| Author | Message | ||
| effclef
Senior Member Username: effclef Post Number: 541 Registered: 1-2004 |
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Distillate-4-string-1981-Excellent-Condition_W0QQitemZ130296253791QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Looks like a schedua top. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 829 Registered: 5-2006 |
Nice! I'll put my money on Koa, maybe even a solid body (like the early Spoilers) | ||
| speicky
Advanced Member Username: speicky Post Number: 352 Registered: 3-2005 |
exactly what I thought, Flip ! must be koa wings, looks a lot like Bridget... of course, the trick of the light may fool us, but I vote for koa also  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7793 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'll go with Koa on Mahogany. I didn't see a mention about a case. | ||
| effclef
Senior Member Username: effclef Post Number: 542 Registered: 1-2004 |
Silly me! Yes, that does look like koa on mahogany. Even better! | ||
| goop
Junior Username: goop Post Number: 25 Registered: 7-2008 |
I could not resist this beauty and now have my first Alembic. It should be here on Friday. I decided the early Distillate was going to be my first and knew, the moment I saw it, that this was the bass I had to have. I can't wait to see it and play it. How can you tell it is a mahogany body when you cant see any veneers? If it is Koa, is that a desirable wood? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7839 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats!!! In the second picture, look at the bottom horn (right side). I'm thinking that I'm seeing the line between the top laminate and the body. Also, the top has a lot of flaming going on, where the back does not, suggesting two different pieces of wood. There are a bunch of folks in this club that own Koa topped Alembics, and they love 'em. I used to have a Koa topped Spoiler, and I loved the way that top looked. It was sad boxing that one up knowing I wouldn't get to see it any more. (Message edited by davehouck on April 01, 2009) | ||
| effclef
Senior Member Username: effclef Post Number: 543 Registered: 1-2004 |
Koa comes from Hawaii. It's not common, and they do have regulations about how much can be cut down, I believe. The Distillate has a nice piece, if that's what it is, and we're all pretty sure. Even me, though I was wrong in the inital post. Mahogany has a distinctive pore pattern to the grain. The back looks to be a very blonde piece of it. Some pieces come out more tawny. I don't think Alembic ever used an ugly piece of wood! At the very least, it's a great Distillate and I am sure you'll love the sound! EffClef | ||
| dibolosi
Member Username: dibolosi Post Number: 70 Registered: 1-2004 |
Congrats, indeed. I won an '86 Distillate on Ebay in 2002 (my second Alembic), which led to me to having Alembic build me a custom one in 2003. The Distillate is my favorite and the most comfortable body style of any bass I've ever played. It just fits | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2253 Registered: 3-2004 |
Contrary to the seller's claims, the bass is almost certainly 32" scale. He claims the 34" is from nut to tailpiece, not nut to bridge. -bob |
