Greetings…and questions!

[Jon Kon]

Greetings members! Well at 34 years of age, I have finally purchased an Alembic after many years of wanting one. It is a 1981 Distillate guitar. It is my understanding these were made by Alembic for the Japanese market and distributed by Yamaha? Also, it’s a single humbucker with Vol/Tone and 3 mini toggles. There is one toggle that works in conjunction with the tone, one is a bass cut, and the other is a top cut? Regardless, I’m excited to get this fantastic instrument in my grips and start figuring things out. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure there’s a fresh battery in there! Thanks for any/all comments!

Jon Kon

[hammer]

Congratulations on your acquisition. Photos please!
Most of us here would have been thrilled to have acquired our first Alembics at the young age of 34. You are one fortunate guy. Enjoy

[adriaan]

Welcome!

If the pickup is the original one, it is not a humbucker in the traditional sense of the word. It doesn't hum anyway.

The tone is actually a low-pass filter, and the toggle that goes with the filter can add a boost at the frequency that the filter is set to. The boost is noticeable at the start of a note/chord, though you can swipe the filter ooen and shut while sustaining a note/chord which produces a minor wahwah effect.

The other two toggles should be 3 positions boost/neutral/cut for treble and bass, both with just a bit of boost and more in the way of cut.

Ditto on the photo request!

[pauldo]

Jon, Welcome to the camp!
We do love pictures.   My first Alembic was also a Distillate, the 4 string variety.  Sounds like you don’t have it in your hands yet.   When you do get it, have fun, explore it, Alembics are nothing like any other instrument.  You will find small nuances can make huge tonal variations.

Paul

[Jon Kon]

Thanks for the kind replies guys! I have plenty of pictures from the listing, but would it be unprofessional to share them as they belong to the person who sold me the guitar? Regardless, I’m super excited to be an owner of a guitar with such pedigree behind the name. Any first time plug up tips to find that secret sauce are highly appreciated.

[jazzyvee]

I would have thought that if the listing photos were displayed on a publicly accessible web site then you would not be be infringing anything by displaying them on another publicly accessible web site like this one.
But, then,  i could say anything to get to see that guitar.
In fact members here regularly post pictures from online listing sites such as reverb and ebay etc. which assists a sale so post away.

[Jon Kon]

Pics attached!

[rv_bass]

Very nice

[pauldo]

Cool.  Very cool.
Is the back wood the same as the front?

[Jon Kon]

Cool.  Very cool.
Is the back wood the same as the front?

Sorry for the late response, but I don’t believe the top and body wood are the same wood. The top I think is zebra wood, and I’m unsure about the body. Thank you for your kind words.

[pauldo]

Yes the top certainly looks like zebrawood.

[keith_h]

I would suspect the body wood is mahogany but won't guarantee it. A shot of the back of the body would tell more than the side. The top and headstock look like zebrawood and would be a typical wood for the period.

Over all the guitar looks to be in very good condition for its age. I think you have done well for your 1st Alembic.

[hieronymous]

Very cool! Love the bass versions - Wolf here has one - it's a special instrument, I bet yours is too!

[DistillaMatto]

Great photos. I got mine a couple months ago and am really enjoying it. One pickup but a lot of choices for tone.