Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: jimbo on August 31, 2019, 09:27:30 AM

Title: (x) 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: jimbo on August 31, 2019, 09:27:30 AM

Hi all,


I've just bought my first Alembic after many, many years of daydreaming.  It's a 1981 Distillate, serial 81D1964 - I'd love to find out the background to this bass, so any information will be gratefully received!


Cheers,
Jim

Title: Re: 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: tbrannon on August 31, 2019, 02:14:29 PM

congratulations, jimbo.  Welcome to the nicest place on the internet. 

Someone at Alembic will get to this, but it takes awhile.  the build records are stored old school on paper and have to get looked up.  If you'll post a few pictures, most of the details can be figured out pretty quickly by the regulars until someone at Alembic has time to dig into the files.

Title: Re: 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: pauldo on August 31, 2019, 06:26:41 PM

Jimbo, welcome to the next chapter in your bass playing!

Yes to what Toby said.  ^^^

Pics (front and back please) will get us all oohing and aaahing!  ;D
And chances are good there is a keen eye that will call out your wood type(s).

Title: Re: 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: edwardofhuncote on September 01, 2019, 08:41:01 AM

Welcome, and Congratulations & Compliments, Jim!

Well, I've spent all morning looking... because I KNEW I'd seen 81D1964 here before. On top of that, it's a very close relative to my own 81D1986, so I generally can locate those files quickly. Granted, some days my rusty memory banks ain't what they oughta' be, but I finally found it, and no surprise it was me who spotted that one on Reverb a while back and posted it in our Swap Shop here.

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24778.0

I can't wait to see what the Head Elf herself comes up with on this one, as that is a bit of an unusual Distillate if the specs per the ad were correct. Glad to see it went to an appreciative home!

Again, Welcome. Post us some pics in the Showcase Thread when you can. :)

Title: Re: 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: mica on March 05, 2020, 09:01:25 AM

Hi Jim,

I wish I could tell you more about this bass. The file says:

81D1964 MSB
Nov 17, 81
Purpleheart



That's it. We know the birthday, that the top is Purpleheart, and that it's medium scale.

Post a few pictures and I can fill in the blanks on this mystery.

Title: Re: 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: mica on March 05, 2020, 09:05:53 AM

OK, looked over at the Reverb listing Greg linked to, and here's what I can say:

top: Purpleheart
accent: Maple pinstripe
body: Mahogany
neck: Maple and Purpleheart
scale: 32" medium
inlays: mother of pearl ovals

So there's a few blanks filled in.

Title: Re: (x) 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: jimbo on March 10, 2020, 01:59:32 AM

Hi Mica,


Thank you very much for checking! If the guys that built it are still at Alembic could you pass on my compliments? It's a gorgeous little bass and just about the nicest I've ever played.


Cheers,
Jim

Title: Re: (x) 1981 Distillate [81D1964]
Post by: edwardofhuncote on March 10, 2020, 12:58:19 PM

Don't see too many purpleheart tops, and I'd never have guessed that one. That little pinstripe really sets it off nice. Sounds like you've found a keeper there, Jim.  ;)