Product: Alembic Stanley Clarke Deluxe
Price Paid: 2800 (GBP)
Submitted
10/30/2005
at
12:31am
by
Jazzyvee
Features
:
10
Date of completion: 23/08/2001
Purchased: June 2002
Model Name: Stanley Clarke Signature Deluxe
Neck: Short scale 30.75" standard taper.
Top Laminate: Coco Bolo
Accent Wood: Maple
Body Wood: Mahogany
Neck: Maple/Purpleheart
Fingerboard: Ebony
Tuners: Alembic Gold
Inlays: Alabone Ovals
Strings: CX-3
Electronics: Signature, 2 -AXY4 Pickups
Finish: High Gloss Polyester.
continuous backplate in coco bolo.
This is one of the bases at the top end of the alembic catalogue.
It is active electronics with no passive mode. This one is based on the Series I bass that Stanley Clarke is famous for using. As with all other high end Al;embics this is a neck through design with maple and purple heart neck laminates.
Sound
:
10
I have used this bass as my main live instrument for about 3 years now and it is nothing short of incredible. I can get all the sounds I want from this bass and even though i have used if for Jazz, reggae, blues, funk, soul, RnB it never sounds like anything else but an Alembic. No fenderesque sounds or dull warwick thumbs. Just Pure alembic tones with everything you could ask for, crispness, clarity deep and powerful.
Noise.... what noise?
Alembics are known for their hi-Fi sound and this is no different, equally at home with slapping as with standard fingerstyle playing and the neck is so responsive that fingerboard tapping and hammerons are a doddle. Move to the back pickup and adjust the Low Pass filter and you are in the Jaco, Alphonso Johnson/Victor Bailey mode. A little more to the neck pickup and filter adjustements and within moments you are sonically close to Stanley Clarke. An amazing instrument. The only thing that I initially disliked was the balance of the instrument. Being short scale and having the strap button on the base of the neck means the neck dive can be quite considerable. Having it for 3 years i have gotten used to it and naturally adjust the position of the bass without problems.
This bass will find flaws in your technique, it has so much sustain that anything that is not damped will ring for glory. Be warned I think the sustain block adds to that bell like clarity in the sound.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This is great build quality everything fits properly, and is adjustable pickup output can be adjusted with a small screwdriver, the neck has a dual truss rod so you can adjust the low and high sides independently. I bought this bass brand new and it was adjusted well but I like a lower action to get more percussive effect of string slap when playing hard so I dropped it very low.
Sustain block is a must on an alembic to get the benefit of the increased sustain that neck through models are famous for.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Built like the proverbial, this bass has astounding build quality. I have not seen anything get near it. Gold plating is still as shiny as the day I had it and I don't sit there shining it up every sunday morning.
Components are solid and well engineered.
I have depended on this instrument for live work without a backup and it has never let me down. As with all active basses I always carry spare batteries in the case along with a set of strings both old and new.
Customer Support
:
10
Contacted them about this bass before i bought it and they told me the history of it and how it was constructed.
All the contact I've had with Alembic has been very positive and constructive.
I have the confidence in them to resolve any issues with the bass.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing bass on and off for about 10 yrs and only in the last 3 or so been doing gigs.
My bass gear consists of my alembic(s) , Mesa boogie amps and speakers and also an alembic SF-2.
I've wanted an Alembic ever since I heard one in the hands of Stanley Clarke in Return to Forever and saw them live in the Clarke Duke Project in the early 80's.
It is not sensible to compare alembics to other basses as they are totally different instruments both sonically and design.
If you go for an alembic then you have decided you want that sounds its only sensible to compare with other alembics.
I'd never willingly be without an Alembic.
Alembics are very expensive, more so outside the USA where you can pay # for $'s
But once you have made that comitment you will soon forget the expense and realise the quality you are getting .... and compared to other lesser basses ... its a price well worth paying.
I do consider myself very fortunate indeed to have one.
