| Author | Message | ||
| pierreyves
New Username: pierreyves Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hello in first I would like to say that my english is very bad...in second, I would like to say that for my 50 years birthday, I bought THE BASS of my old dreams. When I was 25 years old, I had two Alembic serie I: one short scale and one medium scale. Unfortunatly, I sold them because I stopped music. 10 years ago, I bought just for fun an Ibanez that my son take me to play and i say, why not me ? I looked on the web to buy an Alembic Clarke signature and i found this on Mammoth guitars shop: http://www.mammothmusic.net/Stock%20Stanley%20Clarke%20detail.htm The deal was quickly updated and I received my bass in Switzerland 5 days after my birthday !! You can see all pictures and other live sound's (not perfect but just Clarkies!!) on this page: http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/alembic.htm | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4531 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats and welcome to the board! Beautiful bass!! | ||
| pierreyves
New Username: pierreyves Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2006 |
thank's "davehouck"..It's funny to communicate with USA and Alembic's fan...When I was young, I had a lot of different basses: Rickenbacker, Fender jazz & precision, fretless & fretted, Ibanez, BC Rich, Kramer, Musicman, Gibson etc. BUT, the only bass I have a sensual, and great feeling with is the Alembic SCSD. I listen always Stanley, in my home, in my car, I meet him sometimes in Montreux jazz festival. I like the short scale, this bass play alone... (Message edited by pierreyves on November 14, 2006) | ||
| pierreyves
New Username: pierreyves Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2006 |
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| pierreyves
New Username: pierreyves Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2006 |
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| lidon2001
Advanced Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 245 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hello Pierre, and welcome! You have a gorgeous bass. The top wood is amazing. But as for getting my bass, you might be waiting a few more years. ;) Thank you for your kind comments on my instrument. T | ||
| pierreyves
New Username: pierreyves Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2006 |
not YOUR bass, but the same !!! ;o)) | ||
| eligilam
Junior Username: eligilam Post Number: 26 Registered: 2-2006 |
Spectacular! Congrats. Regards from a fellow SC Deluxe Affecianado, Will D. | ||
| pierreyves
New Username: pierreyves Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2006 |
here is the serial number: # 04SC 13386 | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hello Mica, I have juste a LITTLE question, but I need a big answer....I saw on my bass a little problem of factory: the strap (?), le chevalet (in french) is not at the exactly center of the body (see the neck lamination of the right...) what may you do ?  For me and the exessive price...it's not normal. (Message edited by pierreyves on December 06, 2006) | ||
| bassjigga
Member Username: bassjigga Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2005 |
We call it the "tail piece." Yes I've noticed this on other Alembics as well. Might be something they need to be a little more careful with installing. Dave (Message edited by bassjigga on December 06, 2006) | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2006 |
Thank's for the english word. A "little more carefull" with that price ????? I never see that with Ibanez.... | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 752 Registered: 11-2002 |
Mine is also shifted to the right, and I concluded that it was done this way deliberately (on purpose), to keep the strings properly centered over the neck. Anyone ever seen one shifted to the left (on a right handed bass)? I'm just guessing of course, but I have a very hard time believing this is due to a lack of attention - probably quite the opposite. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 960 Registered: 2-2006 |
Hello Vaucher and welcome. First let me say that is a beautiful bass After looking at the photos of your bass I decided to check mine out. All four of my Alembics (even my Series II) have the bridge slightly of center (closer to the G or 1st string)of the neck lams, but this allows the strings to be aligned evenly within the neck. Cool web site you have too. | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2006 |
not Vaucher but Pierre-Yves !! Hello Mr Playboy's Alembic's Dreamer !!! Ok, we are waiting on Mica answer ? Le chevalet (??) is using to align the strings properly, no ? Not the tail piece ? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1157 Registered: 6-2002 |
Pierre-Yves, The reason you never see this on an Ibanez is because they use machines to install the hardware. The alignment of the string over the length of the neck is also simpler with a one-piece bridge like on an Ibanez - with the separate tailpiece and bridge, I can imagine they must really be positioned in-line to make the strings vibrate cleanly. One can only guess what might have gone wrong when they installed the hardware on this particular bass - although I doubt that it has any negative effect on playability or sound. | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2006 |
