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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive: 2007 » Archive through July 18, 2007 » F-2B AND SF-2? « Previous Next »

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57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 650
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 2:10 pm:   Edit Post

I am somewhat technologically (and electronically) challenged. So here are my questions: (They may be dumb ones, but there are no dumb questions, just dumb people who ask questions, right?.....hey!)

Question(s): Does anyone use an F-2B (or F-1X) along with an SF-2 or is this redundant?

• Why would you NOT use both?
• or, why would you use both instead of either or?

I have wanted to post this for some time, but really did not want to show my ignorance, but I would like to know.

Thanks as always....
David R.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 5074
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 4:16 pm:   Edit Post

It is not redundant; they are different pieces of equipment. The F-2B and F-1X are preamps with tube circuits and Fender type bass/mid/treble EQ. The SF-2 is used for filtering the signal. While it can be used as a preamp, it does not have a tube circuit or standard bass/mid/treble controls. The SF-2 has two filters than can be configured as low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass filters.

The F-2B and F-1X are great preamps. The SF-2 is a great filter. My rig employs an F-2B and an SF-2. They function differently, and together give me my tone. Some folks love the F-2B or F-1X alone and don't feel the need for an SF-2; and there are others who do use the SF-2 as a preamp, finding no need for any other tone shaping tool. For me, the SF-2 evens out and broadens the lows and highs. It's the final tweak on the tone that the F-2B provides.
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 651
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 8:12 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks, Dave. That is the explantion I was looking for.

drr
elwoodblue
Intermediate Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 139
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 11:34 pm:   Edit Post

Well put Dave,
I have two F1-x with half the SF-2 for each...a little more bite on stage left and thump on stage right really adds some spread to the hippy smorgasborg.

They compliment each other very well :-)

...after owning my SF-2 adjustments are becoming more intuitive and quick. You can overload almost any circuit with the SF-2's output(with the Hz on the low side), something I learned to avoid after a while.
...helpful for cabinet racing,

cheers
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 5079
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 7:15 am:   Edit Post

Elwood; your observation about overloading the low end of the signal is something I watch as well.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 2138
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

Ditto me: F-2B and SF-2 combo. I'm not at the "intuitive" point yet, LOL!
jimbobv
Junior
Username: jimbobv

Post Number: 41
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 9:54 am:   Edit Post

My main rig is the F1-X with the F2B, but also have 2nd F1-X going it alone.

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