| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4695 Registered: 6-2002 |
Just saw this new custom pre-amp built for Stanley Clarke on an alembic group on Facebook. Look pretty neat and compact way to get dual pre-amps with connections for 2 basses.  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11934 Registered: 5-2002 |
Interesting! | ||
| moongerm
Advanced Member Username: moongerm Post Number: 287 Registered: 8-2013 |
Want! | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1799 Registered: 5-2006 |
Need! :-) | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1715 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yeah!! | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 1230 Registered: 11-2006 |
we NEVER had following about input module.... maybe not interresting financilly for "mothership" ? proposition... and no follow... | ||
| stephenr
Intermediate Member Username: stephenr Post Number: 111 Registered: 9-2014 |
I don't do Facebook, is there a shot of the back, too? Sweet looking unit! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4696 Registered: 6-2002 |
No photo of the back but the details are. Very small 5lb preamp that will fit in a carry on bag. Has 2 channels, power supply, 2x 5 pin inputs, and 1x 1/4" mono input., 2 x effects loops, 2x XLR DI Outs, 2 x 1/4" out pre-eq, 2 x 1/4" out post eq. | ||
| stephenr
Intermediate Member Username: stephenr Post Number: 112 Registered: 9-2014 |
Thanks Jazzy! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8635 Registered: 6-2000 |
IN-2 will be made - sadly I have to find yet another sheet metal fabricator before that project, or any other new metal work is undertaken. This is built in a Hammond die-cast aluminum enclosure, and therefore drilled and punched here. We aren't going to develop a product in this enclosure, as it isn't quite ideal, but it certainly got the job done for Stanley.  The front is very much like 2 F-1X preamps, but with 2 5-pin inputs and an HF control only for the treble pickups. The back has an additional mono input for emergencies or guests, tuner output, and each channel has effects send and return and a choice of outputs. The outputs are direct with a ground lift option, or 2 different full range outputs, one with the tone controls, and one without. A switching power supply is included so Stan can play anywhere and not worry about changing the voltage. The unit needed to fit comfortably in carry-on luggage, which it does at 10 x 6 x 3.75 inches, not including the protective handles. The problem of travelling with the rackmounted gear is just getting worse and worse. The airlines sometimes lose or delay the checked rack, or it arrives munched and destroyed. If they check it in a shock-mounted case, it costs a fortune to travel with, adding hundreds of dollars to each flight they take. Bud tour? no problem with a rack! It's never lost, damaged, or delayed. But Stan has had to play without a preamp for a few shows and we worked really hard to get this made. My dad redesigned the preamp to be FET based, he and Tony wired it up, I did the panel artwork and drilling templates, dad drilled and punched the enclosure. Time was very pressed - as some of you already know my dad had cataract surgery in August and earlier this month, and so we had to do the work in the ten days time we had after he was allowed back to our dusty place. Many late nights, and an all-out all-nighter on the final push. Then to get it delivered last night it was like the Pony Express! I drove it down to Monterey, where I handed it off to my friend John Prock who met Stan's tech, Travis, in Bakersfield. Whew! Travis got a chance to set it up and test out the rig late last night and we received positive feedback this morning - he said it sounded AMAZING and it was very very quiet. Primary mission objectives complete! Sounds good and fits in carry-on. We do plan on developing this and a mono version as a product. We have been busy with some other electronic goodies too (new IN-2 among them), and once I get a new sheet metal artist to work with, I'll be sharing all sorts of fun stuff here on the club. I would have posted details here earlier about this preamp, but I was just too beat after the Gathering on Saturday and driving the 7-hour roundtrip last night. I used to be young! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2283 Registered: 2-2005 |
That's something I'd be interested in. Any thoughts on parallel inputs to allow monaural input on the XLR's to stereo out? Also Mica you're still a kid stop the talk about "Used to be young". Time goes by too fast as it is. No need to rush it.  Keith (Message edited by keith_h on September 28, 2015) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11936 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for all the details, Mica; very cool! And a great story! | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1716 Registered: 6-2002 |
Whew!  | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Junior Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 35 Registered: 6-2014 |
Paging Will Gunn... you reading ^this^? I was just thinking about those Series equipped basses of yours with outboard pre-amps... =) | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 2118 Registered: 5-2002 |
This looks great. I'm sure the tone is typically stellar Alembic, even without the tubes. FETs can sound very good indeed. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1719 Registered: 6-2002 |
Does SMP stand for Stereo Mono Preamp? | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1952 Registered: 10-2006 |
Stanley's Magic Preamp? Peter | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8638 Registered: 6-2000 |
Stan's Mini Preamp - you gotta have a stable name for a project. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 2121 Registered: 5-2002 |
So, are the two 5 pin inputs wired in parallel? Or is there a way to switch between them? The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of this box. | ||
| rv_bass
Junior Username: rv_bass Post Number: 11 Registered: 8-2014 |
I like it! This would be a nice alternative to my two F-1X units. Two 1/4 " jacks on the front would be a useful addition. Thanks for sharing the details! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4699 Registered: 6-2002 |
I can't see were the space is for adding two extra jacks on the front. Maybe that's something that could be ordered as an option. Such as a two 5 pin model, or two jack socket model and one model with a 5 pin and one jack socket. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8641 Registered: 6-2000 |
No, Edwin. Stan uses the pickup selector switch on each bass to switch between them by placing one in standby. All three inputs on this preamp can be used simultaneously and there is no level change. Part of the product development on this is changing the chassis to a custom made one for the purpose. Like I mentioned previously, this enclosure is an off the shelf one we used to simply get it done. At one point, I thought we were going to have to put some of the jacks on the side of the enclosure just to get everything to fit. As it was, we did have to modify some parts slightly to cram it all in. Dad had to file a couple thousandths off the sides of the pots. A couple of the jacks needed some minor modification too. The enclosure has a lot of dead space at the corners and the handles to protect the switches take up some real estate too, so we had to cram things tighter than we would on a product, but that's what custom is all about! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2398 Registered: 10-2003 |
I suppose it goes without saying, Mica, but you guys do great work! John | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6260 Registered: 7-2004 |
I LOVE the little Alembic logo on the front. It would be nice to get one for my old F-2B on which the only Alembic ID is on the rear. Bill, tgo | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8643 Registered: 6-2000 |
Well since you said it... thanks, John! Bill - I tried so hard to line up the little eye of the cloud with the LED but I just missed it. | ||
| hifiguy
Senior Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 455 Registered: 10-2006 |
ONLY Alembic could come up with something this stellar on such short notice. You guys are amazing! Always have been, always will be. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4780 Registered: 6-2002 |
A little introduction by Travis on the new Mini pre-amp Alembic made for Stanley Clarke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPXqc9eFhg | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 1162 Registered: 6-2002 |
I like. I would love the mono version. All I need is one channel. Hopefully this will be available soon. | ||
| geepee
Junior Username: geepee Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2015 |
Mono version, tube. Here's one I knocked up earlier running from an iphone charger. If you squint you can see the tube heater through the vent. Yes it is possible to generate 6.3v and 300v from a 5v iphone charger although this runs at 250v to avoid shortening tube life too much. It's half an F-2b with a 6112 tube instead of a 12ax7. I can't hear difference. Sounds great. No I wont be competing with Mica on this as the Alembic is the real deal. I'll probably get one when they're available. This will do for the time being. I wish I'd seen this thread before I made my own though!  (Message edited by geepee on January 13, 2016) | ||
| lidon2001
Senior Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 563 Registered: 4-2005 |
Can they add a 500-800w Class D amp and make the first Alembic amplifier? |
