| Author | Message | ||
| rickyrbass
New Username: rickyrbass Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2003 |
I was wondering what type of Rigs you guys were using with your Alembics. I know that there are so many rigs out there now that color the tonality far too much. I was wondering if there was one rig in particluar that that most of you were using that would allow the true voice of the Alembic to come through? | ||
| kayo
Junior Username: kayo Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hey Ricky - That's a tough question - there's so much that colors the sound along that path of the signal. Much of it is highly subjective - and also dependant on the inherent texture of your particular instrument (ie - the woods that make up your bass and the age of the instrument). Then again, there is the frame of reference that you may be using as your "standard" for what the true voice of an Alembic should sound like. Up until I acquired my Alembic, my struggle was trying to have a distinct voice within a 4-6 piece band... the overtones and fundamentals always seemed to be absorbed and muddied by the room, and the rest of the band. This is no longer the case - for the first time ever, I now (as well as everyone else) can easily hear me, and all my nuances through the voice of my Alembic. I made a bit of an error and overcompensated for the lack of high end that I had been accustomed to by purchasing a Bag End 4x10 that is loaded with a tweeter - and now I tend to have to go slightly out of my way not to be too bright and trebly - part of the inherent characteristic of the Cocobolo book match to center laminate that I selected for my Rogue (Mica had warned me about that - but I had no idea how bright and distinct it would be). Shortly, I'll be compensating for it with an 1x18 cabinet that is designed to allow me "extended low frequency" driven by a special intergrator circuit that is made just for that. I use an Eden WT800 hybrid head - and for the most part just keep all my EQ flat - the Alembic sings on it's own. On occasion, I'll use the EQ section but only to compensate for acoustic flaws in the room (too basey or too trebly of a room - and also depending on the number of people in the room). I like the fact that this head provides me a mosfet pre-amp with tube gain for my 800W of power. This is another subjective call - as I know (and have also tried and resorted to what I have now) that many prefer all solid state (as in Trace Elliott or Galien Krueger), and then there are those that prefer all tube (Mesa Boogie or Ampeg - among others). I almost got an SWR900, but I had heard a lot of bad things about how often they seemed to require maintenance and setteld on the Eden. As far as cabinets - I've heard (and liked) EBs, Boogies, Ampegs, Bag Ends, Edens & SWRs.... there are many others out there. One thing that may help you narrow down your search is researching the frequency response of the cabs, and also the power handling capacity - this is how I narrowed my search down. At this range of products - they all are quality pieces (relatively)- but also be sure to plug into an amp that you know the tonal charcteristics of and then go into these cabs... they do have different textures and you need the amp to be the baseline so that you can hear the flavor of the cab. Some of it will also have to do with the electronics that are in your instrument. I also overdid it in that area (but have no regrets). Again, in an effort to ensure that I could cut through and be heard, I had asked that my Rogue be loaded with 2 Q filters (one for each pick up), and 2 sets of tone switches (one set for each pick up) along with Signature electronics. The Alembic is so powerful, distinct and (just can say enough good things about it) amazing, that I really never needed that second set of Q or tone switches - if I use them all at once - my sound tends to be a bit over the top - but it does give me absolute maximum flexibility and allows me an extremely wide range of tonal possibilities - anything I can imagine is at my fingertips!!!! Just for those other sounds that I may have a bit of trouble reaching, I keep a Sansamp Bass driver at my disposal - rarely use it, but there are gigs where I am called upon to emulate more "traditional" sounds, and that's when I'll pull it out. I find that when I use other people's rigs, the Alembic never has trouble cutting through.... as long as there is enough power to drive it. Good luck - let us know what you settled on!!! | ||
| siggytx
New Username: siggytx Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm getting the sound I want to get in my studio playing my short scale series 1 thru a PreSonus vxp mic preamp thru mackie board into gas power amps and yamaha ns1000 speakers. Now to reproduce that sound I have aquired the acme 2x10 cabinet with a mackie power amp and thinking I need either a fx-1 Alembic pre or a Demeter to add a hint of warmth to the Series I's beautiful clear sound. I'm thinking the sf-2 may be more confusion that necessary so to keep things simple I'm searching for a simple tubed analog pre. I've owned the f2-b in the past and with fender basses never had enough gain to my liking but I now see where it would have worked perfectly. Any Alembic pre's out there? My other thought is that alot of these new preamps use simulated tube sounds that in a super clear enviornment, give them selves away. What to do? Any advise welcome. Siggy in Texas | ||
