Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Distillate Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:24:56 AM

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:24:56 AM

This is my first Alembic. I have been playing it every free moment since it arrived last week, but I managed to stop long enough to clean it up a bit and post some pics.   It is the best all around sounding bass I have played (4001, Status S2, Jaydee MK), although the others, have thier awesome unique sounds too.  I particullarly enjoy playing the Jaydee, upon which I have a very light gauge string.   The medium scale suits me and I will soon change to a slightly lighter gauge string. The tones are amazing.  The bass is a dream to play.  I now know first hand there is no better way to sound great than playing an Alembic. I am using a Markbass 121P.  I now wonder what other Alembic electronics and neck configurations sound like. How would an Essence, Epic, Rogue or Series bass compare? How about Charlie's Distillate with Series electronics? Fantastic I am sure.   Anyway, I hope you enjoy these pics.   Colin    
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63494.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63495.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63496.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63497.jpg)
  (Message edited by mica on April 11, 2009)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:28:48 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63500.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:30:31 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63503.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:39:10 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63508.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:40:46 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63511.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:41:54 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63514.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:43:24 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63518.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:44:36 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63521.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:47:46 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63527.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:49:08 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63530.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:50:40 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63533.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:52:03 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63536.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 11, 2009, 06:55:25 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/63539.jpg)

Title: 81 1855
Post by: artswork99 on April 11, 2009, 07:13:54 AM

Colin,
Congratulations on your first Alembic.  That is a beautiful Distillate.
Play it Healthy!
Art

Title: 81 1855
Post by: pauldo on April 11, 2009, 08:09:53 AM

Sweet! Nice clean machine, I noticed you have a fixed nut. Is that standard on 81's?
 
You weren't really balancing that on the railing of your deck were you?
(:-o

Title: 81 1855
Post by: dadabass2001 on April 11, 2009, 10:15:09 AM

Very nice, Colin
Enjoy this beauty for years to come...
Mike

Title: 81 1855
Post by: chrisalembic on April 11, 2009, 11:27:00 AM

Nice Bass, Colin. There is something about Koa that I just love.

Title: 81 1855
Post by: David Houck on April 11, 2009, 11:50:56 AM

Great pics!  Great bass!

Title: 81 1855
Post by: gregduboc on April 11, 2009, 12:30:14 PM

Congratulations Colin!!
I was getting inpatient waiting for the pics!! But it was worth it! What a nice Distillate... So nice!!
And Paul, I don't know if it helps, but mine is an 81 and also has a fixed nut.
 
Greg

Title: 81 1855
Post by: 57basstra on April 11, 2009, 08:31:41 PM

nice pics and great bass!

Title: 81 1855
Post by: charles_holmes on April 12, 2009, 07:18:43 AM

Kudos to you Colin!!
That is a sweet axe that you have there!
I love my Distillate! I can dial in any sound that I want with it being a series! There's no bass that can compare with the Alembic in craftsmanship, period.You will enjoy it! We are the
Slam-a-licious, groovatronic, Lowfrequency freaks!
Can you dig it?! Keep it on the down low baby!

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 12, 2009, 07:38:02 AM

Thanks guys. I am waiting for the bio on this bass.  I think it is koa on mahogany with purpleheart and maple. Pretty standard stuff for an early Distillate.  
 
The nut seems to be fixed, which differs from the pics of other early Distillates I have seen.  
 
Paul, I would have jumped to break its fall, if necessary.
 
I have always been drawn toward the exotic wood grains of burled walnut and cocobolo, but there is something really cool about this wood, I think might be koa. It has a real depth and luminescence to it.
 
It looks like there is a laqueur finish on the brass tailpiece. Does anyone know if I polish the brass hardware, will it harm the finish? HAs anyone had any experience with the polish
 
I just noticed in the second last picture, there's a fly on my bass!

Title: 81 1855
Post by: David Houck on April 12, 2009, 11:42:27 AM

On your bass, the bridge is probably the only unplated brass, and thus the only piece that you should use brass polish on.  The other brass pieces are plated.

Title: 81 1855
Post by: lbpesq on April 12, 2009, 01:09:37 PM

After I polish any plain brass on my instruments I rub on a little Alberto VO5 - you know that smelly hair stuff our mothers used to use.  A little dab rubbed on with my finger and then lightly wiped off with a soft cloth will keep the brass shiny a little longer before it tarnishes.
 
Bil, tgo

Title: 81 1855
Post by: peoplechipper on April 12, 2009, 10:56:26 PM

Colin, that top is Koa for sure...
 
NICE BASS!!!! I love Koa; such a pretty wood...
 
I personally find I have every tone I need in the Distillate; mostly just in string attack; the controls are just extra...my Distillate is fixed nut too...Tony

Title: 81 1855
Post by: goop on April 22, 2009, 06:13:13 AM

Thanks Tony. The more I play it, I am amazed at the superb tones I can achieve.  By tapping the strings, you can get this amazing, trebly punchy growl. But you can also get the huge softer bottom with giant sustain. I love it. I am trying to decide what strings to go with. It came with Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky strings 45-100.  Generally I like them, but they feel a bit chunky and stiff to me, but I don't want to loose the thunder.  I usually play rotosound 66 and like them, but am thinking of the DR's.  
 
How would the high beams compare to the rotosounds in terms of feel, playability and sound? What about the roto piano or black beauties. I thought I read McCartney used black rotosound on his 4001.
 
Colin