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The Alembic F-1X Megathread

#242
I've been the proud (almost giddily ecstatic, actually) owner of this Alembic SF-2 for almost 20 years now, but I just picked up the F-1X over the weekend, so now I'm a full-fledged member of the club :)
Alembicrig_zpsc61169a0.jpg


Haven't had a chance to use it with a band yet, but I gave it a solo workout this morning with my 8-string and I'm very happy.
 
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#243
I use an F1x into a QSC GX3 and a couple of bag end cabinets. Like all of you I love the F1x. My main bass being a MIJ Fender Jazz. I don't currently find much need for additional EQ however I am on the hunt for a decent crossover and or some other form of speaker protection. The Bag end cabs really don't take well to frequencies outside their rating at high volume and the F1x certainly puts out the whole frequency spectrum. I built a passive high pass filter that i use after my bass and before the Alembic. The roll off frequency of the HPF is 34 Hz. It helps some, especially for the really low rumble my cabs seem to thumb their noses at however I have noticed other frequencies tend to really work those cones . Any of you guys ever use anything other than crossovers to spare your speakers?
 
#244
Bob_Ross said:
Haven't had a chance to use it with a band yet, but I gave it a solo workout this morning with my 8-string and I'm very happy.
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Used it with the band tonight. The Good News is, the F-1X sounds awesome, exactly what the doctor ordered: clean, crisp, fat, clear, and (most impressively) honest. It sounded like my bass.

The Bad News is, my much beloved 20-year-old SF-2 seemed to crap out tonight!!! Boo!
 
#245
Hertz said:
I use an F1x into a QSC GX3 and a couple of bag end cabinets. Like all of you I love the F1x. My main bass being a MIJ Fender Jazz. I don't currently find much need for additional EQ however I am on the hunt for a decent crossover and or some other form of speaker protection. The Bag end cabs really don't take well to frequencies outside their rating at high volume and the F1x certainly puts out the whole frequency spectrum. I built a passive high pass filter that i use after my bass and before the Alembic. The roll off frequency of the HPF is 34 Hz. It helps some, especially for the really low rumble my cabs seem to thumb their noses at however I have noticed other frequencies tend to really work those cones . Any of you guys ever use anything other than crossovers to spare your speakers?
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Does your QSC have a low pass cut off? I have a QSC PLX 1602 and I have my lows cut off @ 50 Hz. (There is also a 30 Hz option). It's called LF Filter on the back panel. There is also the SFX Thumpinator http://www.sfxsound.co.uk/microthumpinator/ (I was going to buy one till I noticed my QSC did the same thing)
 
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#246
Yeah, in addition to the potential filter on the QSC, I just added Ashly Compressor and Parametric EQs to my rack. Even at a moderate volume I was able to send some serious peaks to the QSC and engage the limiter. I added the compressor out of fear of blowing something up, but it really added a ton of punch and clarity to my sound. I can hear my slapping over the band for the first time without having to jack up the highs on the F-1X. ;) I think it's an amazing pre and I'm glad that I can add my own "bells and whistles" to achieve the tone I'm looking for. I was hoping for an SF-2, but they're hard to come by.
 
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#247
Hertz said:
IAny of you guys ever use anything other than crossovers to spare your speakers?
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I use the fDeck Series III high-pass filter, which has an adjustable corner frequency (from 35 to 140 Hz), but I don't use it to spare the speakers so much as to keep the power amp from producing lows I don't need.

Bob_Ross said:
The Bad News is, my much beloved 20-year-old SF-2 seemed to crap out tonight!!! Boo!
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Oh, man... that IS awful!
 
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#248
DennyOnBass said:
Yeah, in addition to the potential filter on the QSC, I just added Ashly Compressor and Parametric EQs to my rack. Even at a moderate volume I was able to send some serious peaks to the QSC and engage the limiter. I added the compressor out of fear, but it really added a ton of punch and clarity to my sound. I can hear my slapping over the band for the first time without having to jack up the highs on the F-1X. ;) I think it's an amazing pre and I'm glad that I can add my own "bells and whistles" to achieve the tone I'm looking for. I was hoping for an SF-2, but they're hard to come by.
Click to expand...
Cool man. I love everything about the F-1x except my slap sound. Was contemplating adding an RPM or Yamaha pre to be able to blend but the added complexity was keeping me at bay.
 
