Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: oggydoggy on June 17, 2004, 12:26:45 PM

Title: Two FX-1's or One F2-B?
Post by: oggydoggy on June 17, 2004, 12:26:45 PM

Hi,
I read an article that stated Stanley Clarke uses Two FX-1's in his rig. Why would he use 2 of those and not one F2-B? Am I missing something?  
Best Wishes,
-Ed

Title: Two FX-1's or One F2-B?
Post by: David Houck on June 17, 2004, 02:09:12 PM

Ed; two features that the F-1X has that the F-2B does not have are an effects loop and a crossover.  However, I do not know how Mr. Clarke uses his F-1X's.

Title: Two FX-1's or One F2-B?
Post by: mica on June 17, 2004, 04:11:09 PM

2 F-1X preamps give you 2 direct outputs. Plus, you have more flexibility to run 2 separate sytems in the future if needed.  
 
The F-2B doesn't have an effects loop, a deep switch, a direct out or a crossover.  
 
Stanley used to use 1 F-2B, and changed to the F-1Xs a few years ago so he could use the direct outputs.

Title: Two FX-1's or One F2-B?
Post by: dela217 on June 17, 2004, 04:46:51 PM

He needs to get his IN-2 back!

Title: Two FX-1's or One F2-B?
Post by: haddimudd on June 29, 2004, 04:58:11 AM

I am fancying with that idea myself since a while now. I didn't realize Stanley Clarke already went that route - interesting!  
 
As Mica and Dave already said, you'll get 2 Direct Outputs and the crossovers, features I am truly missing on my current F-2B. On the other hand you'd pay twice the money for two F-1X compared to one F-2B.
 
Just one thing made me curious: When I ordered my Alembic bass I had been consulted by a very experienced long time Alembic user/owner and good friend of the Wickershams. To my surprise (and even Mica's), he said the sound of the F-2B was superior to the sound of the F-1X. He had them all in his life and he would always stick to the F-2B for that reason. We never never found out though, what technical difference would cause such difference in sound. Maybe it is just audible to his discriminating ears?
 
Today I wouldn't hesitate to try the F-1X, just because I'd like to have the mentioned features.
 
Hartmut

Title: Two FX-1's or One F2-B?
Post by: gare on July 01, 2004, 03:28:48 PM

There was an article in Bass Player Magazines Gear issue a few months ago with a run down of Mr.Clarks live rig.  He runs each pickup into an FX-1,the bridge pickup preamp runs delay/chorus etc. thru efx loop, the neck pickup preamp runs thru an EBS Octabass. Both preamps feed into Mackie power amps,neck pickup  goes into 2 1x18's,bridge pickup into 2 4x10's. He also  takes a direct out from the bridge preamp and goes into either a Marshall or Fender combo amp. Hope I have that all right..end of the day and I havent taken the ginko today.      
I remember this mostly because it struck me as being a very flexible setup.
Gare