Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => For Sale & Trade => Topic started by: edwardofhuncote on July 30, 2022, 04:42:13 PM
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It's time. This is not a day I've been looking forward to, but there are a pair of Distillates here that need new homes.
First, 81D 1986
Birthday: December 11th, 1981.
Walnut top, mahogany core, maple/purpleheart neck, ebony fingerboard with pearl ovals, 32" medium-scale. No breaks, therefore no repairs, no foolishness. Only mod is the pickup selector switch was swapped out for a pan pot. It's mounted in the same location as the former 4-position selector switch. It is an Alembic pot with the correct witch-hat knob. I didn't do it, don't know who did, it was thataway when I got it. Works great, and I actually like it better than a switch. If you'd rather have a switch, I imagine the mod is easily reversible.
So if you are not familiar, early Distillates don't balance great. They do balance on a strap if properly adjusted and postured. If you're looking for that perfectly balanced bass, this is not it; you should shop for a Europa or Elan, or another model. This bass is the lightest Alembic that I have. Don't know exact weight, but I think less than 9 lb. It's pretty light. I'll weigh it if needed.
This bass is also the most Series-like sounding bass I have that is not a Series bass. It just has that juice. Especially so, while currently strung with T-I Jazz Rounds. I also have a set of T-I Jazz Flats cut for this bass if you prefer them.
*The brass washer is not covering a jack repair. I'll remove it before shipping, or leave it if you like. I think it's cute. The red power-on indicator LED still works on this one. Some people disconnected theirs to slow the battery drain. Cheapskates... let your red lights shine, says me.
$4000 - shipped, domestically.
Next... 85D 3696
Birthday: August 23rd, 1985 (also Barbara Eden's Birthday, coincidentally...)
This one has a few custom touches. The basic build is; figured bubinga-top and back laminates on a mahogany core, maple and purpleheart neck, fretless ebony fingerboard, 32" medium-scale. The body shape is a custom pattern, part Distillate, part Standard Point with the mid-80's extended upper-horn. This greatly improves the balance.
When I got this bass, it still had the wax paper on the brass plates... that's how unplayed it was. There are two very tiny dings in it, one in the top, and one in the back. They are only noticeable if you are looking for them. Not sure they would even photograph. I don't think you will find many cleaner 1985 Alembics, but I will try to picture them if one of these is your deal-breaker.
The original AXY pickups were replaced with a new set of Classic shell AXY FatBoys. I will put the originals back in if you want, but I can't imagine why you would. If you want both sets of pickups, we can discuss a price for that. They look identical if that helps. The FatBoys are sublime. The AXY's were just fine too. These just took it up a couple notches.
It's currently strung with T-I Jazz Flats. I have a set of D'Addario Chromes cut for it you can have, if you want them. They sounded okay, but I didn't care for the extra tension. I am an OCD freak about strings, so they are very nice and neatly cut and wrapped, back in packages.
This bass is a hefty one. 10-1/2 lbs at least. And it is physically just... BIG. The redeeming quality is the perfect balance. I will definitely miss that.
$4500 - shipped, domestically.
Both basses are in their original hardshell cases. The '81 has seen more use than the '85, but both are pretty nice and all latches work. No floppy, loose handles, no unidentifiable funkiness within. If you want, I'll peel the bumper stickers. Nothing offensive, or political, just stuff I thought was cool. They're just cases. Couple scuffs, no rips or puctures. Nothing to write home about. Put your bass in it and go to the gig.
So there they are, gang. Two fine ones here that have served me well. It's just time to move them on. As always, I'm glad to chat about these things, and anything else Alembic-related, so just hit me. I want you to love them like I have, and would feel better knowing you did.
I have plenty more pictures if you need detail.
~Ed of H.
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Both pretty! Good luck with the sales.
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Beautiful basses! Very temping!!
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Lovely Alembics. Good luck with the sales!
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Awesome basses, good luck with your sale. Hopefully they go to a good home with someone who appreciates them for what they are and will play the stuffings outta them.
The red power-on indicator LED still works on this one. Some people disconnected theirs to slow the battery drain. Cheapskates... let your red lights shine, says me.
or you can upgrade them to something really spiffy (imho). So sayeth the old retired stoner on his way to his 0545 trip to hooterville....
