Anybody know what model, discontinued or otherwise, has the smallest neck. Looking for a nice narrow fretboard.......fretted bass.
Thanks
Thanks
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Alembic necks
- Thread starter stickynotes
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The Epic has a pretty small neck. That is the only Alembic I have experience playing. Depends on what your definition of small is I guess. There might be some specs on the Alembic website. I'm sure they would make a neck to your specs for the right $.
Rick B.
Rick B.
My experience with Alembics is that none I've played have had particularly small necks. That being said, a short scale, small body Stanley Clarke design is probably your best bet.
Bones
Bones
The Distillate has the smallest neck that I've ever played. I think they still build discontinued basses on order. There's nothing like handwired electronics.
If memory serves, stock alembics tend to run around 1.65" unless you get a special one. If you go to the website, they have the specs for all the instruments. My Epic was a little thicker front to back, than my Rogue - which has a perfect neck, to me.
So, I think you kinda have to put your hands on them to really know.
So, I think you kinda have to put your hands on them to really know.
In my experience, there's never been an upcharge for custom neck dimensions. Alembic will work from dimensions you give them or if you have a bass whose neck is the cat's pajamas, you can send it to them and they'll duplicate it.
Since they don't operate a traditional production line, they can do this.
One of the things I've found to be cool about the older Alembic necks it their lack of taper -- in other words, the difference between the width at the neck and the 12th fret is less pronounced than on a traditional neck (so the neck doesn't widen out as much as it would on say, a Jazz or most other bass necks). It allows ultra-easy playing up the neck. You should find an older Series One, Distillate or Spoiler to experience this.
By the way, I'm not affiliated with Alembic - just a very satisfied repeat customer.
The Persuader that I just sold on ebay was very narrow. My Spoiler is also narrow. If you go to the Alembic website they have specs on each bass they produce. If it's not on their website, check the forum. Pretty sure they have specs for all their models.
I recall my Europa neck being nice and slim. Maybe not quite Jazz-narrow at the nut, but slim and comfortable enough that I didn't notice. (I do not have large hands.) And, as someone else mentioned, also comfortably slim up the neck as well. Yet, with their laminates, also very solid feeling. I sold the bass many years ago, but it still may be the nicest neck I've ever played. It was a lovely bass in every way, but it's the neck I miss the most.
Thanks for all the feedback guys. A friend of mine has mentioned I should go to the Alembic shop here in Santa Rosa. He picked his up at less than half price because it was a special build and there was something the customer didn't like about it. I didn't realize I could go over there. I thought they did everything through dealers. My buddy may have special VIP status though since he toured with Gregg Allman. Waiting to hear back as to where the shop is. I'll have the conversation about necks I guess when I go there.
I second whoever said the Stanley Clarke model. The Atlanta Bass Gallery had an Essence four string that was very narrow and slim like a Stanley but the Essence was 34" scale.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
As will about any custom manufacturer, at least the ones I have done business with. None of them charged a nickel extra. Keith Roscoe copied my medium scale 1978 PRS neck to a "T", I had the neck on my MIJ P-Bass medium scaler copied to a "T" for my custom viola bass, and I am currently having my Stu Hamm Urge I neck copied by Keith Horne on a Fender Performer build.
Not a big deal for any experienced builder.
Here are the standard fingerboard widths on the Alembic site: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] As mentioned here, they can be customized and when buying used you'll need to ask the seller.
The profile of the neck on my Spoilers are very "baseball bat" like, the newer ones are much flatter (not sure if this is depending on model or age)
Also take notice of the different tapers (see link above) The comfort taper is more like fender, the classic taper is the classic Alembic style.
Classic looks like thin necks because they don't widen much towards the 24th fret, but the nut is very hefty Precision bass sized.
Classic taper: narrow bridge, wide nut:
(This one has the same taper, but much flatter neck profile than the above Spoilers)
Comfort taper: wide bridge, narrow nut:
The profile of the neck on my Spoilers are very "baseball bat" like, the newer ones are much flatter (not sure if this is depending on model or age)
Also take notice of the different tapers (see link above) The comfort taper is more like fender, the classic taper is the classic Alembic style.
Classic looks like thin necks because they don't widen much towards the 24th fret, but the nut is very hefty Precision bass sized.
Classic taper: narrow bridge, wide nut:
(This one has the same taper, but much flatter neck profile than the above Spoilers)
Comfort taper: wide bridge, narrow nut:
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BassHappy
Supporting Member
Here is quick look at my Essence vs Fender Jazz....been told this MIM 2001 neck is same as Geddy Lee. The fender is 1.5 at the nut while the Alembic is about a CM wider. At the highest fret though the Fender is 3" exactly while the Alembic is a hair over 2.5 inches.....Big difference
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No biggie. BTW, my "If you got the money..." quip wasn't intended to single out Alembic as the only bass maker who'll custom shape a neck. It was more a comment on the price of Alembics.
No offense intended
