Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: effclef on March 26, 2009, 07:03:29 AM

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: effclef on March 26, 2009, 07:03:29 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Distillate-4-string-1981-Excellent-Condition_W0QQitemZ130296253791QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Looks like a schedua top.

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: FC Bass on March 26, 2009, 09:28:12 AM

Nice!
 
I'll put my money on Koa, maybe even a solid body (like the early Spoilers)

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: speicky on March 26, 2009, 01:44:00 PM

exactly what I thought, Flip ! must be koa wings, looks a lot like Bridget... of course, the trick of the light may fool us, but I vote for koa also

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: David Houck on March 26, 2009, 04:28:06 PM

I'll go with Koa on Mahogany.
 
I didn't see a mention about a case.

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: effclef on March 27, 2009, 08:12:00 AM

Silly me! Yes, that does look like koa on mahogany. Even better!

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: goop on April 01, 2009, 07:27:18 PM

I could not resist this beauty and now have my first Alembic. It should be here on Friday.  I decided the early Distillate was going to be my first and knew, the moment I saw it, that this was the bass I had to have. I can't wait to see it and play it.  
 
How can you tell it is a mahogany body when you cant see any veneers?  If it is Koa, is that a desirable wood?

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: David Houck on April 01, 2009, 07:54:30 PM

Congrats!!!
 
In the second picture, look at the bottom horn (right side).  I'm thinking that I'm seeing the line between the top laminate and the body.
 
Also, the top has a lot of flaming going on, where the back does not, suggesting two different pieces of wood.
 
There are a bunch of folks in this club that own Koa topped Alembics, and they love 'em.  I used to have a Koa topped Spoiler, and I loved the way that top looked.  It was sad boxing that one up knowing I wouldn't get to see it any more.
 
(Message edited by davehouck on April 01, 2009)

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: effclef on April 02, 2009, 06:20:54 AM

Koa comes from Hawaii. It's not common, and they do have regulations about how much can be cut down, I believe. The Distillate has a nice piece, if that's what it is, and we're all pretty sure. Even me, though I was wrong in the inital post.  
 
Mahogany has a distinctive pore pattern to the grain. The back looks to be a very blonde piece of it. Some pieces come out more tawny. I don't think Alembic ever used an ugly piece of wood!
 
At the very least, it's a great Distillate and I am sure you'll love the sound!  
EffClef

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: Mike Monsalve on April 03, 2009, 02:09:06 PM

Congrats, indeed.
 
I won an '86 Distillate on Ebay in 2002 (my second Alembic), which led to me to having Alembic build me a custom one in 2003.  The Distillate is my favorite and the most comfortable body style of any bass I've ever played.  It just fits

Title: Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N
Post by: bsee on April 03, 2009, 02:21:28 PM

Contrary to the seller's claims, the bass is almost certainly 32 scale.  He claims the 34 is from nut to tailpiece, not nut to bridge.
 
-bob