| bigredbass
Intermediate Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 173 Registered: 9-2002 |
rrbass: My gosh, this is SOOO subjective . . . Chasing the sound in your head thru the choices we make for amps, boy this could fill a LARGE book. And there is no 'right' answer ! So here's some random thoughts looking back over my 25 years: I see basically two fundamental choices: 1) The basic, fat, less than surgically-clean tone of an old Precision thru a creaky SVT (or any combination that's similar) 2) ...or the REAL clean rig you went to after that: preamp, power amp, cabinet (maybe biamped). With #1, you're loud enough, but where's the articulation? With #2, now I hear EVERYTHING (gee, I never heard all this FRET NOISE / PICKUP HUM / HISS with the Peavey head ! !), but it's so clean it doesn't sound like it's that loud. By now, you're sick of calling Allied Van Lines to move your rig, so . . . gee, these ACMEs are nice and small (or 210s, 212s, 410s) . . . See where this is going? You can 'logical' yourself to the poor house. So, find a tone that's 'you' and build out from there. Always buy more watts than you need. Stick with companies that have been around. Remember that the tones you hear on recordings or in concert are HEAVILY processed in ways that aren't usually reproduceable live with just you and an amp and effect. Always buy the best you can afford, all the way down to good cords. I recently bought the MESA Venture combo 210 with an add-on MESA 115 cabinet. It's got 'my' tone, MESAs are built to withstand WW3, and it's easy to move, with more than enough watts to fill my needs. This is what I liked out of many choices I could have made. I'd love to have an f2b, sf2, Lexicon, Crown, BagEnd/ELF component rig, but my life just doesn't require/justify it. THAT would be the ultimate ALEMBIC rig for me, but I don't need 'that much amp' any more. J o e y | ||
| wayne
Member Username: wayne Post Number: 79 Registered: 5-2002 |
Ricky- My simple answer: F1-X into QSC PLX 1602 into BagEnd S15X-D and/or Bergantino HT112. C-Ya............wayne | ||
| rami
Advanced Member Username: rami Post Number: 249 Registered: 6-2002 |
My rig is an EDEN DC210XLT 600W combo sitting on a 410XLT cabinet. It brings to life everthing from my 60s & 70s Jazz Basses to my custom Alembics. Best setup I ever had. Rami | ||
| alembic76407
Advanced Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 204 Registered: 5-2002 |
everybody builds a good amp these days, but for my money the Mesa-boogie 400+ is the best amp I've ever used, bar none David T | ||
| wideload
New Username: wideload Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2003 |
Good Morning! I have used a bi-amped Peavey rig for 16 years-Bass 400 head for preamp and lows to a Black Widow 18, Peavey 500 powered 2x10 for the highs. Tone flat, all the clear volume I wanted. But since I am now moving from church to rehearsal to gig to church...I am using a Peavey Bam210. I like the power, the onboard compressor and THE WHEELS. Most gigs have PA support, so I really just need a monitor. And it fits in my convertible and I can leave the Suburban at home! Larry | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 712 Registered: 9-2002 |
Tweak Peaks! See http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/6134.html?1067089353 Paul the bad one (Message edited by palembic on November 10, 2003) | ||
| elzie
Advanced Member Username: elzie Post Number: 230 Registered: 8-2002 |
I usually clamp my teeth around the top curve of the bass. It works well and if I need more volume, I just bite down harder. No one else can hear it, but at least it keeps the voices in my head quiet for a while. Just kidding ;) I use a Hartke 2000 with a Hartke 2x10 w/aluminum cones, Laney 4x10 w/aluminum cones and an old Yamaha 2x15. In case I need more power, I still have my old trustworthy Peavey Mark VI 400 watt head. Paul II | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 713 Registered: 9-2002 |
Well ...you got a point Brother Paul the good one. Chuck Rainey explains in one of his books a lot about letting the upper half of the body being the resonance chamber of your bass while practicing. However ...reading your story we now know 1 thing for sure, your head must be enormous and empty Haaaaaaaaaa-haaaaaaaa LOL Paul the bad one | ||
| rickyrbass
New Username: rickyrbass Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2003 |
I think I am going to try the Eden stuff. I currently have a SVT classic with 610 but the clubs I played do not require nearly all of that. Of course that is a killer rig but as far as clarity goes I think I need to look elsewhere, not to mention giving my back a rest! I just got a New xlt 410 on a trade and I have a Eden head on the way. I hope it works out! | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2003 |
A common thread among a number of high end rigs is an F1X preamp into a power amp into fairly hifi bass speakers. I still haven't found the ideal power amp - am not convinced of the musicality of the QSC PLX which I currently use. I use and recommend Acme speakers (for whom I am the Australian rep.) | ||
| kenbass4
New Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2003 |
Although it seems unpopular here, I use an SVT Classic with an 810...yes it weighs alot, but the cbinet has a built-in dolly and is really fairly easy to move. I have always loved the sound of this rig, and it suits the music we play...sort of an edgy progressive rock ala Rush and Marillion. It also helps that I have a minivan... | ||
| jorge_s
Junior Username: jorge_s Post Number: 20 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'll agree with Alembic76407. The Boogie 400+ gives a very tight and focused sound with the added warmth of tubes. But you just have to experiment. You'll know it when you hear (feel) it. | ||
| harald_rost
Junior Username: harald_rost Post Number: 31 Registered: 6-2002 |
I use FB-2, Eden WT800, Eden 410XLT, Eden 210XLT. And I'm very pleased with the sound of my 76 Series 1. Harald | ||
| janriviere
Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 62 Registered: 5-2002 |
I am feeling very comfortable now with my current stack : 2 SWR Goliath 4 x 10, and a SWR MO bass running 900 Watts in mono. When we play in very small places or at rehearsels, one cab is enoough of course. I like the Mo Bass a lot, very nice clean tube sound, and when needed here and there some crazy analogue effects to throw in. I can carry the cabs myself, but when they are going in a flightcase for transport, I can't handle it myself any more. I used to play Trace Elliot for years, but when I moved to SWR last year, it was like a complete new Alembic I heared ;-) | ||
| mdrdvp
Member Username: mdrdvp Post Number: 68 Registered: 7-2002 |
To keep it simple, I mostly use a Mesa Boogie M-2000 with all setting flat. A bit of compression that's all. I use two Hevos 2x 10" cabs. These are made here in the Netherlands and have a very tight sound. Plus they are very light. (Saves my back). For recordings I use a combination of the F-1x and Sf2. I want to try the new Line 6 19" pod pro xt which have all kinds of amps and effect in it, but I'm not sure of it yet. Does anybody have any experience with that new amp? Manfred | ||
| fmm
Junior Username: fmm Post Number: 23 Registered: 6-2002 |
In church I use a Furman PQ-3 (sometimes supplemented with a BBE Sonic Maximizer and/or a Rane 1/3 octive EQ) through a Peavey CS-800 (bi-amped at 250 Hz) through a 1 x EV-15L cabinet on the lows and a 2 x EV-10L cabinet (my own design) on the highs. It sounds great to me, and I almost never have to move it. At home (for teaching) I use a Hartke 200 w head through a 1 x EV-15M cabinet. If I were ever to play anywhere other than home or church again, I’d probably use the church rig with an additional 1 x 15 cabinet. If I needed to be really loud I’d break out my second CS-800 and a pair of Mitchell Bose-800 clones from the 70s. Given that I don’t play anywhere anymore and the ridiculous price of new amplifiers, I’m unlikely to upgrade my amps anytime soon (although there was that use BGW-750C for $150…) | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 210 Registered: 6-2002 |
FMM - I use a Furman PQ-3 too. It gives a nice punchy tone, but takes a lot of fiddling around until you get used to it. I have wondered about the parametric EQ that Alembic used to make in the early 70's. Was that a 3 band unit? Is that where the PQ-3 got it's start? Mica? Anyone? | ||
| s_wood
Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 70 Registered: 5-2002 |
I usually use an F1-X pre-amp and a Superfilter, powered by a Stewart 2.1 power amp. The sound is warm and clean, with just the right amount of crunchy growl (that's a technical term) and it really matches with an Alembic. Lately, because I'm doing a project where the leaders want a more traditional tone, I've been using a Mesa-Boogie MPulse 600. It also sounds great with the Alembic, though I would describe the tone as boomier and less accurate - which is not necessarily bad. For cabinets, I mix and match depending upon the gig. I have fallen in love with the Eden 410XST (not the XLT). The amount of low end that cab puts out is absolutely ungodly, but the 10" drivers are quick enough to accurately reproduce the incredible punch of a Series bass. If you haven't played the 410 XST, I urge you to check one out. | ||
| jimbobv
New Username: jimbobv Post Number: 10 Registered: 4-2003 |
F1-X with SF-2 into Crest CA-6 powering SVT-810 is the usual rig. Also have Eden WT800, 410XLT. | ||
| mattheus
Member Username: mattheus Post Number: 64 Registered: 5-2003 |
Hey Manfred. Even een berichtje van een landgenoot... i've been using the Bass Pod Pro for almost a year now. And it's very usefull tool. In cooperation with our (FOH) soundengineer I've made some presets, so I can change sounds any time I want with the tip of my toe. Recently the new Bass Pod Pro XT appeared, and has much improvements. Now you can actually see the settings you've made. So to give you an advice, if you like the way the Pod sounds and works, then go for the XT version!!! In my case, my 'sound' goes directly out of the Pod to mixing console. The band I play in doesn't use any bacline onstage. Everything goes with a multiple in-ear monitoring system. In this case you get a very low stage volume. Everybody in the band can make their own mix depending on what they want to hear on the little earphones. In some cases I put a very small Ashdown combo onstage to get a bit more 'feel' to the sound. The main advantage of working like this; we don't have to do soundchecks anymore. Everytime I plug in, all my sounds, and everything I wanted to hear is exact as it was the day before. And off course we don't hussle around with big speaker cabinets onstage anymore. It saves a lot of room in the truck, so we can take a lot of other stuff (read: lights, video, truss etc.) with us. Yes, yes, we have roadies that take care of all that... but they need to have something to do.... ; ) Btw. the Ashdown combo is a amazing thing, very lightweight, compact, with an enormous sound.. Check those out! And for the those who would like some more speakers: I have a Hartke XL410 speakercabinet for sale! In flightcase! Cu Mattheus | ||
| landskov
New Username: landskov Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2003 |
Depends on the venue. If I need BIG, I'll run stereo to two stacks, each pickup through an Ampeg SVT4-Pro in the bridged mode (1300w each) driving an Ampeg 4x10/1x15 and 4x10/1x18. If it's a smaller club, I use an SVT2-Pro with a 4x10/1x15. At home I have a F-2B with a McIntosh MC2300 (128lbs., that's why it's at home) and a pair of JBL D140's. I think I want 'little earphones' like Mattheus. | ||
| jure_the_second
Junior Username: jure_the_second Post Number: 18 Registered: 9-2002 |
My rig: I use the old demeter 201s preamp with the Hughes and Kettner head and cabinet (BC410). I'm on a lookout for a tube head, but the Demeter preamp already does its job very very well. The bass: Orion 5. Jure | ||
| mattheus
Member Username: mattheus Post Number: 65 Registered: 5-2003 |
If there only were earphones that sounded like a huuuuge Ampeg rig...... | ||
| mdrdvp
Member Username: mdrdvp Post Number: 70 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi Mattheus, Yes, I really want to try the bass pod xt. Is has several amp models in it. I only need one, but in combination with all the effects, sounds good to me. I am a bit tired of carrying all my old stompboxes and everything, which you only use in particular parts of a song, not the whole song. I hope it's a reliable thing. I've been using the Line 6 stompboxes for a while and never had any problems with it. If flat settings aren't colouring my sound too much, I think I'll go for it. Thanks, Manfred | ||
| bassicthing
New Username: bassicthing Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2003 |
I use this: Bass :Series 1 Pre amp :EBS 1 Power amp :Mackie 2X700W Spekers :JBL 2X15" +1X2" driver Effects :Akai Deep Impact synth bass :Akai Uni Bass harmonized dist (goes into an 1972 Marshall superlead or fender dual showman to an old Fender Leslie with a 12"EV speaker) :Boss ME5 for delay :Morley wah-wah :Boss CE1 chorus (after crossover) :Electro-harmonix Big Muff :Mutron III Envelope Onley very old junk................ | ||
| essencetimestwo
Junior Username: essencetimestwo Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2003 |
I have been using an older red-faced SWR 350 head before they added the switch for the cooling fan. I run that through two Eden 210XLT cabinets. I like this format because depending on the size of venue I can bring one or two cabs and it doesn't change the character of my tone much. Occasionally I will use a Boss Synth and Dynamic Wah pedals for fun. I would love to upgrade the head though. I would love to get an all tube head. Maybe and Eden or Mesa Boogie Buster head. My practice amp is a Sovtek 50W bass head run though a SWR Workingman's 110 cabinet. I also have the matching Sovtek 15 inch cabinet if I want that old Ampeg Portaflex sound. That all tube Sovtek head sounds great, especially after it has been cookin' for a couple of hours. I A/B'd it with a SWR Electric Blue head and ended up selling the SWR because the Sovtek Sounds better. | ||
| 81seriesi
New Username: 81seriesi Post Number: 9 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here it is... Series I, F2B Preamp, ELF system, QSC Powerlite and Bag End Cabinets (S15D, and D10EXD ). http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/590.html?1023033895 |
