I love my preamp. I go from Alembic F-1X, Moog Parametric EQ, QSC RMX2450 (bridged) and a Schroeder 21012. More than anyone should need!
Cheers,
Jim
Cheers,
Jim
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The Alembic F-1X Megathread
- Thread starter Michael Vee
- Start date
I didn't know there was a F-1X megathread here. 
Love the thing to death! I traded a Sansamp RBI +$70 in cash for it. This was years ago when the RBI first came out and way before Talkbass had a feedback system.
During a couple personal economic crisis' I have considered selling it but it was always in the back of my mind that I would GAS for one as soon as it was gone. Glad I didn't!
I have tried many tubes in this pre and the sweetest I have found is the JJ/Tesla High Gain that Butch Ammons sells. All tube changes with this preamp are subtle but this is the best.
Love the thing to death! I traded a Sansamp RBI +$70 in cash for it. This was years ago when the RBI first came out and way before Talkbass had a feedback system.
During a couple personal economic crisis' I have considered selling it but it was always in the back of my mind that I would GAS for one as soon as it was gone. Glad I didn't!
I have tried many tubes in this pre and the sweetest I have found is the JJ/Tesla High Gain that Butch Ammons sells. All tube changes with this preamp are subtle but this is the best.
I have owned an Alembic F2B for over 30 years. I have always loved them. I finally got a chance last weekend to play an F-1X. Good stuff! I have to find me one of them. If there is someone here who wants to dump one, I am your man. But from the thread here, it seems that I may have to buy a new one!
Keep an eye out on Ebay and other places around the net. They pop up from time to time. I believe there was one on Bass Northwest but I just checked and it is gone.
Wow! I just clicked the Alembic site. The new price of 1150.00 is ridiculous. Get one used and hold onto it. I have seen numerous times people selling theirs only to turn around and buy one again.
how does a low b string sound on one of these? I was reading another review online and the person mentioned the low end sounded really thuddy/lacking tone.
Im hoping he just didnt know what he was doing as I want to try this preamp out with a quantum 5.
Im hoping he just didnt know what he was doing as I want to try this preamp out with a quantum 5.
I can let you know after this weekend. I've recently acquired an F1-X to go with my IP310. I'm running a Mike Lull MV5 with Barts, just for reference. I haven't even had a chance to hook up the pre yet since it just came in yesterday, but I'll get back to ya.
Horseshirt.
What bass/strings/amp/speaker was this reviewer using? The whole signal chain plays into what you hear.I've played a good number of basses through my F-1X, which I've owned since the early 90's. Never have I heard anything remotely resembling "lacking tone".
The F-1Xs are ALL about GREAT tone.
I'm digging mine, it really is a quality piece, is dynamic with a warm response. I can see why people have bought 'em for years. However, for anybody who's never played through one, the eq can be a limiting factor. With my FX-1, to get the sound I want with my passive basses, I cut the bass completely, the mids are full up and the treble is also cut completely. I also don't find the depth/bass boost switch useful, just seems to add boom. IOW, there's nowhere to go.
I want to rein in the really low bass & add a touch of upper mids on my rig, so I'm going to try adding an outboard parametric eq next. I haven't read all the previous posts, but it's also too easy to overload the first input. I tried using the second input, but I don't like the sound of it; it sounds murky compared to the first input.
But to put it in perspective, despite my criticisms, the FX-1 is easily my favorite preamp of those I've used.
I want to rein in the really low bass & add a touch of upper mids on my rig, so I'm going to try adding an outboard parametric eq next. I haven't read all the previous posts, but it's also too easy to overload the first input. I tried using the second input, but I don't like the sound of it; it sounds murky compared to the first input.
But to put it in perspective, despite my criticisms, the FX-1 is easily my favorite preamp of those I've used.
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
If the bass (strings, pickups, setup, etc) is good, it should sound fine when set up properly and going into decent speakers. I never found any fault with mine other than wanting more EQ options. Which for some is not a problem anyway.
The low B sounds awesome BTW. This is the rig I've been looking for for years!
ah good to hear, i think i might go ahead and try one out then. thanks for the response, good to hear you got the sound you were looking for as well.
I spent some time playing yesterday into the F-1X and the Bag S15X-D. I still cannot get over how musical, deep, and responsive the preamp is. I've been mostly playing the Neo-Pak head, and it does not impress me driving the S15X-D, even with some hefty EQ settings, and cranking way up on volume. However, the F-1X into a power amp into the Bag DOES impress me. A LOT. This is with the F-1X set to flat 2-10-2 and no switches in. I set some different EQ curves next, and loved the different tones I was getting.