#250
Hyper-sloth said:
Cool man. I love everything about the F-1x except my slap sound. Was contemplating adding an RPM or Yamaha pre to be able to blend but the added complexity was keeping me at bay.
Click to expand...

I tried to integrate my RPM with my F-1X and really couldn't get anything that I dug, either adding dirt or just contributing to the EQ. I set my comp in the effects loop at 5:1 with a longer attack time and the longest release possible and suddenly I can hear everything and the power amp never clips. ;) Might be worth checking into.
 
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#252
esa372 said:
I use the fDeck Series III high-pass filter, which has an adjustable corner frequency (from 35 to 140 Hz), but I don't use it to spare the speakers so much as to keep the power amp from producing lows I don't need.
Click to expand...

I had read about the fDeck but decided to build my own passive circuit using a capacitor and resistors. I used an online high pass filter calculator and misc. parts I had in my parts bin. Would love an fDeck though. It's similar as a fixed frequency cut as stated at 34 Hz. I still find the need to do something about my amps output. Read all the posts on over/ under powering speakers etc. I think im going to pick up a 24 db cut crossover.
 
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#253
I have to say I was afraid of cutting lows off at 50Hz so I did a roll off at 30 Hz for better part of a year. I switched to 50 a few months back and haven't noticed any thinness in my sound. Granted it's stage and rehearsal only; a huge part of my sound comes out FOH. I do have to say the QSC I have bumps up the low end in the 100 Hz range when the filter is set to 50 Hz so don't know how it would sound without the increase there.
 
#254
Hyper-sloth said:
I have to say I was afraid of cutting lows off at 50Hz so I did a roll off at 30 Hz for better part of a year. I switched to 50 a few months back and haven't noticed any thinness in my sound. Granted it's stage and rehearsal only; a huge part of my sound comes out FOH.
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I think that's a critical distinction: I have a 12dB/oct HPF at 30Hz available on one of my other rigs, and when I'm gigging with PA support I keep it engaged with no apparent thinning of sound...but in rehearsal where it's just my bass amp, that same filter seems to conspicuously and detrimentally impact the fatness and fullness of the low strings.
 
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#255
Not sure if it's appropriate for this thread but I'm selling my Alembic if anyone's interested. I am looking at 50 years of age and am just tired of hauling around a pre and power amp and cab. Just got a used TC Electronics 2x10 combo and had the quickest load in ever LOL. Wasn't the sound I am used to but I sounded pretty good F.O.H. so I'll live.
 
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#256
I'm well past that 50 year mark and it's the hauling of the gear that keeps me young! Well, that and a 3 year old. But, my reason for posting this is to let you know about a friend who did the same thing you did and 6 months later was looking for another F-1X. An F-1X with one of today's ultralight power amps (Peavey IPR 3000) plus a fEARful cabinet equals a very light rig with no sonic compromise. Remember, the load in and load out are but 15 minutes of the whole gig, while the time on stage is what counts.

But that's just me. I'm sure you'll find a buyer pretty quickly.
 
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#257
edwinhurwitz said:
I'm well past that 50 year mark and it's the hauling of the gear that keeps me young! Well, that and a 3 year old. But, my reason for posting this is to let you know about a friend who did the same thing you did and 6 months later was looking for another F-1X. An F-1X with one of today's ultralight power amps (Peavey IPR 3000) plus a fEARful cabinet equals a very light rig with no sonic compromise. Remember, the load in and load out are but 15 minutes of the whole gig, while the time on stage is what counts.

But that's just me. I'm sure you'll find a buyer pretty quickly.
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Yeah I am kinda on the fence... I also have to haul my wife's keyboard rig and/or guitar rig and monitor gig depending. I was looking at the Fearful 12.6.1 cube and a digital amp. I sure do know what you mean tho...
 
#258
That's a lot of stuff to carry! I also often carry an in ear monitor rig, which includes a 6 space rack with the interfaces, a 6 space rack with the 32 channel splitter snake, as well as microphones, cables, etc. I arrive early to set it up and leave late to break it down, but while on stage, it sounds so good and I don't have to deal with sketchy monitor mixes and crazy stage volume.
 
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