| Author | Message | ||
| precarius
Advanced Member Username: precarius Post Number: 324 Registered: 11-2005 |
Has anyone ever used a sf-2 as a stand alone preamp? If yes, tell me what to expect. Thanks. Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9936 Registered: 5-2002 |
I haven't, but others have. The SF-2 does not have any tubes, and obviously does not have a traditional tone stack. My guess is that it would be like going direct from the bass to a sound board, but with the addition of a couple of super filters to shape the tone. Those who have posted here in the past that used an SF-2 as a preamp reported that they were very happy with the sound; of course they were using Alembic basses. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1467 Registered: 5-2009 |
I have done it , and as Dave has stated above with good results. The sound of course doe not have a " tube" characteristic but the transient response and feel that I got from it were excellent. It was clear and clean and 16th staccato notes had punch. The tonal shaping ability in my opinion is unparalleled. I am thinking of getting a second unit . Very useful ! | ||
| thumbsup
Intermediate Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 146 Registered: 7-2008 |
I play my Alembic thru a tube amp head and am happy with the sound. Why do some players use a pre amp? If I were to use a pre amp would it connect to my amp head? What advantage does this have? I really dont know much about electonics. thanks | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1468 Registered: 5-2009 |
In a 19" rack system one can use a discrete preamp and power amp along with a large variety of rack signal processing gear. One can pick and choose units to create a personalized rack system. (Message edited by sonicus on December 11, 2010) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9938 Registered: 5-2002 |
Like Wolf said, an amp head is essentially a preamp and power amp in one package, rather than a separate preamp and power amp. Your amp head may have a line-in jack on the back panel that by-passes the preamp portion of the head. If so, then you could plug a separate preamp into that jack. | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 83 Registered: 3-2009 |
 I have a personalized rack system which I have updated a little since this particular photo. Anyway, I use two QSC 2450, two F-1X, two Bag End DBX 2x10 and two Bag end S18D I have since added an Ashly 7 band parametric eq to dial in more bottom end. I will post an updated photo soon! | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 84 Registered: 3-2009 |
  Updated rack system (Message edited by davehouck on December 15, 2010) | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 85 Registered: 3-2009 |
  Updated rack system (Message edited by davehouck on December 15, 2010) | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 86 Registered: 3-2009 |
Sorry about the double post (DOH!) | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2818 Registered: 10-2002 |
A rack that sweet deserves to be shown twice :-) graeme | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1573 Registered: 9-2002 |
Steve, usually the biggest difference between an amp head vs. a separate preamp/power amp rig is tone: Generally, standalone heads have a certain, small amount of distortion left in them, which our ears interpret as 'warmth'. When you use power amps, since these are usually built to pro sound system specs, the distortion amounts are many, many times less, so these almost always sound a LOT cleaner. Couple this with the usually higher power ratings of these things, you have a lot more headroom, which adds to how clean they can sound. And as you can see by Charles' rig above, you can just 'one-piece-at-a-time' it to build quite complex signal chains if desired. Or if you're needing a BIG rig, you just keep adding power amps and cabs as needed. But it's just another choice: For some guys, they sound sterile. Or you may not want to lug around rack cases, etc. But generally it's for a cleaner tone made possible by the higher spec components, though the difference is not as obvious as it once was. In the old days when an SVT or Acoustic 360 was as big as you could get, an Alembic preamp and as many Crown amps as required was a HUGE leap forward. J o e y | ||
| thumbsup
Intermediate Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 152 Registered: 7-2008 |
thank you guys for the short educational course! so with a rig like charles i assume you (if you) biamp theres a crossover for the 15c & 10s? charles, when you use you full rig do you set up all cabs on one side of drummer or have you ever spit cabs (one 15 & 10s on each side? steve | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 90 Registered: 3-2009 |
I set up (all speakers) on the drummers right side. For rack photo #1, I use that to drive my top end (2:2x10's)the hook up is as follows: from the FX (rear/high pass) I use a "Y"and go into both rear channels of my QSC which is channel 1&2, the front 2 channels of the F-1X goes into the DS-5R treble. For the bass/bottom end is as follows: The Ashly input goes to the DS-5R Bass, the front 2 channels of F-1X to the Ashley output. The F-1X Low pass (rear) again using "Y" cable to QSC Channels 1&2. I really like using the Ashly7band parametric EQ because it allows me to "dial up" some superbly monsterous bottom for my 2:1X18" end thus filtering out unwanted highs!!! Hopefully this will help clear up some things for you.But it really comes down to what you are looking for aurally. Please call me Chalie !!!! | ||
| mediumsmitty
New Username: mediumsmitty Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2010 |
I have used the SF-2 as a pre amp and in my effect loop and it is the greatest piece of equiptment ever made. The guy with the huge rig should get rid of his eq and get one of these you cant get any more bottom end than these serve up.High fi sound | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 92 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Smitty, I owned the SF-2 and recently sold it. The ashly works just as well as the SF-2. Although I'm not really technically sound, I do believe that the Ashly works in the same principle as far as filtering bass frequencies as the SF-2 but you'd have to hear it to understand the Ashly. I dig them both (Ashly and Superfilter) | ||
| bassman4
Junior Username: bassman4 Post Number: 14 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Charles; How do you like your MPX-1; not to hijack here; but I just added one to my rig with Eden Pre and Pwr Amp...absolutely love it!... | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1161 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bassman4, I haven't tried the MPX-1,but I have an MX-400 that I'm loving too.I bought it for guitar but once it made it to my bass rack I know that's it's home . ...just a touch of reverb and sometimes a slight detune between the cabs really sweetens the sound for some songs.  | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 95 Registered: 3-2009 |
I love my MPX, I have to put it in the shop because it's has become noisy | ||
| bassman4
Junior Username: bassman4 Post Number: 15 Registered: 3-2009 |
I use mine for the phase and flange FX quite a bit on Herbie Hancock etc... Great depth and and reliability...plus you can tune your stage / room easily on the fly... I've never heard a noisy Lexicon FX unit; but I've only been exposed to MPX1, G2, and 550's...the FOH guys handle the heavy stuff... | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 832 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have a G2 that recently became a doorstop because of digipot test failure. Too bad. It's a great unit and replaced a ton of effects. Now I'm kind of at a loss, thinking about maybe doing it all in the box. The SoundToys Filter Freak is one of the best envelope filters I've ever heard, but latency continues to be an issue. The Echoboy is also stellar. |
