Birdseye Maple Distillate on Reverb

[edwardofhuncote]

I like it! 

https://reverb.com/item/3170279-alembic-distillate-bass-1983-birdseye-maple

[Bassman8416]

I bought it. This the bass I always wanted. had to sell a late 90's Guild to be able to swing it...but I don't play it much. Really stoked to finally own and play a Distillate !!!!

[edwardofhuncote]

Good for you Craig... man you've been through some nice ones on the way. I love my walnut Distillate, but I have to admit that birdseye maple was tempting.

Congratulations & Compliments.

[Bassman8416]

I have definitely been through the gamut. This weighs 10lbs which and with the 32" scale should be a nice match for me.

[edwardofhuncote]

Haven't weighed mine, but I'd guess it to be 9.5lbs, maybe 10. I think you'll find the biggest issue with the earlier Distillate patterns like ours is balance... I bought a wide suede strap (from Minotaur) and it worked so well I bought two more for my Persuader 5-string and the Custom Fretless 5-string in progress. Huge difference.

Good luck with it, I look forward to pictures and reviews.

[Bassman8416]

The bass arrived today....electronics issues..weird type of ground noise and buzzing with two of the Q toggles....the body is in good condition.....it was sold as excellent condition...looks like the bass has not been played in quite a long time...dead strings/neck needs major adjusting,....I just don't have the time and patience to be putting a lot of work into what was supposed to be an excellent condition bass. I did pay a decent amount for as well. I might just return it, unless I get some money back.

[adriaan]

Craig, have you gone through the normal procedure? Switches and pots need their exercise - couple of dozen flicks of the switches, couple of dozen full turns on the pots and rotary switch ...


As to the playing action, there's always Joey's post.

[edwardofhuncote]

Craig, the 2-position switch closest to the knobs is your Q, the other two 3-position switches are Bass and Treble boost/flat/cut. Like Adriaan said, this could be an easy fix. Make sure all the controls are making good contact with the shielding paint, as that could be the likely source of the hum.

+1 on the exercises.

[StephenR]

Agree it looks worth taking at least a little time to figure out if the problems are just from the bass sitting without being played or indeed problems that will require monetary attention. Along with exercising the pots and switches definitely put in a fresh battery if you haven't already done so. Unless the LED has been disconnected it is a big drain on the life of the battery. I used to only get about 24 hrs or so out of each battery when I had an 82 Distillate and when the battery starts to go the electronics responded immediately. Naturally you should also check the truss rods to see that they still work, if so it shouldn’t be difficult to do a basic setup quickly. As long as the truss rods work you can fine tune the setup and set intonation later after you put on new strings. Good luck, it is a nice looking Distillate.

[Bassman8416]

Thank you for talking me off the ledge my friends. Sorry for the wrong terminology with the Q switch..Q switch is fine. the two 3-position switches are the problem ones. i will give it the exercise and put some DR Sunbeams, that I have laying around on, and give the bass a set up. Keep you posted. Thanks again.


PS Battery is good....the middle switch is the culprit....reacts when I touch it...is that a grounding issue....I am going to llok closer in the morning at the wiring etc and give all the switches and knobs a going over.

[Bassman8416]

I am going to keep the bass. The neck is in good shape....truss works fine. I am hoping the seller will buy me a switch and I will have it installed. If not its all good...Great bass...I like more, compared to the Spoiler. it is a better comfortable fit compared to the 83 Series I I recently parted with too.