of course that it has any effect...just the "finition" (?). I now that Alembic are entierly hand made but there is a little difference of 3 mm !! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 663 Registered: 6-2002 |
Interesting, i've never noticed it before but having just looked at my Europa 5, the centre point of the alembic bird tailpeice is aligned with the lower edge of the centre purpleheart laminate. However looking down the neck, the strings are perfectly aligned and straight down on both sides of the bridge. So I guess it's a fine tuning bit of re-positioning. What's a couple of millimetres between friends :-) Just had a look at the bass Alembic made for clarkee and that looks bang on centre. http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13195_tailpieceL.jpg Jazzyvee | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2006 |
I know this bass, Dragon's Breath !! Yes it's nothing in the ground of my mind...it was JUST a question, but the Dragon's Breath is perfectly aligned (?).   (Message edited by davehouck on December 07, 2006) | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 664 Registered: 6-2002 |
I guessed it was just an observation,and it made me look at mine as well.:-) I was having a look at your video's on your site last night. I love the look and the sound of your bass, it sounds very much like my sc deluxe. They are awesome basses. I must get out and take some really good photo's of my bass. Mine has a coco bolo top and back and really changes colour from deep red through brown to a glowing orange colour depending on how the light catches it.. keep on plucking..... Jazzyvee | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3831 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hi Pierre, Your tailpiece, like most of the instruments we make, is not symmetrical itself, and is not centered to the neck laminates, but rather to center of the string spread. When I look at the picture jazzyvee linked to, the top of the tailpiece seems centered, but the bottom point is a little to the right. When I look at my other pictures, there is some variance in position for the tailpiece. The person setting up the bass decides on the best position for the hardware to make the playability the best possible. I'm afraid that there isn't much to be done except to build a new tailpiece to fit better, but it still would be unlikely to be perfectly centered, although I agree it can be improved. Sadly, I think I would need to whole bass here to do the work. Maybe if you are planning a trip to visit San Francisco sometime, we can coordinate and get measurements from your bass and then send the tailpiece to you when the finish work is completed. I placed a note in this instrument's file so that if we do get our hands on it again, we'll know what to do. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 665 Registered: 6-2002 |
I had a look at my sc deluxe and the tailpeice is smack in the middle of the centre purpleheart laminate so I guess according to Mica's explanation, variance was in my favour on that bass. :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2006 |
ouh lala !! To much english here for me. I will do a translation with a friend !! Please wait !!! If I have well understood, the man who assembly final the tail piece do the best as he can to make the best playability ? Mica, you think the best to do is to build a new tailpiece ? Well, it's not so important, for me the sound is perfect, the tailpiece can wait, as the heaven !!! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3832 Registered: 6-2000 |
Yes, Pierre, when James or Jon do the setup, they decide exactly where to place the tailpiece to maximize playability. Glad the sound is perfect for you, I hope you keep enjoying this bass. | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2006 |
many thank's Mica, It was just I would like to read!! Of course I will never come to LA with my bass! French translation from Mica words: "J'ai bien peur qu'il n'y ai pas grand chose à faire mis à part faire un nouveau cordier mais sans pour autant garantir qu'il soit parfaitment au centre. Cela dit, je suis d'accord on pourrait améliorer. Malheureusement, je pense que nous aurions besoin de cette basse dans nos ateliers pour faire le boulot. Peut-être tu planifie un voyage dans les prochains temps à San Francisco. Dans ce cas, nous pourrions prendre les mesures et refaire un cordier que je t'enverrai une fois terminé. J'ai pris note de ce probleme et l'ai rentré dans notre base de données afin que nous sachions quoi faire. These last words are the most important for me: we will do something for the future !! Best regards Mica | ||
| georgie_boy
Intermediate Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 150 Registered: 8-2005 |
Smack in the middle of my 1976 Series 1 too!! G | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 924 Registered: 10-2002 |
It's no more than a 32nd out on my rogue. In fact I'd never even have thought about it till Pierre's thread. Graeme | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Junior Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 34 Registered: 10-2006 |
Well, this thread has removed all doubt - the custom I'll never be able to afford would be BTC. That way there's no stringers to gauge the centering by  Peter | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 669 Registered: 6-2002 |
