| Author | Message | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 104 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hey folks. Through a trade and an outright purchase with the Wookie, I have two Spoilers arriving soon. I am looking to use one of these basses in a Grateful Dead tribute, so it is the 70's Phil Lesh tone I am striving for. I do realize this is not a Series I or modified Guild Star Fire etc. I do play through an Eden WT800C with a 810 cab tuned beautifully. Right now I have about $500-$550 to either purchase a fat boy pickup-for bridge position(seems like that is the general consensus on the board)or wait and find an SF-2 super filter. So which would you recommend to add first. Any other things Alembic related you would advise? Thank you for your time. | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 574 Registered: 9-2009 |
As far a flexibility re tone goes my personal opinion is that the SF-2 is the way to proceed. My experience after buying one from a board member is that it allows me to get just about any tone I desire from any of my three Alembics. As far as the fatboy PU, I ordered one for the bridge PU in my custom, but when I compare the tone to my other Alembics which do not have fatboys the differences, though noticeable are IMHO far more subtle. You just missed a great deal on an SF-2 on the board which went for $350 I think (though I seem to remember it had some minor issues). Most that I've seen advertised are going for around $600-650. There's one recently posted in the Raleigh NC Craigslist (see below) for $650 if you don't mind purchasing from a distance. But then again, there are a few board members out that way who might be willing to check it out for you if you're really interested. raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/4622257210.html. $650 | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1774 Registered: 10-2006 |
Don't forget, Phil was playing through a mix of 18s & 15s then; for getting as close to his tone as possible, consider upgrading your rig first (you won't get the same gravitas with 10s). Then go SF2, as that will get you most of the electronics from Mission Control (Mica will have to advise as to adding a quad p/up........  ) Peter | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 364 Registered: 6-2012 |
May be obvious, but remember to use flat wound strings... | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1843 Registered: 5-2002 |
I second what Peter and David said for the 70s tone. The Eden is a cool setup but it's very different from Phil's 70s tone with the F2B->McIntosh-> JBL or Gauss 15s and 18s. I've been using a JBL K140 loaded Sunn 200S and it really gets very close (although closer to '72 than '78). | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 113 Registered: 5-2012 |
It was interesting last night at a gig. Eden WT800C with the house Ampeg classic cabs 410 over a 115, it had a better sound then the 810...more full lower range going on. I used my Spoiler for the first time and it sounded great. I had D'Addario Half Rounds on. Its difficult to find a balance because we play 70's through the 90's and I can't afford different rigs or instruments(at this point. Not sure what would would rig would cover all era's....might not be possible aye? | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1420 Registered: 1-2005 |
I would think that with creative use of the filter on your bass you could get some nice variety - lower midrange for the earlier stuff, higher frequencies for later. The gear authenticity route can be cool, or you can just be yourself and enjoy the music and I'd be willing to bet that will come across no matter what you use. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2251 Registered: 9-2002 |
I run two FatBoy 4's on my BigRedBass, my 5-string Spoiler. I prefer them to AXY's, though it's not a 'night and day' difference. To me the FatBoys sound more MusicMan than the AXY's, which to me were just perfect, studio monitor type tone, a little too sterile for my ears. But . . . . with a SuperFilter you could approach most any tone you could think of, vs. the fixed tone of any given pickup set. Ok, YOU decide. Just don't ask me about Eden . . . consider yourself warned. J o e y | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 115 Registered: 5-2012 |
I have a SuperFilter arriving today. I have searched many threads and also downloaded the user manual. We shall see how it all goes. Ok Joey, whats the deal with Eden brother? Even though it took a while...I had to ask. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2256 Registered: 9-2002 |
I ordered an Eden rig at my local dealer (Corner Music, Nashville, THE pro store in town), a Metro Combo and a single 15 extension cabinet. I asked JD, the store manager (and good friend and terrific bassist) to leave it in the box and I'd come down and open it myself just for the fun of it. Comes in, he calls me, I run down. Boxes are in perfect shape. Open it up. The Metro only makes a flat buzz, no other sound. Bad transformer straight out of the clean box, not a mark on the amp. Geez . . . . We hook up a head to the 115, and the speaker is dragging. They're so blown away we pulled the grill off and pressed the suspension with our hands . . . . . you can hear everything grinding. So, he calls Eden on the spot, they send a replacement set. They both work fine. I take it home. Eden recommends breaking in the speakers by playing recorded music through them for an hour or two at reasonable volume. Fine. Hook up the CD, play Steely Dan through it for a couple hours. No gigs so I'm playing around the house every day for a couple weeks. I begin to hear a scratching sound. You got to be kidding me. Back down to Corner Music. Pull the grill off, the left hand 10", there's a tear in the cone surround right at the dome, from around 6 o'clock to 11. And . . . . Eden does NOT warranty speakers. On a three week old rig that's never left my house. When I did start gigging with it, it would go into thermal shutdown at the drop of a hat, fuses would come and go, the casters would fall out while I was rolling it, and on and on. This was built in that twilight between Nordschow selling out to Loud Tech, and them re-vamping Eden's production. The crazy thing is, in the old days, I had Peaveys that I could throw down three flights of stairs and they'd never miss a beat. No tone, of course, but never a minute's aggravation. I bought Eden THINKING it was really good stuff, and for me it wasn't. Really, really, wasn't. I was so mad for a long time, I would not go to the NAMM here in Nashville, for fear I'd see him and I'd just lose it ! Just had to ask, eh? J o e y | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 116 Registered: 5-2012 |
