| Author | Message | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 18 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi Guys,just got home about a hour ago with my 91 SC Signature deluxe in MINT condition,she sounds so good,i didn't realise how good a short scale bass can sound!very punchy,warm,and so much midrange growl!i'm truly blown away!!here are some pics,she has a rosewood front and back,please lete me know what you think,thanks,Julian.       | ||
| lowlife
Junior Username: lowlife Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2003 |
Beautiful!! Enjoy. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| bracheen
Advanced Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 365 Registered: 11-2003 |
Julian, congratulations on the great bass! It looks perfect for it's age. Almost as if the previous owner never took it from it's case. I've never played a short scale but would be interested in giving one a try some day. Sam | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 19 Registered: 3-2004 |
Sam,it really looks as if it just came out of the showroom,very lucky to find it,iv'e been playing 34"for years,when i first started playing,it was a gibson short scale,but i'm very pleased with the way it plays,and it doesn't feel out of place at all,so give one a try,i hope you enjoy it,thanks,thanks to you and Ellery for your reply's,Julian. | ||
| goatfoot
Junior Username: goatfoot Post Number: 31 Registered: 12-2003 |
Congrats Julian! She's beautiful. I really like rosewood on Stanleys -- very classy. I agree with you, I don't find switching between my BB and my 36" difficult at all. And the BIG sound of the SC is a little surprising the first time you play it. I thought "Whoa - this is no toy bass." Enjoy, Kevin | ||
| goatfoot
Junior Username: goatfoot Post Number: 32 Registered: 12-2003 |
BTW, I didn't realize that the signature models are actually "signed." What's the signature made out of? I know Stanley doesn't personally sign every bass. Kevin | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2003 |
So nice, now get back to playing! Enjoy! | ||
| jazzyvee
Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 99 Registered: 6-2002 |
They are amazing sounding basses. I have one with cocobola front and back. Apart from getting used to the balance of the instrument you should have loads of fun finding new sounds. Everytime I pick mine up to play i find a new sound.... the controls are very very sensitive and have a much more useable range of sound than any standard bass I have ever tried. Did you get it via e-bay? | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 115 Registered: 10-2003 |
NIce bass! Just like the one I had; same year even! They really are great basses, and yes, the sound is very surprising given what you expect from a short scale. | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 20 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi Guys,iv'e seen signature basses signed and others without,so i really don't know why this is,perhaps someone else out there can help,it just seems to be a white transfer which has been covered with the finish,i was sceptical about it having such a big sound,i was wrong!!it sounds HUGE!yes jazzyvee i got it on ebay,i missed it the first time around,and saw it there last week,the guy i bought it from said someone had bought it then messed about!!so he put it up again,Valentino was very helpfull in giving me the full run down on it before i made the decision,as the serial number was available,so thanks to him for sure,i went and saw it today and it's truly like new,so handed over the cash and came away with a very big smile!!great to hear from you all,thanks,Julian. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 400 Registered: 7-2002 |
The signature was on a decal, I think, that got sprayed over. The practice was discontinued a few years ago; nowadays there are no stickers on the signature models. Glad to hear you got it...looks just like my first Alembic. Valentino | ||
| bassman10096
Advanced Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 302 Registered: 7-2003 |
Really nice. Congratulations. Short scales are a whole different playing experience!! The acoustic bass I play from time to time is very short scaled - 30". There are definitely fingerings and techniques you can use the extra reach to achieve. I think it's fun and something to explore. That's why I struggle between an SC with Anniversary electronics or a brown bass and a 5 string for my next bass. Each one represents something new to work on... The rosewood looks great and it looks well cared for, too. Enjoy it. Alembics always show you something new! Bill | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 219 Registered: 12-2002 |
if there are no more decals anymore,are the guitars pre-signed? | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 401 Registered: 7-2002 |
Nope, now there is no signature whatsoever on them, that's what I mean. Valentino | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 21 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi Guys,used the SC last night for the first time,sounds really good,very full and tight,i'm using my old faithfull GK800RB and a Eden 410XLT,and for smaller function type gigs i do, i use a small Carlsbro(made here in the UK) bass combo,iv'e strung the bass with 45-105 nickels,made by Picato,i had this new set hanging around,so thought i would put them on while waiting for my others to arrive in the post,but because of the Easter holidays that could take some time now!!Julian. | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 238 Registered: 12-2002 |
hey if you want that "true stanley clarke sound?" now that you have the bass! get your self some 'super lite'(gauge) bass strings,. | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 22 Registered: 3-2004 |
Keavin i don't like light strings,it had them on when i got it,but when you put on a heavier gauge, the bass has so much more bottom and punch,i like to feel the string with more resistance under my hands,i can see from the alembic web site it seems they come fitted with 45-105 from new. | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 240 Registered: 12-2002 |
i dont like em eiter,your rite they lack bottom. i only use lites for overdubs(solos),in the higher notes,theyre easy to run on ,thats stanleys secret to his sound,my favotites are steel strings, | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 25 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hey Keavin,saw you and your alembic on another posting,what model is it,looks great,tell me more! | ||
| jeff
Junior Username: jeff Post Number: 25 Registered: 12-2003 |
