| Author | Message | ||
| magnum
New Username: magnum Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2004 |
Hello everyone, I'm new here. Love this company, so wanted to stop in! I've got a question for 'yall. I used to own an Alembic F2-B and am thinking about getting one again. I'm a guitar player, and I used to run my Alembic F2-B into a McIntosh MC60 poweramp. That was the BEST tone I've ever heard for clean guitar amp tone. It was so sick, but not a very practical road rig. I've been searching for a guitar head that will give me that same sound (classic Fender preamp tone with ultralinear/high accuracy/tight bass warm highs/ultra clean/high headroom/6550 tube power amp tone). Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks. | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 335 Registered: 12-2002 |
Yes!!!,alembic pre amp! go all alembic as far as sound is concernd!!!,,,,dont look back!!!keep runnin!,,,,,,, (faster!!!!) | ||
| magnum
New Username: magnum Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2004 |
Uhm, ok. Thanks for the suggestion. I was hoping that someone from Alembic would be interested in building a custom amp. That would be cool. I think Alembic should expand the amplifier line to incorporate the McIntosh design since they liked it so much. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 693 Registered: 5-2002 |
Daniel; I don't know the answer to your question about a power amp that would give you the same sound you got from your McIntosh. But on your comment about Alembic building a power amp I offer two observations from my narrow vantage point as a member of this forum. First, Alembic does not have very many employees. The wait time on any kind of work is considerable, especially electronic work. So adding a line of power amps would not seem to be a simple matter. Second, it seems to me that having an amp built as a custom order would require a considerable amount of bench time. The rate for electronic bench work is not inexpensive and I believe it to be the case that electronic work of that type is booked up months in advance. Of course I don't speak for Alembic; I just thought I would try to help you with your question. It's certainly an understandable desire. And it may be that the folks at Alembic might be interested in such a project. I think your original idea of finding a tube power amp to go with an F-2B is a good one; I just don't know anything about tube power amps for guitar. | ||
| gare
Junior Username: gare Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2003 |
Magnum Have you considered or checked out the Mesa tube power amps ? They produce several models in different power ranges, using both the 6550/6L6 and EL84 tubes. And they can be had used at reasonable prices. Checkout their web site. Just a thought. Gare | ||
| kmh364
Intermediate Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 165 Registered: 9-2003 |
There's lot's of tube amps based on classic Fender circuits. Try one of the boutique amp manufacturers like Tophat or Gemino or Victoria, or Matchless. These are all expensive. Harry Straub also makes hand-made hard-wired amps based on classic Fender circuits for a lot less than the above maunfacturers. It may be tough, however, to duplicate that F-2B/Mac combo. Mesa's stuff is nice, but you'll spend. Why not just bite the bullet and get a used F-2B and MC60, put 'em in a rack case. Find a cab you like that the Mac can drive easily and call it a day. It shouldn't cost an arm and a leg and you'll get the sound you crave. It won't be exactly light, but no good sounding tube amp head is. BTW: there was a thread on this site about Alembic building an amp (I couldn't find it). I recall that Alembic's response was that it was something they didn't want to get involved with. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1788 Registered: 6-2000 |
We've considered doing some amplifier engineering, but it's not in our near future - dad's booked for custom work and for our own engineering pretty much for the rest of the year. Love those old Macs! We still use a 2100 in our pickup testing room. Sadly, it's very hard to give advice about amplifiers, there's just so many variables. If you get a chance to pick up an F-2B, you may be able to pair it with an off the rack amplifier to get close to the sound you remember, but you'll probably need to test many. Any news about Alembic amplifiers will be posted here in the Club. I can also start an email list for announcements - just send me an email at mica@alembic.com and put "Amplifier Announcement" on the subject line and I'll keep you posted in the future. | ||
| gbarchus
Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 86 Registered: 6-2002 |
Magnum, Here's something you might try. It has eight EL34s but there is a version with four and I think one with 6550s. http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/1941.html?1033976607 Gale (Message edited by gbarchus on July 04, 2004) | ||
| edwin
Junior Username: edwin Post Number: 36 Registered: 5-2002 |
These are all very good suggestions, but none of the amps looked at will be at all similar to Macs (except the Macs, of course!). Most guitar tube amps have a very different output scheme from the macs. There is a guy, though, who not only builds fantastic basses and guitars, but also amps and preamps. His name is Jack Read and his website is http://www.readcustom.com I floated the idea past him and he said that he has already built a few like this in the past. He does great work and if you do get in touch, tell him I sent ya! Edwin |