Good plan Cozymik_cowboy, although you may see the join between the two halves and then maybe you would expect the tailpeice centre to be bang on that too. ;-) Maybe a single piece of non bookmatched or bookmatched top to bottom would remove that "feature". Anyway I hope you manage to get a custom at some point. I still have that dream too. Jazzyvee | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 679 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey PierreYves, I was just listening/watching your "campo americano" de Stanley Clarke. I love that track. Haven't heard it for years, I think I'll go get the CD. Jazzyvee | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2006 |
the CD is not too nice...It's the best tune for me... | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2006 |
hey jazzyvee, if you wan't to listen Stanley and have a look on my pictures, go to: http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/galerie.php ;-) | ||
| bigyouth
New Username: bigyouth Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2006 |
i, pierreyves for you,super jam with Stanley, Victor ,Marcus at bass player(bpl 06's) http://www.bassplayer.tv/ | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 41 Registered: 11-2006 |
MERCI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!! c'est dans les favoris !!! | ||
| bigyouth
New Username: bigyouth Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2006 |
j'etait sur que tu apprecirais!! encore un cadeau 20mn de Stanley clarke au north sea jazz festival,ils jouent Wild dog&Lopsy lu. http://cgi.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/nps/output/nsjf2004/bb.stanleyclarke_nsjf2004.wmv MERCI qui? | ||
| bigyouth
New Username: bigyouth Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2006 |
aller c'est bientot Noel! en voila encore un avec George Duke. Stanley viens en inviter vers la moitier du morceaux!! http://www.omroep.nl/nps/output/ aller salut pierreyves ,et si ta du nouveaux n'oublie pas de m'informer! a bientot | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 42 Registered: 11-2006 |
tu me dis juste où tu trouves ça car je n'ai pas trop le temps..MERCI TOI !! | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 43 Registered: 11-2006 |
c'est carrément GEANT!!!! It's GREAT !!! I like...I LOVE!!!!! I play the same tonight...... | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 44 Registered: 11-2006 |
c'est dingue ce qu'il peut y avoir de fausses notes...à écouter les cuivres..et les fautes de Stanley...mais bon il n'a jamais été précis !! Ce qui me rassure c'est que ne me suis pas planté dans mes interprétations !! Merci!! Si j'ai quelque chose je penserai à toi !! | ||
| bigyouth
New Username: bigyouth Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2006 |
oui c'est cool. en ce moment je bosse "campo americano". j'ai fait tout le theme,a tu la grille d'accord pour ce morceau? | ||
| bigyouth
Junior Username: bigyouth Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2006 |
au faite pierreyves,j'ai une fender precision de 72's en excellent etat de couleur sunburst .tout et d'origine.je ne peux plus la jouer car je suis gaucher maintenant,a cause d'un accident qui ma couter les 4 doigts de la mains gauche. si tu est interresser ,fait moi signe .je la vend 2300 euros. | ||
| pierreyves
Junior Username: pierreyves Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2006 |
bon ce topic est résolument frenchie !! Sorry but this topic is frenchie!! Je n'ai aucune grille, ni partition, j'ai une oreille plus qu'excellente. Pour la Fender, désolé je n'en ai pas besoin et je n'ai jamais aimé. | ||
| 5stringho
Member Username: 5stringho Post Number: 56 Registered: 11-2006 |
Pierreyves, Apres visionement de vos videos, type, vous basculez! Mes d'os toujours pauvres francais'! The Ho.... | ||
| pierreyves
Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 53 Registered: 11-2006 |
sorry, I'm afraid to understand somthing else...? Je n'ai pas bien compris!! | ||
| 5stringho
Member Username: 5stringho Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2006 |
Pierreyves, Like I said, my French is not good. I'm trying to say, that after watching your videos, you are a great player (and also have great Basses!) american slang, "You Rock"!! Ayez l'amusement! The 'Ho | ||
| pierreyves
Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 55 Registered: 11-2006 |
I rock !! Ok !! Many thank's !! ;o)) Please, when you write on this forum, have a look on my page: http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/musique.htm Just Stanley, the best of...my mind !! | ||
| 88persuader
Advanced Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 247 Registered: 5-2004 |
Well Pier ... 1st your bass is beautiful! 2nd I checked my SC standard just now via the photos I put on the forum and my tail piece is directly centered. As Mica said they no doubt placed it where it would work it's best on your bass. Guess little things like this can happen when instruments are hand made rather then machine made. Believe me nobody will notice it's slightly off center, it's a beautiful bass. | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 118 Registered: 11-2006 |
today, I tuned my bass as a tenor, A,D,G,C: 085, 065, 045, 030, nothing to do, no nut or bridge to put higher, nothing ... just a great sound, the same like Clarkee (With F1-X preamp and Yamaha P 5000 S poweramp) ... just THE sound. | ||
| pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 281 Registered: 11-2006 |
