They are 55lbs each..not sure that makes sense ...when lighter amp and cab separates are available
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Alembic F-1X Megathread
- Thread starter Michael Vee
- Start date
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
Sometimes sound and durability matters more than weight. I've played through a lot of lightweight stuff that just didn't sound that good.
I already have a Genz Shuttle 9.0, an Aguilar AG700, and an Audiokinesis Hathor 1203. Doesn’t get much lighter than that. But that’s a pretty mid forward rig. I’ve always thought it would be cool to have a cab with an integrated power amp and a relatively flat frequency response and a collection of preamps to choose from.
It is quite a bit of weight for a 400w cab, but it wasn’t that long ago that I was regularly and happily hauling a 35lb rack and a 95lb Bergantino HT322 to gigs.
Ah yes ..I had Bergie HT210 and HT15 cabs and two Eden 100lb 410 XLT cabs and two 75lbs XLT 210 cabs...haha...the strength of my youth
Now my 47lbs 310 cabs and 57lbs 410 Epifani ULcabs are more than enough...Next mesa Boogie subway cabs to go with my Subway heads
The other thing is that when we play smaller shows I'm carrying my Genz head and my Hathor 1203, which are about 30 pounds combined, but I'm also often bringing a pair of QSC K10.2 (32lbs ea), a 6 space rack with our mixer (20lbs), a sub (60lbs), and miscellaneous bags and such. If I only bring the heavier cab(s) to gigs where we have house sound, I'm actually still decreasing the amount of weight that I have to carry. In some cases, the venue provides people to lug our gear and I really don't have to do much. So a lot of it is just perspective.
Plus, nothing that I currently own has that heft down in the bottom that my Alembic Preamp does when I dig in on the E string.
Last edited:
Ah...yes..the great heft...and with my SWR stereo 800 or Yorkville 1200 watt PA amp....My true love...at home..
But I chicken out at the gig and take my lightweights....I am getting old...and a disability
Just a question?? Is the difference possible to the lack of HPF on my old heavy amps?
I would assume that those old, super heavy power amps probably have more girth to them than a typical class D amp, but I've plugged by F-1X directly into the effects return of my Genz Head and that low end heft is still there. Clearly at least part of it is in the preamp itself.
In my experience, a HPF can actually give you the preception of MORE bass by cutting out that muddy low end so that the frequencies that speak better can be heard.
Taking my perogative as OP and posting to my old thread. Has anyone been playing their F-1X at home, studio, or live lately?
Hello @Michael Vee and thanks for this thread...especially the tool we can download to use on our laptop.....Another link would be very useful....I have lost mine.
Anyway...I use my F1X every single day...through my SWR Stereo 800 power amp and Epifani UL310 series 2 speakers ..lighter series one box.
Home use only as I take my Mesa Subway D-800 and Plus out to play...because I am old and lazy...lol
But LOVE my Alembic and am still upset I sold my F2b ...and so cheaply
One day I will take the Alembic out for a show...The combo with the SWR and my UL 410 is very Huge ...or 2 310 cabs stacked
Last edited:
Sometimes I run through the Peavey Tube amp and sometimes I put my Demeter pre through the amp...
But always come home to Alembic and SWR
But always come home to Alembic and SWR
For the past ~3 years (since the pandemic started) my F-1X has been in residence as part of the house bass amp at a local recording studio, where it gets used for tracking as well as some rehearsing. The Alembic's front panel DI output is summed with a Heil PR40 mic on my Eden D-115 cabinet, and the results are, as expected, stellar. It's a killer rig.
...but it's also an overkill rig, and tbh I'll probably be selling off the electronics (and permanently donating the speakers to that studio) later this summer. I'll post a note here if it does wind up in the Classifieds.
The F-1X and F-2B are not making it out to gigs much this days for most owners, but we don't really want to sell them off, either! They are legendary designs and sound terrific to this day. I see a lot of modern-day pedals trying to do many of the same things that the Alembics do.
New units from Alembic are quite pricey, and they are selling for a premium on the used market when they can be found.
New units from Alembic are quite pricey, and they are selling for a premium on the used market when they can be found.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,986
- 5
- 220,772
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Correct, in many cases class D amps can actually have better low frequency performance, but as music and preferences have evolved, preamp voicing has changed somewhat to become more articulate and less muddy in the low end.
A HPF, when used properly, can also give the impression of more low end because what’s present isn’t masked by muddy tone and speaker distortion.
At home I actually use the crossover set to 150HZ as my cut off and just run the Highs part into the power amp....Sometimes I lower it to 70, but for apartment living 150 keeps my neighbours happy....and me...well ...one can never be too loud!
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I use my F-2B at gigs regularly, especially when I want to go full stereo with my Series II Starfire. Combined with an IN-2, it's perfect. I sold my F-1X a while back because it wasn't getting used. I kind of regret it, but I sold it to a friend and I'm really glad he has it. The SMS CTP is fine for a mono Fender style preamp for me.
My F1-X isn’t doing too many gigs, but here it is. I tend to use it with my Alembic SI (shown) and my MTD 534. Otherwise, I’m using some kind of Demeter with my FSO instruments. More recently, I’ve gone to one of the new GK Legacy combo amps, mainly for convenience.
Anyhow, the F1-X isn’t going anywhere else soon.
Anyhow, the F1-X isn’t going anywhere else soon.
