| Author | Message | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2004 |
Hi all, So...I just purchased an S-F2 from Bass Central. I'll currently be using it with a Skylark and the reissue of the 4x10 Fender Bassman. I plan on putting together a full rig system in the future, but I was wondering if anyone has ever used the S-F2 with a combo amp and what sort of success they've had? Thanks, James | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 969 Registered: 7-2004 |
James: You're going to love the SF-2. I use it in the effects loop of my Mesa Boogie Mark III combo. I set one channel as a low pass filter and the other as a high pass filter. Then think of the SF-2 as a 3 channel mixer: bass, treble, and dry. To get the right settings, first I turn the gain on the two filter channels all the way off and tweak my amp with the dry signal only. Then I turn the dry gain all the way off, turn up one filter channel on the SF-2, say the bass cannel, and set it to accentute the bass frequencies per personal taste. Then turn this channel gain back to zero, turn up the other channel, in this case the treble one, and tweak it to taste. Finally I turn up all three gains and adjust accordingly. Once I get the frequency and Q set on the two filter channels, I only mess with the gains while I'm paying. Want a little more bass? Dial up the bass gain, etc. If you don't have an effects loop, you can use the SF-2 between your guitar and amp. (My bass player uses it this way with his old Traynor combo). It is set in the factory at a 10db boost. You can change this internally to either a 0 db or 20 db boost. You can read more about the SF-2 here: http://alembic.com/prod/sf2.html It is truly a remarkable unit. When I got mine, my bass player tried it and wouldn't play without it! I had to find another on eBay for him before I could get mine back! Enjoy yours. Bill, tgo | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 68 Registered: 12-2004 |
Bill, I know you use a BBE sonic maximizer with your SF-2. Do you put it in front, set it, then adjust the SF-2? Paul | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 970 Registered: 7-2004 |
I have the BBE after the SF-2. I basically found a setting I liked and leave it. The changes from adjusting the pots on the BBE are much more subtle than tweaking the SF-2. The BBE just sort of makes everything a little clearer/livelier/more present. Bill, tgo | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2004 |
Bill, Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to playing with this new toy. (I'm hoping I'll have it in my possession before a gig next weekend). I'll post an update after I recieve it and let you know how its going...  James | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2279 Registered: 9-2002 |
The SF-2 is a fine working tool! My advice would be: don't use it too quickly on stage, that box is FULL of surprises and it will takes some time to tweak it out and to get JUST YOUR tone exactly right Enjoy! Paul TBO | ||
| foth
Member Username: foth Post Number: 70 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thanks Bill. Sorry about the thread hijack James! Paul | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2004 |
No problem. So, I've used it some, and I'm amazed. I even took it to a bass player friend and let him try it, and he fell in love. Based on my limited experience though, it seems as if the SF-2 is better for bass, as we were able to find many great and usable tones, yet in trying it on guitar it seemed extremely easy to have too much of any one thing. I'm going to spend a bunch more time with it. Is it just me, or are Alembic instrument's tone controls even more sensitive when running through this unit? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3250 Registered: 5-2002 |
James; I supposed it depends on how you've got it set up. If you have the "dry" channel volume all the way up and the two filter channel volumes all the way down then it probably doesn't effect the sensitivity of the instrument's controls at all. | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2004 |
So far I've been using it with the dry volume all the way up, and varying the filter volumes between 5 and 10. It occurs to me in writing this that I may want to try backing off the dry volume some. I had a much better experience with it today, so much so that I'm going to attempt to use it at a gig tonight. I think its just a matter of getting a feel for how it works and developing an ear for how it changes your tone. I was able to really heighten the clarity of my guitar. I also found a tone that sounded almost like an envelope filter, which I found interesting. On to more research... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3252 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have the dry channel backed off a good bit but then I'm using it with a bass instead of a guitar. Also, the SF-2 is great for adjusting your sound for different rooms. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 375 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have owned an SF-2 for a number of years now and I still keep finding new and exciting sounds in it. It's like a bottomless box of ear candy! | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2004 |
So I've gotten to use the SF-2 to various situations. My first gig with it went fantastic. It really cleaned up my sound, and for the first time I could here everything I played. The high end was especially shining. I must have gotten lucky with dialing it in at that gig, cause I havn't had so much luck since then. How would I clean up the low end some? At the moment, it has more of a wall shaking bass sound that is getting lost in the mix. In turning down the gain of the low pass filter, or turning up the gain of the high pass, if just lowers the volume of that same undistinct bass sound. Same with cutting out more of the lows with the high pass. Is there a way to dial in something that cuts through a little better on the low end? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1018 Registered: 7-2004 |
James: You might switching the "low" channel filter from low pass to band pass and then find the frequency you want to accentuate. This will cut out frequencies both above and below where you set it. Amazing little box, that SF-2, ain't it?!!! Bill, tgo | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2004 |
Bill, Thanks. I'll give that a shot this evening. James | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3317 Registered: 5-2002 |
James; on the low-pass I would roll the Q all the way off and then work with the frequency setting and volume of the filter. You can always add Q to taste later, once you have the frequency dialed in. Also the position of the bass setting of your amp will have a significant effect on the filter. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2304 Registered: 9-2002 |
It has been som etime that I used mine but I recall I most of the time work in "band pass" to wrk in certain frequencies! Amazing little box indeed! I only discovered 1/10th of it! PTBO | ||
| strangerones
Junior Username: strangerones Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2004 |
So...Saturday night I used one channel as "band pass" and one as "low pass" and had amazing results. I couldn't have been happier with the way my guitar sounded. Thanks everyone for your help and input. |
