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SERiEs ı

Front view of Series I 5-string bass in Bird's-eye Maple Back view of Series I 5-string bass in Bird's-eye Maple
Front view of Series II 4-string bass in Quilted Maple Back view of Series II 4-string bass in Quilted Maple

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.

Red alchemical symbol for the Spirit of Wood

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