Alembic Bass SC

Alembic Stanley Clarke Deluxe Bass- a tour of the bass and the active filter system made by Alembic.

[@kolbola]

One of the best Alembic demo on the Tube.

[@samatza]

kolbola thanks! I’m glad you found it informative.

[@tkotmk]

I second that!!!

[@tkotmk]

I miss my Alembics... this has been the best demo of Alembic on KZbin. Thanks!!!!!!

[@michaelb.42112]

I agree that his reviews are the best. He goes into the reason and the bass. Alembic happens to be right up the road from me here in Sonoma County.

[@kevmac1230]

Oh,what a lucky man he is! Such a beauty ❤️ I dreamed of owning one as a young bass player but it cost over. 2 months wages back when things like braces, mortgages and the rest of a young dad's responsibilities prevented such luxuries.Now as a retired guy it doesn't make sense as my heavy gigging days are mostly behind me and a good Alembic is expensive as hell.I have some nice basses but that is a dream bass.

[@mixc8]

I got lucky and got an Alembic Epic for $2500 USD a couple of years ago. One of my favorites basses, you can get them around the $2100 mark if you shop around. It may not be a Stanley Clarke version but it's an Alembic non the less :) I have around 50 basses because I have a recording studio and this is by far one of my favorites to record with.

[@floydlay9189]

Hands down the best bass I've heard!,,thank you so much!

[@samatza]

Thank you too! be well Floyd.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Another famous Alembic player is John McVie of Fleetwood Mac. That band actually had Alembic luthier Rick Turner employed as their tech in the "Rumours" era of the band. Turner made it his mission to turn McVie and Lindsey Buckingham onto Alembic instruments. McVie took to them like a fish to water but Buckingham stated that the Alembics he got from Turner were sounding too "Glassy" there was no power in their overall sound. So when Turner asked Buckingham what his ideal guitar would be, Buckingham replied that it should have the clarity of a Fender Stratocaster and the grunt of a Gibson Les Paul. So Turner took a Gibson Les Paul Junior which are well known tone machines and started working out what made it that that guitar had the kind of tone which an Alembic didn't have. He concluded that it was the "Hippie Sandwich" construction which made all the difference. In the end he made Buckingham a guitar which had a solid Mahogany body like a Les Paul, the Alembic filter electronics and Ditto pickup which was situated to where the middle single coil for a Fender stratocaster would sit since that was the setting Buckingham used the most. Buckingham never has played anything else, since getting that guitar.

[@jazzman1954]

The only problem is that the guitar looks weird and it’s hugely expensive. The result is that no one else plays them.

[@jamescammack6720]

Very cool info... Rick Turner! A bad son of gun...! How to many like that left around

[@RastaSaiyaman]

@@jazzman1954 Apart from John Mayer on "Half of my heart"

[@BrooksysBassCorner]

Fabulous video, excellent work, sir! Love this video. Feeling the Alembic love!

[@jeffmorrison5695]

Excellent video and you covered everything that anyone would really want to know about the instrument. Well done!

[@samatza]

Thanks Jeff, glad you found it useful.

[@Rondoggy67]

Great explanation and demonstration of the filter and Q switch effects. Plus some really nice playing.

[@samatza]

Rondoggy67 thank you. There was some confusion about filter systems as they are not as common as BMT controls. Hopefully this helped make them a little clearer. Be well.

[@floydlay9189]

My dream bass!

[@Brook987]

I'm a Fender and Ric guy, but this is a lot of fun. Thanks!

[@vincentmorrissette9605]

Beautiful Bass🎸🎶🎸🎶

[@samatza]

Thanks Vincent, we really like this one, it's coming up to 35 years old now and still plays like a dream. Be well. :)

[@jamestom2510]

wow, i do love the essence in walnut, but my god, what a bass.

[@samatza]

Hi James, thanks for your kind words. When this bass first came up for sale many years ago I missed it, a short time later it came up for sale again and I wasn't going to let it go that time! The Essence was the first Alembic I ever played. It was at an industry show and it was plugged into a Mesa Boogie 400+ head and a 4x10" cab, I was instantly hooked on the sound. It took me a couple of decades before I was able to afford this Stanley Clarke model. It does have a nice sound and very playable so it's been in my arsenal for many years. Keep well James, keep making music.:)

[@jamestom2510]

@@samatza when I was growing up my first introduction to the bass came by way of Stanley Clarke and later Level 42. Never laid hands on one, my humble basses were the Ibanez musician and I managed to have 3 variants of them in walnut also. Sadly being a dickhead I sold them.

