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The Alembic F-1X Megathread

#61
MichaelVee said:
Any other F-1X owners/former owners out there who've replaced the tube and discovered it was a generic Chinese one?

I have to say that I lightly used that preamp for years with the Chinese tube and thought it sounded great! The JJ/Tesla does sound better, though. The Chinese tube did not age well, apparently.
Click to expand...

I had a problem with my set up and i thought it might have been a microphonic tube, so I swapped the generic MiChina tube to a GT one. The problem was not the tube but some interference with a switching transformer on the pedalboard.

Was there a sonic difference in tubes? Not that I noticed anything. Tested in my studio after tube swap but not extensively. I have JJ tesla and maybe I'll try that but sonically I am not complaining . The original tube has been in there since '96 or so....maybe even earlier. No issues with it, sonically. And there was nothing wrong with it either. The only issue I have ever had with the F1X in more than 10 years use was when I broke the crossover freq. pot recently (don't ask), - got a replacement from Alembic in a few days and soldered it on. No problems after that.

I have heard that you could replace the 4558 chip (I think it is) driving the output for lower noise but I have not bothered.

Set up:
F1X biamped into 2 power 1U amps, one 800W bridged and one 300W bridged. 2X12 sub with 2 Precision devices PD122s. Top - 3 way, PD neodymium 12", eminence 6" and peerless tweeter. FX loop: feeds Nady 5 band parametric EQ.
 
#62
Joshua said:
I never learn my lesson. I should have my 4th F1X on it's way to me in the next couple days if all goes well...

:hiding:
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Joshua...so much for the third time's the charm ;) I think you were on number two when I got mine, lol! I just started using mine again after gigging the TF for a year or so. Joker invoked a G.A.S. attack with his comments on the PLX2 1804...I just had to do it. Very, very glad that I did. It just sounds so much better than my 1602 did. Not just the volume...that, too, was a quantum improvement over the older PLX. But the amp and preamp seem to simply 'like each other' better. All this, and losing 8 lbs, to boot.
When I first got the 1804 I just slapped it in and started playing...and noticed a not so subtle noise coming from the F-1X...it sounded like being at an outdoor event with the wind wreaking havoc with the stage mikes. Didn't matter if the volume was all the way down, or if there was nothing plugged into the preamp. Turns out, it was my GT "Mullard" tube. I plugged the original, generic Chinese tube in and all was magic all over again. I think I might have just gotten a bad tube. My F-1X definitely doesn't like the Sovtek WAs...way too brittle.
I had another "generic" Chinese 12AX7...it sounded just as good as the original Alembic (Chinese) tube. Maybe I'll try a JJ someday, but I'm not in any hurry...I'm too much back in love with my F-1X! I was able to score one of the last of the Ashly DPX 200 parametric eq/compressors that will replace my Behringer parametric that I used for 'difficult' rooms.

Life without an F-1X would be...well...simply not as much fun!

Kim
 
#65
7thbass said:
Just curious- aside from amount of power, how do the F1x and TF compare?
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That's a durn good question! I haven't really thought about it much. Obviously, the TF has a lot more EQ options. Both, to me, are deep and warm sounding-at least how I set them up. If you want or need to bump the mids, the TF is easier to accomplish this on. My basses are three band active-most with sweepable mids, so I can get what I need without relying on changing my initial setup on the amps. The Alembic is like an old friend. Smooth. Clear. Quiet. Once I learned to 'fiddle' with the tone stack, I find I can get any of the sounds that I need from it. Granted, I play 'meat and potatos' fingerstyle, so please take that into consideration. I cannot see myself ever parting with it.
The TF is more versatile and much quicker to get dialed in...once again, that magical timbre knob. It slays in the bottom and responds excellently to the touch-as does the Alembic. I have to give the Alembic the nod on the top end though...clear, clear, clear. Not harsh or thin, but not 'hi-fi' glassy, either. The more I listen to it, the more that I simply love it. Of course adding the PLX1804 made the power thing not fair at all. 600 watts into each of my Aggies and I have to really spank it to get the -10db lights to flicker. Sure, I can turn up the preamp more...but I'm tired of the death threats from the g*&%#r players in the band. I can use either head interchangeably. After my SVT III Pro, having two amps of this caliber at the same time seems unreal to me. Both are keepers.
I will be using the TF on our next gig which will be an island wedding. Less to tote.

Kim

Well, I sure don't think I answered the question, lol! :hiding:
 
#69
Well, it was great..........I used it extensively this summer, but in the end, it was just a bit too rock and roll for my current projects. I guess I'm still searching for the "holy grail" of pre-amps for my Berg stack. I tried the Alembic, I listened to the Fender, I have a Sansamp in my rack right now, I even pulled out my old Yamaha a couple times this summer. Every single one had it's good points (and the occassional negative as well), but for now I'm still searching and listening.

Not to take away from this thread, the Alembic is a fantastic unit, and I could even see myself using one again if a different band happens in the future.........who knows?
 
#73
I play an F1-x through a CA9 and a Schroeder 210212L and find that it sounds alot better when turned up loud. Some people think this about all amps with tube but I have never heard this about the F1-X.

In some ways I was expecting a little more when I got my F1-x. But, I played an Eden before so maybe I am just spoiled.
 
#74
groovejam said:
In some ways I was expecting a little more when I got my F1-x. But, I played an Eden before so maybe I am just spoiled.
Click to expand...

I think I did too. My thought was that this should be "tube-yer". I have read the threads on how this is not a "pure" tube pre amp like the F2b, but the more I play it, the less that matters. Many of the tube preamps I had played were about the distortion.

I think the goal of the F1-x was to get the gain you need, keep the signal intact, and move it over to the amp. In a lot of ways, similar to the design characteristics of the Avalon or other mic preamps.

The real magic is at the gig. This thing cuts and kills onstage and through the DI. It does not have a gritty or aggressive character, so it may not demand your attention. But the tone that cuts through on both small gigs with no PA and larger with FOH is very warm, round, and, well, bassy.

So, I think I was expecting something like a multi-tube higher gain tone. What I got, though is so musical it is hard to deny what a great piece of gear it is.

I have been looking at downsizing my rig to get rid of the rack, but, like Nikki Sixx and The Dragon, I keep finding myself reluctant to give up the Alembic.
 
#75
just curious....how can you have a mega-thread with no pics?

I thought that was part of the Talkbass bylaws; no mega-threads without pics!!!!!

That's right - I said it - I want some F-1x rack pics, so I can keep sane while I save to get an F-1X for myself (what can I say - house payments are a drag when you have GAS!!!)
 
#76
Okay, here is an F-1X and SF-2 (with a few 'buds'):

134_3409.jpg


And here is a shot of its 'innards':

1963965820_5a8481601b.jpg


Tom.
 
#79
AlembicBill said:
http://www.duncanamps.com/tsc/
To simulate the F-1X, use the Fender tone stack and swap the C1 and C2 values (make C2=47n, C3=100n).

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Bill;

Excuse my ignorance, but I wouldn't mind to having a little more midrange in my F-1X? Are you saying that swapping cap (?) values will put more midrange in an F-1X or have I got it completely upside down? Told you I was ignorant. :confused:

Is it even possible to do something of this nature?

Thanks.
 

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