Here's a factory second 1985 Distillate (https://reverb.com/item/96314648-alembic-distilate-80s-natural) in beautiful zebrawood.
(https://rvb-img.reverb.com/i/s--h1CP8R4b--/quality=medium-high,height=1600,width=1600,fit=contain/be3436db-cb82-423c-898b-af63b7f97337.jpg)
This originally popped up at a Goodwill auction in Phoenix, Arizona back in September. At the time, it went for a little over $3,200. Now, it's popped up at Guitar Pickers in Scottsdale for $5,999. Part of the treble wing was glued back together. Its previous owner said it sounded really great, but he couldn't handle the neck dive. He then put it on eBay for a while and eventually made its way to this shop.
For reference, here's what it looked like when it was being auctioned off at Goodwill.
(https://shopgoodwillimages.azureedge.net/production/201/Items/09-15-2025/4f797655-8284-4f06-bd55-1a754e1e2955son1_09153.jpg)
Can someone tell me where the "table side" is on this bass? There seems to be a crack there. :o
That crack is VERY disturbing. The impact that must have occurred. :o
Looks similar to my 84. (sans crack)
QuoteThat crack is VERY disturbing. The impact that must have occurred. :o
got a little bored so i was kinda doing the death scroll thing and pulled it up. that crack looks like it goes all the way thru the control cavity. gotta wonder how
that happened. like maybe somebody set it on a curb and drove the band van over it maybe. gotta wonder what other damage there is in there ya can't see (or they didn't show ya).
it was probably a nice bass at one time. $6k USD for a cracked-thru body? i don't think so.
good luck to all!
That's a mighty big crack, and maybe repaired with epoxy? Two things: Body suffered massive damage and the headstock joint looks good in the pictures :o , and the serial number looks normal. Was there a lookup that stated it was a factory second?
Maybe I missed it, but I'm not seeing anywhere in the Reverb listing that says it's a "factory second". And yes, that's a pretty significant crack.
Quote from: David Houck on April 26, 2026, 07:50:10 PMMaybe I missed it, but I'm not seeing anywhere in the Reverb listing that says it's a "factory second". And yes, that's a pretty significant crack.
I reached out to Mica, who told me about it when it first went to auction at Goodwill. "FS" is listed in the serial number past the 24th fret. However, the file on the bass doesn't specify why it was listed as a factory-second instrument.
Here are the specs provided by Mica:
Neck: Maple and Purpleheart
Fingerboard: Ebony
Top: Zebrawood
Body: Mahogany
Quote from: mica on April 26, 2026, 05:45:43 PMThat's a mighty big crack, and maybe repaired with epoxy? Two things: Body suffered massive damage and the headstock joint looks good in the pictures :o , and the serial number looks normal. Was there a lookup that stated it was a factory second?
You had provided me details about the bass when I inquired about it last year. Serial number is FS85D3584.
Quote from: drewtaylor3187 on April 27, 2026, 08:07:33 AMYou had provided me details about the bass when I inquired about it last year. Serial number is FS85D3584.
Thanks - just couldn't see it on the end of the fingerboard picture.