Hey Basso, that is a really beautiful bass. Isn't it the most awesome feeling to aquire and play an instument like yours? I feel like all is right with the world when I play my Alembic. | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 27 Registered: 3-2004 |
Jeff,yes the bass plays and sounds really good,have used it last weekend on a couple of gigs,and will be using it this weekend also,i had been looking for one for some time,but you don't see to many used ones here in the UK,plenty of M/King's about,but not SC's. | ||
| mint_bass
Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 94 Registered: 1-2004 |
your bass is very very nice congratulations on owning it have fun | ||
| mint_bass
Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 96 Registered: 1-2004 |
double post sorry | ||
| jazzyvee
Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 100 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Basso, I'm in the uk and the owner of an SC Deluxe and mine is the only one I have ever seen here in the UK.. LOL I have seen an epic once at a gig just after I bought mine thats about it. Well I saw Clarkee play an Alembic when he was here with the Clarke Duke Project in the early 80's. So like me you will probably get asked a lot of questions about it. Here is what mine looks like. http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/8430.html | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 28 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi jazzyvee,good to hear from you,that's a nice bass you have,i'm very pleased with mine also,can get loads of tones from it,am finding something new each time i use it,i wonder what makes of strings you are using?i asked the main alembic importers here in the UK about alembic strings and they said it would take a month to get them!!i used to use a mesa boggie buster combo,great!!but,really haavy and awkward to move!!good luck. | ||
| jazzyvee
Intermediate Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 101 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yeah its a great sounding bass, the variation in tone is so vast that sometimes it's hard to dial in the sound you want quickly and I find that i'm always adjusting the sound to get it Just right when doing gigs. Thats maybe because the minutest change in the filters produces a change in sound whereas other basses you have to make big changes in the tone controls to get any noticeable change. I love it, if I could afford it i'd get a 5 stringer as well but thats far too expensive and I'm concerned about the balance with the small body and 5 strings. I think the only other standard alembic shape I like is the Orion and considered that but when I spoke to the alembic dealer he suggested that if I liked the SC model I probably wouldn't find the sound of the Orion... "Alembic enough for me" and would probably be better going for a series I or II but that is small serious money. As for strings I chose to stick with the alembic strings after trying some Elites that were recommended by non alembic players and some rotosound pressure wounds which I find have a horrible feel under my fingers and are now relegated to my musicman sterling. I found the cheapest place was to get proper Alembic short scale strings was over the internet (my first internet purchase actually) from juststrings.com and they were $25.20 US each so I got three sets. for $110.60 US including shipping and I ordered them saturday evening and they were here by the Wednesday. I really like the sound of the Alembic ones, the elites were a bit to thin sounding and the rotosounds a bit harsh and too much finger noise, also you will probably find it hard to get short scale strings in the UK. I didn't find anywhere to get them. | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 29 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes it is hard to find s/scale here,when i bought it it was strung with very light 30 to 90 elites,to light for me,i want to try a set of elixirs on it as they sound really good on my epic 5 string,the only problem is that they don't do a s/scale set!!so i will have to risk getting a set and seeing how they fit on the E and A string machine heads,the light gauge that was fitted on it was actually l/scale,and the guy said he didn't have any problems,but the thicker the winding,the more worry as to them fitting correctly,for my jazz gigs,and jazz fusion gigs i have found a "jazz bass on steroids"type of tone,it really has bags of growl,amazing really for a s/scale bass,it even has more growl than my usa jazz bass!!i presume you are using the 45 to 105 alembic strings?Thomastik do a s/scale in their jazz rounds,another string i like,however the gauge is very light,and i think i will loose some bottom end perhaps,although as it is a alembic maybe not!let me have your thoughts on this,thanks,Julian. | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 201 Registered: 6-2002 |
Julian, I use Thomastik Jazz Flats on my long scale Epic, and they're not that much thinner than other 45-100 sets. I noticed that their 35" and 36" sets are progressively thinner, so the short scale ones are perhaps even thicker than the 34" ones. They claim they decided on the thickness after getting the sound right, rather than to wind the string to a specific thickness and then trying to get sound right as an afterthought - which makes sense. In any case the low E has a very satisfying low end response, great for jazz. Years ago I was in a jazz situation, and was asked to lay down a BIG low F. My Epic was still fretted at the time, probably had DR HiBeams on it - anyway, I just could not produce that really BIG low F. Fast forward a few years, I let a builder take out the frets and put on the Jazz Flats - the first thing I noticed was that the lowest notes really were much bigger than before. Next step will probably be a new bass with ebony neck laminates - unfortunately it will take me years to save up for that. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 469 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thomastik's short scale strings are 32"; which of course in Alembic terms are medium scale. As far as I am aware, Thomastik does not make a 30.75" scale string. | ||
| basso
Junior Username: basso Post Number: 30 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well it seems one makers s/scale is not the same as anothers!!32 will work fine,in fact when i bought the bass it had 30-90 34" strings fitted,in fact i have 34" fitted now with no problems,as long as you are carefull how you wind the E and A strings,Thomastik's are great,i had them on my jazz bass,but the light gauge is really a bit to light for me on a 34" bass,i used the jazz rounds with a 89 E,i'm waiting for some Elixirs to arrive,again they don't make a s/scale,so i have gone for a light set to see how they work out,hopefully they will be the ones i will use,i like them alot,they sound very good on my Epic 5. |
