Author Topic: 1986 Distillate (86D3937) (Read 907 times)

csissom · « **on:** June 06, 2006, 06:08:43 PM »

OK folks, here is my Distillate! I am still waiting on the official build record from the mothership: 86D3937 But here are the basic specs: - Walnut top, mahogany body - Maple neck with purpleheart laminates - Ebony fretboard with MOP inlays - Nicely laminated walnut/maple peghead - 32" Medium Scale - Sustain Block - 4 position pickup selector, volume, low pass filter, Q switch, bass and treble boost/cut switches I believe this is all just a standard by-the-book Distillate, with no custom features, but with a well balanced package like this, what else would you need? Anyway, here are some basic pics:

And here is a picture of the little family:

Curt

csissom · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2006, 06:25:37 PM »

There are also a few pictures and other info on this thread from the previous owner:

Here

Curt

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2006, 06:31:36 PM »

Nice!

ajish4 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2006, 07:23:10 PM »

Wow, that is a beautiful sight.

Your 5 string looks HUGE next to the Distillate.
What model is it?

Oh, this is causing the GAS pains again!!!!

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2006, 07:55:34 PM »

Tony; it's an Orion.

csissom · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2006, 10:08:10 PM »

Yea Tony, the 5 string IS huge next to the Distillate. That's not just a trick of the photo. And not only is the Distallate smaller from this angle, but the whole body is much thinner. The 5 string weighs about a ton, but the Distillate is light as a feather by comparison. It's amazing, the two are so different, both great, but they are like two completely different kinds of instruments.

Anyway, Dave is right. The 5 string is an Orion Custom. Customized to the point that it is hardly even recognizable as an Orion, but with a sound as big as its substantial weight (Essence electronics plus a Q switch, FatBoy pickups, sustain block, etc).

Curt

2400wattman · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2006, 11:03:05 AM »

That brass was pretty dirty when I got her, so I slowly took apart the bridge to polish it and the nut. Man it came out shiny and clean but when I polished the logo I was surprised to find that it was silver. With it being so dirty I thought it was brass as well. That logo looks great in that shot after a good polishing. Oh yes....I did use Flitz, great stuff.

spliffy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2006, 11:20:31 AM »

Congrats Curt, she is beautiful. Hope you have years of beautiful music.
As an aside, which do you prefer the Distillate or the Orion?

Al

2400wattman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2006, 01:00:01 PM »

Not to confuse anyone with my last post but I was the former owner.

csissom · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2006, 03:39:06 PM »

Yea Adam, that silver logo looks very classy. The whole bass is just a very classy package, all the curves, lines and proportions are just perfectly put together.

By the way, I also like how the flash of the camera caught the gleam of the brass nut in that photo. Nice polish job!

And thanks again for letting her go!
Curt

csissom · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2006, 04:18:26 PM »

Well Al, that's a very good question, but it's somewhat akin to asking me which of my daughters I prefer. And you know, I would never openly say I preferred one over the other, and even when discussing the obvious differences, I would choose my words carefully, so as not to hurt the feelings of one or the other. I love them both the same.

But, having said that, it is clear that the Distillate is going to be much more comfortable to play, due to the light weight and medium scale. I admit my old back is not what it used to be, and carrying the heavy Orion around for a couple of hours at a time is a bit of a strain, but I won't have any trouble with the Distillate.

And the reach on the medium scale is so much more comfortable too. The medium scale will take a bit of getting used to, but not too much I think. The difference between long and medium scale is not a subtle one, as I thought it might be. It's a big difference. But at the low frets, it feels perfectly natural already. I love it! The higher frets, above the 8th or 9th or so, start to feel a bit cramped, but I think I will get used to that soon enough.

They both have equally nice action on the fretboard, but of course the neck of the Distallate is much more slender and more comfortable to play.

I also, personally, still find 4 strings more comfortable than 5. I find the 5th string to be fascinating and fun to play with, but not essential for most of the music my band plays. Perhaps after 25 years of playing nothing but 4 string basses, well, you know what they say about old dogs.

The sound and tone of both basses is excellent, of course, but they are noticably different. With the Orion's custom electronics, it pretty much has as wide a range of tones as the Distillate does. But the tones across the range are different on each bass. The Orion seems to be deeper, and growlier (if that is a word) while the Distillate is brighter and punchier. But basically, you can't dial in a bad tone on either bass.

So anyway, due to the comfort issues, I fully expect the Distillate to be the workhorse I play the majority of the time. That's why I bought it. But the Orion is not going to collect dust either.

Curt

spliffy · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2006, 01:08:25 PM »

... Politician.... : )

csissom · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2006, 10:00:25 PM »

Hey now Al! There's no need to get nasty about it!

But seriously, this Distillate is REALLY starting to grow on me in a big way over the last few days. Not only is it so comfortable to play, but the sound of it is incredible. I am hearing things in the sound of the Distillate that I never really noticed in the Orion. I'm not sure I can properly describe what it is I'm hearing, but the blend of tones and overtones and undertones and whatever is more lush and complex on the Distillate. It almost sounds alive if that makes any sense.

Anyway, it is still hard to say what I really think of it, since I still haven't tried it out at full volume with the full band. That comes tomorrow at the gig. And I can't wait!

Curt

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2006, 09:30:06 PM »

Curt, congrats on finally scoring a Distillate! It's quite a beauty, and a fantastic model of Alembic. I'm happy for you!

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2006, 11:01:31 PM »

And, oh yeah, the koa one was nice, but I think you were better off waiting for this one -without HGs initials... no contest!