| Author | Message | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 16 Registered: 5-2006 |
Hey Guys - I just picked up this preamp off Ebay for a BIN 399.00. The guy selling it sounds real cool and said he just used it for recording. I've never actually used one of these, but I hear they are awesome and I think that's a real good price. Just wanted to get some feed back from some players that are experienced with this unit. Thanks for the info, take care - Dennis Maron Silver Spring, MD | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 636 Registered: 6-2002 |
I bought a new one last year and have been using it for every show since then. I love mine. There was a pretty lengthy discussion here of the settings for flat response that you might want to search for. I've never used it for recording, I always take my basses straight into the board. Hope that helps. Mike (Message edited by dadabass2001 on August 01, 2006) (Message edited by dadabass2001 on August 01, 2006) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4168 Registered: 5-2002 |
That's a very good price! Congrats! | ||
| crgaston
Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 234 Registered: 11-2005 |
Awesome deal, Dennis! I think I paid 425 for mine...11 years ago! Just remember that the "flat" setting is 2-10-2 on the bass, mid, and treble, respectively, with the deep and bright switches off. Start your tweaking from there and you'll get a good sound fast. Charles | ||
| lothartu
Intermediate Member Username: lothartu Post Number: 160 Registered: 8-2003 |
Good job getting that for $399. I lucked into an ebay bin $400 with shipping included for my F1X and I jumped all over it. I think the auction had been up for about 15 minutes when I saw it. Complete dumb luck. I think the unit is wonderful. The kind of tube that is in the unit has a lot of effect on the sound so my F1X is not going to sound exactly like anyone elses F1X and neither is yours. That's not a bad thing though and if you hunt around here there are a few threads on "which tube should I get for my F1X or F2B". As far as the operation of the unit goes it's a little different that the usual preamp. You can't actually get a completely flat setting because of how the circuit is designed but you can get very close. Charles says 2-10-2 but for some reason I thought it was 2-8-2. Anyways, right around there should be your starting point with deep and bright switches off. The thing to keep in mind with a F1X is that each control effects the other controls. That's what gets people confused. In a "normal" amp if you turn down treble it only effects treble but in the F1X circuit it will "mainly" effect treble but it will also effect the other ranges as well. Here's an example. When I want a little more low end without getting boomy I don't turn up bass, I turn down the mid knob just a bit. I also at least partially subscribe to the "don't think about it too much, just play with the knobs until it sounds good" mentality. As a side note, the first time I ever plugged my bass into my F1X I honestly couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. My bass still sounds like my bass, it just sounds better. In the future I may add gear for fine frequency tweaking, like a SF2, but I'll never part with my F1X. Power amps, speakers, even basses may come and go but that F1X is staying exactly where it is. - Jim | ||
| paulman
Member Username: paulman Post Number: 56 Registered: 2-2005 |
Yes I did a BIN for a F-1x, Korg DTR Tuner, QSC 700 power amp, and rack case for a little less than $800. I mainly did it for the F-1x. Holy cow, the Further sounds so sweet through it recording or live. Haveing a strobe tuner now is a plus too 'cos I always feel accurate tuning is most important, and now I can take it to the smallest increments possible. I also made a little switch box for inturrupting the guitar circuit for tuning. On the VFTV Dead DVD's Jerry is seen turning around, flicking a switch, tuning (with no output) and then flicking the switch again to turn the guitar back on. I thought that was the coolest so I had to make one after I got the f-1x. | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2006 |
Awesome! Thanks for the great info! You guys rock, this board kicks ass. I always thought that my WAL bass or my Warrior 6 would be my principal instrument, seems I find myself playing the Mark King more and more. Alembics are awesome! The preamp is on its way, I'll tweak it with the settings you guys suggest and I'll report back in the difference in sound with my rigs. Take care all! - Dennis | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 528 Registered: 6-2002 |
Anyone here selling this F-1X? http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-F-1X-Tube-Preamp-F1X-excellent-cond_W0QQitemZ330014521885QQihZ014QQcategoryZ121159QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2006 |
