Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: serialnumber12 on December 06, 2005, 03:27:42 AM

Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: serialnumber12 on December 06, 2005, 03:27:42 AM
http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Alembic-distillant-bass_W0QQitemZ7372730007QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: precarius on December 07, 2005, 03:34:12 PM
if anyone's interested in this bass,i e-mailed the seller and he said i could come check it out(he's only about 15 miles from me) also the s/n is 81D1949.
Mike
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: kungfusheriff on December 07, 2005, 03:45:22 PM
Alas, if only it were tax time...
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 07, 2005, 04:39:10 PM
The zero feedback new member status of the seller will probably keep some bidders away.  The picture quality and lack of much description will probably also help to keep the bids down.  I've tried to adjust the picture a little to get a better idea of the top.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/23100.jpg)
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 07, 2005, 04:45:39 PM
The listing doesn't say anything about a case.
 
It's hard to tell, but it kinda looks like the pickup selector switch might be missing.
 
Crown headstock is unusual for a Spoiler.  The listing also doesn't mention whether this is a medium or long scale.
 
No reserve with a starting bid of $1,000.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: kungfusheriff on December 07, 2005, 05:17:12 PM
Spoiler or Distillate, Dave? The latter, which this bass looks like to me, typically had crown headstocks and were medium-scale instruments, I bleeb.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: mica on December 07, 2005, 05:17:43 PM
I grabbed this same picture off ebay in September when it was sold before.
 
Dave - it's a Distillate, which almost always had the Crown peghead. So many shapes, it gets confusing.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 07, 2005, 07:00:39 PM
Ah!!  I couldn't make out the switches!
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 07, 2005, 07:05:40 PM
Ah!!  I couldn't make out the switches!
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: studiorecluse on December 08, 2005, 06:46:27 AM
I emailed the owner, and he said that he was pretty sure that it was a 34 scale.  I am about 30 miles away and asked if I can come see it.  I'll report what I find if that happens.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 08, 2005, 08:36:14 AM
Thanks Cary!  Ask about the case too.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: Mike Monsalve on December 08, 2005, 04:43:02 PM
When having my custom Distillate made I asked for a 34 scale.  Susan told me they wouldn't put a 34 scale on a Distillate due to the neck heading towards the floor when it was released.  
 
She didn't wish to put the Alembic name on a bass that did as much.  I was informed that I had to take the 32 or configure a bass with a larger body.  As the distillate shape is the most comfortable bass I've ever played, I took it the 32 scale.
 
Perhaps the philosophy was a bit different in 1981 as far as neck lengths?
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: valvil on December 08, 2005, 05:18:33 PM
That's likely a 32. Just about all the Spoilers and Distillates were medium scale, I do have a 34inch Distillate, but I had that done afterwards; originally it was a 32. For the record, a 34 inch scale Distillate will balance at about 3 o'clock.
 
Valentino
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: dela217 on December 08, 2005, 06:32:43 PM
Valentino - Just curious about your last post.  How did the scale length grow?  Was the neck replaced?  That must have been a major job!
 
Michael
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: keavin on December 08, 2005, 06:41:44 PM
Viagra???.....
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: kungfusheriff on December 08, 2005, 11:09:15 PM
Val's gory details are posted here:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/2060.html?1034888704 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=9079)
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: precarius on December 11, 2005, 01:51:45 PM
Hey- The owner just called me and offered this bass to me for $1000 and I pick it up. What do you guys think?Thanks.
Mike
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: brainiac on December 11, 2005, 09:18:34 PM
What do we think? That if you already have one or two Alembics, how about sharing the wealth and letting another club member--who owns ZERO alembics--buy it for $1000. Seems fair.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: serialnumber12 on December 12, 2005, 03:41:29 AM
question on the electronics on the val's tranformed 32/34 scale (japanese distillates),the:quick change bass & treble toggles :how is it ppossible with only one Pickup in those basses? ive noticed they all the same layout.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 12, 2005, 05:37:43 AM
Mike; Distillates in good condition generally sell for much more than $1,000.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: 2400wattman on December 12, 2005, 09:04:00 AM
I bought mine for $1299.00 + government fees(tax) and it is in incredible condition, the store originally wanted about $1750.00. It came with paper work, new set of Alembic strings & O.H.S.C. So $1000.00 clams is a great deal! Good luck.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 13, 2005, 06:53:50 AM
Congrats Mike!!
 
Ha!  Congrats again!!
 
 
(Message edited by davehouck on December 13, 2005)
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: mpisanek on December 13, 2005, 07:27:51 AM
Nice job Mike!!
 
Now, if you can only find me one for the same price???
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: precarius on December 15, 2005, 10:41:00 AM
Well I picked this bass up yesterday and it is great! I felt guilty, so I gave the owner $1200 and I still feel like I came out like a fat rat.It's a 32 inch scale,walnut top, 5pc. neck- through, with a tone block. The neck at the nut is about .250 width smaller than my spoiler. The only thing wrong with it is it's missing a few of the oval inlays & the LED next to the output jack is broken. Are these available from Alembic? If not, where might be a good place to look? Thanks.
Mike
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: David Houck on December 15, 2005, 10:43:25 AM
Give Val a call.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: adriaan on December 16, 2005, 01:23:38 AM
The led was probably disconnected - I seem to remember the led would drain the battery pretty badly.
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: precarius on December 16, 2005, 10:07:35 AM
Nah- It be broke. On the bass top, there is just a black plastic ring with a filament hanging out of it. But if it is a battery-eater, like you say, I may just leave it out. I'm no electronic whiz, but it looks like the only wires connected to it are a green wire from the preamp and a red & white striped wire from the preamp to the output jack and then to the L.E.D. OK to cut these? Thanks.
Mike
Title: 1981 Distillate.
Post by: Mike Monsalve on December 16, 2005, 10:56:09 AM
The batteries on both my distillates (one with original distillate electronics, the other with signature electronics) last just about as long as they do on my 1982 Spoiler, which is sans an LED.
 
Personally I like the LED's.  When I shut the lights down in the music room after playing they'll indicate to me that I forgot to unplug the bass.