So sorry to bring you back to that nightmare, I have heard similar stories about thattwighlight period. On a lighter note, the SF-2 Superfilter is amazing...wow. Gives an already excellent sounding Spoiler some major explosive presence. I am searching threads about settings etc. If anyone knows of any, please post them. Thanks guys, I am officially an Alembic player, saving for a Series I now, its a must have at this point. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1849 Registered: 5-2002 |
The SF-2 is awesome. It really is the ultimate in tonal control. I've found that the settings really depend on the bass, the room, the amp, and the strings. Obviously, it also depends on what you are going for. One of the coolest settings I've found is using the high pass filter set to a very low frequency with a high damping setting and no direct tone. It gives a thunderous low end, but keeps the subsonic stuff out of the picture and retains lots of clarity. If you can give us an idea of the tones you are seeking, I'm sure lots of people will chime in with ideas. Mostly it's just a question of putting in the time until you can visualize how to sculpt your tone with the filters. Weirdly, since setting my Starfire up with SII electronics, I don't use my SF-2 much with it. It gets used more often with my other basses as the Starfire doesn't really need it. However, I'm still fantasizing about removing the SF-2 from the rack box and installing it directly in the Starfire. The only big logistical hurdle I'm facing is doing what Keith is doing and cutting the front off the bass and replacing it with a control plate. I still haven't totally figured out how I want to lay it out. | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 117 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hey Edwin, Its me Craig....I am going for the Phil Lesh stuff with the Spoiler, right now I have D'Addario Half Rounds on. Was considering some flats. I have seen pics of your Starfire, I can only imagine how amazing it sounds...especially with the rig you have. Bet you totally get Cumberland Blues Europe 72 down perfectly. I do want to use the SF-2 with other basses(fender jazz) for jazz, R & B stuff as well. Thanks again for your advice with my son, he is feeling a little better and is taking the bar exam in February. | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 118 Registered: 5-2012 |
How much does one usually spend on a used Series I or II , say in very good condition. I guess there are many variables. is it possible to land one for $4,500-$5,500? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3700 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes you can ____. However I suggest to make sure that it is legitimate and do a serial number check first. Do not buy your own Bad Karma . My 2 cents ... ... ... | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 119 Registered: 5-2012 |
Sound advice Wolf. Thank you!! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3701 Registered: 5-2009 |
Craig , local sales , craigslist and the such are good sources to keep the nets out to find that keeper deal . There are always folks that have a used honest deal that are not profit motivated where either they will sell for what they purchased for or the instrument is one that they want to thin out the herd with for another purchase. Happy " Series " fishing ! Keep looking twice a day at your resources and soon one will just jump towards you _____. | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 606 Registered: 9-2009 |
And, if you don't already (and I may just be stating the obvious) check the topic board DAILY and post what you want/need/just can't live without in the Wanted and Wishing section. I've purchased 2 of the 3 Alembic's I own and both an SF-2 and F1-X in that fashion (as a lot of others also have done). In all cases people contacted me to let me know they were interested in selling something i wanted (my 6-String 96 Europa) or saw that someone else was selling an item in which I was interested (An SC Signature Deluxe - Thanks again Jazzyvee). The regulars here set fair prices, are great with providing honest descriptions of their gear, and at least in some cases, have a heck of a lot more musical gear to sell that they have accumulated over the years than I will ever own. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3702 Registered: 5-2009 |
I have made three exemplary purchases ( rack electronics , DS5 power supplies ) here at the Alembic Club . All legit , fairly priced , well packed for shipping and purchased from really nice sincere folks . | ||
| bassman8416
Intermediate Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 120 Registered: 5-2012 |
The reality is I am probably a year or two away from buying a Series bass. I am very happy with the Spoiler for now, being I have to live within my means. So now my main focus is learning how to use the SF-2. Perhaps selling the Eden WT800C and the 810 cab. I am open to suggestions. Really looking for the 70's Phil sound. I love the 73 and 74 era's but also dig the later 70's. (Message edited by bassman8416 on November 01, 2014) (Message edited by bassman8416 on November 01, 2014) | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3704 Registered: 5-2009 |
I went through a long period where I used a variety of "Wall of sound type cabinets" of infinite baffle design ranging from the Birch plywood Alembic A-15's& Bag End and even an actual wall of sound" left over 15" cab loaded with JBL D140's and K140's and eventually the GAUSS 4580 15" speakers . I first purchased my Alembic A-15's in the mid 1970's , those now reside in my studio as part of my PA system. There is a thread somewhere here on this site where I did a comparative " shoot out" with a frequency generator and an RTA ( real time analyzer) and my ears. The GAUSS 4580 held out the best on the bottom but the JBL K140 had a sweet sound but did not GROWL like the GAUSS 4580 . I settled for the GROWL at the time . . I still have my stack of birch cabinets and even picked up a rare Alembic A-18 in the early 1990's loaded with and 18" GAUSS that now resides in my studio serving as a speaker for my Roland midi drum kit . Currently I am using a variety of 4X10 and 2X10 Mesa " Road Ready cabs with EV 10's . I also have lately acquired Three SWR Goliath III JR cabs dirt cheep with damaged original drivers that I replaced the speakers with " new old stock" EV10's. Those cabs are the easy ones to take to a jam ! The 15" Birch Infinite baffle cabs that Phil Lesh had in the " Wall of Sound " were the largest of the variations of those that I mention of the 15 " above. Those are NOT the easiest to move from a perspective of logistics ! I take my hat off to the folks on the Grateful Dead road crew that moved that mammoth of a rig . I was in good fortune to have experienced that rig several times. |
