Author Topic: 1982 Distillate on Ebay (Read 239 times)

jazzyvee · « **on:** October 23, 2014, 01:30:05 AM »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alembic-Distillate-Bass-Guitar-1982-/251688501774?pt=Guitar&hash=item3a99cdc20e
Price is pretty low at the moment.

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2014, 08:03:32 PM »

Oh man! I am bidding

jazzyvee · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2014, 08:57:10 AM »

13 bidders on it at the moment so likely to be hot towards the end. All the best.

StephenR · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2014, 10:04:56 AM »

One thing to keep in mind with the early Distillate basses is that the battery life is pathetic. Something like 20-25 hours due to the little LED that comes on when it is plugged in.

I really liked my Distillate bass but the battery drove me crazy. If you gig a lot you have to change the battery preemptively. If you don't and the battery starts to go when you are playing the sound goes from great to horrible to nothing and it happens quickly, not fun in the middle of a tune.

The LEDs were removed from later Distillates. Other than the LED issue they are great basses.

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2014, 10:46:29 AM »

I know there is a work-around for the LED issue, don't let that scare you off.

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2014, 10:53:48 AM »

I have an 81 Distillate with that power on LED . I love that Bass !

(Message edited by sonicus on October 25, 2014)

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2014, 10:54:46 AM »

I have an 81 Distillate with that power on LED among other Alembics. The LED issue on mine is not really all that bad .

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2014, 11:32:30 AM »

Not being an electronics maven, I suspect that 1981 LEDs might consume a little more power than LEDs produced more than 30 years later. And I imagine that swapping the old one out, or just bypassing it, would be a simple job for anyone who has ever been introduced to a soldering iron.

Bill, tgo

sonicus · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2014, 11:50:31 AM »

mtjam · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2014, 12:02:33 PM »

My first Alembic was a Distillate that I owned until last week. It had the LED, but I never felt that the batteries went dead too quickly. Anyway, Distillates are great!

StephenR · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2014, 04:45:30 PM »

Not trying to scare anyone off from the bass. The Distillate model is one of my favorite Alembics I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat and the LED looks kind of cool. But... I thought the short battery life was a good thing for potential buyers to be aware of if they gig a lot so they know to change the batteries regularly. Having my bass go dead mid-tune at a gig was not a pleasant experience.

I don't know how to bypass the LED but imagine it is not very difficult. Is that the workaround you are referring to Adriaan?

pauldo · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2014, 04:49:42 AM »

Is it a trick of the light or is there a gouge on the back of the neck that runs horizontally in the picture?

My 84 Distillate has pretty decent battery life. As mentioned when it does start to die she goes pretty quick - however, IMHO the distortion sound just before she drops out is very righteous.

gearhed289 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2014, 05:00:34 PM »

I bought a'86 (no LED) over the summer, and it's great! I think they're one of the best bang for your buck basses on the used market.