Preamp

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

Anybody have an opinion on Alembic's preamps? I am sure, like their guitars and basses, that they are excellent quality, but I never tried one.
_________________
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

-"Eyes of the World" Grateful Dead

malthumb · Goldfish Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Detroit

I used to play my Alembics through an SWR SM-500 amp, with a really nice built in preamp / eq. I acquired an Alembic F-1X preamp on eBay. After that, I bypassed the pre-amp segment of the SWR and managed my eq from the Alembic. It gave me a smoother, fuller sound than the SWR preamp, which was more punchy and sharp.

I could still dial in the punchy / sharp tones on the Alembic if I wanted to, but for playing in church, the full fat sound is more what I'm looking for.

Peace,

James

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

Well, I play blues and grateful dead jam stuff.....how do you think it would manage with that?
_________________
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

-"Eyes of the World" Grateful Dead

malthumb · Goldfish Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Detroit

Bassman02,

Tough question for me to answer. I'm not into the Dead (couldn't tell ya a single Dead tune I've ever heard) and only listen to the Blues in passing. If your Blues sessions call for a nice thick mellow low end, you can get that with an F-1X. Alembic also has an F-2B. Never played on one, but their website says that it's bases on the old Fender Dual Showman. Don't know if that's a useable reference for you.

I tend to play contemporary gospel, some traditional gospel (probably as close to Blues as I get) and smooth jazz. F-1X allows me to fit all in all those environments. My smooth jazz stuff tends to go for a more modern tight, crisp, funky sort of sound. The gospel stuff is the more mellow thick low end stuff.

Peace,

James

AlembicPlayer · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

Hi, I play thru an Alembic F2B ...it's a stereo tube pre-amp that sounds great, but is limited on features such as FX loop, balanced outs, crossover etc. It's a classic sound and I wouldn't want to lose it from my rig. A Series bass with flats into an F2B... perfect tone for that 70's era Dead.

kevin_k · Newbie Alert Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

The F1X is extremely useful. I would highly recommend one or even two, if you are running your bass in stereo. I use mine for all sorts of music styles including dead covers. I think you can find them used for around 400-450. Brand new is a bit more. I couldn't imagine not using mine. Hopefully this helps. Any specific questions you have, I will do my best to help out.

Later,

Kevin

malthumb · Goldfish Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Detroit

kevin_k,

You have got to post pictures of that new custom you just got. I'll be looking for the thread Wink

Peace,

James