Stanley Clarke Deluxe Bass

Deluxe in Coco Bolo with optional side LEDs and continuous wood backplates

STANLey ClaRKE SignATuRE

It was 1973 and Stanley Clarke just got his first short scale Alembic. Your world changed the first time you listened to it, and you just couldn’t get that sound out of your head. That sound was Stanley’s amazing talent and tone. Part of that sonic memory was because he was playing an Alembic bass, and it may have been the first time you ever heard one.

When you pick up a Stanley Clarke Signature bass you immediately notice how easy it is to play. That's largely due to the short scale length. At 30.75 inches, the scale length is exactly what Stan plays, to the surprise of many. When the frets are closer together, your fretting hand can enjoy a less stretched position at the lower frets, which is a joy for hands large and small alike.

The Stanley Clarke Signature basses are also natural choices when you want to tune tenor or piccolo style. But don't think for a minute that this little bass can't handle standard tuning like a champ, with plenty of low-end and sustain. Ideas you may have about short scale basses through your past experience with other makers will be reset once you play an Alembic short scale.

The Standard and Deluxe versions are similar - the pickups, electronics, feel and size are in fact identical. Where they differ is in the wood choices and lamination patterns. The default neck size is our narrow taper, but you can always custom order to suit your needs. Both versions use Maple as their primary neck wood. The Deluxe model has both top and back body laminates, as well as two Purpleheart neck laminates.

Brown Basses are a nod to Stanley's second Series I bass from 1974, serial number 80 (sadly, his first one was stolen shortly after he got it). It's the bass on the cover of "If This Bass Could Only Talk" and as his original Brown Bass it continued his love affair with short scale which has endured through his forty-plus years with Alembic. There are decorative departures from other Signature models, like the slightly flattened 1974 template for the body and the placement of the pickup selector on the lower horn. Just like serial number 80, Brown Basses use Mahogany as the primary neck wood for a more rounded and warm tone. Simple three-piece body construction is elegant paired with the traditional hand-rubbed oil finish. You'll notice the electronics are different as well, with individual volume controls, a pickup selector switch, and a switchable stereo/mono output.

For the Retro Stanley basses, we've used the 1973 body template with the more curved horns. The oil finish adds to the old-school vibe. The Retro's neck is a classic combination of Maple, Walnut, and Birch for even tone with plenty of attack.

Alembic is the original custom shop, and these standard features are but a springboard for your own ideas. All aspects of our basses are crafted under one roof, and any feature can be custom made to your specifications.

EXAMPLES: STANLEY CLARKE BROWN BASS and RETRO

Walnut
Walnut
Myrtle Inside Out Style
Myrtle “Inside-Out”
Blonde Bass
“Inside-Out” with Blonde pickups
Stanley Retro
Retro in Bubinga
Stanley Retro
Retro in Zebrawood with Blonde pickups

EXAMPLES: STANLEY CLARKE DELUXE

Light Buckeye
Light Buckeye
Quilted Maple
5A Quilted Maple
Spalted Maple
Spalted Maple
Chocolate Quilted Maple
Chocolate Quilted Maple
Curly Redwood
Curly Redwood
Flame Walnut
Flame Walnut
Superb Walnut
Superb Walnut
Buckeye Burl
Light & Dark Buckeye Burl
Quartersawn Coco Bolo
Quartersawn Coco Bolo
Coco Bolo
Flatsawn Coco Bolo
Coco Bolo
Swirly Coco Bolo
Rosewood
Indian Rosewood
Dark Buckeye Burl
Dark Buckeye Burl
Macassar Ebony
Ziricote
Macassar Ebony
Macassar Ebony

EXAMPLES: STANLEY CLARKE STANDARD

Flame Maple
Flame Maple
Quilted Maple AAA
3A Quilted Maple
Maple Burl
Burl Maple
Zebrawood
Quartersawn Zebrawood
Buckeye Burl
Light & Dark Buckeye Burl
Vermilion
Vermilon
Walnut
California Walnut
Walnut
Flame Walnut
Redwood Burl
Burl Redwood
Quartersawn Coco Bolo
Quartersawn Coco Bolo
Quartersawn Coco Bolo
Flatsawn Coco Bolo

STANLEY CLARKE MODEL FEATURED CUSTOMS

Templar Secrets
Templar Secrets
The Little Giant
Little Giant
Twilight
Twilight
All About Color
All About Color
Grand Master Featured Custom
Grandmaster

Notes: Some examples include custom options. Start exploring your own custom Stanley Clarke Standard or custom Stanley Clarke Deluxe bass today.

FEATURE DELUXE STANDARD BROWN BASS / I‑O BB RETRO
Scale length 30.75 in 30.75 in 30.75 in 30.75 in
Neck woods 5‑piece: Maple with Purpleheart laminates 3‑piece: Maple with Walnut pinstripes 5‑piece: Mahogany with Birch and Walnut laminates 5‑piece: Maple with Birch and Walnut laminates
Fingerboard Ebony with mother of pearl inlays Ebony with mother of pearl inlays Ebony with abalone inlays Ebony with mother of pearl inlays
Nut width 1.5 in 1.5 in 1.5 in 1.5 in
24th fret width 2.15 in 2.15 in 2.15 in 2.15 in
Peghead Alembic Crown Alembic Crown Alembic Crown Alembic Crown
Truss rods dual, body adjust dual, body adjust dual, body adjust dual, body adjust
Top and back Coco Bolo or Quilted Maple Quilted Maple or Flame Walnut (top only) Walnut or Myrtle Any standard wood
Body wood Mahogany Mahogany Myrtle or Walnut Mahogany
Sandwich Coco Bolo, Maple, Mahogany, Maple, Coco Bolo Quilted Maple, Purpleheart, Mahogany Walnut, Myrtle, Walnut or Myrtle, Walnut, Myrtle Zebrawood, Mahogany, Zebrawood
Body depth 1.55 in 1.55 in 1.75 in 1.75 in
Finish Polyester gloss with satin neck Polyester gloss with satin neck Hand‑rubbed oil Hand-rubbed oil
Pickups Alembic AXY Alembic AXY Alembic FatBoy Alembic AXY
Controls volume, pan, filter x2, 2‑position Q‑switch x2 volume, pan, filter x2, 2‑position Q‑switch x2 volume x2, filter x2, 2‑position Q‑switch x2, pickup selector switch, stereo/mono mode volume, pan, filter x2, 2‑position Q‑switch x2
Backplates Brass Plastic Brass Brass
Bridge Solid brass, polished Solid brass, polished Solid brass, polished Solid brass, polished
Tailpiece Solid brass bird Solid brass bird Brass and Ebony bird Brass and Ebony bird
Nut height adjustable solid brass height adjustable solid brass height adjustable solid brass height adjustable solid brass
Machine heads Gold Alembic‑Gotoh Gold Alembic‑Gotoh Chrome Alembic‑Gotoh Gold Alembic‑Gotoh
Average weight 10.75 pounds 10 pounds 9 pounds 9 pounds
Overall dimensions About 13.5″ x 43″ About 13.5″ x 43″ About 13.75″ x 43″ About 13.75″ x 45″
Origin 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA