003 |
32" scale length is fine, except perhaps for a low B. None of my Alembics are 32's (both 30.75) but my Kubicki is, and I find the short scales easier to move about on and just more fun to play. (Message edited by somatic on August 28, 2004) | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 238 Registered: 3-2004 |
For the low B on a 32, wood really matters. Or maybe it's age? I played a new MK std 5 in 32" and thought the B felt and sounded awful. I bought a '90 Persuader 5 in 32" and the B both feels and sounds excellent. They were basically the same woods (mahogany core, figured walnut top), but the age and the purpleheart in the neck of the Persuader must be making the difference. I also think that you can't expect to get a great B string tone on light strings and shorter scale. You definitely need a meaty B string to get good tension. Just my experience... -Bob | ||
| flaxattack
Intermediate Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 130 Registered: 4-2004 |
well i hope i dont have that problem on my mk5- coco bolo body and ebony/purple heart lams in the neck | ||
| flaxattack
Intermediate Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 131 Registered: 4-2004 |
i too liked the ibanez neck that i had on my edb605- i used that as a model for my mk5- the important thing is not necessarily the width adn scale of the neck, but the shape. my custom is going to be 1.75 nut .182 edges(std is.150) and 2.45 at the 24th fret- app .470 spacing but i might increas to .500 shortly BUT- per advice of my dealer steve at superbass- i am having the neck "shaved" which should reduce that neck thickness by about 1/8th inch. of course the other problem i had with the ibazed neck? it moved if i sneezed on it | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 605 Registered: 7-2003 |
That's funny. My Soundgear neck was like a rock. Had it moved around a lot I wouldn't have considered it as a model for other projects. Glad I heard that, though... | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 310 Registered: 1-2003 |
Brett - totally off the subject - I see you are in Australia. Are you on the Green Square Music mailing list? (www.greensquare.net) We have ocasional Alembic specials and promotions, as well as passing on the Alembic monthly specials. David B. | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 240 Registered: 3-2004 |
I played the soundgear 1300/1500 model for a while and the neck was very flexible, but I don't remember having to tweak the action all that often. I think that a small neck will be just fine with the right amount of ebony or purpleheart there to keep it stiff. The shorter the scale, the easier it will be to keep it straight, though maybe the 2-3" difference between short and long scale isn't enough to really matter. -Bob | ||
| malthumb
Advanced Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 275 Registered: 5-2002 |
I had a 32" scale Series II 4 string a while back. Wonderful instrument. It would have been my main bass if I didn't have a real need for a 5 string in my church band. That's why I ordered my 5 string with Series II electronics. I was a little nervous about the idea of a 32" scale with a B string, so I ordered my 5er with 34". If you're getting a 4 string, go for the 32" and you'll be fine. If you're looking for a 5, hopefully someone else on the board has experience with a 32" B string. Peace, James | ||
| bkbass
Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2003 |
I have two very hot rodded spoilers in 32"medium scales.The fretless one is a five string.Both have very narrow string spacing.Both are strung with very light gauge strings(.30-.90)on the four string and (.30-.105)on the five string the lighter gauge B-string experiences none of the typical problems associated with tension/length issues.In fact I don't have to adjust my attack at all on the B-string no flatulence whatsoever.However,the bass is made out of solid Purple Heart top,body and neck with Paduk neck stringers(3 on a 7 piece neck)and a Paduk accent stripe on the body.I believe the B-string behaves so well because of the overall mass of the instrument it's heavy but balances ok when strapped lower(not up around one's neck)oh yes,and the body shape is modeled after an Oasis shape which has the same hips and waist of a Stanley Clarke model but with a slightly larger upper and lower horns.Originally the strap button was positioned on the upper horn but I put a second one approx.1" in from the neck heel proper and it balances much,much better.All of the older model shapes where intentionally made to balance at the 3 o'clock position and these are no exception.Also it's been my observation that when comparing a 4 string to a 5&6 string of similar models the E-string always sounds a little sweeter on the 4 than on the 5 or 6 strings(34"scale)that same sweetness overall exists on a 32"compared to a 34"regardless of which string it is.Any one else have similar experience with that sweetness difference between a 32" and a 34"? | ||
| somatic
Junior Username: somatic Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2003 |
Brett - totally off the subject - I see you are in Australia. Are you on the Green Square Music mailing list? I am now. Cheers. However,the bass is made out of solid Purple Heart top,body and neck with Paduk neck stringers(3 on a 7 piece neck)and a Paduk accent stripe on the body.I believe the B-string behaves so well because of the overall mass of the instrument Wow!. Do you have any pix? I'm having a custom made down here, and I'm discussing with the luthier which woods I'll have it made from. Most of my selections so far have been from the heavier types such as wenge and purpleheart for exactly that reason. The first will be a 30.75" 4, but I'd like a low B 5 and this has given me some confidence to try it. | ||
| groovelines
Intermediate Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 191 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jimmy, If indeed you are planning on a custom order from Alembic and depending on the peghead selected, (especially with the 'crown'), you could order the peghead reversed: 2 on top, three on bottom and get a little more "pull" on the 32" B. just a thought... | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 242 Registered: 10-2003 |
The tension of the B string is the same regardless of the distance from tailpiece to peg. The tension is determined by the tuning as it relates to the speaking length of the string. A longer distance from tail to peg gives the string more stretch (a given elasticity over greater distance) and conceiveably more energy loss. I've played a TON of basses over the years, and I don't think the length of the string tailpiece to peg really matters, but that the angle of the strings over the bridge does sometimes make a difference. Neck and body wood(s), on the other hand, are everything. I would imagine a beefy neck with ebony lams and the right gauge of strings would yield an imminently useable (and relatively tight-sounding) B. So, I personally wouldn't be inclined to lose any sleep over which side of the head the tuners are located, except for aesthetics. One thing you might experiment with is stringing up a 32" BEAD and seeing what that feels like, keeping in mind that the tension of a 5th string will make the whole apparatus feel a bit tighter and the B sound a bit better... John | ||
| bkbass
Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 60 Registered: 11-2003 |
No pix of any of the family just yet.I figured I'd wait till this next one is done. |
