http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-Distillate-4-string-1981-Excellent-Condition_W0QQitemZ130296253791QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Looks like a schedua top.

Nice!
 
I'll put my money on Koa, maybe even a solid body (like the early Spoilers)

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

I'll go with Koa on Mahogany.
 
I didn't see a mention about a case.

Silly me! Yes, that does look like koa on mahogany. Even better!

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?

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)

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

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

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