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or you can upgrade them to something really spiffy (imho).
That light is cool :)
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Lovely basses.
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Greg
Im not one to tell people what to do with their lives but I hope this isn’t an all to quick reaction to your recent health situation and you’re still going to have plenty of Alembics in your stable left to play WHEN you recover. Remember as you have stated yourself on one or two occasions, it’s much more likely that one will regret selling an Alembic than holding on to one. Having been through some of what you are currently experiencing when I was your age, I can attest to the fact that if you find the right doc (it took me three) you can and will recover. Keep your spirits up and take care of yourself.
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Good looking basses. Always loved those Distillates.
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I'm gonna echo Brian's thoughts. At last one of those Distillate's needs to stay at home.
D3696 is so very tempting. It has that McVie vibe which you so dearly love... Perhaps you should keep BOTH of them at home?
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Thanks for the kind thoughts and words, guys. Just so you know - a draft of this ad has been sitting here for a month. If I wasn't ready, I would not have posted it. Over the past 8 years hanging around here, I've been lucky enough to enjoy quite a few of the finest basses and guitars ever made. I don't know what lies ahead, no one does. So it's about priorities. And right now it isn't playing music, it's finishing out this career and trying to get healthy enough to play again. Then I'll work on something else.
I'll always have one Alembic that was built just for me... and maybe a couple more. These two are going to inspire another player.
Thanks Again, ~Ed of H.
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81D 1986 is headed off to Nash-vegas, she has a real-life, legit, gig on the road now. 8)
I had a good time with this one. I will remember her well.
Custom fretless still needs a ride...
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That fretted one is a looker.
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Got a text message from the new caretaker of 81D-1986 last night... sounds like it's gone to a good home. It'll see some studio time this Fall. That's a good feeling. :) So just to be clear, the fretted one is [SOLD] the fretless Distillate in figured Bubinga is still looking.
I remember this gig... it was a double-header day with Harwell-Grice Band, we finished out the night at a brewery after a wedding job earlier in the day. Between sets, I posed with 85D-3696 next to a picture of... a Distillery apparatus! ;D
(can't believe I was ever this size... I make that bass look small!)
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That’s one beautiful bass, Greg, bet it sounds fantastic! :)
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It really is. I'll miss it, but I just have this feeling that whoever has it next is going to really be inspired. It is an amazing fretless Alembic.
The FatBoys are coming out, and the original AXYs are going back into 85D-3696 here. The price is adjusted accordingly.
$4100 shipped domestically.
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Hello,
Is there an option on purchasing the pickups? I am in need of 2 AXY/4s and would be interested in buying them from you. Fatboys work for me.
Please let me know :-)
Thank you,
Bryant
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Sorry Bryant, FatBoys are spoken for, so original AXYs are back onboard. I do have a full set of electronics, pickups included, on another thread. They are made for a Guild Starfire. I would split it up if you want only the electronics and not the guitar. https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=27277.0
And Happy Birthday to this one... she's 37 years old today.
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The grain on that bass is remarkable :)
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Interesting project!
Please tell me about the pickups - are they AXY/MXY coils in a larger shell? What are the pickup dimensions? I'd be interested in the whole electronics package for the right price.
Oh - How about string spacing on the pickups - are they the same as a regular MXY/AXY4?
Thank you
Bryant
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I realized going over this bass the other day, the tuning machines are chrome but the straplocks are nickel. That just won't do. I'll have to look around for some strap buttons in the correct finish. Weird that I hadn't noticed before.
On that subject - I have several nice heavy padded straps here, and will include one with this bass if someone would like.
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Greg,
I think I still have a set from the Vector bass I bought this year. If you can't find any I'll send them to ya.
Edit: just checked and mine are nickle too.
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Moderator, please go ahead and [CLOSE] this thread. I still have this bass, but rather than market it, I'm going to wait until someone comes looking for it knowing what they want. :)
*Thanks Daniel, I had some Chrome ones in my stash... ;)
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Greg, do those AXY4 fatboy pickups work well in the series 1 basses? Just courious.
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Sure, they worked just fine for a short-term fix. They just aren't single-coil Series pickups. For those, I needed to send my bass back to Alembic.