Due to the short scale of the Stanley Clarke, Im wondering if this bass comes as a normal bass(E A D G ) or as a tenor bass (A D G C).
 
 Thanks

All of them that I have had (3) come tuned standard EADG.  However, if you're having one made and want the tenor tuning, you might want to inform Alembic so they can tweek the neck at set-up.
 
Stoney

4-string basses are all supplied with standard E A D G tuning unless otherwise requested at the time of order.

Has Alembic ever built a short scale B - E - A - D  ??
 
 

Hmmm... I'm certainly not in a position to say whether they've ever built one, but I think I can give you a few things to think about.
 
The only things that would really be different in terms of construction would be the width of the grooves in the nut and the bridge saddles, to accomodate the larger strings.
 
Sure, the neck setup might need tweaking, but that's more dependent on the brand and gauges of the strings you choose to use - assuming same brand and range of gauges, the EAD are going to be the same tension whether you string it BEAD or EADG, right?
 
I suspect the biggest issue is whether you could actually find a string to use for the B, that wouldn't be incredibly floppy. My guess is you probably won't find one short enough to have just the nice tapered bit wrapped around the tuning post, but even if you're willing to live with that I suspect you won't be able to get playable tension with anything being sold today.
 
(Others should jump in here if I'm mistaken, of course.)
 
If you haven't already done so, you might want to use the Search function to look for previous discussions on either short or medium scale instruments and strings - I think there was some talk about this a while back for mediums, at least.

I don't know if Alembic ever built a short scale 4 string with BEAD tuning, but I do know that they built at least one short scale 6 string tuned BEADGC.  Here's the link: http://www.alembicguitars.net/info/FC_buckeye.html

I had a short-scale (30.0 inch) set up to contrabass once (about 20 years ago!) and it wasnt floppy with a .130 B string installed. I cant remember what brand of string it was, probably a rotosound.

I just had my 83 Spoiler refinished in black and set up BEAD. Plays well, sounds great. Just recorded with it and the F1X into protools. Whatever they set it up with is what I played. Even after 20 years of beating and a new set up, the refinish was fantastic and the bass was like new. Prompted me to order an new bass with Spoiler guts. Order now before the price increase!

Hey Mike (Rockandroller), You?re telling about a contrabass set up,i notice the same term in the anthony jackson contrabass (fodera), but what does that mean?

well, what it means to me is a 4 string bass thats tuned a fourth lower than normal (B E A D)
 
I'm not sure if thats the 'classical' use of the term, but thats what i think of when i hear contrabass...
 
You might check out http://www.contrabass.com  for their take on all things bassy...

With reguards to low B strings on short scale basses, I own a fretless Stanley Clarke six string-late 80's vintage. Hearsay says this is one of two they ever made. Got a very old set (perhaps the original set) of Ken Smith strings that I have boiled at least six times on this instrument. While acoustically the bass may not have as much definition on the B string as my 36 series II, plugged into a serious amp, one would have to look twice to tell the difference  between the two basses.
 
Alembic is about to ship back my short scale SC after getting a new fingerboard (I played it hard) and LED's. Wonder if Mica can get a shot or two of this on this site before it goes out?

Hythere Bigbass,
 
a SS SC six (6!) string?
Wew.
I really like to see that one too!
 
Paul