Author Topic: The oldest Distillate bass (Read 260 times)

Mike Monsalve · « **on:** September 08, 2005, 12:57:50 PM »

I've read that the Distillate bass was first introduced in 1978. Yet when searching the www, or a plethora of vintage guitar sellers, the eldest distillate I've ever run across was dated 1981 (Japanese website). Are there any pictures of a distillate from the late 70's?

sfnic · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:15:26 PM »

The earliest Distillate I have in my database is also from '81: 81D1892

Mike Monsalve · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:48:19 PM »

Yes, this is what is always so confusing to me when reading that they started the model in 78/79 (according to the long history and reference pages). I've never seen or heard of an actual late 70's distillate bass

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2005, 06:01:54 PM »

When I ordered my Series I in '81, part of the deal of the store which handled the sale becoming an Alembic dealer was that they had to stock two instruments in addition to the Series bass I was ordering. Alembic sent them an Electrum and a Distillate, both with maple tops. The Distillate was very, very nice. This was the first I had seen of an Electrum, but the literature they were passing out at NAMM that summer included a rather sexy shot of three distillate basses, including one in a marvelous cocobolo. It was stunning enough for me to order Series I in cocobolo as well. Sooo... Apparently there were at least three Distillate basses built long enough prior to the summer '81 NAMM show in Chicago to have made it into glossy loose brochure pages, fwiw..
John

room037 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2005, 09:10:16 PM »

I bought Dis-B at summer of 1981 in Japan.
It is well known Japanese version (one PU with brass top plate).
But Distilate guitar was produced before bass.
I played Dis-G at Musical Instruments Show.
May be it was Sept. or Oct. at 1980.
I will show the brochure published by YAMAHA (1980's distributor in Japan).
The brochure has only Dis-G, not included Dis-B.

I think oldest Dis-B was 1981, but oldest Distilate (guitar) was 80' or 79'.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2005, 05:19:35 AM »

Here's a link to the 1980 Distillate section of the Showcase:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/2060.html?1034888704

Mike

Mike Monsalve · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2005, 08:26:43 AM »

Now THERE is the oldest distillate I've ever seen. I've always been a fan of the body style of this particular model. It's such an easy bass to play.

room037 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2005, 10:04:31 AM »

Hi,
I correct my latest info.
YAMAHA's brochure was published at Dec.79'.
The Dis-G has different shape brass plate.
Dis-B appeared after 6 to 12 month later.
Because oldest Dis-B was 1980, I believe.

By the way, Japanese Distillate serial No. doesn't have model code D, and no difference between Guitar and Bass.
My Dis-B is 81'-0130, and I know 81'-0075 to 0209 range of Distillate.
Earyest 81' Dis-B is showcase 81' 018.
80' Distillate (G and B) was less than 17 products !

valvil · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2005, 11:08:30 AM »

I must confess that the bass in the link above is actually a 1981. I made a mistake when I posted and did not realize it until now. If I remember correctly it is number 310 of that batch that was sent to Japan, which would make it one of the last ones.

Valentino

room037 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2005, 03:47:37 AM »

Hi Val,
Thank you for your info.
Your Japanese version Dis-B was latest !

This is earyest Dis-G on brochure published by YAMAHA at Dec. 1979.
It has different shape plate.

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2005, 05:41:08 AM »

Neat!

jacko · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2005, 06:42:54 AM »

So why did the Japanese export models have the electronics front-mounted on a plate instead of the more usual rear cutout?

Graeme

jetbass79 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2005, 04:29:00 PM »

The Japanese do things the Japanese way...or weird... This is no slam on Japan or Japanese culture. They just do things the Japanese way. Most words that are foreign (to Japan) are spoken like they are in the language they come from like beer is spelled biiru and pronounced bee-ru. However, baseball is called hyaku in Japanese even though it's not a Japanese concept. So that they would order things differently to suit themselves makes total sense to me...even though it doesn't make sense to anyone else. I think they did the plate thing on different models, too no? Hell I didn't even know Alembic made a guitar with one pickup...

valvil · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2005, 04:54:09 PM »

The idea behind the Distillate was to make a less expensive Alembic, so that more people could afford it (only Series instruments were available before the Distillate). With that in mind, Alembic was trying to keep materials & labor cost down, so a front routing with no back laminate sounded like a good way to save some money. That was also the reason for the single pickup.

Valentino

Mike Monsalve · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2005, 09:07:33 PM »

Now I'm curious as to how someone would've had to pay to walk out of guiter center with a Series 1 bass, or a Distillate, back in 1979/1980. I imagine it was much more than a Rickenbacker or P-Bass