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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » For Sale & Trade » Archive 2004 » Archive through July 28, 2004 » 1986 Distillate on eBay « Previous Next »

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jagerphan84
Member
Username: jagerphan84

Post Number: 60
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 4:07 am:   Edit Post

Hey folks,
Just happened across this on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3738905228&rd=1
Looks to be in decent shape except for that chunk on the back of the horn. The seller lists the top wood as Coco bolo, but it sure looks more like koa to me. Any other opinions? If it can be had for about $1000, that's not a bad deal.
davehouck
Senior Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 747
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:05 am:   Edit Post

That is indeed a nice bass.
lowlife
Member
Username: lowlife

Post Number: 92
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:21 am:   Edit Post

Since (to me, at least) this looks like a Spoiler, what then is the difference between the Spoiler and a Distillate, or is this a case of two words describing the very same thing?

Ellery (Lowlife
jagerphan84
Member
Username: jagerphan84

Post Number: 61
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:33 am:   Edit Post

Distillate electronics are volume, tone, q-switch, bass cut/boost, treble cut/boost, and pickup selector. I am not positive about Spoiler electronics, but I know they do not have the bass/treble switches.

Looking at some pics, I would guess a Spoiler is volume, tone, q-switch, pickup selector.

Also, Distillates have purpleheart neck laminates, and Spoilers do not.

(Message edited by jagerphan84 on July 27, 2004)
lowlife
Member
Username: lowlife

Post Number: 93
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:46 am:   Edit Post

The Distillate model in question (based upon the photos in the eBay ad) does not have the electronics package you describe, but in fact has Spoiler electronics, which is what lead to my original question and my confusion.
Is this a Distillate with an electronics downgrade or a Spoiler with wood upgrade options?

Ellery (Lowlife)
jagerphan84
Member
Username: jagerphan84

Post Number: 62
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:55 am:   Edit Post

Wow! I had somehow not even GLANCED at the electronics in the pics. That's what I get for posting so early in the morning. With the purpleheart in the neck, I would lean toward Distillate w/Spoiler electronics, but without a serial number we likely can't be sure. It also looks like there is no bridge block, but I don't think that makes any hard difference in what model this is.
lowlife
Member
Username: lowlife

Post Number: 94
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 6:09 am:   Edit Post

It's a pretty looking bass, and I'm going to watch the bidding on this one, but I can't see it sounding very different from my '85 Spoiler since the pickups & electrionics are identical. Maybe the neck lams would make a minor difference. For around $1,000 it would still be a nice addition to my polite addiction.

Ellery (Lowlife)
lowlife
Member
Username: lowlife

Post Number: 95
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 6:22 am:   Edit Post

OK, now I can see the difference.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3738976760&rd=1
This is an eBay link to a 1986 Distillate, which has the cut/boost switches that was mentioned.

Ellery (Lowlife)
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1429
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 7:01 am:   Edit Post

Yep ...this is the old Alembic trickery again.
Distillates were AND an model AND a type of electronics. BAsically the Distillate was an answer to all those people who really liked the Alembic looks and sound but were not in the position to spend the money to the Series (as you all know ... the saga started with only Series). So than cam the Distillate and she was pretty like a Serie (Standard Body) with no Omega cutout or point. Also the electronics were special and more like the present Europa (and a Rogue ...a Rogue has Europa Electronics or vice versa ...it'up to the client and adds more to the jolly confusion between name of electronics and models).
The spoiler is simpeler as said electronics wise. The model was most of the time medium-scale and with the pointed (huh) peghead.
As an example: I was misled once too. Bonnie is shown in the showcase under Series II. Well -back than I didn't know - she isn't! She is a Series I with Series II electronics. Beware ...I ORDERED a Series II. EVH gave me the upgrade as a kind of discount AND as a present because when I came in his shop back in 1996 I was completely surprised that ...oh ...huhuh ...she was a she ...or ...hu ...oh ..well ...you know what I mean.
As you know you can order a Rogue model -which normally has Europa electronics- with Series electronics (When paying the price of course). Although you cannot buy a Europa with Series Electronics (oh ....uuhuhu ...I THINK ...)

..."far out" no, those Alembics?!?!?!


Paul TBO
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 516
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 7:34 am:   Edit Post

That's why I like Epics, nice and simple.:-)
funky4
New
Username: funky4

Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 3:12 pm:   Edit Post

I requested the serial number from the buyer and he replied with ....86D4?31...from the fretboard so i "guess" it's a Distillate with the Spoiler "electronics" as mentioned above.

I'm new to the club, and looking for my first "baby"...would this be a good first addition, and can anyone shed some opinions on the Distillate vs. Spoiler electronics...ie...sound as to what would make one more appealing than the other?

Also wondering why no one is "chiming in" on the Series 1 that's currently on ebay as well:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3738466282&rd=1

Thanks in advance

ChuckF

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