| Author | Message | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 356 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is it OK to stand my rack (with the F1-X) on it's side when it's being used? Or will some harm be done due to heat dissipation issues or something else? Anybody know? | ||
| gtrguy
Advanced Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 314 Registered: 9-2004 |
Should be fine, a single 12AX7 is not that hot and they are solidly made. In fact, they don't even vent the unit. Dave | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 357 Registered: 5-2007 |
Thanks for the input, David. | ||
| crgaston
Senior Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 623 Registered: 11-2005 |
Played mine that way for years. No issues. Probably healthier since it avoids cabinet vibration. | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 359 Registered: 5-2007 |
I made a tasty little living room rig with the F1-X, a Crown D-60 and an SWR Bass Monitor 12, good for playing along with CDs. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1361 Registered: 5-2009 |
That sounds like a nice little rig . I like 1 space convection cooled amplifiers as well. | ||
| eddieg
Junior Username: eddieg Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2010 |
How often should I change the pre-amp tubes in my F1-X. It's fryin' eggs only when it turns on. I've never opened it and I got it in 1992....suggestions? eddieG | ||
| gtrguy
Advanced Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 329 Registered: 9-2004 |
Get a new JJ for it. Great tube at a great price! Be careful pulling out the old one so as not to bend the circuit board. Dave | ||
| skyboltone
Junior Username: skyboltone Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2010 |
Uhmmmm. JJ is a great company. I use their tubes in a lot of new builds. They are the only new manufacture tube company with a comprehensive QA program. Magnificent EL-84s But..... I would not use a JJ 12AX7 in V1 of an FX-1. Especially since it lasts 18 years eh? Call Gregg Levy at http://www.hitestguitars.com/ He doesn't take credit cards or paypal. You call him up you discuss at length what you're after and then he gives you a quote, you mail him a money order (probably $40) and you get a guaranteed new in box old manufacture tube. I'll bet he tells you Sylvania or RCA. Smartest tone guy I know. AND he's a player and he knows the circuits. $40 divided by 18 years is a little over $2 a year. Not bad. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1446 Registered: 5-2009 |
I prefer a Telefunken Smooth Plate ECC83/ 12ax7 type as a mater of preference . The Bass response is more articulate to my ears . | ||
| skyboltone
Junior Username: skyboltone Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2010 |
That's good to know sonicus. I too have an F1-X on the way. I have a horrifying story about Telefunken Smooth Plates. Seems I picked up an old reel to reel in a thrift store for $25. The transport was not repairable. So I test the dozen Teles it contains and they all test low, but evenly low on my tester. So I throw them out. Turns out I read the instruction sheet when next I tested some 12AX7 tubes and those dozen used Telefunkens were perfect. The tester was designed to show AX7s at that particular "bad" point on the meter when 100%. Ouch! | ||
| skyboltone
Junior Username: skyboltone Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2010 |
Oh, by the by. It's always best to start with the tube when trouble shooting. And for that purpose a JJ is just fine. But frying eggs may not be the tube. It could be a dry power supply cap or cathode cap. Or filth on the circuit board. 18 years you know? | ||
| eddieg
Junior Username: eddieg Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2010 |
Thanks folks! I didn't think about the caps...I had to do that with my F2-B....I'll check this out. EddieG | ||
| gtrguy
Advanced Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 330 Registered: 9-2004 |
I do believe Alembic likes JJ's. I have a big collection of old tubes and they sound fine by comparison to any of them - and - the price is right. Contact Bob at Eurotubes online. Dave | ||
| eddieg
Junior Username: eddieg Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2010 |
Hey alembic guys: What are the values of the caps in the F1-X. I've got a tech guy that'll replace them. I remember my F2-B had four caps in it, how many does the F1-X have, (2)?. I do however have a resource for vintage tubes. Do you prefer that I use vintage as apposed to new pre-amp tubes? eddieG | ||
| skyboltone
Junior Username: skyboltone Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2010 |
Eddie, I don't know the F1-X that well and I don't have a scheme with me but there are a whole lot more than two caps in a F2-B. If your tech guy needs that information I suggest you find a new tech guy. Caps are a huge issue tonally. If I were going to do a cap job on mine I'd call Alembic and find out whatever they are using now. This of course, applies to the cathode bypass caps, the coupling cap, the three caps in the tone stack, the bright cap the deep cap or caps etc. For power supply filter caps there may in fact be just two. If that's what you are referring to, my apologies. Those are less critical tonally but once again, your tech should be able to replace them with the same value by checking visually. I have come to rely on Nichicon, though there are many other modern caps that will suit. I would not however, let him put any Xicons in there. Tube rolling. What a subject. It's nice to have a dozen or so 12AX7s, both vintage and new manufacture, to try out in the circuit. See which one sounds best to you. Your tech may well have some for you to try. Bring your rig and play several. There are distinct differences. If you are less critical or pressed for time or just find the whole subject kinda lame (many do) then call Alembic and see what they are using. I'm certain that they have done extensive research and have a preference among new manufacture tubes. Oh, also, get some DeOxit and spray the tube socket then stick the old tube back in and see if the frying egg sound goes away. It could be that simple. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 814 Registered: 5-2002 |
Daniel, I think he was referring to the filter caps. Those are the ones that typically go bad the soonest. As far as tube rolling, I tried a bunch of tubes in my F1X before I sold it to Ben, and I found that the effect of different tubes was minimal compared to other preamps, including the F2B. Perhaps it was due to the function provided by the tube in this design. The F1X is not an all tube signal path. | ||
| skyboltone
Junior Username: skyboltone Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2010 |
Thanks for the clarification Edwin. I have not, in fact, even gotten mine yet. I just sent the dough to a fellow here on the forum for his. I think too, as you say, bass rigs are far less "tube critical" than guitar amps. Guitar guys that I work with are Fanatical about V1 and willing to spend huge bucks to get it right. So I'll defer to all who actually own one and have used it in real conditions. Dan | ||
| eddieg
Junior Username: eddieg Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2010 |
thanks guys:I believe Edwin is right. I do remember the caps that were replaced were cylindrical and there were four in a row in my F2-B. My tech told me the caps get brittle and crumble after an amount of time. I'll just have him look at them, that's what he did last time. I just thought I would try to give him a heads up on what to use. it is 18 years old too! so it's about time for some TLC. peace EddieG | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 815 Registered: 5-2002 |
It's not so much a bass vs. guitar preamp question as much as the fact that the F1-X uses the tube as a buffer for the input and at the FX loop return. It doesn't provide as much gain as you see in the typical Fender or other tube amp circuit. An F2B does use the tube for gain, so tube rolling there does provide more tonal difference. This is all assuming decent quality tubes. After all, they should adhere to the 12AX7 spec to good degree. YMMV, etc. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9906 Registered: 5-2002 |
A few years back, Mica posted a note about tubes which can be found here. And while I'm about it, other interesting things can be found in our FAQ section for the F-2B and F-1X. There are also some very descriptive summaries on the product information pages for F-1X and F-2B. The four big caps in the F-2B referred to in the above discussion can be seen in this picture. |
