SERiEs ı
Series ı Examples: Short Scale
Series ı Examples: Medium and Long Scale
ABOUT THE SERIES I BASS
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 in 1972, and nothing short of a Series II even comes close.
The heart of the Series I bass lies in its 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 offers 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 one’s tone for another, as the Series I gives a natural sound
that is truly a reflection of the emotion the player puts into 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 how the string behaves, thereby 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.
SERIES I SPECIFICATIONS
| 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 |
| Headstock | 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-switch x2 | pickup selector switch, volume x2, filter x2, 3-position Q-switch x2 | pickup selector switch, volume x2, filter x2, 3-position Q-switch x2 |
| 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 | Chrome Alembic-Gotoh | Chrome Alembic-Gotoh | Chrome 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 Rohnert Park, CA USA | 100% Made in Rohnert Park, CA USA | 100% Made in Rohnert Park, CA USA |