Well, here it is 10 full days after I hit the "BUY IT NOW" button and I still have yet to recieve my preamp. The guy has sent ZERO emails, and has returned ZERO phone calls. Anyone had a similiar EBAY experience? I'm hoping this is a simple misunderstanding, but the guy is 2 states away, I'm in MD he's in NY, and realistically if he waited 3 days to ship I'd of had it by now. he has a Feedback rating of 103 at 99.6% dude to bad communication from some other player buying a tube amp that came to his house without any prior knowledge of shipping or tracking info. The guy was on tour and returned three weeks later. The amp was poorly packaged and the tubes were not removed before shipping and packaged separately thus shattering inside the amp. That dispute was never resolved per the buyer of the amp. I hope I'm wrong. Am I being too impatient only waiting 10 days with no response? I've opened up disputes with Paypal and Ebay and left the seller a Voice mail ( since he doesn't answer his phone ) stating if I don't hear from him by tomorrow at this time I will leave Nasty Feedback. Maybe some people don't even care about that. Anyone have an opinion? Thanks guys! Take care - Dennis Maron Silver Spring, MD | ||
| series_iii
Member Username: series_iii Post Number: 52 Registered: 8-2005 |
hate to say it but it sounds like you got hosed. 10 days is way too long. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1287 Registered: 3-2004 |
While a bargain price is usually a warning sign, it sounds like the seller had good enough feedback to pull the trigger. I would hold off on the nasty feedback until you get the preamp or the money. If you get the issue resolved, it is probably worth a neutral rating. I will probably be offering my F-1X for sale shortly, but I will be looking in the $450 ballpark for an early 90's model. Good luck resolving your issue! -bob (Message edited by bsee on August 11, 2006) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1547 Registered: 7-2004 |
If the guy is a typical flaky musician, the 10 day wait doesn't surprise me. Since you've already taken the steps you can to protect yourself (paypal and eBay notified), I'd give it a litle more time before I left bad feedback. In my experience that will result in his leaving you negative feedback, regardless of the facts. My one lone negative was a guy responding to my leaving him neutral feedback after the item didn't arrive and he didn't respond until numerous attempts. Bill, tgo | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 28 Registered: 5-2006 |
Thanks guys - I sent the seller yet another email not ten minutes ago. Hopefully I will hear something soon. I'll keep ya posted. Take care - DM | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 29 Registered: 5-2006 |
Ah - Good point Bill. So, even though one person can be a Solid Gold Ebayer, Paying up / Shipping out as soon as the auction ends, another can screw up your feedback rating just for spite. EBAY is a cool way of doing business, too bad it's also a venue for Crooks and Scammers to steal honest folks hard earned dough. I'll give it some more time, and as Bob said " give a neutral " that'll prolly just get me one in return, or a negative. Perhaps leaving no feedback would be better. But heck, that won't warn future buyers that this guy is a Flake / Deadbeat. Sheesh! All I can do wait and see, and hope I'm wrong. Take care all! DM | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4252 Registered: 5-2002 |
If you have a name and phone number, you may be able to get a mailing and/or physical address off the net. Keep us posted. | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 31 Registered: 5-2006 |
Well, I finally recieved the Preamp after 15 days. I got Ebay and Paypal involved and wrote the guy a direct email. (after several emails and phone calls that went unreturned.) After he was contacted by Ebay/paypal he sent me an email stating he had the week from hell. His PC blew up so he couldn't return emails. He lost his cell phone so he couldn't return phone calls. He got locked out of his studio due to a rent dispute so he couldn't ship the preamp. And to add insult to injury, he said the city towed his car. Hmmmmmm........... To which story I replied with this email: Damn Dude - That's quite the shit sandwich. You just didn't take a bite, you ate the whole thing and came back for seconds. If that was your week, I'd stay home for the rest of the month to make sure no one eats your dog or Dahlmers your family. He sent the preamp the next day and all is good! Sometimes people are just way too slow. If all that truly happened to the guy, there's no way to go but up! Just wanted to give a heads up to my situation. Take care, and thanks for the help and advice! DM | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 632 Registered: 2-2006 |
Dennis, his story does sound better than, "...I couldn't find the pawn ticket..."  | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 288 Registered: 5-2006 |
sounds like my average day...  Congrats with the preamp! | ||
| walwarrior
Junior Username: walwarrior Post Number: 32 Registered: 5-2006 |
ha ha! Yeah true! Pawned and Gone! I know I've had bad days in the past but if all that stuff truly happened to me in one week I think I'd hafta re evaluate my vacation process. Maybe give up huffing propane or sniffing model glue. Thanks for all the help! DM |
