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goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:24 am:   Edit Post

This is my first Alembic. I have been playing it every free moment since it arrived last week, but I managed to stop long enough to clean it up a bit and post some pics.

It is the best all around sounding bass I have played (4001, Status S2, Jaydee MK), although the others, have thier awesome unique sounds too. I particullarly enjoy playing the Jaydee, upon which I have a very light gauge string.

The medium scale suits me and I will soon change to a slightly lighter gauge string. The tones are amazing. The bass is a dream to play. I now know first hand there is no better way to sound great than playing an Alembic. I am using a Markbass 121P. I now wonder what other Alembic electronics and neck configurations sound like. How would an Essence, Epic, Rogue or Series bass compare? How about Charlie's Distillate with Series electronics? Fantastic I am sure.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these pics.

Colin



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(Message edited by mica on April 11, 2009)
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 29
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:28 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 30
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:30 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 31
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:39 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 32
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:40 am:   Edit Post

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goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 33
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:41 am:   Edit Post

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goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 34
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:43 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 35
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:44 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 36
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:47 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 37
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:49 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 38
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:50 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 39
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

81 1855
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 40
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 6:55 am:   Edit Post

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artswork99
Senior Member
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 626
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 7:13 am:   Edit Post

Colin,
Congratulations on your first Alembic. That is a beautiful Distillate.
Play it Healthy!
Art
pauldo
Intermediate Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 112
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 8:09 am:   Edit Post

Sweet! Nice clean machine, I noticed you have a fixed nut. Is that standard on 81's?

You weren't really balancing that on the railing of your deck were you?
(:-o
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1078
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post

Very nice, Colin
Enjoy this beauty for years to come...
Mike
chrisalembic
Junior
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 17
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 11:27 am:   Edit Post

Nice Bass, Colin. There is something about Koa that I just love.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7866
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 11:50 am:   Edit Post

Great pics! Great bass!
gregduboc
Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 55
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 12:30 pm:   Edit Post

Congratulations Colin!!
I was getting inpatient waiting for the pics!! But it was worth it! What a nice Distillate... So nice!!
And Paul, I don't know if it helps, but mine is an 81 and also has a fixed nut.

Greg
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 828
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 8:31 pm:   Edit Post

nice pics and great bass!
charles_holmes
Junior
Username: charles_holmes

Post Number: 11
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 7:18 am:   Edit Post

Kudos to you Colin!!
That is a sweet axe that you have there!
I love my Distillate! I can dial in any sound that I want with it being a series! There's no bass that can compare with the Alembic in craftsmanship, period.You will enjoy it! We are the
Slam-a-licious, groovatronic, Lowfrequency freaks!
Can you dig it?! Keep it on the down low baby!
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 43
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 7:38 am:   Edit Post

Thanks guys. I am waiting for the bio on this bass. I think it is koa on mahogany with purpleheart and maple. Pretty standard stuff for an early Distillate.

The nut seems to be fixed, which differs from the pics of other early Distillates I have seen.

Paul, I would have jumped to break its fall, if necessary.

I have always been drawn toward the exotic wood grains of burled walnut and cocobolo, but there is something really cool about this wood, I think might be koa. It has a real depth and luminescence to it.

It looks like there is a laqueur finish on the brass tailpiece. Does anyone know if I polish the brass hardware, will it harm the finish? HAs anyone had any experience with the polish

I just noticed in the second last picture, there's a fly on my bass!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7881
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 11:42 am:   Edit Post

On your bass, the bridge is probably the only unplated brass, and thus the only piece that you should use brass polish on. The other brass pieces are plated.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3689
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 1:09 pm:   Edit Post

After I polish any plain brass on my instruments I rub on a little Alberto VO5 - you know that smelly hair stuff our mothers used to use. A little dab rubbed on with my finger and then lightly wiped off with a soft cloth will keep the brass shiny a little longer before it tarnishes.

Bil, tgo
peoplechipper
Member
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 82
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 10:56 pm:   Edit Post

Colin, that top is Koa for sure...

NICE BASS!!!! I love Koa; such a pretty wood...

I personally find I have every tone I need in the Distillate; mostly just in string attack; the controls are just extra...my Distillate is fixed nut too...Tony
goop
Junior
Username: goop

Post Number: 48
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - 6:13 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Tony. The more I play it, I am amazed at the superb tones I can achieve. By tapping the strings, you can get this amazing, trebly punchy growl. But you can also get the huge softer bottom with giant sustain. I love it. I am trying to decide what strings to go with. It came with Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky strings 45-100. Generally I like them, but they feel a bit chunky and stiff to me, but I don't want to loose the thunder. I usually play rotosound 66 and like them, but am thinking of the DR's.

How would the high beams compare to the rotosounds in terms of feel, playability and sound? What about the roto piano or black beauties. I thought I read McCartney used black rotosound on his 4001.

Colin

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