Author Topic: Ued Distillate (Read 627 times)

2400wattman · « **on:** November 15, 2005, 10:00:34 PM »

Hello, I am new here and I was wondering if anybody out there could give me a ball park figure on what I should or expect to pay for an '86 Distillate 4 string in great shape. This would be my first trip down Alembic lane & I would like to make it a good one(I don't want to get ripped off).Is 1700.00-1800.00 too much.The vintage guitar guide says a max of 1500.00 but also states that each bass should be evaluated on a case by case basis.nothing too fancy about this one but it does sound and look Beautiful! Any response would be helpful, Thank You- Adam

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2005, 10:12:05 PM »

I know someone who paid $1850 for his, because he liked it. You could hunt and find a better deal, but that depends on how good this bass is.
Please throw some pics up if you get it, and what are you running at 2400 Watts, man?

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2005, 06:16:56 AM »

Hi Adam, welcome to the group! Distillates don't come up for sale too often, so the market price can vary. The electronics are a big selling point as they are similar to Europa electronics, and Europa's don't come up for sale all that often either. My memory isn't good enough to recall average prices for Distillates, but I don't think you would be getting ripped off at $1,700, especially if you really like the bass. But if you think you might be turning right around and selling it because it isn't the bass you really want, I don't know that you would be able to get that much for it right away. It's hard to tell, they just don't come up for sale all that often. Just off the top of my head, the $1,500 number does seem like a reasonable quote, but again, if you really like the bass, $200 more doesn't seem too unreasonable, especially if there is no shipping cost involved. One other point, at that price it probably should include a hard case.

2400wattman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2005, 07:22:40 AM »

Thanks for the input, those words just make the bass that much more tangible to me.I will be buying this beauty from Wal-Mart....I mean Guitar Ctr.hey I saw all the cynical E-Bay remarks just trying to fit in. I guess I'm just trying to get a the best deal possible and especially when you buy from G.C. they put a lot of stock in the average instruments they sell, but when they get a hold of something like an Alembic it seems they drive the price up 15-20% and the salesmen very rarely know what they're talking about.Hence the ripped off remark.To answer the power issue, I'm running an Aguilar DB680 pre amp into a Crown Macro-Tech 2400 into two SVT 8x10 cabs,which actually turns out 800 watts @ 4ohm's per side(the full wattage is achieved @ 2ohm's per side or bridged mono @ 4ohm's) but oh my god the sound the sound the sound! Thanks again for the help glad to be part of the group. Take care

Mike Monsalve · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2005, 07:32:10 AM »

I purchased my '85 Distillate for $1400 and consider myself very lucky. Then I drove 609 miles one Saturday afternoon to go pick it up (round trip). Oddly I was kind of thinking of selling it in order to help the purchase of a small body 32 scale Series 1. After the purchase of the '85 Distillate I had Alembic build me a custom Distillate with signature electronics.

http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/4482.html?1051740916

It seems to hog most of the playing time

bsee · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2005, 10:01:42 AM »

Distillates are a step above the Spoilers and Persuaders of that era because of the electronics. On average, they have traded as the guitar guide suggests, in the $1000-1500 range for four strings. Alembics can easily be lifetime instruments. If you really like this bass and are the type of person to keep it a long time, then $1800 wouldn't be awful.

Another way to look at it is this. Alembics are relatively unique basses. If you're thinking at all of putting up $5000 or more to order yourself a custom, then it is a good idea to invest a few dollars in making sure you understand exactly what you're going to buy. I have paid above market for a used Alembic because I wanted to gain this experience. Think of it as paying rent. If you wouldn't mind paying $400 in rent to own the Distillate for a year, then go for it in the higher price range.

See what you can talk them down to, just make them an offer of how much you want to spend.

funkedupbass · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2005, 01:18:36 AM »

I paid 1250 for my '85 distillate

2400wattman · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2005, 11:58:08 PM »

Thanks again everyone for their advice. I did purchase the Distillate for a price that would make everyone give a standing ovation! I just happened to get lucky on this one. It really is a fantastic bass! I will post pics in about 7 days or so, so stay tuned.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2005, 05:30:12 AM »

(standing by...)

and congratulations!

pics, pics, pics... please
Mike

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2005, 06:10:21 AM »

Congrats!

bigredbass · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2005, 08:40:08 AM »

I think a lot of times you get the BEST buys on used ALEMBICs from a store as opposed to an individual owner.

Why? Because inevitably, the guys in the store rarely know what to do to demonstrate the filters, etc., they get tired of tripping over it when it's so much easier to flip somebody to a new (fill in the blank here), and once it gets in that doghouse, THEN go over there. They'll make you a really good deal just to be rid of it.

I just love it. It's right up there with those ads on EBay for a PJ bass that the hapless seller describes as having . . three pickups !

J o e y

kmh364 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2005, 08:57:46 AM »

You can also get a great deal on a new Alembic that way too...after it sits for a year or so with no bites...that's how I got my new '04 Series I. My gain was G Guitars's loss.

bigredbass · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2005, 05:16:16 PM »

Incidentally, I'd really pay attention to that part about 'each piece should be evaluated on an individual basis'. Since Alembics are not all identical in their feature sets/wood menu, they can occasionally vary quite a bit from what a written description might suggest before you see a picture of the instrument in question.

A quick look of stock at Bass Northwest, or Bass Central, or the Club Showcase will usually turn up a Series One that is built into a Rogue shape, for instance, while you may have been expecting the traditional Series shape. Or a Distillate with a Spoiler circuit. My own Spoiler is DEFINITELY not a traditional Spoiler. These basses are often custom built to a person's own ideas and after you see quite a few of these, you begin to realize they can vary quite a bit.

My Spoiler Five has a an Omega body, a crown peghead, deluxe laminates, and it's long scale. Quite a difference from the traditional 32 scale, cone headed, pinstripe laminate Spoiler.
Yet in the 'BluBook' it's a Spoiler.

J o e y

2400wattman · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2005, 11:12:52 PM »

Hello guys, Well I'm sorry for not getting the pics up. I bought a very cheap digital camera and, the quality I thought could be passable is actually horrible upon review of the pics on my computer. I'm afraid I'll have to wait to get a better one when I get the bread for it. Til then stay tuned Bat friends!