Author Topic: Distillate newbie (Read 479 times)

hammer · « **on:** September 14, 2009, 09:44:35 PM »

Hello Everyone:

After many months of looking I finally snared myself Alembic #1, an 86' Distillate (pics will be forthcoming). The good news is - since I received the bass - I've had the most fun playing in 30 years. The bad news is that I'll probably never play my 73' EB-3 again. Although I initially told my wife that I'd sell it after getting an Alembic to cover the costs, I'm now thinking, If I sell the Gibson for $XXX.XX...I can then maybe afford Alembic #2. These instruments are addictive. I now understand the houses of Alembics I've seen on the forum.

Enzo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2009, 10:30:30 PM »

Hi Brian, I totally understand the addiction you've been experiencing. Since I bought an Alembic this year, I can't put it down and always looking for more...

Welcome to the forum !

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2009, 05:07:44 AM »

Congratulations, Brian. That is the general Alembicist's feeling.

When bought mine I decided to just use it in recordings, but after taking it to a Gig couldn't stop using it even in shows. All my band mates were so enfatic about the great tone and performance I had that night that I can't let it in home anymore.

One of them came to me after the show excited saying:

- You was great! Loved your lines tonight and you grooved like hell. What did you made diferent?

Nothing, just played exactly the same I do every night. The diference was they've heard me clearly for the first time. They doesn't let me play without it since then, specially the sound guy... This Bass is great, indeed!

artswork99 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2009, 05:45:16 AM »

Congratulations Brian and welcome to the forum.
LOL, that addictive feeling. I also feel it a priviledge to have an Alembic for a period during my life with so few of them in the world (I believe they are still under 20,000 instruments produced). Enjoy this great group of people here on these boards.
Play it Healthy!
Art

hammer · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2009, 06:40:43 AM »

Hello Again Everyone:

Anyone out there who has recommendations as to flatwound strings that sound good with the Distillate. I've been playing TI Jazz flats for years, but noticed on several threads on the forum that there seems to be divided opinion as to whether they sound good on specific Alembics. The bass came with round wounds from an unidentified manufacturer that just seem way to bright for me given the music we play which runs from the classics (Allman Brothers, Santana and the Dead) to Pearl Jam and Nirvana, to Dave Matthews, Green Day, and at least some of the more tasteful current crop. Than again, after moving to an Alembic from an EB-3 maybe anything would sound really bright. Any recommendations?

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2009, 09:35:04 AM »

Hi Brian; welcome and congrats!

krystoof · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2009, 02:47:12 PM »

Hello, Brian!
Congratulations from a french Alembic addict. I just can't play anything else but my 5 string Mark King Deluxe, and all the basses I used to own are just like toys, now...
Welcome - Bienvenue!
All the bass't
Xtof

tbrannon · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2009, 03:56:49 PM »

Brian,

Congratulations on the Distillate. In terms of flats- I'm a big fan of Chromes.

pauldo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2009, 04:31:15 PM »

Brian -
Distillate's are the greatest!!!! (until I can afford the S.C. signature model, then that will be the greatest!)
Pictures please - front and back.

Welcome aboard - Don't sell the Gibson, you can never have enough basses.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2009, 03:59:59 AM »

As they say, what could be better than an Alembic?

- A new one!

jameso9 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2009, 07:48:19 PM »

Hey Hammer,
Congrats! I was lucky enough to get my '83 Distillate in 1986. Til this day I've never played another bass on stage or in the studio (except for my '80 Aria Pro II, when I have to play gigs that require a second bass for drop-down or other tunings).

Treat her well and you'll get years, even decades back in return!! The feeling never goes away!

By the way, I still have my first bass, a Gibson '61 EB-0... so hang in there!

southpaw · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2009, 06:53:13 PM »

Congrats Hammer, I also have an '86 Distillate and love it. I have TI flats on my old Fender's but I use rounds on the Distillate but I would agree with tbrannon that Chromes might be better for the Alembic because they are brighter and have a little more tension than TI's. Play it in good health.

hammer · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2009, 12:04:26 PM »

Hello Everyone: I recently purchased both some TI flats and some Alembics and tried them both out. Right now I like the sound the Alembics a bit better (wow what sustain the Distillate has with the A strings on it) but I'm still getting used to the feel of rounds again after playing flats for so many years. As far as keeping the EB-3...I think my wife has forgotten about it since it's been in its case since the distillate arrived.

Getting back to the Distillate and Alembics in general I think someone needs to talk to Mica, Susan and the group about the need to place a warning label somewhere on these instruments. Something like...Warning!!!The surgeon general has determined that playing this instrument is highly likely to be addictive, it will affect your life in ways that you could never conceive prior to experiencing the instrument yourself.

Thus far my personal experience with the Distillate has been far less sleep, more blearly eyed mornings and being late to work on several occasions when I have totally lost track of time.

pauldo · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2009, 05:12:49 PM »

Brian - Glad to hear you are a junky too! :-D
You forgot to mention:
When at work constantly daydreaming of riffs, recordings and cool rumblings

(Message edited by pauldo on October 02, 2009)

peoplechipper · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2009, 11:40:47 PM »

Congrats on the new distillate! I love my '81, so much that my guitars and other bass are regularly neglected...especially the ones that aren't hanging up...afraid I can't help you with the string choice, I use stainless for maximum brightness and grind...enjoy your bass!!
Tony