Pricing and availability

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

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.

Johnny Lee Long

Johnny Lee Long

Vintage Alembic Series "One"...demo

Video thumbnail for Vintage Alembic Series "One"...demo by Johnny Lee Long

Vintage Alembic Series "One"...demo

Johnny Lee Long

Johnny Lee Long

Video thumbnail for Alembic Series 1 Bass - Bali Run by Fourplay by GeorgePriceBass

Alembic Series 1 Bass - Bali Run by Fourplay

GeorgePriceBass

GeorgePriceBass

Video thumbnail for Alembic Series I Short Scale bass Sound example. by nsjmusic

Alembic Series I Short Scale bass Sound example.

nsjmusic

nsjmusic

Video thumbnail for Level 42 - Take care of yourself [Bass Cover] - Alembic Series 1 by Marcus Bell Bass

Level 42 - Take care of yourself [Bass Cover] - Alembic Series 1

Marcus Bell Bass

Marcus Bell Bass

Video thumbnail for Alembic 1973 Series 1...There's only one by Johnny Lee Long

Alembic 1973 Series 1...There's only one

Johnny Lee Long

Johnny Lee Long

Video thumbnail for Alembic / Series-1 MSB【Test Play】 by Bass Sound Maniac

Alembic / Series-1 MSB【Test Play】

Bass Sound Maniac

Bass Sound Maniac

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Alembic Series I Bass.

Build quality

  • The Alembic Series I's fit and finish are highly praised, with meticulous attention to detail, although some find the electronics non-intuitive.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Owners note that the filter-based preamps on the Alembic can be challenging to master, potentially worsening the sound if not understood.

    Source

Comparisons

  • While Alembics are highly crafted, many users feel that similar playing and sound qualities can be found in basses like the MIM Fender for less money.

    Source

User experience

  • Several players find the Alembic Series I uncomfortable due to its weight and ergonomics, often mentioning it feels awkward during extended play.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 5 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
skylinerr

amazing

casual alembic awesomeness

Genres:

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Rob Grange uses Alembic Series I Bass

Rob Grange

Bassist, Composer

The Amboy Dukes

...
Verified via Photo

In a user-uploaded photo, Rob Grange is seen playing an Alembic Series I Bass.

See how Andy West uses Alembic Series I Bass

Andy West

Bassist

Kill Your Idols

...
Verified via Photo

Andy West owned a custom Alembic Series I Bass with two XLR outputs, as evidenced by a user-uploaded photo on Jasobrecht. He sold it in the 1980s due to financial constraints.

See how David Hood uses Alembic Series I Bass

David Hood

Bassist

The Waterboys

...
Verified via Photo

Mentioned in this March 1, 2019 al.com interview.

A vintage photo of Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bassist David Hood with his Alembic bass. (Courtesy of Dick Cooper)

(...) Later, he acquired an Alembic bass and played that instrument on many of his recording sessions after 1976. "The guys in San Francisco that equipped the Grateful Dead made they [sic] Alembic instruments," Hood says. "I've still got mine. It's got a double-octave neck though and with arthritis in my wrists and shoulders I rarely play it, because it's not really comfortable to play. But it's a great sounding instrument."

This May 17, 2013 Bass Player interview specifies that Hood used the bass from 1976 to 1988.

From 1976 to 1988, he played an Alembic; he also occasionally plays a Kubicki Factor and a 1957 Fender Precision. (Hood’s Jazz Bass was stolen during the Traffic era.) He uses flatwound strings on the Lakland Osborn and the Precision, and roundwounds on the rest. For amplification, he favors a Gallien-Krueger head driving two Ampeg cabinets, each of which has two 12" speakers.

In this February 20, 2014 No Treble interview, Hood discusses his initial switch to the Alembic.

My first bass was a ’61 Fender Jazz. It took a long time, but I eventually got a really good sound with it. I worked with that bass for over 10 years so I knew how to make it sound right and I measured all other basses against that one. That bass got stolen on one of the Traffic tours in ’73 so I immediately went out and got two other Jazz basses. Then I got an Alembic and was able to get a really good sound with that one. People would come in to the studio and say, “Gosh, I thought you played a Fender. What’s that thing?” But it got a great sound, and as always, I was playing and working for the sound that came out of the speakers.

The "Bass FAQ" page of Hood's official website mentions that the '76 Alembic is "[a] veteran of 1,000 recordings, still a great sounding bass."

R

Rodney Curtis

Bassist

Funkadelic

...
Verified via YouTube

Here's Rodney playing an Alembic Series I with Funkadelic.

See how Sabo Romo uses Alembic Series I Bass

Sabo Romo

Singer, Bassist

Caifanes

...
Verified via Photo

Sabo Romo uses the Alembic Series I Bass, as evidenced by an image of him playing the instrument and a video where he is seen using this bass (youtu.be/o8xaX4oQyxI).

D

Dan Horne

Guitarist

Circles Around the Sun

...
Verified via YouTube

In this youtube video at 22:55 Dan Horne talks about his bass

See how David Goldflies uses Alembic Series I Bass

David Goldflies

Bassist

The Allman Brothers Band

...
Verified via YouTube

From 0:56 to 1:06 you can see him playing

Album Usage

The Alembic Series I Bass has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Alembic Series I Bass, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Alembic Dragon Wing
Alembic Dragon Wing Electric Basses
1
Alembic Spyder
Alembic Spyder Electric Basses
1
Guild Starfire IV Bass
Guild Starfire IV Bass Electric Basses
1
Alembic F-1X
Alembic F-1X Bass Preamps
1
Vox Vintage Coil Cable
Vox Vintage Coil Cable Instrument Cables
1
Steinberger L2
Steinberger L2 Electric Basses
1
Boss BF-3 Flanger
Boss BF-3 Flanger Flanger Effects Pedals
1

Community setups

Show yours
paujones64

paujones64

Gear IQ 295

paujones64

paujones64

Gear IQ 295

More Alembic Electric Basses

Rickenbacker 4003

$2,499.00 - $2,899.00

# 3

Rank

Paul McCartney Cliff Burton Jason Newsted
188 artists using
Gibson EB-3

$359.00 - $2,250.00

# 16

Rank

Josh Homme Billy Corgan Flea
108 artists using

Similar

Gear Guides