Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Distillate Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: edwardofhuncote on May 11, 2016, 06:24:22 PM
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Well folks, while the Club was dark the last couple weeks, this wonderful old bass came my way. Most of you know, I'm just nuts for vintage Alembics, and this one came along just at the right time.
I've already had time to bond with it... and since my first experience with an Alembic was a Distillate, (sometime in the 1990's) the whole thing feels kinda' serendipitous. I thought it would be hard going back to playing a 4-string, but I'm actually enjoying the challenge. I may eventually convert the nut and bridge saddles to accept B-E-A-D tuning. (hat-tip Will Gunn) ;)
It came in it's original hardshell case, with all the supporting paperwork, even an accessories order form from the time. The handwritten build sheet even has a charming little typo in it. ;D
One modification I found not only interesting, but advantageous - sometime along the journey to here, the pickup selector switch was replaced with a pan pot with a center detent. Sure enough when I opened it up, it was an Alembic part. Not only that, but they even topped it with the correct hat-style knob. While not original, this makes the controls on it very similar to my Persuader after upgrades, and also very much like controls on the Custom fretless currently in construction.
With apologies for hastily taken pictures, I'm quite honored and proud to present you: 81 D 1986 USA, my second Alembic.
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Nice Distillate! My first Alembic was a Distillate (it also had a giant washer under the input jack like yours). Enjoy!
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Gregory,
Congrats on your Distillate! My Distillate is my go to bass.
Ton of fun, enjoy!
Pete
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I just did the brass washer as a joke on myself... got one just like it on my other Alembic, which is hiding a repair. 8)
Here's the aforementioned pan knob. It's a little bit strange having it down there on the lower horn, but (since I don't slappa' da' bass) no problem at all. ;D
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Congratulations !
Wolf ( one who loves Distillates)
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I see your 1981 Distillate HAS an adjustable nut.
Any idea IF that is original as my '81 (purchased new by me and still own) Distillate does NOT:))
Rich
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Not sure Rich... it does look correct though. I was planning on posting a serial number look-up thread to see if Mica turns up anything else from their records.
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Gregory,
Very Cool on the pan control at the pointer position. I had at one time asked Mica if it made any sense to add an adjustable nut and she asked me if I had any problems with the current (non-adjustable) nut, at which point she said it really was NOT necessary. I think I got the hint!
On another note: When you have a chance Let me know how you MAY deal with any balance issues with an `81 and how you thought of rectifying the (possible) balance point(s).
I made the stupid mistake of taking the strap pin and moving it to the heel of the neck figuring that position might balance better.... It did not.
Thanks, Rich
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I played it on a gig this weekend, and noted that it actually balanced a little bit better than my Persuader 5-string does. Neither of them are great in that regard, but 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock is okay with me. A wide strap and my right arm does the rest.
And yes indeedy - I love the pan control! :)
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Couple pictures from a patio gig outside Charlottesville, Virginia last night... even on the last day before Daylight Savings Time begins, it's starting to get dark at 6:00. I liked how the dimly lit background makes the walnut pop reddish. It was a fun challenge playing the 4-string out on a gig, (used to having the 5th string there) but this Distillate is so much fun to play. Totally different voice from my Persuader, yet so much in common.
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Really nice pics,
...like a sunset magazine cover.
I bet it sounded warm and fuzzy too.
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Beautiful pics... but, you're a brave man to set that up so close to the water!!!!!
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:)
Believe me Growly, there was a lengthy discussion with the wedding planner about that, (this was a cocktail hour before the reception started) but the best we could get was she agreed to turn the fountain off while we were playing. :-\
As an aside, the bassist from the reception band "Horizon", recognized my bass, since he was a former Alembican, having had an old Series I from the same year as mine. Nice fella, and a monster bass player... named Lawrence. We work for the same booking agent, but had never met.
https://www.samhillbands.com/bands/horizon
They were really great too, wish we could've hung out to listen, but it was a 3-hour trip home, and the Waffle House was heavy on our mind. ;D
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Man, I'd have left, too! Waffle House... doesn't get any better than that!!!
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I recently ran across a really good deal on an old set of Schaller M4's in gold... so I got to thinking, maybe my Distillate might enjoy some extra *bling*... all well and good, but then the obsessive-compulsive-fixer-matcher took over, and I had to put some gold straplocks on there too. Aaiieee... make it stop! ;D
I carefully wrapped up the original chrome M4's and stashed them away, labeled of course, among the other labeled things in the stash box. ::)
Here she is, sporting the new/old hardware:
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Classy!! 8)
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I think about changing the tuners to gold on my Distillate from time to time.
Looks great Greg!
Must gain control of the spending, must gain control of the spending, repeat!
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I hear ya' Pete. ;)
It was just too good to pass up. FWIW, I tried pitching the ad to another Alembican first I thought might be interested... once they passed on them, well, I figured that was my cue. ;D
Paid $45 for the tuners, and $15 for straplocks, best $60 I've spent in a while. Worth every nickel. Besides, I can always put it right back to stock-original.
*in case I hadn't mentioned it lately, I just love this old bass, especially with these Pyramid Gold flats. Been playing on it all afternoon. 8)
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A Long Time Ago, In A Guitar Factory Far, Far Away...
Well, it's only been 37 years to the day, (12/11/1981) according to the build sheet, but my oldest Alembic has aged quite nicely. ;D
I spent yesterday evening doing some regular maintenance... rubbed some lemon oil into the fingerboard, shined up the brass parts, and then on a whim, I switched back to T-I Jazz Rounds. I had them on it briefly this past Summer for a recording session, and really enjoyed the added snap, especially with a pick, but switched back to my preferred T-I Jazz Flats soon after.
Took a few new pictures for the Showcase Thread, now I'm going to spend some quality time today playing ol' 81 D 1986. :)
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Nice, keep taking care of that beauty. Now I have to check the build sheet for my '86 and see exactly when its b-day is!
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A beautiful instrument .
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Thirty-Eight years old today. :)
Took some new pictures of 81D 1986 for her birthday this year...
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Beautiful bass :)
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Wow! Congrats on keeping her so nice. Gorgeous!
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Lovely! The grain of the top wood is really cool.
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A truly beautiful Distillate !
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Thanks fellas. :) I love them all equally... my Alembics are every one, a work of art. Doing them justice in a picture is really difficult. I'm getting better at it, learning to use the different features and functions in my camera app, but it's still so hard to get it just right. That dad-blame glare just seems an unavoidable nuisance. Having a solid color background helps a lot.
Of course the real reward is playing them, and this little jewel is no exception. I say this with all reverence due... close your eyes and it is very hard to tell this Distillate from a Series I... it is 94.9% of the way there. In fact, if it had another volume and filter, I'm not sure if I could! It really is kinda' like half of a Series I for tone, sustain, and range. The action never moves, ever, not even seasonally... it's a rock-solid player, never disappoints. I spent some quality time with her each evening this week, Rockin' around the Christmas Tree. ;D
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Seems you got the glamour shots down! The last set of pics lean hard towards the Showcase spread. ;D
Funny that you mention the action being rock solid... my 84 is the same and that is saying a lot living in Wisconsin with the dramatic (traumatic?) seasonal weather swings.
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The new pics are nice!
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She was a pile of planks until 39 years ago today... and the Elves made her into something very special. I have got to make some time for 81D 1986 this evening.
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Truly a lovely instrument !
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A classic! :)
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Happy birthday to your special friend, Greg.
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Been sitting here the past couple hours playing a few tunes... Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, whatever came up. A fine way to spend a days' end. :D