[@edwardeatmon325]

Alembics are the greatest,I have a series 2 ...thank u samatza very informative breakdown on the brand

[@samatza]

Edward Eatmon you’re very welcome. Series II are absolutely amazing instruments, enjoy!

[@hanshansel4212]

Thank you so much!

[@aussiecoastie72]

Such a beautiful bass ❤ your very fortunate . I would buy one in a heart beat if I had the money . Fantastic video , thank you 🙏🏻

[@samatza]

Thanks for watching! Be well.

[@Gell1967]

The name Alembic has a very interesting background, derived from the Arabic Al Anbiq which means 'The Still' as in distillation, Alembic now means something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation philosophy

[@samatza]

Thanks for the information on the origins of the name. I know they picked the name as the company philosophy was to strive for pure tone in their instruments. Be well.

[@ErikShen2907]

Owsley Stanley!! He and Rick Turner had alot to do with ALEMBIC AS WELL!!!

[@samatza]

Yes they did, and a very large part of the company is what they did. It's a long history and I'm glad Alembic is still making custom instruments in the USA.

[@jfmax2000]

Excellent Vid Bruh ☺😎👊💯

[@samatza]

Thanks mate, glad you liked it.

[@bsrbsr8020]

thanks a lot for this perfect review.

[@samatza]

Glad you found it useful. Keep well.

[@waiyuenchee156]

You're a amazing presenter

[@samatza]

Thank you for your encouragement, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@waiyuenchee156]

@@samatza you inspired me to save money to get alembic

[@KeizerHedorah]

Astounding

[@jamescammack6720]

Great video...!

[@jamescammack6720]

Ha ha, chakra for a newer series one because I know these instruments are just incredibly well-made and they have a sound range that is beyond anything else I’ve ever played or heard. I have three Alembics, 74 series 1, 77 series 2 fretless and a 93 five string essence. All three has Their own character and sound. And you really have to give credit to Rick Turner for being a part of that company when he was

[@samatza]

James Cammack thank you. Yes Rick Turner did some excellent work, very knowledgeable man. Love those series basses and the Essence I played one once through a Mesa Boogie 400+ all valve head into a 8x 10” cabinet and it just blew me away, it was the finest sound I ever heard.

[@jamescammack6720]

@@samatza yes.. Indeef. I played my 5 string tonight at a jam session... The thing is dominating when it comes to bass.easy for it to get out of control . These basses are very unforgiving. Dead on precise...

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Is the neck of the Stanley Clarke Alembic more similar to the neck of the Precision bass or the Jazz bass or the Gibson EB-3 ? Thanks

[@samatza]

Hi Nuno, it's 1 3/4" like a P Bass but very flat (not rounded) around the back. It's very comfortable to play. Of course with a custom order you can specify your preference. Be well. :)

[@davidmochen]

Thanks for the great video!

[@samatza]

Hi David, glad you found it informative, thanks for watching.

[@bassistdc]

Would you please measure the bottom edge of the bass to the saddles for me. I'm trying to assess the feel of the scale length. Alembic bass bridges are different.

[@samatza]

hi @bassistdc, the measurement from the bout of the bass to the bridge is 4" (about 10cm). I hope this helps. Keep on making music.

[@bassistdc]

@@samatza Yes that is very helpful. I appreciate it. One more question. Can you confirm the string spacing at the bridge. I've seen reports of 17 and 18 mm on Talkbass. My preference is 19 mm. I am transitioning to shorter scale basses. Thank you.

[@jamescammack6720]

Fantastic video

[@samatza]

Thanks James, glad you enjoyed it.

[@jamescammack6720]

@@samatza thank bass is gorgeous....!

[@samatza]

@@jamescammack6720 Thanks! It's one of my favourites in look, sound and feel. The birds-eye top is kind of unusual but subtly nice.

[@dslapster64]

I have the 1987 version of the same model and I love it. It needs a pickup selector replacement however. Does your bass have a center detent? How do you know that both pickups are equally being used?

[@samatza]

Glad to hear you're enjoying that bass. Mine doesn't have centre detent for anything at all, I just adjust until I get the balance I want by ear. Pickup selector switch should be available direct from Alembic. Be well dslapster64, keep making music.

[@dslapster64]

@@samatza Thank you so much. I’ll see if that is available.

[@kellybrower301]

Yes.

[@paulsimmons5726]

I've owned three Alembic basses, one of which was a Series I short scale like your SC Model. It was a great bass except that the design was completely neck-heavy. If I took my hands off the bass, the headstock slid straight down to the floor. My long scale Alembics were incredible, no issues...

