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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive 2006 » Archive through March 12, 2006 » Archive: 2005 » Archive through December 17, 2005 » 1981 Distillate. « Previous Next »

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serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 278
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 3:27 am:   Edit Post

http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Alembic-distillant-bass_W0QQitemZ7372730007QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
precarius
New
Username: precarius

Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 3:34 pm:   Edit Post

if anyone's interested in this bass,i e-mailed the seller and he said i could come check it out(he's only about 15 miles from me) also the s/n is 81D1949.
Mike
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 432
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

Alas, if only it were tax time...
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2728
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 4:39 pm:   Edit Post

The zero feedback new member status of the seller will probably keep some bidders away. The picture quality and lack of much description will probably also help to keep the bids down. I've tried to adjust the picture a little to get a better idea of the top.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2729
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 4:45 pm:   Edit Post

The listing doesn't say anything about a case.

It's hard to tell, but it kinda looks like the pickup selector switch might be missing.

Crown headstock is unusual for a Spoiler. The listing also doesn't mention whether this is a medium or long scale.

No reserve with a starting bid of $1,000.
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 433
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 5:17 pm:   Edit Post

Spoiler or Distillate, Dave? The latter, which this bass looks like to me, typically had crown headstocks and were medium-scale instruments, I bleeb.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2861
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 5:17 pm:   Edit Post

I grabbed this same picture off ebay in September when it was sold before.

Dave - it's a Distillate, which almost always had the Crown peghead. So many shapes, it gets confusing.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2732
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 7:00 pm:   Edit Post

Ah!! I couldn't make out the switches!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2733
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 7:05 pm:   Edit Post

Ah!! I couldn't make out the switches!
studiorecluse
Junior
Username: studiorecluse

Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 6:46 am:   Edit Post

I emailed the owner, and he said that he was pretty sure that it was a 34" scale. I am about 30 miles away and asked if I can come see it. I'll report what I find if that happens.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2741
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 8:36 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Cary! Ask about the case too.
dibolosi
Junior
Username: dibolosi

Post Number: 13
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 4:43 pm:   Edit Post

When having my custom Distillate made I asked for a 34" scale. Susan told me they wouldn't put a 34" scale on a Distillate due to the neck heading towards the floor when it was released.

She didn't wish to put the Alembic name on a bass that did as much. I was informed that I had to take the 32" or configure a bass with a larger body. As the distillate shape is the most comfortable bass I've ever played, I took it the 32" scale.

Perhaps the philosophy was a bit different in 1981 as far as neck lengths?
valvil
Moderator
Username: valvil

Post Number: 803
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 5:18 pm:   Edit Post

That's likely a 32. Just about all the Spoilers and Distillates were medium scale, I do have a 34inch Distillate, but I had that done afterwards; originally it was a 32. For the record, a 34 inch scale Distillate will balance at about 3 o'clock.

Valentino
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 560
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 6:32 pm:   Edit Post

Valentino - Just curious about your last post. How did the scale length grow? Was the neck replaced? That must have been a major job!

Michael
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 590
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post

Viagra???.....
kungfusheriff
Senior Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 434
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 11:09 pm:   Edit Post

Val's gory details are posted here:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/2060.html?1034888704
precarius
Junior
Username: precarius

Post Number: 13
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 1:51 pm:   Edit Post

Hey- The owner just called me and offered this bass to me for $1000 and I pick it up. What do you guys think?Thanks.
Mike
brainiac
New
Username: brainiac

Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 9:18 pm:   Edit Post

What do we think? That if you already have one or two Alembics, how about sharing the wealth and letting another club member--who owns ZERO alembics--buy it for $1000. Seems fair.
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 298
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 3:41 am:   Edit Post

question on the electronics on the val's tranformed 32/34 scale (japanese distillates),the:quick change bass & treble toggles :how is it ppossible with only one Pickup in those basses? ive noticed they all the same layout.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2781
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 5:37 am:   Edit Post

Mike; Distillates in good condition generally sell for much more than $1,000.
2400wattman
Junior
Username: 2400wattman

Post Number: 18
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 9:04 am:   Edit Post

I bought mine for $1299.00 + government fees(tax) and it is in incredible condition, the store originally wanted about $1750.00. It came with paper work, new set of Alembic strings & O.H.S.C. So $1000.00 clams is a great deal! Good luck.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2798
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 6:53 am:   Edit Post

Congrats Mike!!

Ha! Congrats again!!


(Message edited by davehouck on December 13, 2005)
mpisanek
Intermediate Member
Username: mpisanek

Post Number: 119
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 7:27 am:   Edit Post

Nice job Mike!!

Now, if you can only find me one for the same price???
precarius
Junior
Username: precarius

Post Number: 16
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 10:41 am:   Edit Post

Well I picked this bass up yesterday and it is great! I felt guilty, so I gave the owner $1200 and I still feel like I came out like a fat rat.It's a 32 inch scale,walnut top, 5pc. neck- through, with a tone block. The neck at the nut is about .250 width smaller than my spoiler. The only thing wrong with it is it's missing a few of the oval inlays & the LED next to the output jack is broken. Are these available from Alembic? If not, where might be a good place to look? Thanks.
Mike
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2821
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 10:43 am:   Edit Post

Give Val a call.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 683
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 1:23 am:   Edit Post

The led was probably disconnected - I seem to remember the led would drain the battery pretty badly.
precarius
Junior
Username: precarius

Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post

Nah- It be broke. On the bass top, there is just a black plastic ring with a filament hanging out of it. But if it is a battery-eater, like you say, I may just leave it out. I'm no electronic whiz, but it looks like the only wires connected to it are a green wire from the preamp and a red & white striped wire from the preamp to the output jack and then to the L.E.D. OK to cut these? Thanks.
Mike
dibolosi
Junior
Username: dibolosi

Post Number: 19
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 10:56 am:   Edit Post

The batteries on both my distillates (one with original distillate electronics, the other with signature electronics) last just about as long as they do on my 1982 Spoiler, which is sans an LED.

Personally I like the LED's. When I shut the lights down in the music room after playing they'll indicate to me that I forgot to unplug the bass.

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