Series I Long Scale Custom in Quilted Maple

Lined Fretless Series I long scale bass in 5A Quilted Maple with Ebony neck laminate, custom taper fingerboard

SERIES 1

We've been making Series I basses longer than any other model in our catalog. In fact, we were making them before we even had model names or a catalog. The Series I is as much of a powerhouse today as it was back in 1972 and nothing short of a Series II even comes close.

The heart of the Series I bass is the pickups and electronics. We don't think of them as separate entities, the pickups and electronics work together as a system, a complete thought. The basis is faithful electronics reproduction of the mechanical string motion. The combination of single coil pickups and low-pass filter tone controls offer flexibilty, control and responsibility for your own tone.

Series I basses have been played by such varied musicians as Stanley Clarke, John McVie, and John Entwistle and you couldn't ever mistake's one's tone for another, as the Series I gives a natural sound that is truly a reflection of the emotion the player puts in to the music. You hear the player, not the bass.

Alembic wouldn't be Alembic without the beautiful woods. While they are pleasing to the eye, keep in mind that different combinations will shape the way the string behaves, thus influencing the tone. The neck woods are most dominant in the sound. We can help you choose the right woods for your custom bass.

There are a variety of body shapes for the Series I bass. Some are related to scale length, others to tradition, and others to personal taste. We have chosen to keep our model names tied to the electronics rather than the shape or scale length, so you will see short scale Series I basses with the default Small Standard shape and some with the Standard Omega shape. Long scale versions are found in Standard Point and Balance K Omega shapes. Still other variations exist and are yet to be created, but they are all still Series I basses.

EXAMPLES: SHORT SCALE

Bird's-eye Maple
Bird's-eye Maple
Flame Koa
Flame Koa
Flame Koa
Dark Buckeye Burl
Vermilion
Vermilion
Burl Walnut
Burl Walnut
Indian Rosewood
Indian Rosewood
Swirly Coco Bolo
Swirly Coco Bolo
Quilted Coco Bolo
Quilted Coco Bolo
Dark Coco Bolo
Dark Coco Bolo

EXAMPLES: MEDIUM and LONG SCALE

Myrtle
Myrtle
Flame Koa
Flame Koa
Amber
Quilted Maple with Amber
Sunrise
Sunrise Tint
Dark Buckeye Burl
Dark Buckeye Burl
California Walnut
California Walnut
Flame Walnut
Flame Walnut
Superb Walnut
Superb Walnut
Dark Coco Bolo
Dark Coco Bolo
Macassar Ebony
Macassar Ebony

EXAMPLES: FEATURED CUSTOMS

Featured Custom: Soul Bass
Soul Bass
Featured Custom: Passion
Passion
Featured Custom: Golden Girl
Golden Girl
Featured Custom: Red Tiger
Red Tiger

Notes: Some examples include custom options. Start exploring your own custom Series I bass.

FEATURE 4‑STRING 5‑STRING 6‑STRING
Scale length 30.75, 32, 34 in 30.75, 32, 34 in 30.75, 32, 34 in
Neck woods 5‑piece Maple and Purpleheart 7‑piece Maple and Purpleheart 11‑piece Maple and Purpleheart
Fingerboard Ebony, mother of pearl ovals inlays Ebony, mother of pearl ovals inlays Ebony, mother of pearl ovals inlays
Nut width 1.625 in 1.875 in 2.200 in
24th fret width 2.360 in 2.930 in 3.560 in
Peghead Crown 4 Crown 5 (2+3) Crown 6
Truss rods dual, body adjust dual, body adjust dual, body adjust
Top wood Any standard or premium wood Any standard or premium wood Any standard or premium wood
Body wood Mahogany Mahogany Mahogany
Sandwich Top, 1/8″ accent laminate, body wood, accent, back Top, 1/8″ accent laminate, body wood, accent, back Top, 1/8″ accent laminate, body wood, accent, back
Body depth 1.65 in 1.65 in 1.65 in
Finish Polyester gloss with satin neck Polyester gloss with satin neck Polyester gloss with satin neck
Pickups Alembic SC‑1 4 + HX Alembic SC‑1 56 + HX Alembic SC‑1 56 +HX
Controls pickup selector switch, volume x2, filter x2, 3‑position Q x2, mono/stereo switch pickup selector switch, volume x2, filter x2, 3‑position Q x2, mono/stereo switch pickup selector switch, volume x2, filter x2, 3‑position Q x2, mono/stereo switch
Backplates Continuous wood Continuous wood Continuous wood
Bridge Solid brass, chrome-plated Solid brass, chrome-plated Solid brass, chrome-plated
Tailpiece Solid brass, bird shape Solid brass, bird shape Solid brass, bird shape
Nut Solid brass, height adjustable Solid brass, height adjustable Solid brass, height adjustable
Machine heads Gold Alembic‑Gotoh Gold Alembic‑Gotoh Gold Alembic‑Gotoh
Average weight about 10.5 pounds about 11.5 pounds about 13 pounds
Overall dimensions Varies with scale Varies with scale Varies with scale
Origin 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA 100% Made in Santa Rosa, CA USA