[@samatza]

Hi Paul, yes, the strap button and shape of the body make this model neck heavy. I got around this by using a suede strap which I find doesn't slip and keeps the bass in position much better. Glad to hear you've had great results with your basses, keep well, keep making music.

[@nunoharris]

Hi. What strings are you using with the Alembic? Thanks

[@samatza]

Hi Nuno, at the time of the video it was DR Hi Beams 45-105. I have a set of Fender Pure Nickel Vintage on it at the moment for a warmer sound. I hope this helps, be well.

[@DamagedJusticeNLD]

Great vid, thanx!

[@samatza]

thank you! glad you found it informative.

[@bertvanloock4599]

Very nice review indeed ! Owning a '91 Essence for some time (and hooked to Alembic since the purchase) and being unable to go to a store to try out some Alembics as you can imagine, what would a SC Deluxe give me extra other than the short-scale and a very nice finish and wonderful woodwork according to you? How would you compare both models?

[@samatza]

Thank you. The Essence bass was a design in taking the best of Alembic and putting it in a smaller bass that was more affordable. It has the single filter and if specified at build the Q switch, they are neck through just like the more expensive models. I specified the Essence electronics on my Orion build because I feel they are versatile yet familiar like a passive bass. The build quality is of course pure Alembic so you can't go wrong there. The first time a played the Essence many years ago at a trade show in Sydney, it was plugged into a Mesa 400+ head and 8x10" cab and when I played it I was hooked for life. The Stanley Clarke signature has the two filters and Q switches so you can get a wider range of tones but if you're not into Stanley's sound so much you may not need all that extra control. Short scale is a preference, I've gotten used to it and on this particular bass the action is superb. If you're in the market for another Alembic check out the web site and see what is possible, they are truly custom instruments, I know it's hard to find them to try at stores as it is in my area so I had to go on what I liked about various things like shape, pickups and controls and put my own twist on the Orion. Talk to the good people at Alembic and discuss your thoughts and they will give you some great advice on which way to go. I hope this helps, keep well Bert.

[@bertvanloock4599]

@@samatza Thanks so much for sharing your views. Really appreciated! I am not really looking for a specific “Stanley Clarke sound” but for a versatile instrument that can be used in an array of styles. From your review I understood the SC is very versatile so would you say that this model offers a broader sound scope than the Essence? The short-scale started to appeal to me after reading and hearing about it as long as it does not compromise the sound spectrum. Anyways, it could be good indeed to contact the Alembic company. Thanks again and congrats with your many videos. Really pleasant, well brought, straight forward and very informative.

[@Tanikaze2]

how narrow is the neck/fretboard? it looks on the narrower side just from viewing the video

[@samatza]

dingdong it’s 1.5” at the nut and 2.15” at the 24 fret according to the specs.

[@jvh8806]

I'm new to Alembics and I know electronics can be changed in basses and guitars so the question is can that active filter system be installed in a less expensive Alembic bass ? Or maybe the question should be what is the least expensive Alembic bass with the special filter system ? Thanks

[@samatza]

Any bass can have the filter system installed. Typically the entry level instruments have bass/treble control, my Orion was upgraded with Essence electronics (single filter) and a Q switch. You can easily ask for a quote once you have worked out what you like on the website. Alembic pickups and electronics can also be purchased for fitting to other brand basses if you have one you particularly like that needs an upgrade. alembic.com

[@jvh8806]

@@samatza Hello thanks for the info - I have a kinda/sorta off-the wall question. Has anyone attempted to convert a 5-string to a four ? I've found some nicely priced Alembics on the reverb site and they're 5-string. I know doing this to an Alembic would probably be considered sacreligious but just wondering out loud. Im sure it's physically possible. You're one heck of a player btw

[@samatza]

@@jvh8806 yeah, it’s possible I guess but it would probably devalue the instrument. Why not wait for a four to come up or decide to go 5 string.

[@jvh8806]

@@samatza That's what Im going to do because if I even did find a mechanic crazy enough to do it he'd probably charge more than the difference in price. I'm 60 it's a retirement present to me. Correct me if Im wrong but I don't believe the 5-string existed when Alembic built its first bass. I also know bass-players that's have a difficult time hearing low E F and F#. Thats why I never got into the 5-string bass. Could you recommend a good book on Alembic history ? I did some light googlin last week and found that they're connected to the Greatful Dead back in the day. Some interesting history.

[@samatza]

@@jvh8806 yes, Alembic started in 1969 and I don't think the five string was in existence back then. I don't know of any books but there is an excellent history on their web site here: alembic.com/family/history.html there is a lot of information there. keep well.

[@jimmy56boy]

What is the scale length of that base?

[@samatza]

Hi Jimmy, it is 30.75".

[@lauroalejandroborja7414]

Nice bass

[@samatza]

Thanks, it is one of my favourites. Best wishes for the new year. Be well.

[@clintwalton2429]

I found this video informative, very nice work, I would have liked to hear you play something worthy of an ALEMBIC owner! lol

[@samatza]

Thanks, glad you found it useful. Sorry, it was meant to be all about the bass and particularly the filters, I'll do some stuff on the next one. ;)

[@clintwalton2429]

@@samatza I would just like to hear someone else play so I can hear it from that perspective. I own two Alembics the SC 5 string deluxe and a 4 string spoiler, They are what i believe to be the most versatile and best sounding Basses that i ever heard. Every time i did studio work the engineer would stop the session come out and look at my bass (the SC) say hmm and then go back and start again, and i had a conductor of a 80 piece orchestra do the same. Thank you again for your info.

[@samatza]

@@clintwalton2429 I understand completely. Those basses sure create a lot of interest from studio and live engineers. As you know they are very versatile and so quiet, never had a noise problem anywhere. I would love an SC 5, I’ve never played one but I hear the B string is as clear and defined as a long scale bass. Keep making music Clint and enjoy those fine instruments. Be well.

[@jamescammack6720]

What is your general amp settings for that particular bass?

[@samatza]

On the Eden 550 bass 2 o'clock, low mids 2 o'clock the rest at 12 and enhance control at 9 o'clock. On the F-1X Bass 5, mids 6, treble 4.

[@jamescammack6720]

@@samatza Thank you my friend I appreciate that info that's very interesting. And the speaker configuration, what do you use?

[@jamescammack6720]

@@samatza Years ago when I lived in Chicago, add a great friend of mine who's a fantastic guitarist and him and I had a fusion group. And with that group I used to use my 74 series 1 fretted And Series 2 fretless. My amplification was A rack Case with an Alembic F B2 Pre app, A Rane Me 15 Stereo EQ, the Bose active EQ and crossover, and a Crest Audio FA 901 Power amp. My speaker configuration was 2 Bose 802-2 Speakers For the Mid range and highs And a specially built cabinet With an EV15 inch speaker

[@samatza]

@@jamescammack6720 I use GK Neo 1x12”, either one or two depending on volume requirements.

[@samatza]

@@jamescammack6720 that’s an awesome rig!

[@bassistdc]

I'll have my $5250 Fodera in 3 1/2 months.

[@samatza]

That’s fantastic. Nice basses, enjoy playing it in good health.

[@RSTI191]

Very nasal tone.. Where's the low end?

[@samatza]

Sorry, probably hard to hear the low end though the camera mic, but it's there in spades.

[@PhuckHue2]

Not worth $12,000

[@samatza]

Nice user name... perhaps to some it's not worth the price, to others it's a bargain at $12K. For me it's paid for itself many times over and it's still working. To each his own.

[@paulschmitz9175]

Would you like a little cheese with that whine?

[@PhuckHue2]

@@paulschmitz9175 You go waste your money on that overpriced piece of wood

[@paulschmitz9175]

@@PhuckHue2 I currently have two Alembic basses. Boo hoo to you Hue.

[@PhuckHue2]

@@paulschmitz9175 I really don't care what you have. You wasted $24,000

[@ramon709]

You can talk long or short about it, but they remain over-priced basses. The Fernandes Series I copy proves it really.

[@samatza]

The Fernandes is a great bass and if you're happy with it that's all that matters.

[@ramon709]

@@samatza Well the electronics ain't as good as the real deal, but it's scary close for the low price.

[@samatza]

@@ramon709 I agree with you. Expensive and overpriced though are different things. I'll be doing a video soon on why instruments like Alembic, Fodera and other boutique brands are expensive when compared to mass produced instruments so keep an eye out for that one. Stay well and keep making music Ramon, I really enjoyed your videos!

[@ramon709]

@@samatza Looking forward to that video :) I don't think my Fernandes was a mass produced bass though, they were hand crafted by a small team and only produced for 3 years I believe. It can't be more than a couple thousand basses.

[@paulschmitz9175]

Alembics are not overpriced, you're just a cheap envious idiot. Have a great day!