| Author | Message | ||
| sharkey
New Username: sharkey Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2004 |
Has anybody got any close up shots of the f2-b they could send me? | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2002 |
What part of the F-2B are you intereseted in Sharky? Regards, Peter Jonas | ||
| sharkey
New Username: sharkey Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2004 |
Front and back panel thanks Peter. (Message edited by sharkey on February 05, 2004) | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2002 |
Here Are the photos Sharkey. Hope they are what you want.  | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2002 |
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| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2002 |
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| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2002 |
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| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2002 |
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| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2002 |
Oops, sorry I've doubled up on the back.  | ||
| sharkey
New Username: sharkey Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2004 |
Thanks for that Peter just what i wanted. | ||
| effclef
Junior Username: effclef Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2004 |
Nice to see the insides of the mysterious black box! Peter, I presume that was you who put the schematic on the inside? Your photos are better than the tiny ones on the Alembic main website (hint, hint). Alembic should scan the nice F1X/F2B/SF2 brochure from a few years back and put it on their site. Interesting tube shields - are they stock from the factory? I have heard the black "IEC" finned style - used by the US military - is good for heat transfer and shielding. Nice, neat wiring, and the transformer is well away from the signal path. Now how much of a handicap is it to have the power switch on the rear, rather than on the front where you can reach it while rackmounted? EffClef | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 356 Registered: 5-2002 |
If it's plugged into a power conditioner mounted in the same rack, none at all. <g> | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2002 |
The preamp is all stock (in fact it is brand new), it comes complete with the schemantic on the inside. Mind you it's not a very legible print at all. As you can see, all Alembic stuff is built to a very high standard. The F-1X is another exemplary piece of equipment:  By the way the remark about the power conditioner is quite true. I use one too. | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2002 |
The F-1X from the back.  | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2002 |
Or the SF-2, which does not have its own built in mains power supply. It runs from a plug pack.  | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2002 |
Well, I might as well go all the way and post a photo or the DS-5R as supplied by Alembic. There is not much in there, but it offers some room for other stuff, and as usual it's built like a tank.  | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 24 Registered: 11-2002 |
And finally the same DS-5R after some modifications. It has an added isolated 15 volt DC power supply for the SF-2. The two rear output jacks have been replaced with three conductor items, the front 5-pin jack has also been replaced because the original jack had one pin broken off. The whole unit has been rewired so the rear jacks can be used as an effects loop. The two additional switches right of the mono switch are effects bypass switches separate for each channel. I've also replaced the original mono switch, although there was nothing wrong with it, but it had a black lever, and kind of looked out of place. Finally in an attempt to minimise hum and noise, I fabricated and fitted a steel shield to separate the power section from the signal path.  I've just completed it earlier today. Electrically it all tests out OK, but the big listening test with the new F-2B is next week. | ||
| mdrdvp
Member Username: mdrdvp Post Number: 91 Registered: 7-2002 |
The Peter Jonas store is now open. For all modifications and pictures. Peter, the DS-5R modifications look great, I was just about to ask if something like that was possible. Are you using all of that? I mean, the F-1x and F-2B together? Take care, Manfred | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hi Manfred! No, I am not using all that together. Up until now I had the F-1X as a preamp, and used (your) SF-2 in mono mode. However, just recently I bought two Acme Low B-2 speakers, and decided to go two channel throughout my signal chain. Hence the brand new F-2B. Before anyone asks, the F1-X is not for sale, I'll find a place for it with some of the keyboard stuff I have. It is a lovely piece of gear. Cheers, Peter | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hi Manfred! No, I am not using all that together. Up until now I had the F-1X as a preamp, and used (your) SF-2 in mono mode. However, just recently I bought two Acme Low B-2 speakers, and decided to go two channel throughout my signal chain. Hence the brand new F-2B. Before anyone asks, the F1-X is not for sale, I'll find a place for it with some of the keyboard stuff I have. It is a lovely piece of gear. Cheers, Peter | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 284 Registered: 6-2002 |