Incredible ... this tailpiece !!! Not centered ..... a lot of basses have this PROBLEM.  | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1973 Registered: 10-2002 |
It's not a 'problem' pierre-yves, it's deliberately placed to make the instrument play to it's best ability. Graeme | ||
| pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 282 Registered: 11-2006 |
lol .... not credible for me ... eaven the strings do an angle ? I don't know we say in english (un angle...) | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 245 Registered: 5-2007 |
Remaber, the tailpiece is centered on the strings, not the body. Harldly anyone ever notices. | ||
| 3rd_ray
Intermediate Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 107 Registered: 2-2008 |
I have to agree with Pierre-Yves. It may be a minor detail, but minor details are one of the things we all love about Alembics. It seems that the problem is that the strings are not centered over the bridge, and the tailpiece was made as if they were. If the tailpiece string slots were cut with an offset that might help. This might not be easy to manufacture when you consider 4-string, 5-string, etc. and different string spacings for each one. Maybe it would help if the tailpiece and bridge were made together in matched sets, but that would probably raise the cost. This seems like a simple thing, but it's not easy to fix. Mike | ||
| pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 286 Registered: 11-2006 |
Almost everyone is right regarding this tailpiece placement. However, I would say that if you check many other basses, Ibanez, Fender etc, you will never find a tailpiece placed this way. It is not the tailpiece to determine the correct string position over the fingerboard but the bridge. The bridge also is not exactly placed, I had to cut a second slit next to the existing ones to ensure perfect strings position. I agree, this bass is wonderful and sounds fantastic but, at this price, I wish such “light” unpleasant details would not exist. | ||
| pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 290 Registered: 11-2006 |
this other one...  | ||
| bassjigga
Advanced Member Username: bassjigga Post Number: 348 Registered: 8-2005 |
You're still goin on about the tailpieces? lol | ||
| daveski
Member Username: daveski Post Number: 64 Registered: 10-2003 |
Tell you what,when my new custom build turns up, so long as the thing plays beautifully, sounds great, hasn't got any runs in the finish!... I won't care a monkeys if if the tail piece is a few mm off centre if it needs to be that way for the best playing experience!! | ||
| pierreyves
Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 291 Registered: 11-2006 |
You understand all ..... byebye little monkey !! It's not a quesrion of mm ... it's a question of Alembic...you know what is it ? | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1952 Registered: 2-2006 |
If you place the bridge on the instrument that it is to be mounted on BEFORE you mill the screw holes and string slots, mark the bridge THEN mill it, wouldn't that make the bridge more centered for it's respective instrument? Personally it doesn't bother me if it's centered or not. As long as it plays good and sounds good (which all of mine do) AND doens't raise the price of Pizza, who cares! That being said, I understand Pierre's point. My wifes car, a Chrysler 300C, is great, BUT there is a small imperfection in the dash that doesn't affect the performance of the car, but is the first thing you see when you get in the car. Just my 2 cents, OO | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1953 Registered: 2-2006 |
I almost forgot, I did check my Fender, Ibanez and Warwick basses. The bridges on ALL of them are off center. You just don't notice it because you don't have a line of Purple Heart or Ebony to show you how off center they really are. OO PS: Pierre I listened to some of your recordings via the links, You have some great chops my man. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7291 Registered: 5-2002 |
The six string in the above picture is sitting on a guitar stand next to my bass rig; so I went and looked at it for a while. The strings pass over the bridge saddles and on to the tailpiece in a straight line. The string slots and screw holes on the tailpiece are evenly spaced so that they don't interfere with each other, and are visually balanced on the tailpiece. If you moved the tailpiece over so that it was centered on the middle Purpleheart lam, then the strings would be significantly angled. If you moved the tailpiece over and then cut the string slots so that the strings passed over the bridge saddles in a straight line, then the string slots would be too close to the screw holes. If you then tried to make up for that by moving the screw holes, then the visual balance of the slots and holes on the tailpiece is way off. In my view, which is a few inches from the actual bass in question, the tailpiece is where it needs to be. I did notice one problem; the tailpiece had a fingerprint smudge, which I've now taken care of. | ||
| marvin
New Username: marvin Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2004 |
That is one way to tell a real Alembic, from a fake.... | ||
| brooke111
New Username: brooke111 Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2010 |
[moderator's edit; deleted spam content] (Message edited by davehouck on October 27, 2010) |
