Can anyone advise me on this distalate for sale?

[ghostyhead]

I am a 1st timer here! hey guys! (Ben from NewZealand) the guy that bid on this pulled out and the owner has offered it to me  (I guess at the same price around $1900 u.s ($2600 nz dollrs)) what do you think of this price, for what it look like. I am after the typical amazing alembic sound. I play a fair amount of funk, love the Stanley sound and M.King sound. will this be a good Alembic for me to start with and use until I can afford (if I ever can) a Stanley/King Sig?
 
Excellent condition. 1981 (serial # 81DXXXUSA) Alembic Distillate bass guitar with the following features: Mahogany body with walnut top, maple neck with purple heart center pieces, ebony fingerboard with oval inlays, 32 scale, AXY active electronics with volume, pickup selector, filter, Q switch, bass cut/flat/boost, treble cut/flat/boost, 9.5 pounds
 
what do you guys think?
thanks heaps in advance
 
Ben

[terryc]

I reckon you will get that Stan Clarke sound with that bass, signature electonics are 'tuned' to that persons preference, but youwill still get that hi fi sound with a distillate(although I have never owned one.)
Best of luck

[ghostyhead]

thanks man,
it says that there is bass cut/boost and treble cut/boost but i see only a volume knob and one other...is it a dual single pot for tone?

[ghostyhead]

sorry people here is the link to the photos of the bass:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250248948565&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=015.

[white_cloud]

Hi from Scotland Ben,
 
The Distillate is one of my favourite models. If the bass is in good condition then I would say that the price is definitely fair!
 
Try, if you can, to get hands on with it first and see how it plays - any instrument of this age ( Alembic or otherwise ) will have lived a bit. The Distillate, like any other Alembic, is built like a tank compared to just about anything else out there.
 
If you havent played an Alembic before then the sound of a Distillate will certainly impress you and give you the classic Alembic tone!
 
John.

[adriaan]

The bass and treble cut/boost are three-position switches. The third switch is a two-position Q switch, which adds 8 dB boost at the filter cut-off frequency.
 
Check out the FAQ section - there's a detailed description of the Distillate package.
 
Nasty crack near the jack, where the on/off LED used to be (famous for draining the battery, so many people removed it).

[speicky]

Hi, Ben,
 
welcome to the club. You can find a very good description of the Distillate controls in the FAQ section of the board or here. Have fun with your acquisition, and please post some pics in the showcase once you have the time to pick up a camera  
 
Christian
 
ooops... Adriaan beat me by four minutes...  
 
(Message edited by Speicky on May 21, 2008)

[keith_h]

The only thing I would be careful about is the second chance offer. These can be scams so I suggest you really verify the person has the bass and is who they say they are.  
 
Keith

[ghostyhead]

thanks Keith, its hard ...he lives in Virginia, Im here in NewZealand, but he has a lot of good feedback on ebay where it was advertised 1st

[hydrargyrum]

There is always the off chance that you might be able to find someone here in the states that is willing to go and take a look at it.  If the seller is willing to allow such an inspection, then you are not likely to be facing a second chance scam.

[white_cloud]

Ben,
 
That is an unpleasant crack near the jack - kind of spoils it a bit for my taste at that price.
 
I would try to knock the price down a touch with this is mind.  
 
There is a really nice Australian club member right here who owns an Alembic outlet in oz - perhaps you should sound him out and see what kind of Alembic deal he could cut you on an axe if you decide against the Distillate???
 
John.

[funkyjazzjunky]

Were the electronics modified (resulting in the crack around the jack)?

[bsee]

I have seen a couple other Distillates with cracks there, or with plates covering the jack area.  These basses are extra thin front to back and I am guessing the original design didn't have as much top wood thickness above the control cavity as current models.  The broken ones I have seen have come with stories of basses falling off stands or straps while plugged in and plug pushing through the top wood around the jack.

[2400wattman]

That crack is around where the battery indicator l.e.d. was located. I'm sure another could be installed. As for the crack it should bring the price down a couple hundred since the asking price is average for a Distillate in top shape.

[2400wattman]

Wow, upon closer inspection that's not just a crack but a full blown patch job with the original piece of wood. Ask how the repair was done and if it was reinforced behind the jack. The stress of constant plugging and unplugging will cause you problems in the long run. It's still a beautiful bass all around and with the electronics package the sound you're looking for is in this bass. I had an '86 and would've kept her if she was a 34 scale(I just like how the e string feels on a long scale).