I was thinking about making some changes to my DS-5R too. I would like to add some XLR connections on the front and have their output selectable so that they could either be mono or stereo. I wouldn't mind finding an old Alembic IN-2 for this purpose. | ||
| bassman10096
Intermediate Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 101 Registered: 7-2003 |
Peter: Neat mods and discussion. On a tangent: How do you like the Low B-2's? Are they both the full range models or is one the subwoofer (w/out tweeter and mid)only? Why go to full stereo? The reason I'm asking is that I just picked up a nice FX1 and my new bass will have S2 (stereo) electronics. I love the FX1 sound but have wondered whether I may regret not having the option to run each pickup fully independently. I do plan to find myself an SF-2 in the next year. That makes the possibility of treating each pu independently all the more intriguing. I guess the good news is that selling the FX-1 would not be a problem if I wanted to switch. Just curious about your thoughts in making your change to a stereo signal chain. Bill | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2002 |
Bill, The Low B-2s are both the full range models, and they are terrific. The question of stereo or mono is not all that simple. In general, I would not even consider amplifying an electric bass in stereo (each pickup independently). My circumstances that lead me to go full stereo are somewhat differrent, but more about that later. Having said that, with an S2 you've got the best electric bass known to mankind. With an instrument of such sophistication and so much attention to fine detail, you may want to give it the best amplification you can. There may be benefits to a full stereo system, but they would probably be marginal. Even with an S2, I would still likely to stay with the F-1X. The F-1X is a fantastic piece of gear, arguably the best there is out there. A stereo power amp, however, still makes sense. You can use it in bridged mode to have lots of power, or use the cross over on the F-1X and bi-amp your instrument, or use a stereo chorus pedal after the preamp and take advantage of the two channel system that way. With two full range Low B-2s there is no real need to amplify the lows and highs separately. You can take just one for a small gig, or take both to a larger one. If you ever need to be even louder, just hook up to the PA from the F-1X's balanced output. So don't get rid of your F-1X just yet. And in any case, if you do want to go full stereo, you can always add a second F-1X later. I would have done that too, but I had no more room in my four space rack sleeve, and did not want to get a bigger one. I decided to go two channel because all my kids play music, and very often there are two instruments being amplified simultaneously through my gear. One may be a double bass, while the other one an electirc bass or a keyboard. This way I can easily separate them, and being full range, my Nord Electro's B-3 simulator also sounds great. And to top it off, it is also a very handy and high quality PA system, terrific for parties. At present we have no full time musician in the family, and I am really happy to have such multi-purpose gear in the inventory. Mind you, the primary purpose of the equipment is still bass amplification for my daughter to play her short scale S1 or her Jazz Bass, and I am more than happy with the sound she gets. This is my point of view. Yours is probably different. To start with, try your S2 with your F-1X driving a stereo power amp and a pair of full range Low B-2s. You won't be disappointed. You can evolve your system from there as your needs change. Have fun doing so, Peter | ||
| effclef
Junior Username: effclef Post Number: 18 Registered: 1-2004 |
Very neatly done mods, Peter. I'd guess the large blue heatsink is the bridge rectifier and the small board to the far left is the filter for the DC supply out. What are those small rectangular standoffs for your shield bracket called? I've seen those used on amateur radio kits. EffClef | ||
| bassman10096
Intermediate Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 103 Registered: 7-2003 |
Peter: Thanks for the feedback on your Acme's. I'm going to try out a Low-B2 next month. If it works out the way I'd like, I'll buy another to create a fairly portable rig. If so, I kind of like the flexibility of having both cabs be full range for greater flexibility down the road. Believe me, I'm not going to sell my FX-1 any time real soon. I just got it. Actually, your suggestion about buying another as an alternative to going with an F2-B is intriguing, as it would offer even greater biamping flexibility! Thanks for your input. Bill | ||
| peter_jonas
Junior Username: peter_jonas Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2002 |
EffClef, The blue thing in the centre is actually a small toroidal mains transformer. It is wired into the stock mains voltage selector switch, so the modified DS-5R retains its ability to run from either 100-120 or 220-240 volt mains. The board to the left is the rectifier, filter and regulator circuit. The output is via an isolated 3.5 mm jack on the back panel just outside of the "tunnel" section of the shield. I don't really know if there is a special name for those rectangular blocks. I made them without thinking too much about their name. They each have two perpendicular tapped holes, so on one side they are screwed to the shield, while on the other they are screwed to the bottom panel of the DS-5R. Cheers, Peter |
