run my Alembic F1-X with a power amp or infront of a bass amp?

armybass · #1 09-02-2011, 09:47 AM

I am getting an Alembic F1-X preamp. I had inteneded to run it infront of my GK RB700 because I do not have a stand alone power amp. Is there anyway Ii will get decent results like this or am I totally ruining the tone of the Alembic by pushig it through a bass amp? I have always run my pre amps throough power amps...just do not have one now....

WalWarrior · #2 09-02-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

I am getting an Alembic F1-X preamp. I had inteneded to run it infront of my GK RB700 because I do not have a stand alone power amp. Is there anyway Ii will get decent results like this or am I totally ruining the tone of the Alembic by pushig it through a bass amp? I have always run my pre amps throough power amps...just do not have one now....

In the past I ran my F1-X in front of my AMPEG SVT 4 Pro I had it racked with. Now it's racked in front of a Mesa 400+. I have never used it with a stand alone power amp. I can't comment wether or not this ruins the tone. I await others responses as well. Good post!

svtb15 · #3 09-02-2011, 10:58 AM

Alembic Pre into a power amp is the way it was intended to be used.. Thats all i used 30 years ago .. my Alembic F2B into a crown PSA2 poweramp.... Nothing to this day can beat that huge sound or HUGE weight.
You should trying running the Alembic into the POWER amp Input on the rear of GK amp... thus bypassing the GK preamp section

JimmyM · #4 09-02-2011, 12:56 PM

It'll work either way...try running in front and try defeating the pre in the GK by plugging it into the FX return and see what you like best.

**IvanMike** · #5 09-02-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It'll work either way...try running in front and try defeating the pre in the GK by plugging it into the FX return and see what you like best.

+1 - running into the effects return will totally bypass the GK preamp.

armybass · #6 09-02-2011, 02:36 PM

Thanks for all the great info folks. Ultimately what I would like to do is set up a really big gig rig. I have an Ampeg B4R in a 10 space rack and an 810 cab. I wanted to put 2-3 different classic preamps in the rack as well so I could have a nice tonal pallet to choose from. I would like to have the Alembic, SWR Grand Prix, and maybe a Demeter, Yamaha or Ampeg CL.....

armybass · #7 09-07-2011, 06:45 PM

Thanks guys! Works great. I am able to totally bypass the GK EQ and just use the power amp and it sounds fantastic. Would there be any benefit in using a regular power amp?

4Mal · #8 09-07-2011, 08:11 PM

Biamping if you're geared for it. Maybe power, a little closer to 'flat' if that matters. Other than that, not much.

I ran an F2b into a GK1001RB II for quite a while. I had the best results using the pad and the instrument in. The effects return worked but had a higher noise floor.

armybass · #9 09-07-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Biamping if you're geared for it. Maybe power, a little closer to 'flat' if that matters. Other than that, not much.

I ran an F2b into a GK1001RB II for quite a while. I had the best results using the pad and the instrument in. The effects return worked but had a higher noise floor.

Could break that down for me a bit... what do you mean using the pad and instrument in...sorry I am dense with this stuff.

JimmyM · #10 09-08-2011, 06:26 AM

The pad is the switch that cuts input level in the amp...probably labeled "active/passive" on your amp. The instrument in is the front input where you plug your bass in.

armybass · #11 09-08-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The instrument in is the front input where you plug your bass in.

Thanks

so what is the issue with the Pad button.... make it passive?

rad bassman · #12 09-08-2011, 10:23 AM

you might wanna get techy info on plugging a pre in the front end, input voltage coming from a preamp will be higher than that coming from an active bass, did this before with my old tour450 head, it didnt like it... i await a more knowledgeable response than mine, i would stick with using the fx return from your pre

armybass · #13 09-10-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rad bassman

you might wanna get techy info on plugging a pre in the front end, input voltage coming from a preamp will be higher than that coming from an active bass, did this before with my old tour450 head, it didnt like it... i await a more knowledgeable response than mine, i would stick with using the fx return from your pre

Thanks...that is kinda what I would expect...besides...I dig the way it sounds now so I think I am gonna hold fast to what I have now.

JimmyM · #14 09-10-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

Thanks

so what is the issue with the Pad button.... make it passive?

Not exactly...it's supposed to be to make really hot active basses not so hot so you can get more clean gain. But the number of times I've ever used a pad with an active bass: 0. I can just turn the gain down if need be and it sounds better to me. Pads make my active basses sound de-balled.

armybass · #15 09-10-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Not exactly...it's supposed to be to make really hot active basses not so hot so you can get more clean gain. But the number of times I've ever used a pad with an active bass: 0. I can just turn the gain down if need be and it sounds better to me. Pads make my active basses sound de-balled.

Ah...OK...I know exactly what you are talkingabout now....I remember that button on my old GK 210 combos.... They used to suck the tone and balls right oout of my Stingrays... I never even realized it was on my 700RB as well....

dhsierra1 · #16 09-10-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

Thanks guys! Works great. I am able to totally bypass the GK EQ and just use the power amp and it sounds fantastic. Would there be any benefit in using a regular power amp?

besides 4Mal's comments on biamping and possibility of getting a flatter response, you'd also save some weight if you went w/any of the current Class D power amps like the Peavey IPRs, Crown Drivecores, Carvin, etc. Not that the 700RB is really that heavy, but if you're looking to add all those preamps in that big a rack.....

The other advantage is you can have more watts on tap than what the 700RB has.

Dave M · #17 09-10-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

Thanks

so what is the issue with the Pad button.... make it passive?

The pad just takes some of the signal coming into the input jack and reduces it - lowers the voltage at that point. As already noted, it helps the amp with basses and/or bass signals (think: lots of effects with their levels high) that put a higher voltage than passive-alone bass will put into the amp's input.
Guess what else will present a lot of voltage like this? A stand-alone preamp, like your Alembic. For that reason I would be more willing to run it into a head's FX loop return. That, and I would want the Alembic's full tone controls working as designed (bypassing the head's pre section), but that's my preference. Running it into the instrument input puts a lot of signal there, and also puts you at "the mercy" of the head's tone controls and other pre section signal processing.
I don't know about the GK's noise floor issues, but that worries me.

IMO, if you want the most common arrangement, and have the Alembic as the sole preamp controlling the signal, then save up and get a dedicated good quality power amp.