By the way, vooch, I was playing a fiver. Nice, nice lows on the B-string, even with the supposedly weak B-string response of the Bag S15 cabinets. Then I flipped the deep switch.. OOF.
By the way, vooch, I was playing a fiver. Nice, nice lows on the B-string, even with the supposedly weak B-string response of the Bag S15 cabinets. Then I flipped the deep switch.. OOF.
Glad to see the love still exists. Now that I have the TF and LM, I rarely use my F-1X. Whenever I pull it out, though, I realize why it's such a keeper. For being so "simple" it sure has a lot of tonal nuance. It really seems to shine in a band context-the overall 'fit' is amazing. I have tried to define what the "it" is about the F-1X...trying "tubey", "warm" "organic" and so on...but that really leaves a lot out to my perception. I just gave up trying to describe what it is about this pre that captivates me so. The build quality is incredible, for sure. Obviously not a 'mass produced' piece.
Every time I use it with the band...it just...sounds...wonderful! I have a parametric eq in the rack, but I almost always just bypass it-I got it for the "emergency, room-from-hell" scenario that never has seemed to materialize.
Kim
Every time I use it with the band...it just...sounds...wonderful! I have a parametric eq in the rack, but I almost always just bypass it-I got it for the "emergency, room-from-hell" scenario that never has seemed to materialize.
Kim
Rok, I agree with your observations. I don't want to start a big tangent in the F-1X Megathread, but I project that there are definite differences in the sound of an F-1X, paired with a big power amp, and the sound of the modern class D miniheads, such as the LMII, the Neo-Pak/Shuttles, et al. I definitely know this is the case with the Neo-Pak I own.
The miniheads have their place, where light weight, small size, and resulting portability is the big thing. Racks with high-power power amps and quality preamps like the F-1X will continue to have their place, in the production of ultimate tone and power.
The miniheads have their place, where light weight, small size, and resulting portability is the big thing. Racks with high-power power amps and quality preamps like the F-1X will continue to have their place, in the production of ultimate tone and power.
Agreed.
I bought a Markbass LMII a couple months ago in the hopes of not having to hump my rack around anymore. It sounded good in my living room but it's shortcomings compared to the Alembic became readily apparent on the first tune played at band practice.
Believe me... I really really REALLY wanted to like the Markbass. However it sounded dry and sterial to me. My band mates noticed it too.
I just spent a weekend with my IP310 and new F1-X. I've heard people describe the Alembic as being really deep and thought at first it might not mate well with the depth of the IP cabs. But it just sat so great in the mix, and all my bandmates agreed that it's the best I've sounded yet. The tone has been described to death and is as good as been said, so on the utilitarian side I'll say that this unit just works. It may be meat-and-potatoes, but it's gourmet beef and pots!
I recently went back to using my F-1X after a couple of year hiatus due to some intermittency issues that ended up being fixed when I found out about the "jack exercising" process. My rig is '96 Jazz with Norstrand NJ4/Audere Pre > F-1X > Ashly Parametric > PLX1602 > Bergantino HT322 and I've been getting more compliments on my tone than ever.
For the most part I run the Audere in Low-Z mode and the Alembic at "flat" (2-10-2) with the volume at about 6. The Ashly only serves to roll off some lows on boomy stages & occasionally add some highs for slapping.
Once I get the input jacks modified from active/passive to two independent switchable inputs so that I can double on upright or EUB without having to bring extra gear, this rig is going to be absolutely PERFECT.
For the most part I run the Audere in Low-Z mode and the Alembic at "flat" (2-10-2) with the volume at about 6. The Ashly only serves to roll off some lows on boomy stages & occasionally add some highs for slapping.
Once I get the input jacks modified from active/passive to two independent switchable inputs so that I can double on upright or EUB without having to bring extra gear, this rig is going to be absolutely PERFECT.
Try a Superfikter SF-2 with the F1 X if you want more mids.I sold my Millennia STT-1 because of the sound of the Alembic stuff to use with my Berg IP 112 rig!
Does anyone recall a thread where someone posted that someone else on TB had a mod (not a fix, a mod) for the F1-X that eliminated hiss? I was going to inquire of that TBer but since I can't find the thread, I don't know who to ask. It might have been an op-amp upgrade or something along those lines.
