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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive through April 23, 2009 » Nice '81 Distillate, eBay, $1500 to start, $1950 B-I-N « Previous Next »

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effclef
Senior Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 541
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 6:03 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 8:28 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 3:28 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 7:12 am:   Edit Post

Silly me! Yes, that does look like koa on mahogany. Even better!
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 25
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 6:54 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, April 02, 2009 - 5:20 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 1:09 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 1:21 pm:   Edit Post

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

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