'86 Distillate lefty in cocobolo

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

This is my second Alembic obtained from Ebay for $850 It appears to have had a rough childhood but now has found its way into a loving home See Mica, I told you it was a dark piece of cocobolo!

[elwoodblue]

Very interesting shape,like an SC with an extended horn.

[southpaw]

Hi Elwood, I currently own this bass, I bought it from Mike a couple of years ago. I asked Mica about the shape and she said the Distillate is unique, though it shares similarities to other bodies. The Distillate has a fatter lower body and is almost flat on the bottom.  The upper horn was extended in '85 for better balance (32 medium scale). '80 -'84 Distillates have a shorter upper horn.
I sent this bass back to Alembic to have new  saddles, nut and tailpiece replaced along with an electronics upgrade, because someone strung it right handed and did a poor job on the brass parts trying to accommodate the right handed strings (not Mike, he is a lefty and plays lefty). As Mike said in the post above, it is the darkest coco bolo you will ever see! The gang at Alembic restored it beautifully and it plays great. I brought it to the recent Chicago gathering, there may be a picutre or two of it around here, otherwise I will try to post some soon.

[elwoodblue]

Thanks for the info, the shape looks great and makes alot of sense balance-wise.
..,also good to hear she's had some love and elbow grease at the Mothership.
 Mike got a great deal at $850, but I can tell from the picture she's seen some action.
 I'd love to see some closeups of your bass sometime, if the top actually allows light to escape it's grips  : )
 
(my first Alembic was an ebay deal for 900; a series 1 guitar, unfortunately the seller didn't mention the guts had been cut-up...I kept the guitar anyway and still have her waiting to find the funds for a refurbish. )

[southpaw]

Thanks Elwood, I'll try to get a few pictures posted.  The Gatherings section has a lots of beautiful Alembics to drool over from the Chicago gathering including a few Distillates (Enzo has a beauty he shared with us). My Distillate electronics were fine but since I sent it back for fresh hardware Mica suggested upgrading a minor circuit board or something... Yeah, it's got a few interesting dings and bangs... if only it could talk... but we call that 'mojo' and that's fine by me. The body shape balaces very well, I am not sure if the early shorter horn ones balance as well ('80-'84) but this one is very comfortable.

[rjmsteel]

Hi Southpaw, my \81 Distillate is definitely neck heavy, but it is a light bass as Alembics go, so I just hold the body down with my plucking arm/elbow. I have also moved the horn strap pin to the center of the back of the neck, like a SC standard. I have wonderered about that electronics upgrade too, (Mica mentioned the upgrade to reduce the hum from cell phone interference and increase the output? at the Chicago gathering), but since I\ve already ordered a custom, (recently), I\ll pass for now. And yes Enzo\s, (Birds eye Maple top?), bass is a beauty.

[southpaw]

Hi Richard,a good time was had by all at the Chicago gathering... Your '81 has the shorter upper horn which explains the slight neck dive but you found the solution by moving the strap button. Plus you are lucky your bass is lighter weight,  cocobolo tends to be a bit heavier since it is such a dense wood but I do not have a problem with it, very comfortable for me. The electronics upgrade is not always needed, I never had a problem but since my bass was already at the Mothership, why not.  
It is interesting how Alembic adapts & adjust the electronics from many years ago to deal with today's technology that may interfer in some manner(cell phone interference). That was something Ron Wickersham couldn't predict back in 1980...Never a dull day in the electronics world, always a new challenge awaits.

[rjmsteel]

You\re so right about that. Owners are still upgrading Series basses today. Goes to show the foresight/excellent planning of modular circuits they had back then.  
What other manufacturer/luthier would do that? Spelled: replace(ment) it all, (pups/circuits, etc).